red the Italian language; which he understood perfectly, though he never spoke it so fluently as the French. Of this indeed he was such a master, that, as occasion required,
September 1641, he quitted Geneva, after having spent one-and-twenty months in that city; and, passing through Switzerland, and the country of the Grisons, entered Lombardy. Then, taking his route through Bergamo, Brescia, and Verona, he arrived at Venice; where having made a short stay, he returned to the continent, and spent the winter at Florence. Here he employed his spare hours in reading the modern history in Italian, and the works of the celebrated astronomer Galileo, who died at a village near this city during Mr. Boyle’s residence in it. It was at Florence that he acquired the Italian language; which he understood perfectly, though he never spoke it so fluently as the French. Of this indeed he was such a master, that, as occasion required, he passed for a native of that country in more places than one during his travels.
we are now at a loss to account for. I am about a translation (at my leisure hours) of an invaluable French work, entitled * L’Histoire Universelle,' by the late M. Bossuet,
In 1743, he published without his name, an ode on the
battle of Dettingen, entitled “Albion’s Triumph,
” a fragment of which is printed in the last edition of the Poets.
In 1745 we find him at Reading, where he was employed
by the late Mr. David Henry in compiling a work, published in 1747, in two volumes octavo, under the title of
“An historical Review of the Transactions of Europe,
from the commencement of the war with Spain in 1739 to
the insurrection in Scotland in 1745; with the proceedings
in parliament, and the most remarkable domestic occurrences during that period. To which is added, An impartial History of the late Rebellion, interspersed with characters and memoirs, and illustrated with notes.
” To this
he affixed his name, witli the addition of M. A. a degree
which it is probable he assumed without authority. The
work, however, considered as a compilation of recent and
consequently very imperfectly-known events, is said to
possess considerable merit. In a letter, published by Mr.
Nichols, we have some information relative to it, and to
the present state of his mind and situation. “My salary
is wretchedly small (half a guinea a week) both for writing
the history and correcting the press; but I bless God I
enjoy a greater degree of health than I have known for
many years, and a serene melancholy, which I prefer to
the most poignant sensations of pleasure I ever knew. All
I sigh for is a settlement, with some degree of independence, for my last stage of life, that I may have the comfort
of my poor dear girl to be near me, and close my eyes.
I should be glad to know if you have seen my history, from
which you must not expect great things, as I have been
over-persuaded to put my name to a composure, for which
we ought to have had at least more time and better materials, and from which I have neither profit nor reputation
to expect. I am now beginning * The History of the
Rebellion,‘ a very difficult and invidious task. All the
accounts I have yet seen are either defective, confused,
or heavy. I think myself, from my long residence in Scotland, not unqualified for the attempt, but I apprehend it
is premature; and, by waiting a year or two, better materials would offer. Some account, I think, will probably
be published abroad, and give us light into many things
we are now at a loss to account for. I am about a translation (at my leisure hours) of an invaluable French work,
entitled * L’Histoire Universelle,' by the late M. Bossuet,
bishop of Meaux, and preceptor to the dauphin, eldest
son of Lewis XIV. I propose only to give his dissertations
on the ancient empires, viz. the Egyptian, Assyrian, Grecian, and Roman, which he has described with surprising
conciseness, and with equal judgment and beauty. I design to inscribe it to the right honourable Mr. Lyttelton,
one of the lords of the treasury, one of the most amiable
men I have ever known, and to whose uncommon goodness, if you knew my obligations, you would esteem him
as much as he deserves.
”
reformation. He now obtained some employment from the booksellers in translating, of which, from the French language at least, he was very capable; but his former irregularities
After his return from Reading, his behaviour, it is said, became so decent, that hopes were entertained of his reformation. He now obtained some employment from the booksellers in translating, of which, from the French language at least, he was very capable; but his former irregularities had gradually undermined his constitution, and enfeebled his powers both of body and mind. He died, after a lingering illness, in obscure lodgings near Shoelane, in the month of May 1749. The manner of his death is variously related. Mr. Giles, a collector of poems, says he was informed by Mr. Sandby, the bookseller, that Boyse was found dead in his bed, with a pen in his hand, and in the act of writing: and Dr. Johnson informed Mr. Nichols that he was run over by a coach, when in a fit of intoxication; or that he was brought home in such a condition as to make this probable, but too far gone to be able to give any account of the accident.
, a French antiquary, was born at Lyons, Jan. 28, 1680, of parents who
, a French antiquary, was
born at Lyons, Jan. 28, 1680, of parents who gave him
an excellent education. He attached himself at first to
jurisprudence, but antiquities and medals soon occupied
him entirely. The chancellor de Pontchartrain, the abbe
Bignon, Vaillant, Haruouin, admired him for the amiableness of his manners, and the depth of his learning. In
1705 he published some ingenious dissertations upon
medals and other monuments, which procured him to be
admitted into the academy of inscriptions and belles-lettres,
under the title of pupil; and the year following he became
perpetual secretary. The French academy too admitted
him of their society in 1715, as successor to M. Fenelon.
He was made keeper of the royal cabinet of medals in
1719; and the year after he set out for Holland, with the
view of augmenting that grand collection. On returning
to Paris he devoted the whole of his time to the academy
of belles-lettres, to which he contributed a great many
memoirs, and the cabinet of medals. He had the inspection of the library in 1745, during the illness of M. Maboul, before which time he resigned the place of secretary
to the academy. He died the 10th of September, 1753,
aged seventy-four. He was as estimable for the sweetness
of his temper as for the depth of his knowledge. Among
his works, are: 1. The edition of the first 15 vols. of the
“Memoires de l'academie des inscriptions et belleslettres.
” The historical panegyrics which embellish
these memoirs were printed separately in 2 vols. 12mo.
They are ingenious and agreeable; they may contain
fewer of those delicate strokes with which the éloges
of Fontenelle abound, but perhaps they exceed them
in elegance and taste! They are, however, unequal.
2. The second edition of the “Medallic history of Louis
XIV.
” brought down to his death, 1723, folio. He gives
the drawings and impresses of many of them. 3. “The
history of the emperor Tetricus illustrated by medals.
”
4. Several dissertations on the ancient medals, dispersed
for the most part throughout the “Memoires de l'academie
des belles-lettres.
” 5. He published the “Catalogue of
his library,
” Yellow
Book,
” “Livre jaune, contenant quelques conversations
sur les logomachies, disputes de mots, abus de termes,
”
&c. Bale,
the title of the “profound Doctor.” He was confessor to Edward III. and attended that monarch in his French wars, often preaching before the army. Sir Henry Savile informs
, archbishop of Canterbury,
is supposed to have been born at Hortfield, in Cheshire,
about the middle of the reign of king Edward I. in the fourteenth century. He was of Merton colle'ge, Oxford, and
was one of the proctors of that university in 1325. He
excelled in mathematical knowledge, and was in general
distinguished for his accurate and solid investigations in divinity, which procured him the title of the “profound Doctor.
” He was confessor to Edward III. and attended that
monarch in his French wars, often preaching before the
army. Sir Henry Savile informs us that some writers of
that time attributed the signal victories of Edward, rather
to the virtues and holy character of his chaplain, than to>
the bravery or prudence of the monarch or of any other
person. He made it his business to calm and mitigate the
fierceness of his master’s temper when he saw him eitherimmoderately fired with warlike rage, or improperly flushed
with the advantages of victory. He also often addressed
the army, and with so much meekness and persuasive discretion, as to restrain them from those insolent excesses
which are too frequently the attendants of military success.
When the see of Canterbury became vacant, the monks
of that city chose him archbishop, but Edward, who was
fond of his company, refused to part with him. Another vacancy happen ing soon after, the monks again elected him^
and Edward yielded to their desires. The modesty and innocence of his manners, and his unquestionable piety and
integrity, seem to have been the principal causes of his advancement. He was, however, by no means adapted to
'a court, where his personal manners and character became
an object of derision, the best proof history can afford us
of their excellence. Even when he was consecrated at
Avignon, cardinal Hugh, a nephew of the pope, ridiculed
the prelate by introducing into the hall a person in a peasant’s habit, ridiog on an ass, petitioning the pope to make
him archbishop of Canterbury, but the jest was so ill relished that the pope and cardinals resented the indignity,
and frowned on the insolent contriver. Bradwardine was
consecrated in 1349; but not many weeks after his consecration, and only seven days after his return into England,
he died at Lambeth. His principal work “De Causa Dei,
”
against the Pelagian heresy, was edited from the ms. in
Merton college library by sir Henry Savile, 1618, fol. with
a biographical preface, in which he informs us that Bradwardine devoted his principal application to theology and
mathematics; and that particularly in the latter he distanced, perhaps, the most skilful of his contemporaries.
These mathematical works are, 1. “Astronomical tables,
”
in ms. in the possession of Sir Henry. 2. “Geometria
Speculativa, cum Arithmetica specuiativa,
” Paris, De proportionibus,
” Paris, De quadratura circuli,
” Paris,
om of Gala,” 1754, 12mo, pretendedly translated from the Italian into English, and from English into French.
, abbe
d'Aulnay, who was born in the comtat Venaissin, and died
April 11, 1758, is known by several works in physics and
astronomy. The abundance of words, the frequent
repetitions, the great number of insignificant ideas perceived
in his writings, have disgusted many readers; though they
contain much excellent matter. The principal are, 1.
“Letters on cosmography,
” Modern
system of cosmography and general physics,
” Explication of the flux and reflux of the sea,
” Cosmographical ephemerides,
” History or police of the kingdom of Gala,
”
An historical essay on the principles of Political Associations in a state; chiefly deduced from the French, English, and Jewish Histories; with an application of those
, M. A. rector of St. George the Martyr, Southwark, and vicar of Wickham-Skeith, a political
writer, who has been sometimes mistaken for the subject
of our last article, was, however, probably of the same age,
although we have no account of his early life. He was of
Caius college, Cambridge, where he proceeded B. A. 1766,
and M. A. 1769. When he had obtained the latter degree, he wrote an ethical essay, entitled “Conscience,
”
intended for one of the Seatonian prizes; but an accidental delay which it met with on the road, occasioned its
being presented to the vice-chancellor two days after the
appointed time, and on that account it could not be admitted to the competition. Mr. Brand, however, published his poem in a quarto pamphlet in 1772, and it was
allowed to possess considerable merit, but not enough to
procure it a place among the favourite poems of the day.
From this time we find him devoting his attention to political subjects, which produced in succession; 1. “Observations on some of the probable effects of Mr. Gilbert’s bill,
with remarks deduced from Dr. Price’s account of the national debt,
” The Alteration of the Constitution of the House of Commons, and the inequality
of the Land-Tax, considered conjointly,
” A
Defence of the pamphlet ascribed to John Reeves, esq. and
entitled ‘ Thoughts on the English government,’ addressed
to the members of the loyal associations against republicans
and levellers,
” An historical essay
on the principles of Political Associations in a state; chiefly
deduced from the French, English, and Jewish Histories;
with an application of those principles, in a comparative
view of the associations of the year 1792, and that recently
instituted by the Whig Club,
” A determination of the average depression of the price of wheat
in war, below that of the preceding peace; and of its readvance in the following; according to its yearly rules,
from the Revolution to the end of the last peace; with
remarks on their greater variations in that entire period/*
1800, 8vo. 6.
” A Letter to **** ******, esq. on Bonaparte’s proposals for opening a negociation for peace; in
which the British guarantee of the crown of France to the
house of Bourbon, contained in the triple and quadruple
alliances, and renewed by the treaty of 1783, is considered;
together with the conduct of our national parties relating
to it,“1800, 8vo, an argument more ingenious than satisfactory, and unfortunately leading to an impracticable
conclusion. 7.
” A Refutation of the Charge brought
against the marquis Wellesley, on account of his conduct
to the nabob of Oude. From authentic documents,“1807,
8vo. This was the last of Mr. Brand’s political works. As
a divine, we know only of a
” Fast Sermon,“published
by him in 1794, and a
” Visitation Sermon," 1800. In
1797, he was presented by the lord chancellor (Loughborough) to the rectory of St. George’s in Southwark, vacant by the death of the rev. Joseph Pote, the value of
which Mr. Brand procured to be increased by act of parliament, in 1807, but did not live long enough to profit
by it, as he died Dec. 23, 1808, leaving a numerous
family.
urgensis.” Brandt’s history was also abridged in 1725, in English, in 2 vols. 8vo, apparently from a French abridgement. Ruleus or Ruillius, a minister of the reformed
, a learned ecclesiastical historian,
was born at Amsterdam, July 2 5, 1626, and after having
made distinguished progress in Greek, Hebrew, Latin,
philosophy, and divinity, he was invited to be pastor of a
church of remonstrants at Nieukoop, where he married
Susanna, daughter of the celebrated professor Gaspard
Barleus. In 1660, he came to Hoorn, and in L667 to
Amsterdam. He died Oct. 11, 1685, leaving two sons,
both excellent scholars, Caspar and Gerard. He wrote
in German, 1. “A short history of the Reformation,
” and
of the war between Spain and the Netherlands, until 1600,
Amst. second edit. 1658, which has a continuation, in the
form of a chronicle, until that year. 2. Also in German,
“A history of the Reformation in the Low Countries, &c.
”
4 vols. 4to, 1671, and following years, a work of which
the pensionary Fagel said to bishop Burnet, that it was
worth while to learn German on purpose to read it. The
English public, however, has been long acquainted with
it, in a translation in 4 vols. fol. 1720, & seqq. The
translator was John Chamberlayne, whom Foppen has converted intoRichardCumberland, merely that he may add,with
true Popish bigotry, that he was “pseudo-episcopus Petro^
burgensis.
” Brandt’s history was also abridged in 1725,
in English, in 2 vols. 8vo, apparently from a French
abridgement. Ruleus or Ruillius, a minister of the reformed
church, having attacked some parts of his history, Brandt
published an apology. 3. “A history of Enkhuisen,
” a
celebrated mercantile town. 4. “The Life of De Ruyter,
” the celebrated Dutch admiral, Amst. Historical Diary,
”
with biographical notices of eminent men, Amst. Poemata,
” Rotterdam^ Poemata
sacra et prophana,
” Amst. Historia judicii habiti annis 1618 and 1619^ de tribus
captivis, Barnevelt, Hogerbeets, et Grotio,
” Rotterdam,
Bibl. Scriptorum Remonstrantium.
”
ophy and divinity under Limborch, to which he joined the knowledge of Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Italian, French, and English. He was minister at Schoonhoven, at Dokkum, and
, second son of Gerard, and brother to the preceding, was born in 1657. (Saxius says 1653, which is the year of the preceding), at Nieukoop, and studied with his brother for eight years, philosophy and divinity under Limborch, to which he joined the knowledge of Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Italian, French, and English. He was minister at Schoonhoven, at Dokkum, and at Rotterdam, where he died at the age of twenty-six, but Saxius says thirty, in 1683. He translated Dr. HeyJyn’s Quinqu articular History, or History of the Five Articles. In 1678, he published in German, without his name, and with only the letters V. T. V. a history of events in Europe for the years 1674 and 1675, and sixtyfive sermons.
n in the German language. Locher, his disciple, tran shite d it into Latin, Strasburgh, 1497, 4to. A French translation of it by Bouchet and Riviere, was published at Paris,
, a lawyer, poet, and
historian, was born at Strasburgh, in 1448, and after prosecuting his first studies in that city, removed to Basil,
where he took his master’s degree in arts, and superintended the education of youth, as public professor, both
at Basil and Strasburgh. Here he arrived at the highest
honours of the law, being made count Palatine, and counsellor and chancellor of Strasburgh. He died in 1520,
leaving a great many works on subjects of law and'divinity,
some volumes of poetry, and the celebrated “Ship of
Fools,
” which has chiefly perpetuated his memory. It
was originally written in the German language. Locher,
his disciple, tran shite d it into Latin, Strasburgh, 1497, 4to.
A French translation of it by Bouchet and Riviere, was
published at Paris, in small folio, in the same year,
entitled “La nef des folz du monde.
” Our countryman
Alexander Barclay (See Barclay) was the author of the
English metrical version printed by Pynson in 1509.
The bibliographical history of Brandt’s work may be seen
in our authorities.
, a French poet, was born at Torigniin Lower Normandy, 1618. He was distinguished
, a French poet, was born at Torigniin Lower Normandy, 1618. He was distinguished chiefly by a translation of Lucan; which, notwithstanding its inflated style, its numerous antitheses, and its various false brilliancies, continued to be long admired. It engaged attention and applause so powerfully at first, that cardinal Mazarine made great promises of advancement to the translator; but died without fulfilling them. But the l>est and the most popular of his works is, the first book of Lucan travestied, an ingenious satire upon the great, who are described as never losing a moment’s sight of their greatness and titles; and upon the meanness and servility of those who, with a view of making their fortunes, submit to flatter them as gods. It is said of Brebeuf,. that he bad a fever upon him for more twenty years. He died in 1661, aged 4S; and, if the last anecdote of him be true, it is somewhat marvellous that he lived so long.
, a member of the French academy of sciences, was born at Paris, Sept. 14, 1713, of a
, a member of the French academy of sciences, was born at Paris, Sept. 14, 1713, of a good family, and after having studied humanities in the Mazarin college, and a course of philosophy in the college of Beauvais, applied himself more particularly to medicine and law, and the oriental languages in the royal college. The great progress which he made in the latter, occasioned his being invited to Rheims to teach these languages, and to fill a professor’s chair; but this he declined out of respect to his father, who wished him to appear at the bar. Neither this, however, nor languages, were to his own liking, and his parents, after some consideration, allowed him to pursue his inclination for medicine, and natural history, to which he added a taste for general literature and criticism. In 1737, he began to give extracts from the London Philosophical Transactions, and this with so much judgment and ability as to excite the attention of the literati of France, who after revolving the plan, conceived that a translation of the Transactions with notes would be more useful than these extracts, and agreed that M. de Bremond should be requested to undertake it. He accordingly began the work, and published four vols. 4to. including the years 1731—1736, withacomplete index, and notes pointing out where the subjects are treated in the memoirs of other learned bodies, or in separate publications: some of these notes are complete dissertations. The royal society, on this, honoured him with the title of secretary; and on March 18, 1739, he was admitted into the French royal academy of sciences. The same year he read a learned paper on respiration. He joined afterwards with M. Morand, a celebrated surgeon, in collecting and translating all the English publications respecting Mrs. Stephens’s remedy for the stone, which once was thought infallible. He translated likewise Dr. Halley’s experiments on sea water, and Hauksbee’s experiments, 2 vols. 12mo; and Murdoch’s new loxodromic tables, for the construction of marine charts. This industrious writer died March 21, 1742, aged only twenty-nine. His eloge was composed by M. cle Mairan, then secretary to the academy.
, a learned member of the French academy, and of that of Inscriptions, was born in the country
,
a learned member of the French academy, and of that of
Inscriptions, was born in the country of Caux in 1715, and
died at Paris in 1795, aged eighty. His youth was spent
in the acquisition of the learned languages, and he afterwards came to Paris to enjoy the company of the literati
of that metropolis. Being sent to England to search
for materials respecting the French history, he published
the result in a paper in the Memoirs of the Academy of
inscriptions in 1767, by which we find that he collected
in the British Museum, and the Tower of London, an invaluable treasure of letters and papers relative to the his-,
tory, laws, and constitution of France, which papers had
till then been unknown to the literary world. The same
Memoir concludes with some anecdotes relative to the famous siege of Calais in 1346, which do little honour to the
memory of Eustache de St. Pierre, and are, by no means,
consistent with the encomiums that have been lavished on
him, on account of his heroic patriotism. Brequigny was
of a very communicative disposition, and loved to encourage young men of learning, by lending them his books
and manuscripts, and imparting his ideas of any subject on
which they might be employed. In his writings, his style
is clear and simple, and he had the happy talent of extracting with judgment and accuracy, of which he left many
proofs in his notices inserted in the Journal des Savans,
and in the Memoirs of the Academy of inscriptions, to
which he was a frequent contributor. The substance of a
curious paper of his, on the life and character of Mahomet,
may be seen in the Monthly Review, vol. XXXIV. (1768.)
His principal works are, 1. “Histoire des Revolutions de
Genes,
” Paris, Strabo,
” vol. I. Gr. and Lat. Vies dfes anciens orateurs Grecs,
” with a translation of
many of their orations, Diplomata,
Chartaj ad res Franciscas spectantia,
” 4to. 5. “Table
chronologique des diplomes, chartes, et titres relatifs a
i'histoire de France,
” Ordonnances
des rois de France de la troisieme race:
” of this important
collection Brequigny published the last six volumes, enriched with learned notes and curious dissertations on the
ancient legislation of France. He also compiled and published in 1764, 8vo, the catalogue of the library of Clermont.
tion of the works of Claude Henrys, 1708, 2 vols. fol. and afterwards a work of great utility in the French law, which he undertook at the request of the chancellor D'Aguesseau,
, advocate of
the parliament of Paris, and an eminent law writer and
pleader, was born at Montrotier, about four leagues from
Lyons, Feb. 24, 1656. After studying languages and philosophy at Lyons, he came to Paris in 1677 to apply himself to law, and in 1680 was appointed an advocate. Having conceived a preference to the written over the common law, -he made the former his particular study, and
traced its origin with the true spirit of an antiquary. This
course of study produced a very much improved edition of
the works of Claude Henrys, 1708, 2 vols. fol. and afterwards a work of great utility in the French law, which he
undertook at the request of the chancellor D'Aguesseau,
entitled “Recueil des principals questions de droit qui
se jugent diversement dans differens tribunaux du royaume,
”
ril 1744 he received the command of the Sunderland of 60 guns, and next year was on a cruise off the French coast, and in February captured a small French frigate richly
, a naval officer, of whose family we have
no account, was, soon after the rupture had taken place
with Spain, appointed commander of the Grampus sloop
of war. From this vessel he was, March 25, 1741, promoted to be captain of the Roebuck, a fifth rate of 40
guns, and immediately afterwards ordered to the Mediterranean from which he returned in May 1742, and in.
November following was removed into the Anglesea, of
the same rate as the former. In April 1744 he received
the command of the Sunderland of 60 guns, and next year
was on a cruise off the French coast, and in February captured a small French frigate richly laden, and with 24,000
pieces of eight in specie. Soon after his return into port he
was ordered ta Louisburgh, with some other ships of war, for
the purpose of reinforcing commodore Warren, who was
then engaged in the attack of that important place. Capt.
Brett arrived early enough before it surrendered to distinguish himself by his spirit and activity in the service.
He afterwards commanded the St. George of 90 guns for a
short time, but having been unwarrantably omitted in the
promotion of flag-officers, which took place in 1756, he
very spiritedly resolved to quit the service for ever, though
on his remonstrance, previous to his actual declaration of
this resolution, the admiralty-board, ashamed of having,
even for a moment, set aside a brave and deserving man,
offered him the rank of rear-admiral of the white, the same
which he would have been entitled to in the ordinary course
of service, if the partiality in favour of others had not
been exerted. His answer to this palliating proposal was,
“No rank or station can be, with honour, received by a
person who has been once thought undeserving or unentitled to it.
” From this time he retired into private life,
and survived two long wars, in neither of which he waa
engaged. He died in London in 1785. He translated
two volumes of father Feyjoo’s Discourses, the one published in 1777, and the other in 1779; and in 1730, “Essays, or Discourses, selected from the works of Feyjoo.
”
The late Charles Brett, esq. one of the lords of the admiralty, who died in 1799, and Timothy Brett, clerk of
the cheque at Portsmouth, who died in 1790, were brothers of capt. Brett.
ed the channel, on Tuesday, July 9, he gave a more distinguished proof of his courage, in engaging a French man of war of 64 guns, and another ship of 16, both which, after
In April 1745, he was appointed captain of the Lion, of 60 guns. After capturing the Mediator sloop of war, and a privateer which had long infested the channel, on Tuesday, July 9, he gave a more distinguished proof of his courage, in engaging a French man of war of 64 guns, and another ship of 16, both which, after a most desperate battle, he obliged to sheer off: the 64 gun ship got into Brest, quite disabled, having the captain and sixty-four men killed, and one hundred and thirty-six dangerously wounded. Of the Lion’s men, forty-five were killed, and one hundred and seven wounded; among the latter was capt. Brett, his master, and all his lieutenants. The bravery manifested by him on this occasion was the more important to his country, from the circumstance of the ship which he engaged being convoy to the frigate in which the son of the Pretender, then on his passage to Scotland, had embarked; and thus the money and arms intended for Scotland did not reach it in time to be of any service.
red, but we find it peremptorily asserted in the periodical publications of the time, that five more French ships were brought into Portsmouth, and three into Plymouth.
In 1747 he commanded the Yarmouth, of 64 guns, one
of the squadron under Mr. Anson, which, in the month of
May, defeated and captured that of France, commanded
by De la Jonquiere. He was one of the captains sent
after the conclusion of the action in pursuit of the convoy,
of which, Dr. Campbell and other historians assert, two
only were captured, but we find it peremptorily asserted
in the periodical publications of the time, that five more
French ships were brought into Portsmouth, and three
into Plymouth. On Jan. 3, 1753, he received the honour
of knighthood from his majesty, in consequence of his
having carried him to Holland; and towards the end of the
year he was appointed captain of the Caroline yacht, as
successor to Sir C. Molloy. In 1758, he was commodore
in the Downs, having his pendant on board the Norfolk,
and was in the same year appointed first captain to lord
Anson, in the Royal George, who commanded in the channel, the covering-fleet to the squadron employed under
lord Howe on the coast of France. On the conclusion of
this expedition he returned to his command in the Downs.
In March 1760 he was appointed colonel of the Portsmouth division of marines. In 1761, still continuing to
hold the Downs command, we find him frequently and
actively employed in reconnoitering the opposite coast
and ports of France. In December, having hoisted his
pendant on board the Newark, he was ordered for the
Mediterranean with seven ships of war, as second in command to sir Charles Saunders, and shared, as a flag, in the
rich Spanish prize, the Hermione. In the course of the
same year he was advanced to the rank of rear-admiral of
the red. From this time he appears never to have accepted
any command, but Dec. 13, 1766, was appointed one of
the lords of the admiralty, an office which he held until
Feb. 24, 1770. In October of that year he was promoted to be vice-admiral of the blue, and on the 28th
of the same month, to be vice-admiral of the white; March
1775, was admiral of the red, and finally, in Jan. 1778,
admiral of the blue. He died Oct. 12, 1781, and was
buried at Beckenham church, in Kent. His biographer
adds, that “whether living or dead, the vice of slander
and malevolence was abashed at his manifold virtues, ever
silent, not only at his approach, but even at the bare mention of his name.
” In the last parliament of George II.
and the first of George III. he sat as member for Queenborough, in Kent. In 1745, after his return from the
South Seas with Anson, he married Henrietta, daughter
of Thomas Colby, esq. clerk of the cheque at Chatham;
by whom he had two sons, who died young, and a daughter
who survived him.
, a French antiquary, was born Sept. 17, 1528, and entered the society
, a French antiquary, was born Sept. 17, 1528, and entered the society
of the Benedictines of St. Germain -des-Pres in 1549. He
published in 1601 an edition of Isidorus, fol.; and 1. “Le
Theatre des Antiquity’s de Paris,
” Supplementum antiquitatum Parisiensium,
” Antiquities of
Paris,
” published in Les Pastes de Paris,
”
by Bonfons, improved by our author, La Vie du cardinal Charles de Bourbon,
” uncle of
Henry IV. 1612, 4to. 5. “Chronicon Abbatum regalis
monast S. Germani a Pratis,
”
in June 1629. Together with divers politic discourses upon several occasions. Written originally in French, by the duke of Rohan, and now Englished by George Bridges,
, translator of the duke de Rohan’s
Memoirs, was the younger brother of sir Thomas Bridges,
of Keinsham abbey in Somersetshire, and son of Edward
Bridges, esq. of the same place, by Philippa, daughter of
sir George Speke, K. B. He died Jan. 1, 1677, and was
buried in Keinsham church. His translation was entitled
“The Memoirs of the Duke of Rohan or a faithful relation of the most remarkable occurrences iij France, especially those concerning the reformed churches there; from
the death of Henry the Great until the peace made with
them, in June 1629. Together with divers politic discourses upon several occasions. Written originally in
French, by the duke of Rohan, and now Englished by
George Bridges, of Lincoln’s-inn, esq.
” London,
, an able French geographer, was born at Abbeville in 1601, and entered the society
, an able French geographer, was born
at Abbeville in 1601, and entered the society of Jesuits in
1619. He taught humanities seven years, rhetoric seventeen, and was some time prefect of the classes, and lectured on the holy scriptures. His private character corresponded with his learning. He was appointed joint librarian with father Cossart of the library of the Jesuits’
college in Paris, where he died Dec. 9, 1668. He published, 1 “Xenia Delphino oblata nomine collegii Rothomagensis,
” Rouen, Parallela geographies
veteris et novae,
” 1648 and 1649, three volumes, 4to, a
very exact and methodical work, and ornamented with
plates well designed. These volumes, however, contain,
only Europe; and it can never be enough regretted, says
Niceron, that he did not publish the Parallels of Asia and
Africa, which were assuredly finished and ready, but somehow or other lost. He published also, 3. “Annales mundi,
”
in 7 vols. 12mo, from the beginning of the world to the
year of Christ 1663, often reprinted and enlarged; and
“Theatrum geographicum Europae veteris,
” Elogium patris
Jacobi Sirmundi,
” Paris, Acute dicta
omnium veterum poetarum Latinorum,
” Paris, Philippi Labbe et P.
Brietii concordia chronologica,
” Paris,
, an eminent French physician, was born at Fontenai-le-Comte, in Poitou, 147s, and
, an eminent French physician, was
born at Fontenai-le-Comte, in Poitou, 147s, and about
1495 was sent to Paris, where he went through a course
of philosophy under Villemar, a famous professor of those
times. By his advice, Brissot resolved to be a physician,
and studied physic there for four years. Then he began
to teach philosophy in the university of Paris; and, after
he had done this for ten years, prepared himself for the
examinations necessary to his doctor of physic’s degree,
which he took in May 1514, Being one of those men
who are not contented with custom and tradition, but
choose to examine for themselves, he made an exact comparison between the practice of his own times and the
doctrine of Hippocrates and Galen and he found that the
Arabians had introduced many things into physic that were
contrary to the doctrine of those two great masters, and to
reason and experience. He set himself therefore to reform physic; and for this purpose undertook publicly to
explain Galen’s books, instead of those of Avicenna, Rhasis, and Mesu'i, which were commonly explained in the
schools of physic; but, finding himself obstructed in the
work of reformation by his ignorance of botany, he resolved
to travel, in order to acquire the knowledge of plants, and
put himself into a capacity of correcting pharmacy. Before, however, he left Paris, he undertook to convince the
public of what he deemed an inveterate error; but which
now is considered as a matter of little consequence. The
constant practice of physicians, in the pleurisy, Was to
bleed from the arm, not on the side where the distemper
was, but the opposite side. Brissot disputed about it in
the physic-schools, confuted that practice, and shewed,
chat it was falsely pretended to be agreeable to the doctrine of Hippocrates and Galen. He then left Paris in
1518, and went to Portugal, stopping there at Ebora,
where he practised physic; but his new way of bleeding
in the pleurisy, notwithstanding his great success, did not
please every body, He received a long and rude letter
about it from Denys, physician to the king of Portugal;
which he answered, and would have published if death had
not prevented him in 1522. It was printed, however, three
years after at Paris, and reprinted at Basil in 1529. Renatus Moreau published a new edition of it at Paris in
1622, with a treatise of his own, “De missione sanguinis
in pleuritide,
” and the life of Brissot; out of which this
account is taken. He never would marry, being of opinion
that matrimony did not well agree with study. One thing
is related of him, which his biographer, rather uncharitably, says, deserves to be taken notice of, because it is
singular in the men of his profession; and it is, that he
did not love gain. He cared so little for it, that when he
was called to a sick person, he looked into his purse; and,
if he found but two pieces of gold in it, refused to go.
This, however, it is acknowledged, was owing to his great
love of study, from which it was very difficult to take him.
The dispute between Denys and Brissot raised a kind of
civil war among the Portuguese physicians. The business
was brought before the tribunal of the university of Salamanca, Where it was thoroughly discussed by the faculty
of physic; but in the mean time, the partisans of Denys
had recourse to the authority of the secular power, and
obtained a decree, forbidding physicians to bleed on the
same side in which the pleurisy was. At last the university of Salamanca gave their judgment; importing, that
the opinion of Brissot was the true doctrine of Hippocrates
and Galen. The followers of Denys appealed to the emperor about 1529, thinking themselves superior both in
authority and number; and the matter was brought before
Charles V. They were not contented to call the doctrine
of their adversaries false; they added that it was impious,
mortal, and as pernicious to the body as Luther’s schism
to the souL They not only blackened the reputation of
their adversaries by private arts, but also openly accused
them of ignorance and rashness, of attempts on religion,
and of being downright Lutherans in physic. It fell out
Unluckily for them, that Charles III. duke of Savoy, happened to die of a pleurisy, after he had been bled according to the practice which Brissot opposed. Had it not
been for this, the emperor, it is thought, would have granted every thing that Erissot’s adversaries desired of him;
but this accident induced him to leave the cause undecided.
“Two things,
” says Bayle, in his usual prattling way,
“occur in this relation, which all wise men must needs
condemn; namely, the base, the disingenuous, the unphilosophic custom of interesting religion in disputes about
science, and the folly and absurdity of magistrates to be
concerned in such disputes. A magistrate is for the most
part a very incompetent judge of such matters; and, as he
Jiiiows nothing of them, so he ought to imitate Gallio in
this at least, that is, not to care for them; but to leave
those whose business it is, to fight it out among themselves.
Besides, authority has nothing to do with philosophy and
the sciences; it should be kept at a great distance from
them, for the same reason that armed forces are removed
from a borough at the time of a % general assize; namely,
that reason and equity may have their full play.
”
, a very active agent in the French revolution, and a victim to the tyranny he had created, was
, a very
active agent in the French revolution, and a victim to the
tyranny he had created, was the son of the master of an
eating-house, and boru in 1754 at Chartres in the Orleanuois. After receiving a good education, he was intended
for the bar, but having served a clerkship for five years,
he relinquished the further prosecution of the law, in order to study literature and the sciences; and an accidental
acquaintance with some Englishmen, and the perusal of
some English books, seem to have confirmed this determination. About this time he changed the appellation of
“de Otiarville
” to that of Warville, agreeable to the English pronunciation. Having by relinquishing the law incurred his father’s displeasure, he was indebted to the
bounty of some friends, who enabled him to prosecute his
studies at Paris for two years; after which he became editor of the “Courier de PEurope,
” a paper printed at Boulogne; but this being discontinued on account of some articles inimical to government, he returned to Paris, and in
imitation of Voltaire, Diderot, and D'Alembert, who, as
he imagined, had destroyed religious tyranny, began to
attempt the destruction of political tyranny, which he fancied was reserved for his irresistible pen. To develope the
whole of his plan, however, was not his aim at first: and
he began, therefore, with attacking such abuses as might
have been removed without any injury to an established constitution, but which, as they could not be wholly denied, he
endeavoured to trace from the very nature of monarchy.
With this view he published some works on criminal jurisprudence, as, in 1780, his “Theory of Criminal laws,
” 2
vols. 8vo, and two papers arising out of the subject, which
gained the prize in 1782, at the academy of Chalons-surMarne. He also began a work which was afterwards completed in 10 vols. 8vo, <c A philosophical library of the
criminal law,“and a volume concerning
” Truth“and
” Thoughts on the means of attaining Truth in all the
branches of human knowledge," which he intended merely as an introduction to a work on a more enlarged and
comprehensive plan. To all these he annexed ideas of singular importance and utility, although his notions are
crude, and his knowledge superficial.
liberty. But his return was hastened in 1789 by the intelligence he received of the progress of the French revolution. After his arrival, he published his “Travels in
Brissot, at the period of his residence at Boulogne, had
been introduced to mademoiselle Dupont, who was employed under mad. de Genlis as reader to the daughter of
the duke of Orleans, and whose mother kept a lodginghouse in that place: and having married this lady, he
found it necessary to exert his literary talents for gaining
a subsistence. But as France did not afford that liberty,
which he wished to indulge, he formed a design of printing,
in Swisserland or Germany, a series of works in a kind of
periodical publication, under the title of “An universal
Correspondence on points interesting to the welfare of
Man and of Society,
” which he proposed to smuggle into
France. With this view, he visited Geneva and Neuchatel, in order to establish correspondences; and he also
made a journey to London, which was to be the central
point of the establishment, and the fixed residence of the
writers. His intentions, however, were divulged by the
treachery of some of his confidential associates; and the
scheme totally failed. During his abode in London, he
concerted the plan of a periodical work or journal, on the
literature, arts, and politics of England, which, being published in London, was allowed to be reprinted at Paris, and
first appeared in 1784. The avowed object of this publication, as he himself declares, was “the universal
emancipation of men.
” In London, he was arrested for debt;
but, being liberated by the generosity of a friend, he returned to Paris, where he was committed to the Bastille
in July 1784, on the charge of being concerned in a very
obnoxious publication. But by the interest of the duke
of Orleans, he was released, on condition of never residing
in England, and discontinuing his political correspondence.
In 1785, he published two letters to the emperor Joseph
II. “Concerning the Right of Emigration, and the Right
of the People to revolt,
” which he applied particularly to
the case of the Waiachsans: and in the following year appeared his “Philosophical Letters on the History of England,
” in 2 vols. and “A critical Examination of the Travels of the marq is de Chatelleux in North America.
” With
a view of promoting a close, political, and commercial
union between France and the United States, he wrote in
1787, with the assistance of Claviere, a tract, entitled
“De la France et des Etats Unis, &c.
” “On France and
the United States or on the Importance of the American
Revolution to the kingdom of France, and the reciprocal
advantages which will accrue from a commercial Intercourse between the two nations.
” Of this work, an English translation was published, both in England and America. At this time he was in the service of the duke of
Orleans, as secretary to his chancery, with a handsome
salary, and apartments in the palais royal; and, without
doubt, employed in aiding that monster in his schemes of
ambition. In this situation, he wro:e a pamphlet against
the administration of the archbishop of Sens, entitled “No
Bankruptcy, &c.
” which occasioned the issuing of a lettre
de cachet against him. But to avoid its effect, he went
to Holland, England, and the Low Countries; and at
Mechlin, he edited a newspaper, called “Le Courier Beigique.
” For the purpose of promoting the views of a society at Paris, denominated “Les Amis des Noirs,
” and
established for the purpose of abolishing negro slavery, he
embarked for America in 1788; and, during his residence
in that country, he sought for a convenient situation, in
which a colony of Frenchmen might be organized into a
republic, according to his ideas of political liberty. But
his return was hastened in 1789 by the intelligence he
received of the progress of the French revolution. After
his arrival, he published his “Travels in America;
” (Nouveau Voyage dans les Etats Unis, &. Paris, 1791, 3 vols. 8vo), and as he found the attention of the public directed
to the approaching assembly of the states-general, he
wrote his “Plan of Conduct for the Deputies of the People.
” At this time, he had withdrawn from the partisans of
the duke of Orleans; and he took an active part in the
plans that were then projected for the organization of the
people, with a view to their union and energy in accomplishing the revolution. To the lodgings of Brissot, as a
person who was held in estimation at this period, the keys
of the Bastille, when it was taken, were conveyed; he also
became president of the Jacobin club; and he distinguished
himself in various ways as a zealous promoter of those
revolutionary principles, which afterwards gave occasion
to a great jiumber of atrocious excesses. After the king’s
flight to Varennes, Brissot openly supported the republican
cause; but, as some form of monarchy was still the object
of the national wish, he was obliged to restrain his impetuosity. The popularity acquired by his writings and
conduct was such, as to induce the Parisians to return him
as one of their members in the “Legislative national assembly,
” which succeeded the “Constituent assembly,
”
in October Girondists
” or “La Gironde,
” the name of the department
to which several of its members belonged, and also from
his own name “Brissotins.
” In his career of ambition, he
does not seem to have been influenced by pecuniary cc nsiderations; power, more than wealth, being the object of
his aim; for, at this time, he and his family lodged in an
apartment up four pair of stairs, and subsisted on his stipend as deputy, and the inconsiderable gains accruing
from a newspaper. As a determined enemy to monarchy,
he was unremitting in his efforts to engage the nation in a
war, with the avowed purpose of involving the king and
his ministers in difficulties which would terminate in their
ruin, and this part of his political conduct must ever be
lamented and execrated by the friends of freedom and of
mankind. In the impeachment of M. Delessart, the minister for foreign affairs, Brissot took a principal lead; and
alleged against him several articles of accusation, in consequence of which, he was apprehended, tried by the high
national court at Orleans, and condemned to die, without
being h'rst heard in his own defence, so that he became
the first victim to that desperate faction, which afterwards
deluged France with blood. His colleagues were so complex ly terrified by this event, that they requested leave to
resign, and the ministry was at once completely dissolved.
Their successors, appointed by the king, under the direction and inriuence of Brissot, were Dumourier, Roland, and
Ciaviere. This appointment was followed bya declaration
of war, decreed by the national assembly, against the king
of Hungary and Bohemia; and Brissot, during the existence of this administration, which terminated soon, was
considered as the most powerful person in France. About
this time, Brissot began to entertain secret jealousy and
suspicion of La Fayette, and concurred with other members of the assembly, in signing an accusation against him,
which, however, he was not able to substantiate. He and his
republican party were likewise industrious in their endeavours to throw an odium on the court, by alleging, that a
private correspondence was carried on between the king
and queen and the emperor; and they even averred, that
an “Austrian Committee,
” and a conspiracy in favour of
the enemies of the country, existed among the friends of
the court. The charge seemed to be unsupported by sufficient evidence; the king publicly contradicted these accusations as calumnies; nevertheless, they made no small
impression on the minds of the public. To the writings
and conduct of Brissot, the horrid massacres at the Tuiileries, on the 10th of August, 1792, have been principally
ascribed; and it is a poor excuse that he is said to have
preserved the lives of several of the Swiss guards on that
fatal day. He was employed to draw up the declaration to
the neutral powers concerning the suspension of the king’s
authority; but he is said to have regarded with horror the
sanguinary spirit that was now predominant among the
leaders of the jacobins. Whilst, indeed, he was ascending
to the pinnacle of power, he seems to have been the ardent
advocate of insurrection and the revolutionary power: but
as he found himself raised to that station, he began to inculcate “order and the constitution,
” the usual cant of all
demagogues who think they have attained their object.
In the shocking massacre of the prisoners at Paris in September, he had probably no other concern, than the inwhich his irritating speeches and writings had
created on the minds of the more active agents. When
the “National convention,
” the idea of which is said to
have been suggested by him, assumed the direction of the
state, and assembled on the 20th of September, 1792, he
was returned as member for the department of Eure and
Loire, his native country. In this assembly, he openly
avowed himself an advocate for a republican government,
in opposition both to the Jacobins and Orleanists; and was
expelled the Jacobin club. On this occasion, he wrote a
vindication of his public conduct, under the title of “An
Address to all the Republicans.
” He is said to have been
so far shocked by the prospect of the fatal issue of the
king’s trial, as to have attempted the preservation of his
life, by deferring his execution till the constitution should
be perfected; a proposition of which the absurdity and
cruelty are nearly equal. The war with England, which
soon followed the death of Louis, is ascribed to his ardour
find credulity; for he was led to imagine, that the consequence of it would be a civil war in this country; and it is
said, that this, as well as the war with Holland, was decreed
in the national convention, Feb. 1, 1793, at his motion.
This charge, however, he retorts on his accusers, and says,
that the anarchists, by voting the death of the king, were
themselves the authors of the war,
“Chordigera,”. where in three hundred hexameter verses, he described a battle fought that year by a French ship, la Cordeliere, and an English ship, the Regent. More,
, a learned Frenchman, was born about the end of the fifteenth century, at
Auxerre, or in that diocese; and in his education made
great progress in the learned languages, particularly the
Greek, from which he translated into Latin, Chrysostom’s
treatise on the priesthood; his first eight homilies on the
epistle of St. Paul to the Romans, and some other works,
which contributed very much to his reputation. He used
frequently to compose Greek verses, with which he entertained the literati at his house, where they were sure of an
open table. From 1512 he was secretary to queen Anne,
and archdeacon of Albi. In 1515 he had a canonry conferred upon him in the church of Auxerre, which, in 1520,
he resigned, on being promoted to the same rank at Paris.
He calls himself almoner to the king in the title of his rare
book “Germani Brixii, gratulatoriae quatuor ad totidem
viros classissimos, &c.
” Paris, Christ. Longolii perduellionis rei detensiones duae,
” Chordigera,
”.
where in three hundred hexameter verses, he described a
battle fought that year by a French ship, la Cordeliere,
and an English ship, the Regent. More, who was not
then in the high station which he afterwards reached, composed several epigrams in derision of this poem. Brixius,
piqued at this affront, revenged himself by the “AntiMorus,
” an elegy of about Flores
Epigrammatum
” of Leodegarius a Quercu, or Leger du
Che'ne. The third is in the “Corpus Poetarum Latinorum
” collected by Janus Gruterus, under the anagrammatic name of Ranutius Gerus. Erasmus says that More
despised this poem so much as to have intended to print
it; Erasmus at the same time advised More to take no notice of it. The chancellor’s great-grandson and biographer,
More, seems to think that he had written something in
answer to Brixius, before he received this advice from
Erasmus, but called in the copies, “so that,
” says his
biographer, “it is now very hard to be found; though
some have seen it of late.
” Much correspondence on the
subject may be perused in our authorities.
ened, he took the liberty to apply it to future events. In this he succeeded so far as to persuade a French gentleman of noble extraction, and a Protestant, that a Protestant
, a man of a visionary turn, was a native of Venice, born in the beginning of the sixteenth century. He embraced the Protestant religion, and expressed a great zeal against Popery. He published several books in Holland, in which he maintained that the particular events of the sixteenth century had been foretold by the prophets, and after he had applied scripture, as his fancy directed, to things that had already happened, he took the liberty to apply it to future events. In this he succeeded so far as to persuade a French gentleman of noble extraction, and a Protestant, that a Protestant prince would quickly overthrow the Pope’s kingdom, and make himself the head of all the united Christians. This gentleman, Segur Pardaillan, was a faithful servant to the ing of Navarre, afterwards Henry IV. and thought heaven designed his master for the glorious enterprise which Brocardus had foretold. Big with these hopes, he proposed to him to send an embassy to the Protestant princes, offering to be his ambassador; and there being nothing in his proposal but what suited with the exigencies of the time, it was approved of, and he was actually deputed to those princes in 1583.
blished “Letters from Juliet lady Catesby to her friend lady Henrietta Campley,” translated from the French, 12mo. She soon afterwards went to Canada with her husband,
In 1763 she published a novel, entitled, “The History
of Lady Julia Mandeville,
” concerning the plan of which
there were various opinions, though of the execution there
seems to have been but one. It was read with much
avidity and general approbation. It has been often, however, wished that the catastrophe had been less melancholy; and of the propriety of this opinion the authoress
herself is said to have been satisfied, but did not choose to
make the alteration. In the same year she published
“Letters from Juliet lady Catesby to her friend lady Henrietta Campley,
” translated from the French, 12mo. She
soon afterwards went to Canada with her husband, who
was chaplain to the garrison at Quebec; and there saw
those romantic scenes so admirably painted in her next
work, entitled, “The History of Emily Montagu,
” Memoirs of
the Marquis of St. Forlaix,
” in 4 vols. 12mo. On her return to England accident brought her acquainted with Mrs.
Yates, and an intimacy was formed between them which
lasted as long as that lady lived; and when she died, Mrs.
Brooke did honour to her memory by a eulogium printed
in the Gentleman’s Magazine. If we are not mistaken,
Mrs. Brooke had with Mrs. Yates fora time some share in
the opera-house. She certainly had some share of the
libellous abuse which the management of that theatre during the above period gave birth to. We have already
seen that her first play had been refused by Mr. Garrick.
After the lapse of several years she was willing once -more
to try her fortune at the theatre, and probably relying on
the influence of Mrs. Yates to obtain its representation,
produced a tragedy which had not the good fortune to
please the manager. He therefore rejected it; and by
that means excited the resentment of the authoress so
much that she took a severe revenge on him in a novel
published in 1777, entitled the “Excursion,
” in 2 vols.
12mo. It is not certainly known whether this rejected
tragedy is or is not the same as was afterwards acted at
Covent-garden. If it was, it will furnish no impeachment
of Mr. Garrick’s judgment. It ought, however, <to be
added, that our authoress, as is said, thought her invective too severe; lamented and retracted it. In 1771 she
translated “Elements of the History of England, from
the invasion of the Romans to the reign of George II.
from the abbe Millot,
” in 4 vols. 12mo. In January 1781,
the “Siege of Sinope,
” a tragedy, was acted at Coventgarden. This piece added but little to her reputation,
though the principal characters were well supported by
Mr. Henderson and Mrs. Yates. It went nine nights, but
never became popular; it wanted energy, and had not
much originality; there was little to disapprove, but nothing to admire. Her next and most popular performance
was “Rosina,
” acted at Covent-garden in December Marian,
” acted
onger adequate. On his way to Madrid, he had the honour to give a specimen of his talents before the French king at Paris; and we are told by Riccoboni, that all the audience
In the year 1737, when he had reached the summit of
fame, he appeared for the last time on the stage at London;
from whence he departed for the court of Spain, whither
he was invited through the solicitations of queen Elizabeth,
vho had known his excellence at Parma. Her design was,
by the ravishing notes of this great master, to wean her
spouse king Philip V. from his passion for the chace, to
which his strength was no longer adequate. On his way
to Madrid, he had the honour to give a specimen of his
talents before the French king at Paris; and we are told
by Riccoboni, that all the audience were so astonished at
hearing him, that the French, who otherwise detested the
Italian music, began from that time to waver in their notions. He had scarcely set his foot in Madrid, but the
king hastened to hear him; and was so much taken with
the agreeableness of his song, that he immediately settled
on him, by a royal edict, a salary equal to what he had
received in England, together with an exemption from all
public taxes, as a person destined to his familiar converse;
and granted him, besides, the court equipages and livery,
free of all expence. He could not pass a day without him;
not only on account of his vocal abilities, but more on account of the agreeable talents he possessed for conversation. He spoke French and Italian elegantly, had some
knowledge of the English and German, and in a short time
learnt the Castilian. By his courtesy and discretion he
gained the affection of every one. In his converse he was
sincere to an uncommon degree, even towards the royal
personages who honoured him with their intimacy; and it
was jchiefly this that induced the monarch to set so high
a value on him. His first words, when he waked in the
morning, were regularly these: “Let Farinello be told
that I expect him this evening at the usual hour.
” Towards midnight Farinello appeared, and was -never dismissed till break of day, when he betook himself to rest,
in the apartments assigned him in the palace, though he
had likewise a house in the city. To the king he never
sung more than two or three pieces; and, what will seem
almost incredible, they were every evening the same.
Excepting when the king was to go to the holy sacrament
on the following day, Farinello was never at liberty to get
a whole night’s sleep.
, an eminent French musician, born in 1660, in the former part 'of his life had
, an eminent French
musician, born in 1660, in the former part 'of his life
had been prebendary and chapel-master of the cathedral
church of Strasburgh, but afterwards became grand
chaplain and chapel-master in the cathedral of Meaux.
He published a work entitled “Prodromus Musicalis,
on elevations et motets a voix seule, avec une Basse
continue,
” 2 vols. fol. the second edition in 1702;
but his most useful book was his “Dictionnaire de Musique,
” Amst.
, a French writer of great learning, was born at Dijon, in 1709, and became
, a French writer of great
learning, was born at Dijon, in 1709, and became a counsellor of parliament, in 1730, and president a worker in
1742. During the leisure which his public employments
afforded, he cultivated most of the sciences, and was allowed to be well acquainted with all. Voltaire only has
attacked his literary reputation, and this his countrymen
ascribe to the malice which that writer was seldom anxious
to conceal. Buffon, on the contrary, regarded him as a
scholar of the first rank, an acute philosopher, and an original and valuable writer; nor was he less estimable in
private life. In 1774 he was appointed president of the
parliament of Burgundy, but died soon after, at Paris, in
1777, whither he had come to visit his married daughter.
He was a member of the academy of Dijon, of the inscriptions and belles lettres, and other learned societies. He
wrote: 1. “Lettres sur la Decouverte de la ville d'Herculaneum,
” Histoire des Navigations aux
Terres Australes,
” Du
culte des dieux Fetiches, ou parallele de l'ancienne idolatrie avec celle des peuples de Nigritie,
” Traite de la formation mecanique des Langues,
”
Histoire de
la Republique Romaine dans la cours du VII siecle, par
Salluste,
” Dijon, 3 vols. 4to. This may be accounted his
principal work, and was long his principal employment.
He was so sensible of the loss of Sal lust’s principal work,
that he resolved to collect his fragments with greater care
than had ever been employed before; and by the most
accurate arrangement to trace out as near as possible the
plan and chief features of that work, and then to connect
these fragments in the manner of Freinshemius in his
“Fragmenta Livii.
” But as De Brosses soon became
sensible of the difficulty of assimilating his Latin diction
to that of Sallust, he changed his first design, and resolved
on translating both the fragments and his author’s histories
of the Catilinarian and Jugurthine wars into French, and
to attempt to supply the lost work from other ancient
writers. The first volume opens with a preface containing
remarks on the various methods of writing history, and
some information concerning Roman names, ranks, magistracies, and elections. The body of the work itself begins
with a translation of, and commentary on, Sallust’s Jugurthine war. The notes subjoined to this part treat chiefly
of the geography and population of Africa, and the text is
illustrated by a map of Africa, a plan of Meteilus’s march
against Jugurtha, and its illustration by a military connoisseur. After this follows the restoration of Sallust’s five
books, continued in vol. II. comprizing the war with Mithridates: a description of the Pontus Euxinus, with the
adjacent countries; the Gladiatorian war, raised by Spartacus, and the war of Greta. The third volume contains a
translation of the Catilinarian war, with its sequel, illustrated with historical and political notes; Sallust’s two letters to Caesar, commonly styled “Orat. de Rep. ordinanda,
” which De Brosses considers as genuine; a very minute collection of all the notices of Sallust’s life, writings,
gardens, buildings, and even of the remains discovered in
later times. The whole concludes with the abb Cassagne’s “Essay on the Art of composing History, and on
the works of Sailust.‘-’ Industrious as M. de Brosses has
been in this work, we believe that in the life of Sailust, at
least, he has been improved upon by Henry Stuart, esq.
in his late elaborate publication,
” The works of Sailust,“1806, 2 vols. 4to, Besides these, De Brosses contributed
many learned papers to the Paris and Dijon memoirs, but
his family disown 3 vols. of
” Lettres historiques et critiques sur l'Italie," published in 1799 in his name.
, a French Protestant and martyr, was born at Nismes, in 1647, He was an
, a French Protestant and
martyr, was born at Nismes, in 1647, He was an advocate, and distinguished by his 'pleadings at Castres and
Toulouse; and it was at his house that the deputies of the
Protestant churches assembled in 1683: where they took
a resolution to continue to assemble, although their churches
were demolished. The execution of this project occasioned violent conflicts, seditions, executions, and massacres, which ended at length in an amnesty on the part of
Lewis XIV. Brousson retired then to Nismes; but, fearing
to be apprehended with the principal authors of this project, who do not seem to have been comprised within the
amnesty, he became a refugee at Geneva first, and thence
at Lausanne. He shifted afterwards from town to town,
and kingdom to kingdom, to solicit the compassion of
Protestant princes towards his suffering brethren in France.
Returning to his own country, he travelled through several provinces, exercised some time the ministry in the
Cevennes, appeared at Orange, and passed to Berne, in
order to escape his pursuers. He was at length taken at
Oleron, in 1698, and removed to Montpellier; where,
being convicted of having formerly held secret correspondence with the enemies of the state, and of having
preached in defiance of the edicts, he was broke upon the
wheel the same year. He was a man of great eloquence
as well as zeal, greatly esteemed among strangers, and
regarded as a martyr by those of his own persuasion. The
states of Holland added six hundred florins, as a pension
for his widow, to four hundred which had been allowed to
her husband. His writings being principally those which,
arose out of the circumstances in which the reformed
church were then placed, we shall refer to Moreri for the
exact titles and dates, and give only the subjects, namely:
1. “The state of the reformed in France.
” 2. “Letters
to the French clergy in favour of the reformed religion.
”
3. “Letters from the Protestants in France to all other
Protestants,
” printed and circulated at the expence of the
elector of Brandenburg. 4. “Letters to the Roman Catholics.
” 5. “A summary relation of the wonders, wrought
by God in the Cevennes and Lower Languedoc, for the
consolation of his church.
” 6. A volume of Sermons.
7. “Remarks on Amelotte’s translation of the New Testament;
” and some religious tracts, which he published
for circulation in France.
, an eminent French naturalist, was born at Montpellier, Feb. 28, 1761, where his
, an eminent
French naturalist, was born at Montpellier, Feb. 28, 1761,
where his father was a reputable schoolmaster, and soon
discovered in him an insatiable thirst of knowledge, which
we may conclude he assisted him in gratifying. At the
early age of eighteen he was appointed by the university
of Montpellier to fill a professor’s chair, and six years after
he was admitted a member of the academy of sciences by
an unanimous vote, a case which had not occurred from
the foundation of that learned body, but their choice appeared amply justified by the several dissertations on natural history, botany, and medicine, which he published. It
was his earnest wish to establish the system of Linnæus more
extensively in France. With this view, as well as for his own
improvement, he went to Paris, and examined the collections and museums, but not finding sufficient materials for
his purpose, he determined to visit the most celebrated
foreign collections, and came first to England, where he
was admitted an honorary member of the royal society, and
where he began his labours on the celebrated work on
fishes. On his return to Paris, he was appointed perpetual
secretary of the society of agriculture, which the intendant
Berthier de Sauvigny resigned for him. In 1789 he was
appointed a member of the electoral college of Paris, and
like the other electors, was to supply such vacancies as
were occasioned by any interruptions in the exercise of the
office of magistracy; and the day it was his turn to go to
the Hotel de Ville, he saw his friend and protector, Berthier, barbarously murdered by the populace. Broussonet
was then ordered to superintend the provisions of the capital, and was frequently“in danger of his life at that turbulent period. In 1791 he had a seat in the legislative
assembly, but quitted Paris the year following for his
native city, from which he was soon obliged to make his
escape, and after many dangers, arrived at Madrid, where
he was gladly received, and liberally assisted by the literati of that city. There, however, the French emigrants
were so enraged at his having filled any office under the
revolutionary government, that they obliged him to leave
Madrid, and soon after, Lisbon, to which he had removed.
At last he had an opportunity of going out as physician to
an embassy which the United States sent to the emperor
of Morocco, and on this occasion, his friend sir Joseph
Banks, hearing of his distresses, remitted him a credit for
a thousand pounds. After his arrival at Morocco, he employed all his leisure hours in extending his botanical
knowledge, and learning that his native country was recovering from its late anarchy, he solicited and obtained
permission to return, when the directory appointed him
consul at the Canaries. In consequence of this he resided
for two years at Teneriffe. In 1796, on his return, he
was admitted a member of the Institute, and again became
professor of botany at Montpellier, with the direction of
the botanical garden. He was afterwards chosen a member of the legislative body, but died July 27, 1807, at
Montpellier, of an apoplectic stroke. It was to him that
France owes the introduction of the Merino sheep, and
Angola goats. His publications are: 1.
” Varise positiones
circa Respirationem,“Montpellier, 1778. 2.
” Ichthyologia, sistens Piscium descriptiones et icones,“London,
1782, containing descriptions of the most rare fishes.
3.
” Essai sur Phistoire naturelle de quelques especes de
Moines, decrites a la maniere de Linnee,“1784, 8vo,
This is the translation only of a Latin satire on the monks,
the original of which appeared in Germany, in 1783.
4.
” Annee rurale, ou calendrier a I'usage des cultivateurs,“Paris, 1787-8, 2 vols. 12mo. 5.
” Notes pour servir a
Thistoire de l‘ecole de medicine de Montpellier pendant
l’an VI.“Montpellier, J 1 9 5, 8vo. 6.
” La Feuille dn
cultivateur," 1788, and following years, 8 vols. 4to, which
he conducted with Messrs. Parmentier, Dubois, and Lefebure. He contributed also a great many dissertations to
the academy of sciences, the society of agriculture, &c.
and left many works in manuscript.
reek, and Hebrew, with which last he was critically conversant. He could also read and translate the French, Italian, German, Arabic, Persian, Syriac, and Ethiopic, but
, a clergyman of the church of Scotland, who long kept an academy for the education of
young men for the ministry among the class called Seceders in that country, was born in 1722, in a village
called Kerpoo, in the county of Perth. His parents died
when he was very young, leaving him almost destitute,
but by some means he contrived to obtain books, if not
regular education, and by dint of perseverance acquired a
considerable knowledge of Latin, Greek, and Hebrew,
with which last he was critically conversant. He could
also read and translate the French, Italian, German, Arabic, Persian, Syriac, and Ethiopic, but his favourite studies were divinity, and history both ecclesiastical and
civil. His principles being Calvinistic, his reading was
much confined to writers of that stamp, but he appears to
have studied every controversy in which the church has
been involved, with much attention. At what time he was
ordained, does not appear, but his extensive* learning
pointed him out to the associate synod, or synod of seceders, as a fit person to be their professor of divinity,
and train up young men, who had had a previous education, for the office of the ministry within their pale. His
residence was at Haddington, where he was preacher to a
numerous congregation of the seceders. At one time he
received a pressing invitation from the Dutch church in
the province of New York, to be their tutor in divinity,
which he declined. He died June 19, 1787. His principal works are, 1. An edition of the Bible, called “The
Self-interpreting Bible,
” from its marginal references,
which are far more copious than in any other edition, London, 1791, 2 vols. 4to, and since reprinted. 2. “Dictionary
of the Bible, on the plan of Calmet, but principally adapted
to common readers; often reprinted, 2 vols. 8vo. 3.
” Ex->
plication of Scripture Metaphors,“' 12mo. 4.
” History of
the Seceders,“eighth edition, 1802, 12mo. 5.
” The
Christian Student and Pastor,“1781, an abridgment of the
Lives of Pious Men. 6.
” Letters on the Government of
the Christian Church.“7.
” General History of the
Church,“1771, 2 vols. 12mo, a very useful compendium
of church history, partly on the plan of Mosheim, or
perhaps rather of Lampe. After his death appeared a volume entitled
” Select Hemains," with some account of
his life.
t he was wanting in application; for we are told, that he was very well skilled in the Latin, Greek, French, Italian, and Spanish languages, even before he was sent to
, of facetious memory^ as Mr. Addison says of him, was the son of a considerable farmer of Shiffnal in Shropshire, and educated at Newport-school in. that county; from whence he was removed to Christchurch in Oxford^ where he soon distinguished himself by his uncommon attainments in literature. He had great parts and quickness of apprehension, nor does it appear that he was wanting in application; for we are told, that he was very well skilled in the Latin, Greek, French, Italian, and Spanish languages, even before he was sent to Oxford. The irregularities of his life did not suffer him however to continue long at the university; but when obliged to quit it, instead of returning home to his father, he formed a scheme of going to London, in hopes of making his fortune some way or other there. This scheme did not answer. He was very soon in danger of starving; upon, which he made interest to be schoolmaster of Kingston upon Thames, in which pursuit he succeeded. But this was a profession very unsuitable to a man of Mr. Brown’s turn, and a situation that must needs have been extremely disagreeable to him; and therefore we cannot wonder, that he soon quitted his school, and went again to London; where finding his old companions more delighted with his humour, than ready to relieve his necessities, he had recourse to his pen, and became an author, and partly a libeller, by profession. He published a great variety of pieces, under the names of dialogues, letters, poems, &c. in all which he discovered no small erudition, and a vast and exuberant vein of humour: for he was in his writings, as in his conversation, always lively and facetious. In the mean time he made no other advantage of these productions, than what he derived from the booksellers; for though they raised his reputation, and made his company sought after, yet as he possessed less of the gentleman than wits usually do, and more of the scholar, so he was not apt to choose his acquaintance by interest, but was more solicitous to be recommended to the ingenious who might admire, than to the great who might relieve him. An anonymous author, who has given the world some account of Mr. Brown, says, that though a good-natured man, he had one pernicious quality, which was, rather to lose his friend than his joke. He had a particular genius for satire, and dealt it out liberally whenever he could find occasion. He is famed for being the author of a libel, fixed one Sunday morning on the doors of Westminsterabbey; and of many others against the clergy and quality. He used to treat religion very lightly, and would often say, that he understood the world better, than to have the imputation of righteousness laid to his charge, yet, upon the approach of death, his heart misgave him, as if all was not right within, and he began to express sentiments of remorse for his past life.
n the war of, Italy, especially in the battles of Parma and Guastalla, and burnt, in presence of the French army, the bridge which the marechal de Noailles had thrown across
, a celebrated general of the eighteenth century, was the son of Ulysses, baron
de Brown, colonel of a regiment of cuirassiers in the service of the emperors Leopold and Joseph, created in
1716, by the emperor Charles VI. a count of the holy Roman empire, his younger brother George receiving the
like dignity at the same time, who was general of foot,
counsellor of war, and a colonel of a regiment of infantry,
under Charles -VI. They were of an ancient and noble
family in Ireland. The subject of the present memoir
was born at Basle, Oct. 24, 1705-. After having passed
through the lessons of a school at Limerick in Ireland, he
was called to Hungary at ten years of age, by count
George de Brown, his uncle, and was present at the famous siege of Belgrade in 1717; about the close of the
year 1723, he became captain in his uncle’s regiment, and
then lieutenant-colonel in 1725. He went to the island of
Corsica in 1730, with a battalion of his regiment, and contributed greatly to the capture of Callansana, where he
received a wound of some consequence in his thigh. He
was appointed chamberlain to the emperor in 1732, and
colonel in 1734. He distinguished himself in the war of,
Italy, especially in the battles of Parma and Guastalla,
and burnt, in presence of the French army, the bridge
which the marechal de Noailles had thrown across the
Adige. Being appointed general in 1736, he favoured,
the year following, the retreat of the army, by a judicious
manoeuvre, and saved all the baggage at the memorable
day of Banjaluca in Bosnia, Aug. 3, 1737. This signal
piece of service procured him a second regiment of infantry, vacant by the death of count Francis de Wallis. On
his return to Vienna in 1739, the emperor Charles VI.
raised him to the dignity of general-neld-marechal-lieute.^
nanr, and gave him a seat in the Aulic council of war.
After the death of that prince, the king of Prussia having
entered Silesia, count de Brown, with but a small body oi
troops, disputed with him every foot of ground for the
space of two months. He commanded in 1741 the infantry of the right wing of the Austrian army at the battle of
Molvitz; and, though wounded, made a handsome retreat.
He then went into Bavaria, where he commanded the van
of the same army, made himself master of Deckendorf, an4
took much of the enemy’s baggage, and forced the French
to quit the banks of the Danube, which the Austrian army
afterwards passed in perfect safety; in commemoration of
which, a marble pillar was erected on the spot, with the
following inscription: “Theresise Austriacae Augustse Duce
Exercitus Carolo Alexandro Lotharingico, septemdecirn
superatis hostilibus VilHs, captoque Deckendorfio, renitentibus undis, resistentibus Gallis, Duce Exercitus Ludovico Borbonio Contio, transivit hie Danubium Ulysses
Maximilianus, S. R. I. Comes de Brown, Locumtenens
Campi Marashallusj Die 5 Junii, A. D. 1743.
” The queen
of Hungary sent him the s^me year to Worms, in quality
of her plenipotentiary to the king of Great Britain: where
he put the finishing Hand to the/ treaty of alliance between the courts of Vienna, London, and Turin, and she
declared him her actual privy counsellor at her coronation
qf Bohemia. The count de Brown, in 1744, followed
prince Lobkovitz jnto Italy, took the city of Veletri the
4th of August, notwithstanding the great superiority of the
enemy in numbers, penetrated into their camp, defeated
several regiments, and took a great many prisoners. Being
recalled to Bavaria, he performed several military exploits,
and returned to Italy in 1746. He drove the Spaniards
out of the Milanese; and, having joined the army of the
prince de Lichtenstein, he commanded the left wing of
the Austrian troops at the battle of Placentia, the 15th of
June 1746; and routed the right wing of the enemy’s
army, commanded by the marechal de Maillebois. After
this famous battle, the gaining of which was due to him, he
commanded in chief the army ordered against the Genoese,
made himself master of the pass of la Bochetta, though
defended by 4000 men, and took possession of the city of
Genoa. Count Brown then went to join the troops of the
king of Sardinia, and, in conjunction with him, took Montalbano and the territory of Nice. He passed the Var the
30th of November, in opposition to the French troops,
entered Provence, and captured the isles of Saint-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat. He had nearly made himself
master of all Provence, when the revolution at Genoa and
the army of the marechal de Belleisle obliged him to make
that fine retreat which acquired him the admiration of all
good judges of. military tactics. He employed the rest of
the year 1747 in defending the states of the house of
Austria in Italy. The empress-queen of Hungary, in reward of his signal campaigns in Italy, made him governor
of Transylvania in 1749. In 1752 he had the government
of the city of Prague, with the general command of the
troops of that kingdom; and the king of Poland, elector
of Saxony, honoured him in 1755 with the order of the
white eagle. The king of Prussia having invaded Saxony
in 1756, and attacked Bohemia, count Brown marched
against him; he repulsed that prince at the battle of Lobositz the 1st of October, although he had but 26,800
men, and the king of Prussia was at the head of at least
40,000. Within a week after this engagement, he undertook that celebrated march into Saxony, for delivering the
Saxon troops shut up between Pirna and Konigstein:
an action worthy of the greatest general whether ancient or
modern. He afterwards obliged the Prussians to retreat
from Bohemia; for which service he obtained the collar
of the golden fleece, with which he was honoured by
the empress March 6, 1757. Shortly after this count
Brown went into Bohemia, where he raised troops with the
utmost expedition, in order to make head against the king
of Prussia, who had entered it afresh at the head of his
whole army. On May 6th was fought the famous battle of
Potshernitz, or of Prague, when count Brown was dangerously wounded. Obliged to retire to Prague, he there
died of his wounds, the 26th of June 1757, at the age of
52. The count was not only a great general, he was an
equally able negotiator, and well skilled in politics. He
married, Aug. 15, 1726, Maria Philippina countess of Mar
tinitz, of an illustrious and ancient family in Bohemia, by
whom he had two sons. The life of this excellent commander was published in two separate volumes, one in
German, the other in French, printed at Prague in 1757.
inted with Hebrew, was a critic in Greek, and no man of his age wrote better Latin. German, Italian, French, &c. he spoke and wrote with as much ease as his mother tongue.
, an eminent physician, son of sir
Thomas Browne, hereafter mentioned, was born about
1642. He was instructed in grammar learning at the
school of Norwich, and in 1665 took the degree of bachelor of physic at Cambridge. Removing afterwards to Mertori college, Oxford, he was admitted there to the same
degree in 1666, and the next year created doctor. In
1668, he visited part of Germany, and the year following
made a wider excursion into Austria, Hungary, and Thessaly, where the Turkish sultan then kept his court at Larissa. He afterwards passed through Italy. Upon his return, he practised physic in London; was made physician
first to Charl-es II. and afterwards in 1682 to St. Bartholomew’s hospital. About the same time he joined his name
to those of many other eminent men, in a translation of
Plutarch’s Lives. He was first censor, then elect, and treasurer of the college of physicians; of which in 1705 he
was chosen president, and held this office till his death,
which happened in August 1708, after a very short illness,
at his seat at Northfleet, near Greenhithe in Kent. He
was acquainted with Hebrew, was a critic in Greek, and
no man of his age wrote better Latin. German, Italian,
French, &c. he spoke and wrote with as much ease as his
mother tongue. Physic was his business, and to the promotion thereof all his other acquisitions were referred.
Botany, pharmacy, and chemistry, he knew and practised.
King Charles said of him, that “he was as learned as any
of the college, and as well-bred as any at court.
” He was
married, and left a son and a daughter; the former, Dr.
Thomas Browne, F. R. S. and of the royal college of physicians, died in JiJy 17 Jo. The daughter married Owen
Brigstock, of Lechdenny, in the county of Carmarthen,
esq. to whom the public is indebted for part of the posthumous works of sir Thomas Browne.
elegantly, into Latin, and from his version it was again translated into Italian, German, Dutch, and French, and at Strasburgh the Latin translation was published with
The earl of Dorset recommended this book to the perusal of sir Kenelm Digby, who returned his judgment
upon it, not in a letter, but in a book; in which, though
mingled with some positions fabulous and uncertain, there
are acute remarks, just censures, and profound speculations, yet its principal claim to admiration is, that it was
written in twenty-four hours, of which part was spent in
procuring Browne’s book, and part in reading it. This
induced sir Thomas to publish a more correct edition of
his work, which had great success. A Mr. Merryweather
of Cambridge, turned it, not inelegantly, into Latin, and
from his version it was again translated into Italian, German, Dutch, and French, and at Strasburgh the Latin
translation was published with large notes, by Lenuus Nicolaus Moltfarius. Of the English annotations, which, in
all the editions from 1644, accompany the book, the author is unknown. Merryweather, we are told, had some
difficulty in getting his translation printed in Holland. The
first printer to whom he offered it carried it to Salmasius,
“who laid it by (says he) in state for three months,
” and
then discouraged its publication: it was afterwards rejected by two other printers, and at last was received by
Hackius. The peculiarities of the book raised the author,
as is usual, many admirers and many enemies; but we
know not of more than one professed answer, written under the title of “Medicus Ivledicatus,
” by Alexander Ross,
which was universally neglected by the world. Abroad it
was animadverted upon as having an irreligious tendency,
by Guy Patin, by Tobias Wagner, by Muller, Reiser,
and Buddeus, and w&s put into the Index Expurgatorius.
At present it will probably be thought that it was both too
much applauded and too much censured, and that it would
have been a more useful book had the author’s fancy been
more guided by judgment.
applause, was answered by Alexander Koss, and translated into Dutch and German, and afterwards into French. It might, Dr. Johnson thinks, now be proper to reprint it with
In 1646, he printed “Enquiries into vulgar and common Errors,
” small folio, a work, says his biographer,
which, as it arose not from fancy and invention, but from
observation and books, and contained not a single discourse
of one continued tenor, but an enumeration of many unconnected particulars, must have been the collection of
years, and the effect of a design early formed, and long
pursued. It is, indeed, adds the same writer, to be
wished, that he had longer delayed the publication, and
added what the remaining part of his life might have furnished. He published in 1673 the sixth edition, with
some improvements. This book, like his former, was received with great applause, was answered by Alexander
Koss, and translated into Dutch and German, and afterwards into French. It might, Dr. Johnson thinks, now be
proper to reprint it with notes, partly supplemental and
partly emendatory, to subjoin those discoveries which the
industry of the last age has made, and correct those mistakes which the author has committed, not by idleness or
negligence, but for want of Boyle’s and Newton’s philosophy.
he academy of a Mr. Gordon till April 1747, where he prosecuted his classical education, and studied French, arithmetic, and geometry. In May of that year he returned to
, a celebrated modern traveller, descended of an ancient and honourable family, was the son of David Bruce, esq. of Kinnaird, by Marion Graham, daughter of James Graham, esq. of Airth, dean of the faculty of advocates, and judge of the high court of admiralty in Scotland. He was born at the family residence of Kinnaird, in the county of Stirling, Dec. 14, 1730. Of his first years few particulars are recorded of much consequence, except that his temper, contrary to the character which it afterwards assumed, was gentle and quiet; but as he advanced in life, became bold, hasty, and impetuous, accompanied, however, with a manly openness, that shewed the usual concomitant, a warm and generous heart. It having been determined to give him an English education, he was sent to London to the house of William Hamilton, esq. a barrister, and his uncle, with whom he remained for some time, and in 1742 he was placed at Harrow school, where he made great proficiency in classical learning. After leaving Harrow in May 1746, he lived about a year in the academy of a Mr. Gordon till April 1747, where he prosecuted his classical education, and studied French, arithmetic, and geometry. In May of that year he returned to Scotland in order to commence a course of study at the university of Edinburgh, preparatory to his following the profession of the law; but it does not appear that he made much progress, or indeed had much inclination for this study, and the precarious state of his health at this time rendered much study of any kind dangerous. His own expectations of success in the law became gradually abated, and various other circumstances determined him to relinquish it for ever.
vellers. His memory was excellent, and his understanding vigorous and well cultivated. He understood French, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese, the two first of which he
His concern in the winotrade gave him an opportunity of travelling over a considerable part of Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands, but hearing of his father’s death in 1758, he returned to England, and in 1761 withdrew entirely from the wine-trade. He now, from his observation while in Spain, suggested to the prime minister, Mr. Pitt, afterwards lord Chatham, the practicability of a successful expedition against Ferrol, in Galicia, where the Spaniards had a considerable harbour, and generally stationed a part of their navy; but various circumstances, of which perhaps Mr. Pitt’s resignation was the principal, prevented this enterprise from being attempted. Disappointed in this, he resolved to return to his native country, and pass his time as a private gentleman, cultivating his paternal estate. One of the new ministers, however, lord Halifax, diverted him from this design, and suggested Africa to him as a proper field for enterprize and discovery; and that he might go under the protection of a public character, it was proposed to send him as consul to Algiers. Bruce acceded to these proposals, and left England in the end of June 1762. He passed through France and Italy, and carried with him from the latter country an artist to assist him in his drawings. For his subsequent adventures, his travels into Abyssinia, and his discovery of the sources of the Nile, &c. we must refer to his published travels. He returned to his native country in 1773, and in 1776, he married a daughter of Thomas Dundas of Fingask, esq. by whom he had three children, two of whom, a son and daughter, are still living. After he settled at Kinnaird, his time was chiefly spent in managing his estate, in preparing his travels for the press, and other literary occupations; and he was preparing a second edition of his Travels, when death prevented the execution of/ his design. On Saturday, April 26, 1794, having entertained some company at Kinnaird, as he was going down stairs about eight o'clock in the evening, to hand a lady into a carriage, his foot slipt, and he fell from a considerable height. He was taken up in a state of insensibility, and expired early next morning. Mr. Bruce’s figure was above the common size; his limbs athletic, but well proportioned; his complexion sanguine; his countenance manly and good-tempered; and his manners easy and polite. The whole outward man was such as to announce a character well calculated to contend with the many difficulties and trying occasions, which so extraordinary a journey could not but have thrown in his way. His internal characters, the features of his understanding and disposition, seem in a great measure to have corresponded with these outward lineaments. As a country gentleman, though not without a tincture of haughtiness, he exhibited the elegance of a man of fashion, and the hospitality of a Briton. His personal accomplishments fitted him, in a superior manner, for the undertakings in which he engaged. His constitution was robust, and he had inured himself to every kind of fatigue and exercise. In mental accomplishments he equalled, if not surpassed, the generality of travellers. His memory was excellent, and his understanding vigorous and well cultivated. He understood French, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese, the two first of which he spoke and wrote with facility. Besides Greek and Latin, which he read well, though not critically, he knew the Hebrew, Chaldee, and Syriac; and, in the latter part of his life, compared several portions of the scriptures in those related dialects. He read and spoke with ease, Arabic, Ethiopic, and Amharic. Necessity made him acquainted with these last, and impressed them deeply on his mind. He had applied, during the greatest part of his life, to the study of astronomy, and other practical branches of mathematical learning.
nd the Greek; he composed correctly; and has preached with applause in four languages, Latin, Butch, French, and English. In 1752, Mr. Columbine, of a French refugee family,
, a Lutheran divine, settled in
England, was born in the small island of Cadsand, near
the Belgic frontier, Dec. 31, 1726, and was educated
with a view to the theological profession, chiefly at the
university of Franeker, whence he passed to Leyden,
There he obtained a pastorship, and profited by the society
of Hemsterhuis, of Valkenäer, and especially of the elder
Schultens. His literary acquirements were eminent; he
read the Hebrew and the Greek; he composed correctly;
and has preached with applause in four languages, Latin,
Butch, French, and English. In 1752, Mr. Columbine,
of a French refugee family, which had contributed to
found, and habitually attended, the Walloon church at
Norwich, was intrusted by that congregation, when he was
on a journey into Holland, to seek out a fit successor to
their late pastor, Mr. Valloton, and applied, after due inquiry, to Mr. Bruckner, who accepted the invitation, and
early in 1753 settled as French preacher at Norwich, where
he officiated during fifty-one years, with undiminished approbation. About the year 1766, Mr. Bruckner succeeded
also to Dr. Van Sarn, as minister of the Dutch church, of
which the duties gradually became rather nominal than
real, in proportion as the Dutch families died oft', and as
the cultivation of their language was neglected by the
trading world for the French. The French tongue Mr.
Bruckner was assiduous to diffuse, and gave public and
private lessons of it for many years. His income was now
convenient and progressive. He kept a horse and a pointer,
for he took great pleasure in shooting. He drew occasionally, and has left a good portrait of his favourite dog.
He cultivated music, and practised much on the organ.
In 1767 was printed at Leyden his “Theorie du Systme
Animal,
” in the seventh and tenth chapters of which there
is much anticipation of the sentiments lately evolved in
the writings of Mr. Mai thus. This work was well translated into English, under the title “A Philosophical
Survey of the Animal Creation,
” published for Johnson
and Payne in Criticisms on the Diversions of Purley,
” which attracted some hostile flashes from Mr. Home Tooke, in his
subsequent quarto edition. This pamphlet displays a profound and extensive knowledge of the various Gothic dialects, and states that the same theory of prepositions and
conjunctions, so convincingly applied in the “Epea pteroenta
” to the northern languages, had also been taught
concerning the Hebrew and other dead languages by
Schultens. Mr. Wakefield’s pamphlet against Social Worship drew from Mr. Bruckner, in 1792, a learned reply.
In the preface to these “Thoughts on Public Worship,
”
hopes are given of a continuation still desiderated by the
friends of religion. Mr. Bruckner began a didactic poem
in French verse, which had for its object to popularize in
another form, the principles laid down in. his Theory of
the Aoimal System. A gradual failure rather of spirits
than of health, seems often to have suspended or delayed
the enterprise; to have brought on a restless and fastidious vigilance; and to have prepared that termination of his life, which took place on the morning of Saturday, May 12, 1804. He was buried, according to his
own desire, at Guist, near the kindred of his respected
widow. His society was courted to the last; as his conversation was always distinguished for good sense, for
argument, and for humour. He was beloved for his attentions and affability; esteemed for his probity and prudence; and admired for his understanding and learning.
, a French writer of a singular character for versatility, was born at
, a French writer of a singular character for versatility, was born at Aix, in 1640,
and trained in the reformed religion, in defence of which
he published some controversial pieces, particularly against
Bossuet’s “Exposition de la Foi,
” or Exposition of the
faith; but the prelate, instead of answering, converted
him. Brueys, become catholic, combated with the Protestant ministers, with Jurieu, Lenfant, and La Roche; but
his airy spirit not rightly accommodating itself to serious
works, he quitted theology for the theatre. He composed,
jointly with Palaprat, his intimate friend, several comedies
full of wit and gaiety. We have also of this writer a
prosaic paraphrase or commentary on Horace’s art of poetry.
In his latter years he became again a controversial writer,
and, as his countrymen say, imitated Bellarmine and
Moliere by turns. He died at Moritpellier in 1723, aged
eighty -three; and all his dramatic pieces were collected,
1735, in 3 vols. 12mo. His comedies have some merit,
but his tragedies and other works are deservedly sunk into
oblivion.
, a French physician, was born at Bealivais about the end of the seventeenth
, a French physician, was born at Bealivais about the end of the seventeenth century, and after studying medicine, acquired
considerable reputation by his practice and his writings.
He also arrived at the honour of being royal censor of the
college, and a member of the academy or Angers. He
died in 1756, after having written or edited some works of
merit in his profession: 1. “Observations sur le manuel
des Accouchments,
” Paris, La Medicine Raisonnee,
” from Hoffman,
ibid. Caprices d'imagination, on
Lettres sur differens sujets,
” ibid. Memoires pour servir a la vie de M. Silva,
” ibid.
Traite des Fievres,
” from Hoffman, ibid.
La Pohtique du Medicin,
” from
the same, ibid. Traite des Alimens,
”
by Lemery, ibid. Dissertations
surPincertitude des signesde lamort, et Tabus des enterremens et embaumemens precipites,
” ibid.
, a celebrated French writer, was born at Rouen, Aug. 26, 1688, and commenced his
, a celebrated French writer, was
born at Rouen, Aug. 26, 1688, and commenced his noviciate among the Jesuits of Paris, Sept. 8, 1704. In 1706,
he began his philosophical course in the royal college, and
in 1708 was sent to Caen to complete his studies that he
might take orders. Some of his pieces are dated from
that city in 1710 and 1712, and one from Bourges in 1719.
He appears indeed to have passed several years in the
country, where he taught rhetoric. In 1713, he returned
to Paris to study theology, and in 1722 he was again at
Paris, where he took the vows in the society of Jesuits,
and was intrusted with the education of the prince of Talmont. About the same time he assisted in the “Memoirs
of the Arts and Sciences,
” and continued his labours in
that journal until History of the Gallican church,
” of which six volumes
had been published by fathers Longueval and Fontenay.
In 1725, he was appointed professor of mathematics, and
filled that chair for six years with much reputation. It was
probably in this situation that he read his lecture, on the
“use of mathematical knowledge in polite literature,
”
now printed in the second volume of his works, nor did his
various public employments prevent his publishing many
other works, which were well received by the public. In
1722 he published, but without his name, his “Morale
Chretienne,
” Paris, a small volume, of which four editions
were soon bought up. In 1723, he also published the first
of his three letters, entitled “Examen du poema (de M. Racine) sur la grace,
” 8vo, and in La vie de
Timperatrice Eleonore,
” taken from that by father Ceva;
the same year, “Abreg des vertus de soeur Jeanne Silenie
de la Motte des Goutes,
” Moulins, 12mo; and a new edition of father Mourgues “Traite de la Poesie Francoise,
”
with many additions, 12mo. But the work which contributed most to his reputation was his “Greek Theatre,
”
entitled “Theatre des Grecs, contenant des traductions
ct analyses des tragedies Grecques, des discours et des remarques concernant la theatre Grec, &c.
” Brumoy,
” says Dr. Warton, “has displayed the excellencies of the Greek tragedy in a judicious and comprehensive manner. His
jtranslations are faithful and elegant; and the analysis of
those plays, which on account of some circumstances in
ancient manners would shock the readers of this age, and
would not therefore bear an entire version, is perspicuous
and full. Of all the French critics, he and the judicious
Fenelon have had the justice to confess, or perhaps the
penetration to perceive, in what instances Corneille and
Racine have falsified and modernized the characters, and
overloaded with unnecessary intrigues the simple plots of
the ancients.
”
, an illustrious French painter, was of Scottish extraction, and born in 1619. His father
, an illustrious French painter, was
of Scottish extraction, and born in 1619. His father was
a statuary by profession. At three years of age it is reported that he drew figures with charcoal; and at twelve
he drew the picture of his uncle so well, that it still passes
for a fine piece. His father being employed in the gardens at Seguier, and having brought his son along with
him, the chancellor of that name took a liking to him, and
placed him with Simon Vouet, an eminent painter, who
was greatly surprised at young Le Brun’s amazing proficiency. He was afterwards sent to Fontainbleau, to take
copies of some of Raphael’s pieces. The chancellor sent
him next to Italy, and supported him there for six years.
Le Brun, on his return, met with the celebrated Poussin,
by whose conversation he greatly improved himself in his
art, and contracted a friendship with him which lasted as
long as their lives. Cardinal Mazarin, a good judge of
painting, took great notice of Le Brun, and often sat by
him while he was at work. A painting of St. Stephen,
which he finished in 1651, raised his reputation to the
highest pitch. Soon after this, the king, upon the representation of M. Colbert, made him his first painter, and
conferred on him the order of St. Michael. His majesty
employed two hours every day in looking over him, whilst
he was painting the family of Darius at Fontainbleau.
About 1662, be began his five large pieces of the history
of Alexander the Great, in which he is said to have set the
actions of that conqueror in a more glorious light than
Quintus Curtius in his history. He procured several advantages for the royal academy of painting and sculpture
at Paris, and formed the plan of another for the students
of his own nation at Rome. There was scarce any thing
done for the advancement of the fine arts in which he was
not consulted. It was through the interest of M. Colbert
that the king gave him the direction of all his works? and
particularly of his royal manufactory at the Gobelins, where
he had a handsome house, with a genteel salary assigned
to him. He was also made director and chancellor of the
royal academy, and shewed the greatest zeal to encourage
the fine arts in France. He possessed in a great degree
that enthusiasm which animates the efforts, and increases
the raptures of the artist. Some one said before him of
his fine picture of the Magdalen, “that the contrite penitent was really weeping.
” “That, 7 * said he,
” is perhaps
all that you can see; I hear her sigh.“He was endowed
with a vast inventive genius, which extended itself to arts
of every kind. He was well acquainted with the history
and manners of all nations. Besides his extraordinary talents, his behaviour was so genteel, and his address Sq
pleasing, that he attracted the regard and affection of the
whole court of France: where, by the places and pensions
conferred on him by the king, he made a very considerable
figure. He died at his house in. the Gobelins in 1690,
leaving a wife, but no children. He was author of a curious treatise of
” Physiognomy“and of another of the
” Characters of the Passions."
, a French Jesuit, was born at Nantes in 1607, and died at Paris Sept.
, a French Jesuit, was born at
Nantes in 1607, and died at Paris Sept. 1, 1663. He
wrote many pieces of Latin poetry. The principal are,
1. “The Ignatiad,
” in xii books: the subject is the pilgrimage of St. Ignatius to Jerusalem. This poem forms a
part of his “Virgilius Christianus;
” in which he has imitated, with more piety than taste, the eclogues, the georgics,
and the Æneid. His “Ovidius Christianus
” is in the same
strain: the Heroic Epistles are changed into pastoral letters,
the Tristibus into holy lamentations, and the Metamorphoses
into stories of converted penitents. Father Le Brun also
wrote “Eloquentia Poetica,
” Paris,
, a French priest of the oratory, who made considerable approaches to liberality
, a French priest of the oratory, who
made considerable approaches to liberality and good sense
in his writings, was born at Brignolle, in the diocese of
Aix in Provence, in 1661, and became celebrated for his
knowledge of ecclesiastical history and antiquities; on which
subjects he lectured in the seminary of St. Magloire, at
Paris, for thirteen years. His first publication appears to
have been against the illusion of the divining rod; “Lettres
pour prouver l'illusion des philosophes sur la baguette,
”
Paris, Histoire critique des pratiques superstitieuses, &c.
” Of this there was a new edition in 3 vols.
12mo, 1732, with a life of the author by M. Bellon, his
nephew, and in 1737 the abbe Granet printed a collection
of pieces intended as a fourth volume. He also wrote
against the theatre, as an amusement improper for Christians; but his more elaborate work was that on “Liturgies,
”
published in 4 vols. 8vd, containing a history of liturgies,
prayers, ceremonies, &c. including those of the church of
England. This, owing to some liberal opinions, involved
him in a controversy, in which he defended himself with
great ability, but before the contest was over he died,
Jan. 6, 1729.
tion. In his early youth he was incited to a love of letters by an extraordinary accident. A body of French troops, who were marching to Naples to assist Louis of Anjou
, a very eminent scholar and historian, derived his name of Aretine, or Aretino,
from Arezzo, in which city he was born in the year 1370,
of parents sufficiently wealthy to bestow on him a good
education. In his early youth he was incited to a love of
letters by an extraordinary accident. A body of French
troops, who were marching to Naples to assist Louis of
Anjou in maintaining his claim to trie sovereignty of that
kingdom, at the solicitation of the partizans of a faction
which had been banished from Arezzo, made an unexpected attack upon that city; and, after committing a
great slaughter, carried away many of the inhabitants into
captivity; and, among the rest, the family of Bruni. Leonardo being confined in a chamber in which hung a portrait of Petrarch, by daily contemplating the lineaments of
that illustrious scholar, conceived so strong a desire to signalize himself by literary acquirements, that immediately
upon his enlargement he repaired to Florence, where he
prosecuted his studies with unremitting diligence, under
the direction of John of Ravenna, and Manuel Chrysoloras.
During his residence at Florence, he contracted a strict
intimacy with the celebrated Poggio Bracciolini, and the
latter being afterwards informed by Leonardo that he
wished to procure a presentation to some place of honour
or emolument in the Roman chancery, took every opportunity of recommending him. In consequence of this,
pope Innocent VII. invited him to Rome, where he arrived March 24, 1405, but was at first disappointed in his
hopes, the place at which he aspired being intended for
another candidate, Jacopo d'Angelo. Fortunately, however, the pope having received certain letters from the
duke of Berry, determined to assign to each of the competitors the task of drawing up an answer to them, and the
compositions being compared, the prize was unanimously
adjudged to Leonardo, who was instantly advanced to the
dignity of apostolic secretary, and by this victory considerably increased his reputation, as his competitor was a
man of very considerable talents. (See Angelo, James.)
In 1410 Leonardo was elected chancellor of the city of
Florence, but finding it attended with more labour than
profit, resigned it in 1411, and entered into the service of
pope John XXII. and soon after went to Arezzo, where
he married a young lady of considerable distinction in that
city. He was thought by his contemporaries rather too
attentive to the minutiae of economy, and having married a
lady who loved dress and ornaments, was somewhat disappointed. In a letter to his friend Poggio, after giving an
account of his marriage expences, he adds, “In short, I
have in one night consummated my marriage, and consumed my patrimony.
” In
can be discovered, merely a translator. His first work, says Warton, was a metrical paraphrase of a French book, written by Robert Grosthead, bishop of Lincoln, called
, or Robert Mannyng, the first
English poet who occurs in the fourteenth century, was
born probably before 1270, as he was received into the
order of black canons at Brunne, about 1288. Malton
appears to have been his birth-place, but what Malton is
doubtful. He was, as far as can be discovered, merely a
translator. His first work, says Warton, was a metrical
paraphrase of a French book, written by Robert Grosthead,
bishop of Lincoln, called “Manuel Pecche
” (Manuel des Péchés), being a treatise on the decalogue, and on the
seven deadly sins, which are illustrated with many legendary stories. It was never printed, but is preserved in the
Bodleian library, Mss. No. 415, and in the Harleian Mss.
No. 1701. His second and more important work is a metrical chronicle of England, in two parts, the former of
which (from Æneas to the death of Cadwallader) is translated from Wace’s “Brut d'Angleterre,
” and the latter
(from Cadwallader to the end of the reign of Edward I.)
from a French chronicle written by Peter de Langtoft, an
Augustine canon of Bridlington in Yorkshire, who is supposed to have died in the reign of Edward II. and was
therefore contemporary with his translator. Hearne has
edited Robert de Brunne, but has suppressed the whole of
his translation from Wace, excepting the prologue, and a
few extracts which he found necessary to illustrate his
glossary. Mr. Ellis, to whom we are indebted for this article, has given some specimens of de Brunne’s work.
o leave thekingdom of France. According to some writers, he now visited England, in the train of the French ambassador Castelneau, wherehe was hospitably received by sir
, an Italian writer to whom atheism
has been generally, but unjustly, imputed, was born atNola
in the kingdom of Naples, about the middle of the sixteenth century. His talents are said to have been considerable, but this is hardly discoverable from his works: he
early, however, set up for an inquirer and innovator, and
very naturally found many things in the philosophy and
theology then taught in Italy, which he could not comprehend. Being fond of retirement and study, he entered
into a monastery of Dominicans, but the freedom of his
opinions, and particularly of his censures on the irregularities of the fraternity, rendered it soon necessary to
leave his order and his country. In 1582, he withdrew to
Geneva, where his heretical opinions gave offence to Calvin and Beza, and he was soon obliged to provide for his
safety by flight. After a short stay at Lyons he came to
Paris, and his innovating spirit recommended him to the
notice of multitudes, who at this time declared open hostilities against the authority of Aristotle. In a public disputation, held in the royal academy, in 1586, he defended,
three days successively, certain propositions concerning
nature and the world, which, together with brief heads of
the arguments, he afterwards published in Saxony, under
the title of “Acrotismus,
” or “Reasons of the physical
articles proposed against the Peripatetics at Paris.
” The
contempt with which Bruno, in the course of these debates,
treated Aristotle, exposed him to the resentment of the academic professors, who were zealous advocates for the old system; and he found it expedientto leave thekingdom of France.
According to some writers, he now visited England, in the
train of the French ambassador Castelneau, wherehe was hospitably received by sir Philip Sydney and sir Fulke Gre.ville,
and was introduced to queen Elizabeth. But though it is
certain from his writings that he was in England, he probably made this visit in some other part of his life, and we
should suppose before this, in 1583 or 1584. For, about
the middle of the same year in which he was at Paris, we
find him, at Wittenburg, a zealous adherent of Luther.
In this city he met with a liberal reception, and full permission to propagate his doctrines: but the severity with
which he inveighed against Aristotle, the latitude of his
opinions in religion as well as philosophy, and the contempt
with which he treated the masters of the public schools,
excited new jealousies; and complaints were lodged
against him before the senate of the university. To escape
the disgrace which threatened him, Bruno, after two years
residence in Wittenburg, left that place, and took refuge
in Helmstadt, where the known liberality of the duke of
Brunswick encouraged him to hope for a secure asylum.
But either through the restlessness of his disposition, or
through unexpected opposition, he went next year to
Francfort, to superintend an edition of his works, but before it was completed was obliged again, probably from
fear of persecution, to quit that city. His next residence
was at Padua; where the boldness with which h.e taught
his new doctrines, and inveighed against the court of
Rome, caused him to be apprehended and brought before
the inquisition at Venice. There he was tried, and convicted of his errors. Forty days being allowed him to deliberate, he promised to retract them, and as at the expiration of that term, he still maintained his errors, he obtained
a further respite for forty days. At last, it appearing that
he imposed upon the pope in order to prolong his life, sentence was finally passed upon him on the 9th of February
1600. He made no offer to retract during the week that
was allowed him afterwards for that purpose, but underwent his punishment on the 17th, by being burnt at a stake.
e sopra ii carattere e le gesta d'Alessandro Magno,” Milan, 1764, 8vo. This was translated both into French and English, the. latter in 1767; and a new edition of the original
The following is a list of his works, which are in general
but little known, as he printed them at his own expence,
principally for distribution among his friends. 1, “Considerazioni sopra le cose della grandezza dei Romani,
trad, del Montesquieu,
” Berlin, Reflessioni critiche sopra ii carattere e le gesta d'Alessandro
Magno,
” Milan, Heureusement,
” a comedy of Rochon de Chabannes, Brunswick, Regulus,
”
Potsdam, Discours sur les Grand
Hommes,
” Berlin, Ariane a Naxos.
” 7. “The
Thoughts of a Cosmopolite on Air Balloons,
” in German,
Hamburgh, A Discourse on taking the
oath, Oct. 2, 1786,
” in German, Berlin, Instructions for his regiment, &c.
” in German, ibid. The military history of
prince Frederic Augustus of Brunswick-Lunebourg, &c.
”
in German, Oels,
im; for, in 163, he was elected by the express command of Lewis XIV. one of the forty members of the French academy. But he did not long enjoy that affluence which afforded
, one of those celebrated persons whose writings attract universal admiration, while their lives pass on in one uniform tenour, without incident or adventure, was born in 1639, 1640, or 1644, (for we have seen all these dates given), in a village of France, near the town of Dourdan, in that part of the late province of the Isle of France which is now denominated the department of the Seine and Oise. Of his education, or of his youthful manners, we have no information. His first situation appears to have been at Caen, in the province of Normandy, where he had an office in the collection of the revenue. His literary talents, however, became soon too conspicuous to permit him to remain long in a situation so little corresponding with the expanding and elevating views of genius. The illustrious Bossuet appointed him to attend one of the royal children of France, to instruct him in history, with a pension of a thousand crowns a year. With this he might be considered at that period, and in that country, as in a state of affluence; and the literary distinctions, then the most courted by aspiring minds, were not withheld from him; for, in 163, he was elected by the express command of Lewis XIV. one of the forty members of the French academy. But he did not long enjoy that affluence which afforded him leisure to cultivate the fields of literature, nor the distinctions which he so well merited, and which were accompanied by the universal admiration of his countrymen, and indeed of all Europe. An apoplectic fit removed him from this transitory scene, in the year 1696, and in the fifty-third year of his age.
The best French editions of his Characters are those of Amsterdam, 1741, 2 vols.
The best French editions of his Characters are those of Amsterdam, 1741, 2 vols. 12mo, and of Paris, 1750, 2 vols. 12mo, and in 1765, 1 vol. 4to. The English translation of them is in 2 vols. 8vo, by Rowe, 1713, with a tedious account of his life and writings, by M. Coste. This last contains the Theophrastus, Bruyere’s Characters, with a key, his speech on admission into the French academy, and an imitation of Bruyere by Rowe.
He translated from the French of Alaygri, “A Dispraise of the life of a Courtier,” which Alaygri
He translated from the French of Alaygri, “A Dispraise
of the life of a Courtier,
” which Alaygri had translated
from the Castilian language, in which it was originally
written by Guevara, London, 1548, 8vo. Several of the
“Poems by uncertain authors,
” printed with those of
Surrey and Wyat, are supposed to have been his production. He left also in ms. letters written from Rome concerning the king’s divorce, and various letters of state,
which Ant. Wood says he had seen. Dodd accuses sir
Francis Bryan of having administered to the extravagant
pleasures of Henry VIII. but perhaps he was not more
culpable in this respect than Henry’s other courtiers, and
it is in his favour that he retained the confidence of the
succeeding government.
first volume of the exposition of these gems was written in Latin by Mr. Bryant, and translated into French by Mr. Maty. That of the second was written by Dr. Cole, prebendary
In 1783 was printed, at the expence of the duke of
Marlborough, for private distribution, that splendid work,
“The Maryborough Gems,
” under the title of “Gemmarum antiquarurn delectus ex prsestantioribus desumptus in
Dactylotheca Ducis Marburiensis.
” The first volume of
the exposition of these gems was written in Latin by Mr.
Bryant, and translated into French by Mr. Maty. That of
the second was written by Dr. Cole, prebendary of Westminster, and translated by Mr. Dutens. The friendship
which subsisted between Mr. Bryant and the family of his
patron, prompted him on all occasions to attend to their
wishes, and to this disposition the public owe his “Treatise
on the Authenticity of the Scriptures, and the Truth of the
Christian Religion,
” Observations upon the
Plagues inflicted upon the Egyptians; in which is shewn
the peculiarity of those judgments, and their correspondence with the rites and idolatry of that people; with a
prefatory Discourse concerning the Grecian Colonies from
Egypt,
” 8vo. This is certainly to be reckoned amongst
Mr. Bryant’s best performances, and as such will be studiously read.
about the year 1320, and it is probable that he was a descendant of the house of Brienne, an ancient French family, that went into Greece during the crusades, at the beginning
, the last writer on music in the Greek language that has come to our knowledge, flourished under the elder Paiaeologus, about the year 1320, and it is probable that he was a descendant of the house of Brienne, an ancient French family, that went into Greece during the crusades, at the beginning of the thirteenth century. His work is divided into three books, all which are confined to harmonics: the first is a kind of commentary on Euclid; and the second and third little more than explanations of the doctrines of Ptolemy. Meibomius had promised a Latin translation of this book, but dying before it was finished, Dr. 'Wallis performed the task, and it now constitutes a part of the third volume of his works, published at Oxford, 1699, 3 vols. fol.
th; and in 1523, in order to acquire some knowledge of military affairs, he made a campaign with the French auxiliaries, who came over into Scotland with John duke of Albany.
, a Scottish historian, and Latin poet, of great eminence, and uncommon abilities and
learning, was descended from an ancient family, and was
born at Killairn, in the shire of Lenox, in Scotland, in the
month of February 1506. His father died of the stone in
the prime of life, whilst his grandfather was yet living; by
whose extravagance the family, which before was but in
low circumstances, was now nearly reduced to the extremity of want. He had, however, the happiness of a very
prudent mother, Agnes, the daughter of James Heriot of
Trabrown, who, though she, was left a widow with five sons
and three daughters, brought them all up in a decent manner, by judicious management. She had a brother, Mr.
James Heriot, who, observing the marks of genius which
young George Buchanan discovered when at school, sent
him to Paris in 1520 for his education. There he closely
applied himself to his studies, and particularly cultivated
his poetical talents but before he had been there quite
two years, the death of his uncle, and his own ill state of
health, and want of money, obliged him to return home.
Having arrived in his native country, he spent almost a
year in endeavouring to re-escablish his health; and in
1523, in order to acquire some knowledge of military affairs, he made a campaign with the French auxiliaries,
who came over into Scotland with John duke of Albany.
But in this new course of life he encountered so many
hardships, that he was confined to his bed by sickness all
the ensuing winter. He had probably much more propensity to his books, than to the sword; for early in the following spring he went to St. Andrews, and attended the
lectures on logic, or rather, as he says, on sophistry, which
were read in that university by John Major, or Mair, a
professor in St. Saviour’s college, and assessor to the dean,
of Arts, whom he soon after accompanied to Paris. After
struggling for about two years with indigence and ill fortune, he was admitted, in 1526, being then not more than
twenty years of age, in the college of St. Barbe, where he
took the degree of B. A. in 1527, and M. A. in 1528, and
in 1529 was chosen procurator nationis, and began then to
teach grammar, which he continued for about three years.
But Gilbert Kennedy, earl of Cassils, a young Scottish
nobleman, being then in France, and happening to fall
into the company of Buchanan, was so delighted with his
wit, and the agreeableness of his manners, that he prevailed upon him to continue with him five years. According to Mackenzie, he acted as a kind of tutor to this young
nobleman; and, during his stay with him, translated Linacre’s Rudiments of grammar out of English into Latin;
which was printed at Paris, by Robert Stephens, in 1533,
and dedicated to the earl of Cassils. He returned to Scotland with that nobleman, whose death happened about two
years after; and Buchanan had then an inclination to return to France: but James V. king of Scotland prevented
him, by appointing him preceptor to his natural son,
James, afterwards the abbot of Kelso, who died in 1548,
and not, as some say, the earl of Murray, regent of that
kingdom. About this time, he wrote a satirical poem
against the Franciscan friars, entitled, “Somnium;
”
which irritated them to exclaim against him as a heretic.
Their clamours, however, only increased the dislike which
he hud conceived against them on account of their disorderly and licentious lives; and inclined him the more
towards Lutheranism, to which he seems to have had before
no inconsiderable propensity. About the year 1538, the
king having discovered a conspiracy against himself, in
which he suspected that some of the Franciscans were concerned, commanded Buchanan to write a poem against
that order. But he had probably already experienced the
inconveniency of exasperating so formidable a body; for
he only wrote a few verses which were susceptible of a
double interpretation, and he pleased neither party. The
king was dissatisfied, that the satire was not more poignant; and the friars considered it as a heinous offence, to
mention them in any way that was not honourable. But
the king gave Buchanan a second command, to write
against them with more seventy; which he accordingly
did in the poem, entitled, “Franciscanus;
” by which he
pleased the king, and rendered the friars his irreconcileable enemies. He soon found, that the animosity of these
ecclesiastics was of a more durable nature than royal favour: for the king had the meanness to suffer him to feel
the weight of their resentment, though it had been chiefly
excited by obedience to his commands. It was not the
Franciscans only, but the clergy in general, who were incensed against Buchanan: they appear to have made a
common cause of it, and they left no stone unturned till
they had prevailed with the king that he should be tried
for heresy. He was accordingly imprisoned at the beginning of 1539, but found means to make his escape, as he
says himself, out of his chamber-window, while his guards
were asleep. He fled into England, where he found king
Henry the Eighth persecuting both protestants and papists.
Not thinking that kingdom, therefore, a place of safety,
he again went over into France, to which he was the more
inclined because he had there some literary friends, and
was pleased with the politeness of French manners. But
when he came to Paris, he had the mortification to find
there cardinal Beaton, who was his great enemy, and who
appeared there as ambassador from Scotland. Expecting,
therefore, to receive some ill offices from him, if he continued at Paris, he withdrew himself privately to Bourdeaux, at the invitation of Andrew Govea, a learned Portuguese, who was principal of a new college in that city.
Buchanan taught in the public schools there three years; in
which time he composed two tragedies, the one entitled,
“Baptistes, sive Calurania,
” and the other “Jephthes,
Votum;
” and also translated the Medea and Alcestig
of Euripides. These were all afterwards published;-but
they were originally written in compliance with the rules
of the school, which every year required some new dramatic exhibition; and his view in choosing these subjects
was, to draw off the youth of France as much as possible
from the allegories, which were then greatly in vogue, to
a just imitation of the ancients; in which he succeeded beyond his hopes. During his residence at Bourdeaux, the
emperor Charles V. passed through that city; upon which
Buchanan presented his imperial majesty with an elegant
Latin poem, in which the emperor was highly complimented, and at which he expressed great satisfaction. But
the animosity of cardinal Beaton still pursued our poet:
for that haughty prelate wrote letters to the archbishop of
Bourdeaux, in which he informed him, that Buchanan had
fled his country for heresy; that he had lampooned the
church in most virulent satires; and that if he would put
him to the trial, he would find him a most pestilentious
heretic. Fortunately for Buchanan, these letters fell into
the hands of some of his friends, who found means to prevent their effects: and the state of public affairs in Scotland, in consequence of the death of king James V. gave
the cardinal so much employment, as to prevent any farther prosecution of his rancour against Buchanan.
master-piece is his Paraphrase upon the Psalms, in which he outdid the most famous poets amongst the French and Italians.”
Mr. Teissier says, that “it cannot be denied but Buchanan was a man of admirable eloquence, of rare prudence,
and of an exquisite judgment; he has written the History
of Scotland with such elegancy and politeness, that he
surpasses all the writers of his age; and he has even equalled
the ancients themselves, without excepting either Sallust
or Titus Livius. But he is accused by some of being an
unfaithful historian, and to have shewn in his history an
extreme aversion against queen Mary Stuart; but his
master-piece is his Paraphrase upon the Psalms, in which
he outdid the most famous poets amongst the French and
Italians.
”
, an eminent French physician, censor royal, doctor-regent and professor of chemistry
, an eminent French
physician, censor royal, doctor-regent and professor of
chemistry in the faculty of medicine at Paris, an adjunct
of the academy of sciences, and an ordinary associate of
the royal medical society, was born at Paris, Feb. 18, 1746.
His father intended him for the bar, but his inclination
stfbn led him to relinquish that profession for the study of
the various sciences connected with medicine, in all which
he made great proficiency, and gave lectures on mineralogy and chemistry. His plan and familiar mode of
teaching soon procured him numerous pupils, and connecting himself with Lavoisier and other eminent chemists, he
instituted a variety of experiments which, while they procured him the notice and honours of his profession, much
impaired his health, and at a very early age, he was so debilitated in body and mind, as to require the use of stimulants to excite a momentary vigour; he is even said to
have taken one hundred grains of opium in a day. By
these means he was enabled to protract his existence until
Jan. 24, 1780, when he died completely exhausted, although only in his thirty-fourth year. Except his papers
in the literary journals, we know of only one publication
of Bucquet’s, “Introduction a Tetude des corps naturels,
tirés du regne vegetal,
”
of John Budé, lord of Yere and Villiers, secretary to the king, and one of the grand officers of the French chancery. In his infancy he was provided with masters; but such
, or Bude’ (William), an eminent scholar
and critic, the descendant of an ancient and illustrious
family in France, lord of Marli-la-ville, king’s counsellor,
and master of requests, was born at Paris in 1467. He
was the second son of John Budé, lord of Yere and Villiers,
secretary to the king, and one of the grand officers of the
French chancery. In his infancy he was provided with
masters; but such was the low state of Parisian education
at that time, that when sent to the university of Orleans to
study law, he remained there for three years, without
making any progress, for want of a proper knowledge of
the Latin language. Accordingly, on his return home, his
parents had the mortification to discover that he was as
ignorant as when he went, disgusted with study of any
kind, and obstinately bent to pass his time amidst the
gaieties and pleasures of youth, a coarse which his fortune
enabled him to pursue. But after he had indulged this
humour for some time, an ardent passion for study seized
him, and became irresistible. He immediately disposed
of his horses, dogs, &c. with which he followed the chace,
applied himself to study, and in a short time made very
considerable progress, although he had no masters, nor
either instruction or example in his new pursuit. He became, in particular, an excellent Latin scholar, and although
his style is not so pure or polished as that of those who
formed themselves in early life on the best models, it is
far from being deficient in fluency or elegance. His knowledge of the Greek was so great that John de Lascaris, the
most learned Grecian of his time, declared that Budé might
be compared with the first orators of ancient Athens. This
language is perhaps complimentary, but it cannot be denied that his knowledge of Greek was very extraordinary,
considering how little help he derived from instructions.
He, indeed, employed at a large salary, one Hermonymus,
but soon found that he was very superficial, and had acquired the reputation of a Greek scholar merely from
knowing a little more than the French literati, who at that
time knew nothing. Hence Budé used to call himself
ανἶομαθης & οψιμαϑης
i. e. self-taught and late taught. The work
by which he gained most reputation, and published under
the title “De Asse,
” was one of the tirst efforts to clear up
the difficulties relating to the coins and measures of the
ancients; and although an Italian, Leonardus Portius, pretended to claim some of his discoveries, Budé vindicated
his right to them with spirit and success. Previously to
this he had printed a translation of some pieces of Plutarch,
and “Notes upon the Pandects.
” His fame having
reached the court, he was invited to it, but was at first
rather reluctant. He appears to have been one of those
who foresaw the advantages of a diffusion of learning, and
at the same time perceived an unwillingness in the court
to entertain it, lest it should administer to the introduction
of what was called heresy. Charles VIII. was the first
who invited him to court, but died soon after: his successor Louis XII. employed him twice on embassies to
Italy, and made him his secretary. This favour continued
in the reign of Francis I. who sent for Budé to court when
it was held at Arches at the interview of that monarch with
Henry VIII. the king of England. From this time Francis
paid him much attention, appointed him his librarian, and
master of the requests, while the Parisians elected him
provost of the merchants. This political influence he employed in promoting the interests of literature, and suggested to Francis I. the design of establishing professorships for languages and the sciences at Paris. The excessive heats of the year 1540 obliging the king to take a
journey to the coast of Normandy, Budé accompanied his
majesty, but unfortunately was seized with a fever, which
carried him off Aug. 23/1540, at Paris. His funeral was
private, and at night, by his own desire. This circumstance created a suspicion that he died in the reformed religion; but of this there is ho direct proof, and although
he occasionally made free with the court of Rome and the
corruptions of the clergy in his works, yet in them likewise he wrote with equal asperity of the reformers. Erasmus called him porttntum Gallic, the prodigy of France.
There was a close connection between these two great
men. “Their letters/' says the late Dr. Jortin,
” though
full of compliments and civilities, are also full of little
bickerings and contests: which shew that their friendship
was not entirely free from some small degree of jealousy
and envy; especially on the side of Budé, who yet in
other respects was an excellent person." It is not easy
to determine on which side the jealousy lay; perhaps it
was on both. Budé might envy Erasmus for his superior
taste and wit, as well as his more extensive learning; and
perhaps Erasmus might envy Budé for a superior knowledge of the Greek tongue, which was generally ascribed
to him.
s Bodley’s statutes for his library; and sir Thomas Smith’s “Common Wealth of England;” and from the French of P. Frodius, a civilian, “A Discourse for Parents’ Honour
, a civilian of Oxford, the son of John
Budden of Canford, in Dorsetshire, was born in that
county in 1566, and entered Merton college in 1582, but
was admitted scholar of Trinity college in May of the fol
lowing year, where he took his bachelor’s degree. He
was soon after ivmoved to Gloucester hall, where he took
his master’s degree, but chiefly studied civil law. He was
at length made philosophy reader of Magdalen college,
and took his bachelor and doctor’s degrees in civil law in
1602. In 1609 he was made principal of New-inn, and
soon after king’s professor of civil law, and principal of
Broadgate’s hall, where he died June 11, 1620, and was
buried in the chancel of St. Aldate’s church. Wood says
he was a person of great eloquence, an excellent rhetorician, philosopher, and civilian. He wrote the lives of
“William of Wainflete,
” founder of Magdalen college, in
Latin, Oxon, Batesii Vitæ
” and
of “Archbishop Morton,
” London, Common Wealth
of England;
” and from the French of P. Frodius, a civilian,
“A Discourse for Parents’ Honour and Authority over their
Children,
” Loud.
y-five years of age. He had by this time read the classics, the most reputed historian^ and the best French, English, and Italian writers, and became concerned with Steele
, esq. a very ingenious but unfortunate writer, was born at St. Thomas, near Exeter,
about 1685, and educated at Christ-church, Oxford. His
father, Gilbert Budgell, D. D. descended of an ancient
family in Devonshire; his mother, Mary, was only
daughter of Dr. William Gulston, bishop of Bristol, whose
sister Jane married dean Addison, and was mother to the
famous Addison. After some years stay in the university,
Mr. Budgell went to London, and was entered of the Inner Temple, in order to study law, for which his father
always intended him; but his inclinations led him more to
study polite literature, and keep company with the genteelest persons in town. During his stay at the Temple,
he contracted a strict intimacy and friendship with Addison, who was first cousin to his mother; and when Addison was appointed secretary to lord Wharton,
lord-lieutenant of Ireland, he offered to make his friend Eustace one of the clerks of his office, which Mr. Budgell
readily accepted. This was in April 1710, when he was
about twenty-five years of age. He had by this time read
the classics, the most reputed historian^ and the best
French, English, and Italian writers, and became concerned with Steele and Addison, not in writing the Tatler,
as has been asserted, but the Spectator, which was begun
in 1711. Ail the papers marked with an X were written
by him, and the whole eighth volume is attributed to Addison and himself, without the assistance of Steele. Several little epigrams and songs, which have a good deal of
wit in them, together with the epilogue to the “Distressed
Mother,
” which had a greater run than any thing of the
kind before, were also written by Mr. Budgell near this
time; all which, together with the known affection of Addison for him, raised his character so much as to give him
considerable consequence in the literary and political
world. Upon the laying down of the Spectator, the
Guardian was set up; and to this work our author contributed, along with Addison and Steele. In the preface it
is said, that those papers marked with an asterisk were
written by Mr. Budgell.
, a learned metaphysician, and voluminous writer, was born in Poland, of French parents, May 25, 1661. His parents having removed to Rouen,
, a learned metaphysician, and voluminous writer, was born in Poland, of French parents,
May 25, 1661. His parents having removed to Rouen, he
was educated there, and afterwards entered among the Jesuits at Paris in 1679, and took the four vows “in 1695.
In 1698 he went to Rome, not at the invitation of the general of his order, as has been asserted, but merely to see
that celebrated city, in which he remained about four
months, and then returned to Paris, where he passed the
greater part of his life in the Jesuits college. Here he was
first employed on the
” Memoires de Trevoux,“and afterwards wrote his numerous separate publications. He died
May 17, 1737. His eloge appeared in the
” Memoires“in the same year, but principally regards his writings, as
his life appears to have passed without any striking or characteristic circumstances, being entirely devoted to the
composition of works of learning or piety, of which the
following is supposed to be a correct list: 1. Some French
verses on the taking of Mons and Montmelian, inserted in
the
” Recueil de vers choisis,“Paris, 1701, 12mo. 2.
” La
vie de PHermite de Compiegne,“Paris, 1692, 1737, 12mo.
3.
” Vie de Dominique George,“abbot of Valricher, Paris,
1696, 12mo. 4.
” Pratique de la memoire artificielle
pour apprendre et pour retenir la chronologic, Phistoire
universeile, c.“Paris, 1701, 3 vols. and often reprinted
and extended to 4 vols. 5.
” Verites consolantes du Christianisme,“ibid. 1718, 2d edit. 16mo. 6.
” Histoire de
Porigine du royaume de Sicile et de Naples,“ibid. 1701,
12mo. 7.
” La pratique des devoirs des cures,“from the
Italian, Lyons, 1702, 12mo. 8.
” Abrege de l‘histoire
d’Espagne,“Paris, 1704, 12mo. 9.
” Examen de prejuges vulgaires pour disposer F esprit a juger sainement
detout,“ibid. 1704, 12mo. 10.
” Les Abeilles,“a fable.
11.
” Le degat du Parnasse, ou La Fausse litterature,“a
poem, ibid. 1705. 12.
” La vie du comte Louis de Sales,“ibid. 1708, 12mo, afterwards translated into Italian, and
often reprinted. 13.
” Grammaire Franchise sur un plan
nouveau,“ibid. 1709, 12mo, often reprinted. 14. e6 Le
veritable esprit et le saint emploi des fetes de l'eglise,
”
ibid. 1712, 12mo. 15. “Les prlncipes du raisonnement
exposes en deu:: logiques nouvelles, avec des remarques
sur les logiques,
” &c. ibid. Geographic universelle avec le secours des vers artificiels et avec
des cartes,
” ibid. Homere en
arbitrage,
” ibid. Hist, chronologique da
dernier siecle, e.
” from the year Introduction a l‘histoire de maisons souveraines de
l’Europe,
” Paris, Exercice dela
piete,
” &c. ib. Tableau chronologique de l'histoire universelle en forme de jeu,
” Paris,
Nouveau x elomens d'histoire et de geographic,
” Paris, Sentimens Chretien sur les
principales verites de la religion,
” in prose and verse, and
with engravings, Traite* des premieres verites,
” Paris, First Truths, and the
origin of our opinions explained; with an inquiry into the
sentiments of moral philosophers, relative to our primary
notions of things,
” 8vo. The author has proved himself
to be a metaphysician of considerable abilities, and with
many it will be no diminution of his merit, that he starts
some principles here, which were afterwards adopted and
expanded by Drs. Reid, Oswald, and Beattie, under the
denomination of common sense. To prove how much
these gentlemen have been indebted to him, appears to be
the sole object of this translation, and especially of the
preface, which, says one of the literary Journals, “though
it is not destitute of shrewdness, yet is so grossly illiberal,
that we remember not to have read any thing so offensive
to decency and good manners, even in the rancorous productions of some of the late controvertists in metaphysics.
The writer hath exceeded Dr. Priestley in the abuse of the
Scotch doctors; but with a larger quantity of that author’s
virulence, hath unluckily too small a portion of his ingenuity and good sense, to recompense for that shameful affront to candour and civility which is too flagrant in every
page, to escape the notice or indignation of any unprejudiced reader.
”
lity, while he professed to be a metaphysician, seems to be the principal objection which succeeding French philosophers brought against him.
Father Buffier’s next work, which may be considered as
a supplement to the former was, 25. “Elemens de Metaphysique a la portée de tout le monde,
” ibid. Traite
” de lasociete civile,“ibid. 1726. 27.
” Traites
philosophiques et pratiques d'eloquence et de poesie,“ibid. 1728, 2. vols. 12mo. 28.
” Exposition des preuves
les plus sensibles de la veritable religion,“ibid. 1732,
12mo. Besides these he contributed some papers on philological subjects to the
” Memoires de Trevoux.“The
greater and best part of the preceding works were collected
and published in a folio volume in 1732, under the title,
” Cours des Sciences sur des principes nouveaux et simples, &c." with additions and corrections, the whole forming an useful and perspicuous introduction to the sciences.
Buffier was not only one of the ablest and most industrious
writers of his time, but one of the safest; and his having
made no progress in infidelity, while he professed to be a
metaphysician, seems to be the principal objection which
succeeding French philosophers brought against him.
, the most eminent French naturalist of the eighteenth century, the son of a counsellor
, the
most eminent French naturalist of the eighteenth century,
the son of a counsellor of the parliament of Dijon, was
born at Moytbard in Burgundy, September the 7th, 1707.
Having manifested an early inclination to the sciences, he
gave up the profession of the law, for which his father had
designed him. The science which seems to have engaged
his earliest attachment was astronomy; with a view to
which he applied with such ardour to the study of
geometry, that be always carried in his pocket the elements of
Euclid. At the age of twenty he travelled into Italy, and
in the course of his tour he directed his attention to the
phenomena of nature more than to the productions of art:
and at this early period he was also ambitious of acquiring
the art of writing with ease and elegance. In 1728 he
succeeded to the estate of his mother, estimated at about
12,000l. a year; which by rendering his circumstances affluent and independent, enabled him to indulge his taste
in those scientific researches and literary pursuits, to which
his future life was devoted. Having concluded his travels,
at the age of twenty-five, with a journey to England, he
afterwards resided partly at Paris, where, in 1739, he was
appointed superintend ant of the royal garden and cabinet,
and partly on his estate at Montbard. Although he was
fond of society, and a complete sensualist, he was indefatigable in his application, and is said to have employed
fourteen hours every day in study; he would sometimes
return from the suppers at Paris at two in the morning,
when he was young, and order a boy to call him at five;
and if he lingered in bed, to drag him out on the floor.
At this early hour it was his custom, at Montbard, to dress,
powder, dictate letters, and regulate his domestic concerns.
At six he retired to his study, which was a pavilion called
the Tower of St. Louis, about a furlong from the house, at
the extremity of the garden, and which was accommodated
only with an ordinary wooden desk and an armed chair.
Within this was another sanctuary, denominated by prince
Henry of Prussia “the Cradle of Natural History,
” in
which he was accustomed to compose, and into which
no one was suffered to intrude. At nine his breakfast,
which consisted of two glasses of wine and a bit of bread,
was brought to his study; and after breakfast he wrote for
about two hours, and then returned to his house. At dinner he indulged himself in all the gaieties and trifles which
occurred at table, and in that freedom of conversation,
which obliged the ladies, when any of character were his
guests, to withdraw. When dinner was finished, he paid
little attention either to his family or guests; but having
slept about an hour in his room, he took a solitary walk,
and then he would either converse with his friends or sit at
his desk, examining papers that were submitted to his
judgment. This kind of life he passed for fifty years; and
to one who. expressed his astonishment at his great
reputation, he replied, “Have not I spent fifty years at my
clesk?
” At nine he retired to bed. In this course he prolonged his life, notwithstanding his excessive indulgences
with women, and his excruciating sufferings occasioned by
the gravel and stone, which he bore with singular fortitude
and patience, to his 81st year; and retained his senses till
within a few hours of his dissolution, which happened on
the 16th of April, 1788. His body was embalmed, and
presented first at St. Medard’s church, and afterwards conveyed to Mont-bard, where he had given orders in his will
to be interred in the same vault with his wife. His funeral
was attended by a great concourse of academicians, and
persons of rank, and literary distinction; and a crowd of at
least 20,000 spectators assembled in the streets through
which the hearse was to pass. When his body was opened,
57 stones were found in his bladder, some of which were as
large as a small bean: and of these 37 were crystallized in
a triangular form, weighing altogether two ounces and six
drams. All his other parts were perfectly sound; his brain
was found to be larger than the ordinary size; and it was
the opinion of the gentlemen of the faculty who examined
the body, that the operation of the lithotomy might have
been performed without the least danger; but to this mode
of relief M. Buffon had invincible objections. He left one
son, who fell a victim to the atrocities under Robespierre.
This son had erected a monument to his father in the gardens of Montbard; which consisted of a simple column,
with this inscription:
st into tears, and said to the young man, “Son, this will do you honour.” Buffon was a member of the French academy, and perpetual treasurer of the academy of sciences.
The father, upon seing this monument, burst into tears,
and said to the young man, “Son, this will do you honour.
” Buffon was a member of the French academy,
and perpetual treasurer of the academy of sciences. With
a view to the preservation of his tranquillity, he wisely
avoided the intrigues and parties that disgracefully occupied most of the French literati in his time; nor did he
ever reply to the attacks that were made upon his works.
In 1771 his estate was erected into a comte; and thus the
decoration of rank, to which he was by no means indifferent, was annexed to the superior dignity he had acquired as one of the most distinguished members of the republic of letters.
hn Tombes, a famous anabaptist preacher; Dr. Lewis Du Moulin, an independent; and by M. De Marets, a French writer, who tells us, “that the author, though a professed priest
Whilst he remained minister of this parish, the providence of God wonderfully interposed for the preservation
of his life; for his lodgings being near a powder-mill, Mr.
Morgan, a gentleman of the parish, represented to him.
the danger of his situation, and at the same time invited
him to his own house. Mr. Bull, at first, modestly declined the offer, but after some importunity accepted it;
and, not many days after his removal to Mr. Morgan’s, the
mill was blown up, and his apartment with it. In this part
of his life he took a journey once a year to Oxford, where
he stayed about two months, to enjoy the benefit of the
public libraries. In his way to and from Oxford, he always
paid a visit to sir William Masters, of Cirencester, by
which means he contracted an intimacy with Mr. Alexander pregory, the minister of the place, and after some
time married Bridget, one of his daughters, on the 20th
of May, 1658. The same year he was presented by the
lady Pool, to the rectory of Suddington St. Mary, near
Cirencester, in Gloucestershire. The next year, 1659,
he was made privy to the design of a general insurrection in favour of king Charles II. and several gentlemen
of that neighbourhood who were in the secret, chose
his house at Suddington for one of the places of their
meeting. Upon the restoration, Mr. Bull frequently
preached for his father-in-law, Mr. Gregory, at Cirencester, where there was a large and populous congregation; and his sermons gave such general satisfaction,
that, upon a vacancy, the people were very solicitous to
have procured for him the presentation; but the largeness
of the parish, and the great duty attending it, deterred
him Trom consenting to the endeavours they were making
for that purpose. In 1662, he was presented by the lord
high-chancellor, the earl of Clarendon, to the vicarage of
Suddington St. Peter, which lay contiguous to Suddington
St. Mary, at the request of his diocesan Dr. Nicholson,
bishop of Gloucester, both livings not exceeding 100l. a
year. When Mr. Bull came first to the rectory of Suddington, he began to be more open in the use of the liturgy of the church of England, though it was not yet
restored by the return of the king; for, being desired to
marry a couple, he performed the ceremony, on a Sunday
morning, in the face of the whole congregation, according
to the form prescribed by the book of common -prayer.
He took the same method in governing these parishes, as
in that of St. George’s, and with the same success; applying himself with great diligence to the discharge of his
pastoral functions, and setting the people an admirable
example in the government and œconomy of his own
family. During his residence here, he had an opportunity of confirming two ladies of quality in the protestant
communion, who were reduced to a wavering state of mind
by the arts and subtleties of the Romish missionaries. The
only dissenters he had in his parish were quakers; whose
extravagances often gave him no small uneasiness. In
this part of his life, Mr. Bull prosecuted his studies with
great application, and composed most of his works during
the twenty-seven years that he was rector of Suddington.
Several tracts, indeed, which cost him much pains, are entirely lost, through his own neglect in preserving them;
particularly a treatise on the posture used by the ancient
Christians in receiving the Eucharist; a letter to Dr. Pearson concerning the genuineness of St. Ignatius’ s epistles; a
long one to Mr. Glanvil, formerly minister of Bath, concerning the eternity of future punishments; and another,
on the subject of popery, to a person of very great quality.
In 1669, he published his Apostolical Harmony, with a
view to settle the peace of the church, upon a point of the
utmost importance to all its members; and he dedicated it
to Dn William Nicholson, bishop of Gloucester. This
performance was greatly disliked, at first, by many of the
clergy, and others, on account of the author’s departing
therein from the private opinions of some doctors of the
church, and his manner of reconciling the two apostles St.
Paul and St. James, as to the doctrine of justification. It
was particularly opposed by Dr. Morley, bishop of
WinChester; Dr. Barlow, Margaret-professor of divinity at Oxford; Mr. Charles Gataker, a presbyterian divine; Mr. Joseph Truman, a non-conformist minister; Dr. Tully, principal of St. Edmund’s-hall; Mr. John Tombes, a famous
anabaptist preacher; Dr. Lewis Du Moulin, an independent; and by M. De Marets, a French writer, who tells
us, “that the author, though a professed priest of the
church of England, was more addicted to the papists, remonstrants, and Socinians, than to the orthodox party.
”
Towards the end of 1675, Mr. Bull published his “Examen Censuræ,
” &c. in answer to Mr. Gataker, and his
“Apologia pro Harmonia,
” &c. in reply to Dr. Tully. Mr.
Bull’s notion on this subject was “That good works, which
proceed from faith, and are conjoined with faith, are a
necessary condition required from us by God, to the end
that by the new and evangelical covenant, obtained by
and sealed in the blood of Christ the Mediator of it, we
may be justified according to his free and unmerited
grace.
” In this doctrine, and throughout the whole book,
Mr. Bull absolutely excludes all pretensions to merit on
the part of men; but the work nevertheless excited the
jealousy of many able divines both in the church and
among the dissenters, as appears from the above list.
About three years after, he was promoted by the earl of
Nottingham, then lord chancellor, to a prebend in the
church of Gloucester, in which he was installed the 9th of
October, 1678. In 1680, he finished his “Defence of
the Nicene Faith,
” of which he had given a hint five years
before in his Apology. This performance, which is levelled
against the Arians and Socinians on one hand, and the
Tritheists and Sabellians on the other, was received with
universal applause, and its fame spread into foreign countries, where it was highly esteemed by the best judges of
antiquity, though of different persuasions. Five years after
its publication, the author was presented, by Philip Sheppard, esq. to the rectory of Avening in Gloucestershire, a
very large parish, and worth two hundred pounds per annum. The people of this parish, being many of them
very dissolute and immoral, and many more disaffected to
the church of England, gave him for some time great trouble and uneasiness; but, by his prudent conduct and diligent discharge of his duty, he at last got the better of their
prejudices, and converted their dislike iuto the most cordial love and affection towards him. He had not been
long at Avening, before he was promoted, by archbishop
Sancroft, to the archdeaconry of Landaff, in which he was
installed the 20th of June, 1686. He was invited soon
after to Oxford, where the degree of doctor in divinity
was conferred upon him by that university, without the
payment of the usual fees, in consideration of the great
and eminent services he had done the church. During the
reign of James II. the doctor preached very warmly against
popery, with which the nation was then threatened. Some
time after the revolution, he was put into the commission
of the peace, and continued in it, with some little interruption, till he was made a bishop. In 1694, whilst he
continued rector of Avening, he published his “Judicium
Ecclesia? Catholicse, &c.
” in defence of the “Anathema,
”
as his former book had been of the Faith, decreed by the
first council of Nice. The last treatise which Dr. Bull
wrote, was his “Primitive Apostolical Tradition,
” &c.
against Daniel Zwicker, a Prussian. All Dr. Bull’s Latin
works, which he had published by himself at different times,
were collected together, and printed in 1703, in one volume in folio, under the care and inspection of Dr. John
Ernest Grabe, the author’s age and infirmities disabling
him from undertaking this edition. The ingenious editor
illustrated the work with many learned annotations, and
ushered it into the world with an excellent preface. Dr,
Bull was in the seventy-first year of his age, when he was
acquainted with her majesty’s gracious intention of conferring on him the bishopric of St. David’s; which promotion he at first declined, on account of his ill state of health
and advanced years; but, by the importunity of his friends,
and strong solicitations from the governors o*f the church,
he was at last prevailed upon to accept it, and was accordingly consecrated in Lambeth-chapel, the 29th of April,
1705. Two years after, he lost his eldest son, Mr. George
Bull, who died of the small-pox the 11th of May, 1707, in,
the thirty-seventh year of his age. Our prelate took his
seat in the house of lords in that memorable session, when
the bill passed for the union of the two kingdoms, and
spoke in a debate which happened upon that occasion, in
favour of the church of England. About July after his
consecration, he went into his diocese, and was received
with all imaginable demonstrations of respect by the gentry and clergy. The episcopal palace at Aberguilly being
much out of repair, he chose the town of Brecknock for
the place of his residence; but was obliged, about half a
year before his death, to remove from thence to Abermarless, for the benefit of a freer air. He resided constantly in his diocese, and carefully discharged all the episcopal functions. Though bishop Bull was a great admirer
of our ecclesiastical constitution, yet he would often lament the distressed state of the church of England, chiefly
owing to the decay of ancient discipline, and the great
number of lay-impropriations, which he considered as a
species of sacrilege, and insinuated that he had known instances of its being punished by the secret curse which
hangs over sacrilegious persons. Some time before his
last sickness, he entertained thoughts of addressing a circular letter to all his clergy; and, after his death, there was
found among his papers one drawn up to that purpose. He
had greatly impaired his health, by too intense and unseasonable an application to his studies, and, on the 27th of
September, 1709, was taken with a violent fit of coughing,
which brought on a spitting of blood. About the beginning of February following, he was seized with a distemper, supposed to be an ulcer, or what they call the inward
piles; of which he died the 17th of the same month, and
was buried, about a week after his death, at Brecknock/
leaving behind him but two children out of eleven.
, a learned French writer, member of the academies of Besanc, on, Lyons, and Dijon,
, a learned French writer,
member of the academies of Besanc, on, Lyons, and Dijon,
and a corresponding member of the academy of inscriptions, was born in 1699, and was professor of divinity in
the university of Besangon from the year 1728; and afterwards dean. He had a surprising memory, and although
devoted to controversial -studies, was of a mild and affable
disposition. His works are of two kinds; some turning
on religious matters, and others on literary inquiry. They
are all accurate and solid; but we are not to look in them
for elegance of style. The principal of them are: 1 “History of the establishment of Christianity, taken from Jewish
and Pagan authors alone,
” The existence of God demonstrated by nature,
” 2 vols. 8vo. 3.
“Answer to some objections of unbelievers to the Bible,
”
3 vols. 12mo. 4. “De apostolica ecclesise Gallicanae origiue,
” Memoirs on the Celtic tongue,
”
Researches into the history of
Cards,
” A dissertation on the history of
France,
”
, a learned French author, was born at Rouen in 1615, and succeeded his uncle,
, a learned French author, was born
at Rouen in 1615, and succeeded his uncle, as king’s secretary, which office he occupied for fourteen years, at
the end of which he withdrew to study and religious retirement among the Benedictines of St. Maur, with whom
he passed the remainder of his days. His principal works
were “An Essay on the monastic History of the East,
”
Abridgment of the History of
the Order of St. Benedict, as far as the tenth century,
”
Translation of the Dialogues of Gregory the Great,
” with notes, Treatise on the
precedence of the Kings of France over those of Spain,
” 1764,
4to. He died, dean of the king’s secretaries, in 1710.
he was supported by Emilius Perrot. He was afterwards taken into the family of Lazarus de Baif, the French ambassador at Venice, by whose generosity he was not only maintained,
, an elegant Latin scholar, was born at Toulouse in 1499, and studied at Paris, where he was distinguished by his quick progress and promising talents. On his return to Toulouse, finding his family unable to maintain him, he went to Padua, where he was supported by Emilius Perrot. He was afterwards taken into the family of Lazarus de Baif, the French ambassador at Venice, by whose generosity he was not only maintained, but enabled to study the Greek tongue, and he afterwards studied Hebrew. George de Selve, bishop of Lavaur, who succeeded de Baif as ambassador, retained Bunel in his service, and when his embassy was finished, carried him with him to Levaur. Upon the death of that prelate, which happened in 1541, Bunel returned to Toulouse^ where he would have been reduced to the greatest indigence, had not messieurs de Faur, the patrons of virtue and science, extended their liberality to him unasked. One of these gentlemen appointed him tutor to his sons; but whilst he was making the tour of Italy with them, he was cut off at Turin by a fever, in 1546. Mr. Bayle says, that he was one of the politest writers of the Latin tongue in the sixteenth century; but though he was advantageously distinguished by the eloquence of his Ciceronian style, he was still more so by the strictness of his morals. The magistrates of his native town of Toulouse set up a marble statue to his memory in their town-house. He left som'e Latin epistles written with the utmost purity, which were first published by Charles Stevens in 1551, and afterwards by Henry Stevens in 1581. Another, but a more incorrect edition, was printed at Toulouse in 1687, with notes by Mr. Gravero, advocate of Nimes.
es at Paris, He died in that city Oct. 8, 1785, at the age of ninetyfour, at that time the father of French literature, and perhaps the oldest author in Europe. His great
, was born at Rheims in 1691,
and was member of the academy of belles-lettres at Paris,
He died in that city Oct. 8, 1785, at the age of ninetyfour, at that time the father of French literature, and
perhaps the oldest author in Europe. His great tranquillity of mind, and the gentleness of his disposition,
procured him the enjoyment of a long and pleasant old
age. In his youth he passed some time in Holland, and
was a writer in the Journal de l'Europe. On his return he
was much caressed by the learned, and in his latter days
had a pension of 2000 livres granted, without any application, by the last king of France. At ninety-two his
health was robust, his memory extensive, and he composed
and wrote with facility. His works are, 1. “A treatise on
the Authority of the Popes,
” History of the Pagan Philosophy,
” The*ologie pa'ienne.
” 3. “General History of Sicily,
” Porphyry on Abstinence from Meats,
”
History of the Revolutions of Constantinople,
” 3 vols. 12mo, 1750. 6. “Life of Grotius,
” Life of Erasmus,
” 1761, 12mo. 9.
” Life of cardinal
du Perron," 1768, 12mo. The historical works of M. de
Burigny are esteemed for the accuracy and abundance of
the facts they contain. But he is a cold narrator; has but
little force and expression in his portraits, and is sometimes rather prolix in his details. His Life of Grotius is a
very valuable work, and was published in English in 1754,
8vo. For that of Erasmus, Dr. Jortin may be consulted.
ided. We allude to his interference, for such it may be called, with the conduct and progress of the French revolution. Many of his friends in parliament, as well as numbers
The next and last sera of his history is, perhaps, the
most important of all, as it is that concerning which the
opinions of the world are still divided. We allude to his
interference, for such it may be called, with the conduct
and progress of the French revolution. Many of his friends
in parliament, as well as numbers of wise and good men
out of it, augured from the meeting of the states-general
of France, great benefit to that nation, of which the government was considered as despotic and oppressive; and
some were sanguine enough to predict a new and happy
order of things to all the nations connected with France,
when its government should become more free. These sentiments, we can well remember, were not only general, but
perhaps universal, although they might not always proceed from the same sources. There were some who loved
liberty, and would hail its dawn in any country. There
were others who hated the French government as the perpetual enemy of Great Britain. Mr. Burke saw nothing
in the proceedings of the French which was favourable
either to liberty or peace. He was well acquainted with
the genius of the French people, and with the principles
of those philosophers, as they called themselves, by whom
a total revolution in church and state had long been projected; and from the commencement of their career in
the constituent assembly, when they established, as the
foundation of all legal government, the metaphysical doctrine of the “rights of man,
” he predicted that torrent of
anarchy and infidelity which they have since attempted to
pour over all Europe. Mr. Fox, and some of the other
leading men in opposition, considered this as a vain fear,
and a coolness took place between them and Mr. Burke,
although they continued for some time to act together in
parliament. In the mean time he published his celebrated
“Reflections on the French Revolution,
” the instantaneous
effect of which was to reduce the nation, hitherto unanimous or indifferent on the subject, to two distinct parties,
the one admiring the glorious prospects arising from the
French revolution, the other dreading its consequences
to this nation in particular, and to the world at large.
Many able writers of the former class took up their pens
on this occasion, in what were called “answers
” to Mr.
Burke, and some of them were certainly written with great
ability. The controversy was long and obstinate, and cannot be said to have terminated until the commencement of
the war in 1793, when the changes of government and
practice in France rendered most of the points discussed
with Mr. Burke no longer of immediate importance.
France, as he had predicted, was plunged into barbarous
and atrocious anarchy, and the friends of her projected
liberty, dearly as they clung to the idea, were obliged to
confess themselves disappointed in every hope, while Mr.
Burke’s predictions were erroneous in one only, namely,
that France was now blotted out of the map of Europe.
e, and from their writings, particularly those of Priestley, saw nothing but a co-operation with the French in revolutionary measures. Such were his sentiments, when, in
In the mean time, an open rupture took place between
Mr. Burke and his oldest friends in opposition. In 1790
he had so far expressed his dislike of experiments on the
established laws and constitution, as to oppose the repeal
of the test-act, and a motion for the reform of parliament.
With regard to the latter, we know not that he ever was
friendly, but it is certain that he once maintained the propriety of relieving the dissenters from certain disabilities.
He was now, however, as he declares in his “Reflections,
”
endeavouring to “preserve consistency by varying his
means to secure the unity of his end; and when the equipoise of the vessel in which he sails may be in danger of
overloading it upon one side, is desirous of carrying the
small weight of his reasons to that which may preserve the
equipoise.
” He had identified the whole body of dissenters with Drs. Priestley and Price, and from their writings, particularly those of Priestley, saw nothing but a
co-operation with the French in revolutionary measures.
Such were his sentiments, when, in 1791, a bill was proposed for the formation of a constitution in Canada. In
discussing it Mr. Burke entered on the general principles
of legislation, considered the doctrines of the rights of
man, proceeded to its offspring, the constitution of France,
and expressed his conviction that there was a design formed
in this country against its constitution.
efective in theory, was in practice excellently adapted to this country, repeated his praises of the French revolution; he thought it, on the whole, one of the most glorious
After some members of his own party had called Mr.
Burke to order, Mr. Fox, after declaring his conviction
that the British Gonstitution, though defective in theory,
was in practice excellently adapted to this country, repeated his praises of the French revolution; he thought
it, on the whole, one of the most glorious events in the
history of mankind; and proceeded to express his dissent
from Mr. Burke’s opinions on the subject, as inconsistent
with just views of the inherent rights of mankind. These,
besides, were, he said, inconsistent with Mr. Burke’s former principles. Mr. Burke, in reply, said: “Mr. Fox
has treated me with harshness and malignity; after having
harassed with his light troops in the skirmishes of order,
he brought the heavy artillery of his own great abilities to
bear on me.
” He maintained that the French constitution
and general system were replete with anarchy, impiety,
vice, and misery; that the discussion of a new polity for a
province that had been under the French, and was now
under the English government, was a proper opportunity
of comparing the French and British constitutions. He
denied the charge of inconsistency; his opinions on government, he insisted, had been the same during all his
political life. He said, Mr. Fox and he had often differed,
and that there had been no loss of friendship between
them; but there is something in the “cursed French revolution
” which envenoms every thing. On this Mr. Fox
whispered: “There is no loss of friendship between us.
”
Mr. Burke, with great warmth, answered: “There is! I
know the price of my conduct; our friendship is at an
end.
” Mr. Fox was very greatly agitated by this renunciation of friendship, and made many concessions; but in
the course of his speech still maintained that Mr. Burke
had formerly held very different principles. It would be
difficult, says one of his biographers, to determine with
certainty, whether constitutional irritability or public principle was the chief cause of Mr. Burke’s sacrifice of that
friendship which he had so long cherished, and of which
the talents and qualities of its object rendered him so
worthy. It would perhaps be as difficult to prove that
uch a sacrifice was necessary, and we fear that his reconciliation with lord North and his quarrel with Mr. Fox
must, even by the most favourable of his panegyrists, be
placed among the inconsistencies of this otherwise truly
eminent character. From this time, Messrs. Burke and
Fox remained at complete variance, nor have we ever
heard that any personal interview took place afterwards
between them.
ion in the principles and government of France induced his majesty to make overtures of peace to the French Directory, Mr. Burke resumed his pen, and gave his opinions
When the appearance of amelioration in the principles
and government of France induced his majesty to make
overtures of peace to the French Directory, Mr. Burke
resumed his pen, and gave his opinions against the safety
of such a negociation in a series of letters entitled:
“Thoughts on the prospect of a Regicide Peace.
” This
was his last work, and in point of style and reasoning not
interior to any he had produced on the subject of the
French character and government.
ng exerted itself with undiminished force and uncontracted range. On the 7th of that month, when the French revolution was mentioned, he spoke with pleasure of the conscious
From the beginning of July 1797, his health rapidly declined; but his understanding exerted itself with undiminished force and uncontracted range. On the 7th of
that month, when the French revolution was mentioned,
he spoke with pleasure of the conscious rectitude of his
own intentions in what he had done and written respecting
it; intreated those about him to believe, that if any unguarded expression of his on the subject had offended any
of his former friends, no offence was by him intended; and
he declared his unfeigned forgiveness of all who had on
account of his writings, or for any other cause, endeavoured to do him an injury. On the day following, whilst
one of his friends, assisted by his servant, was carrying
him into another room, he faintly uttered, “God bless
you,
” fell back, and instantly expired in the sixty-eighth
year of his age. He was interred on the 15th, in the
church of Beaconsfield, close to his son and brother.
e latter end of October, 1703. He was a pious ancT charitable man. He made great collections for the French Protestants in the years 1687, &c. and by his great care, pains,
, a celebrated commentator on the New Testament, the son of the rev. Miles Burkitt, who was ejected for nonconformity, was born at Hitcharn, in Northamptonshire, July 25, 1650. He was sent first to a school at Stow Market, and from thence to another at Cambridge. After his recovery from the small pox, which he caught there a he was admitted of Pembroke-hall, at the age of no more than fourteen years; and upon his removal from the university, when he had taken his degree, he became a chaplain in a private gentleman’s family, where he continued some years. He entered young upon the ministry, being ordained by bishop Reynolds; and the first employment which he had was at Milden, in Suffolk, where he continued twenty-one years a constant preacher (in a plain, practical, and affectionate manner), first as curate, and afterwards as rector of that church. In 1692 he was promoted to the vicarage of Dedham, in Essex, where he continued to the time of his death, which happened in the latter end of October, 1703. He was a pious ancT charitable man. He made great collections for the French Protestants in the years 1687, &c. and by his great care, pains, and charges, procured a worthy minister to go and settle in Carolina. Among other charities, he bequeathed by his last will and testament the house wherein he lived, with the lands thereunto belonging, to be an habitation for the lecturer that should be chosen from time to time to preach the lecture at Dedham. He wrote some books, and among the rest a Commentary upon the New Testament, in the same plain, practical, and affectionate manner in which he preached. This has often been reprinted in folio, and lately with some alterations and improvements, by the rev. Dr. Glasse. Mr. Burkitt’s other works are small pious tracts for the use of his parishioners.
n account of the great kindness with which he was treated by the lord Holies, then ambassador at the French court. Towards the end of the year he returned to Scotland,
About six months after he returned to Scotland, where
he declined accepting the living of Saltoun, offered him
by sir Robert Fletcher of that place, resolving to travel for
some time on the continent, in 1664, he went over into
Holland; where, after he had seen what was remarkable
in the Seven Provinces, he resided for some time at Amsterdam, and afterwards at Paris. At Amsterdam, by the
help of a learned Rabbi, he increased his knowledge in
the Hebrew language, and likewise x became acquainted
with the leading men of the different persuasions tolerated
in that country: among each of whom, he used frequently
to declare, he had met with men of such real piety and
virtue, that he contracted a strong principle of universal
charity. At Paris he conversed with the two famous
ministers of Charenton, Dailie and Morus. His stay in
France was the longer, on account of the great kindness
with which he was treated by the lord Holies, then ambassador at the French court. Towards the end of the
year he returned to Scotland, passing through Londo/rr,
where he was introduced, by the president sir Robert
Murray, to be a member of the royal society. In 1665,
he was ordained a priest by the bishop of Edinburgh, and
presented by sir Robert Fletcher to the living of Saitoun,
which had been kept vacant during his absence. He soon
gained the affections of his whole parish, not excepting the
presbyterians, though he was the only clergyman in Scotland that made use of the prayers in the liturgy of the
church of England. During the five years he remained at
Saitoun, he preached twice every Sunday, and once on
one of the week-days; he catechized three times a-week,
so as to examine every parishioner, old or young, three
times in the compass of a year: he went round the parish
from house to house, instructing, reproving, or comforting
them, as occasion required: the sick he visited twice a
day: he administered the sacrament four times a year, and
personally instructed all such as gave notice of their intention to receive it. All that remained above his own necessary subsistence (in which he was very frugal), he gave
away in charity. A particular instance of his generosity
is thus related: one of his parishioners had been in execution for debt, and applied to our author for some small
relief; who inquired of him, how much would again set
him up in his trade: the man named the sum, and he as
readily called to his servant to pay it him: “Sir,” said he,
“it is all we have in the house.” “Well,” said Mr. Burnet, “pay it this poor man: you do not know the pleasure
there is in making a man glad.” This may be a proper
place to mention our author’s practice of preaching extempore, in which he attained an ease chiefly by allotting many
hours of the day to meditation upon all sorts of subjects,
and by accustoming himself, at those times, to speak his
thoughts aloud, studying always to render his expressions
correct. His biographer gives us here two remarkable
instances of his preaching without book. In 1691, when
the sees, vacant by the deprivation of the nonjuring
bishops, were filled up, bishop Williams was appointed to
preach one of the consecration -sermons at Bow-church;
but, being detained by some accident, the archbishop of
Canterbury desired our author, then bishop of Sarum, to
supply his place; which he readily did, to the general satisfaction of all present. In 1705, he was appointed to preach
the thanksgiving-sermon before the queen at St. Paul’s; and
as it was the only discourse he had ever written before-hand,
it was the only time that he ever made a pause in preaching, which on that occasion lasted above a minute. The
same year, he drew up a memorial of the abuses of the
Scotch bishops, which exposed him to the resentments of
that order: upon which, resolving to confine himself to
study, and the duties of his function, he practised such a
retired and abstemious course, as greatly impaired his
health. About 1668, the government of Scotland being in
the hands of moderate men, of whom the principal was sir
Robert Murray, he was frequently consulted by them; and
it was through his advice that some of the more moderate
presbyterians were put into the vacant churches; a step
which he himself has since condemned as indiscreet. In
1669, he was made professor of divinity at Glasgow; in
which station he executed the following plan of study.
On Mondays, he made each of the students, in their turn,
explain a head of divinity in Latin, and propound such
theses from it as he was to defend against the rest of the
scholars; and this exercise concluded with our professor’s
decision of the point in a Latin oration. On Tuesdays, he
gave them a prelection in the same language, in which he
proposed, in the course of eight years, to have gone
through a complete system of divinity. On Wednesdays,
he read them a lecture, for above an hour, by way of a
critical commentary on St. Matthew’s Gospel;' which he
finished before he quitted the chair. On Thursdays, the
exercise was alternate; one Thursday, he expounded a
Hebrew Psalm, comparing it with the Septuagint, the
Vulgar, and the English version; and the next Thursday,
he explained some portion of the ritual and constitution
of the primitive church, making the apostolical canons his
text, and reducing every article of practice under the head
of one or other of those canons. On Fridays, he made
each of his scholars, in course, preach a short sermon upon
some text he assigned; and, when it was ended, he observed upon any thing that was defective or amiss in the
handling of the subject. This was the labour of the mornings: in the evenings, after prayer, he every day read
some parcel of scripture, on which he made a short
discourse; and, when that was over, he examined into
the progress of their several studies. Ail this he performed
during the whole time the schools were open; and, in
order to acquit himself with credit, he was obliged to study
hard from four till ten in the morning; the rest of the day
being of necessity allotted, either to the care of his pupils,
or to hearing the complaints of the clergy, who, rinding he
had an interest with men of power, were not sparing in
their applications to him. In this situation he continued
four years and a half, exposed, through his principles of
moderation, to the censure both of the episcopal and presbyterian parties. The same year he published his “Modest and free Conference between a Conformist and a Nonconformist.
” About this time he was entrusted, by the
duchess of Hamilton, with the perusal and arrangement
of all the papers relating to her father’s and uncle’s
ministry; which induced him to compile “Memoirs of the
Dukes of Hamilton,
” and occasioned his being invited to
London, to receive farther information, concerning the
transactions of those times, by the earl of Lauderdale; between whom and the duke of Hamilton he brought about
a reconciliation. During his stay in London, he was offered a Scotch bishopric, which he refused. Soon after
his return to Glasgow, he married the lady Margaret Kennedy, daughter of the earl of Cassilis. In 1672, he published his “Vindication of the Authority, Constitution, and
Laws, of the Church and State of Scotland,
” against the
principles of Buchanan and others; which was thought, at
that juncture, such a public service, that he was again
courted to accept of a bishopric, with a promise of the
next vacant archbishopric, but he persisted in his refusal
of that dignity. In 1673, he took another journey to
London; where, at the express nomination of the king,
after hearing him preach, he was sworn one of his majesty’s
chaplains in ordinary. He became likewise in high favour
with his majesty and the duke of York . At his return to
Edinburgh, finding the animosities between the dukes of
Hamilton and Lauderdale revived, he retired to his station
at Glasgow; but was obliged the next year to return to
court, to justify himself against the accusations of the duke
of Lauderdale, who had represented him as the cause and
instrument of all the opposition the measures of the court
had met with in the Scotch parliament. Thus he lost the
favour of the court; and, to avoid putting himself into the
hands of his enemies, he resigned the professor’s chair at
Glasgow, and resolved to settle in London, being now
about thirty years of age. Soon after, he was offered the
living of St. Giles’s Cripplegate, which he declined accepting, because he heard that it was intended for Dr.
Fowler, afterwards bishop of Gloucester. In 1675, our
author, at the recommendation of lord Holies, and notwithstanding the interposition of the court against him, was
appointed preacher at the Rolls chapel by sir Harbottle
Grimstone, master of the Rolls. The same year he was
examined before the house of commons in relation to the
duke of Lauderdale, whose conduct the parliament was
then inquiring into. He was soon after chosen lecturer of
St. Clement’s, and became a very popular preacher. In
1676, he published his “Memoirs of the Dukes of Hamilton;
” and the same year, “An account of a Conference
between himself, Dr. Stillingfleet, and Coleman.
” About
this time, the apprehensions of popery increasing daily, he
undertook to write the “History of the Reformation of the
Church of England.
” The rise and progress of this his
greatest and 'most useful work, is an object of too great
curiosity to require any apology on account of its length.
His own account of it is as follows: “Some time after I
had printed the ‘ Memoirs of the Dukes of Hamilton,’
which were favourably received, the reading of these got
me the acquaintance and friendship of sir William Jones,
then attorney-general. My way of writing history pleased
him; and so he pressed me to undertake the History of
England. But Sanders’s book, that was then translated
into French, and cried up much in France, made all my
friends press me to answer it, by writing the History of
the Reformation. So now all my thoughts were turned
that way. I laid out for manuscripts, and searched into
all offices. I got for some days into the Cotton Library.
But duke Lauderdale hearing of my design, and apprehending it might succeed in my hands, got Dolben, bishop
of Rochester, to divert sir John Cotton from suffering me
to search into his library. He told him, I was a great
enemy to the prerogative, to which Cotton was devoted,
even to slavery. So he said, I would certainly make an ill
use of all 1 had found. This wrought so much on him,
that I was no more admitted, till my first volume was published. And then, when he saw how I had composed it,
he gave me free access to it.
” The first volume of this
work lay near a year after it was finished, for the perusal
and correction of friends; so that it was not published tiii
the year 1679, when the affair of the popish plot was in
agitation. This book procured our author an honour never
before or since paid to any writer: he had the thanks of
both houses of parliament, with a desire that he would
prosecute the undertaking, and complete that valuable
work. Accordingly, in less than two years after, he
printed the second volume, which met with the same general approbation as the first: and such was his readiness
in composing, that he wrote the historical part in the
compass of six weeks, after all his materials were laid in
order. The third volume, containing a supplement to the
two former, was published in 1714. “The defects of
Peter Heylyn’s
” History of the Reformation,“as bishop
Kicolson observes,
” are abundantly supplied in our
author’s more complete history. He gives a punctual account of all the affairs of the reformation, from its beginning in the reign of Henry VIII. to its final establishment
under queen Elizabeth, A. D. 1559. And the whole is
penned in a masculine style, such as becomes an historian,
and is the property of this author in all his writings. The
collection of records^ which he gives at the end of each
volume, are good vouchers of the truth of what he delivers
in the body of the history, and are much more perfect than
could reasonably be expected, after the pains taken, in
queen Mary’s days, to suppress every thing that carried
the marks of the reformation upon it.“Our author’s performance met with a very favourable, reception abroad, and
was translated into most of the European languages; and
even the keenest of his enemies, Henry Wharton, allows it
to have
” a reputation firmly and deservedly established.“The most eminent of the French writers who have attacked
it, M. Varillas and M. Le Grand, have received satisfactory
replies from -the author himself. At home it was attacked
by Mr. S. Lowth, who censured the account Dr. Burnet
had given of some of archbishop Cranmer’s opinions, asserting that both our historian and Dr. Stillingfleet had imposed upon the world in that particular, and had
” unfaithfully joined together“in their endeavours to lessen
episcopal ordination. Our author replied to Mr. Lowth,
in some
” letters. in answer“to his book. The next assailant was Henry Wharton, who, under the name of Anthony
Harrner, published
” A specimen of some Errors and
Defects in the History of the Reformation,“1693, 8vo, a
performance of no great candour; to which, however, our
historian vouchsafed a short answer, in a
” Letter to the
Bishop of Lichfield.“A third attack on this History was
made by Dr. Hickes in
” Discourses on Dr. Burnet and
Dr. Tillotson;“in which the whole charge amounts to no
more than this, that,
” in a matter of no great consequence,
there was too little care had in copying or examining a
letter writ in a very bad hand,“and that there was some
probability that Dr. Burnet
” was mistaken in one of his
conjectures.“Our author answered this piece, in a
” Vindication“of his History. The two first parts were translated into French by M. de Rosemond, and into Latin by
Melchior Mittelhorzer. There is likewise a Dutch translation of it. In 1682, our author published
” An abridgment of his History of the Reformation," in 8vo, in which
he tells us, he had wholly waved every thing that belonged
to the records, and the proof of what he relates, or to the
confutation of the falsehoods that run through the popish
historians; all which is to be found in the History at large.
And therefore, in this abridgment, he says, every thing is
to be taken upon trust; and those who desire a fuller satisfaction, are referred to the volumes he had before published.
Monmbuth. But, having contracted an acquaintance with brigadier Stouppe, a protestant officer in the French service, he was prevailed upon to take a journey with him into
During the affair of the popish plot, Dr. Burnet was
often consulted by king Charles, upon the state of the
nation; and, about the same time, refused the vacant
bishopric of Chichester, which his majesty offered him,
“provided he vvould entirely come into his interest.
” But,
though his free access to that monarch did not procure him
preferment, it gave him an opportunity of sending his
majesty a most remarkable letter , in which, with great
freedom, he reprehends the vices and errors both of his
private life and his government The unprejudiced part
he acted during the time the nation was inflamed with the
discovery of the popish plot; his candid endeavours to
save the lives of Staley and the lord Stafford, both zealous
papists; his temperate conduct in regard to the exclusion
of the duke of York; and the scheme of a prince regent,
proposed by him, in lieu of that exclusion; are sufficiently
related in his “History of his own Time.
” In Life of sir Matthew Hale,
” and
his “History of the Rights of Princes, in disposing of
ecclesiastical Benefices and Church-lands;
” which being
attacked bv an anonymous writer, Dr. Burnet published,
the same year, “An answer to the Animadversions on the
History of the Rights of Princes.
” As he was about this
time much resorted to by persons of all ranks and parties,
as a pretence to avoid the returning of so many visits, he
built a laboratory, and, for above a year, went through a
course of chemical experiments. Upon the execution of
the lord Russel, with whom he was familiarly acquainted,
he was examined before the house of commons, with respect to that lord’s speech upon the scaffold, in the penning of which he was suspected to have had a hand. Not
long after, he refused the offer of a living of three hundred pounds a year, in the gift of the earl of Halifax, who
would have presented him, on condition of his residing
*till in London. In 1683, he went over to Paris, where
he was well received by the court, and became acquainted
with the most eminent persons, both popish and protestant.
This year appeared his “Translation and Examination of a
Letter, writ by the last General Assembly of the Clergy
of France to the Protestants, inviting them to return to
their Communion, &c.;
” also his “Translation of Sir
Thomas More’s Utopia,
” with a “Preface concerning the
Nature of Translations.
” The year following, the resentment of the court against our author was so great, that he
was discharged from his lecture at St, Clement’s, by virtue
of the king’s mandate to Dr. Hascard, rector of that parish;
and in December the same year, bv an order from the
lord-keeper North to sir Harbottle Grimstone, he was forbidden preaching any more at the Rolls chapel. In 1685
came out our author’s “Life of Dr. William Bedell, Bishop
of Kilmore in Ireland.
” Upon the death of king Charles,
and accesion of king James, having obtained leave to go
out of the kingdom, he went first to Paris, where he lived
in great retirement, to avoid being involved in the conspiracies then forming in favour of the difke of Monmbuth.
But, having contracted an acquaintance with brigadier
Stouppe, a protestant officer in the French service, he
was prevailed upon to take a journey with him into Italy,
and met with an agreeable reception at Rome and Geneva. After a tour through the southern parts of France,
Italy, Switzerland, and many places of Germany, of which
he has given an account, with reflections on their several
ojovernments, &c. in his “Travels,
” published in Translation of Lactantius,
concerning the Death of the Persecutors.
” The high favour shewn him at the Hague disgusting the English court,
king James wrote two severe letters against him to the
princess of Orange, and insisted, by his ambassador, on
his being forbidden the court; which, at the king’s importunity, was done; though our author continued to be
employed and trusted as before. Soon after, a prosecution
for high-treason was commenced against him, both in
Scotland and England; but the States refusing, at the demand of the English court, to deliver him up, designs were
laid of seizing his person, and even destroying him, if he
could be taken. About this time Dr. Burnet married Mrs.
Mary Scott, a Dutch lady of large fortune and noble extraction. He had a very important share in the whole
conduct of the revolution in 1688; the project of which he
gave early notice of to the court of Hanover, intimating,
that the success of this enterprise must naturally end in an
entail of the British crown upon that illustrious house. He
wrote also several pamphlets in support of the prince of
Orange’s designs, which were reprinted at London in 1689,
in 8vo, under the title of “A Collection of eighteen Papers relating to the affairs of Church and State during the
Reign of King James II. &c.
” And when his highness
undertook the expedition to England, our author accompanied him as his chaplain, notwithstanding the particular
circumstances of danger to which he was thereby exposed.
At Exeter, after the prince’s landing, he drew up the association for pursuing the ends of his highness’s declaration. During these transactions, Dr. Crew, bishop of Durham, who had rendered himself obnoxious by the part he
had acted in the high-commission court, having proposed
to the prince of Orange to resign his bishopric in favour of
Dr. Burnet, on condition of an allowance of 1000l. per
annum out of the revenue, our author refused to accept it
on those terms. But king William had not been many
days on the throne before Dr. Burnet was advanced to the
see of Salisbury, and consecrated March 31, 1689 . Our
prelate had scarcely taken his seat in the house of lords,
when he distinguished himself by declaring for moderate
measures with regard to the clergy who scrupled to take
the oaths, and for a toleration of the protestant dissenters;
and when the bill for declaring the rights and privileges of
the subject, and settling the succession of the crown, was
brought into parliament, he was the person appointed by
king William to propose naming the duchess (afterwards electress) of Brunswick, next in succession after the
princess of Denmark and her issue; and when this succession afterwards took place, he had the honour of being
chairman of the committee to whom the hill was referred.
This made him considered by the house of Hanover as
one firmly attached to their interests, and engaged him in
an epistolary correspondence with the princess Sophia,
which lasted to her death. This year bishop Buruet addressed a “Pastoral Letter
” to the clergy of his diocese,
concerning the oaths of allegiance and supremacy to king
Wiliiam and queen Mary; in which having grounded their
majesties title to the crown upon the right of conquest,
some members of both houses took such offence at it, that
about three years after, they procured an order for burning
the book by the hands of the common executioner. After
the session of parliament was over, the bishop went down
to his diocese, where, by his pious, prudent, and vigilant
discharge of the episcopal functions, he gained universal
esteem.
lrymple, where he increased his acquaintance with English gramroar, and gained some knowledge of the French language. Latin was also recommended to him; but he was not
, an eminent modern poet of Scotland, was born on the 29th day of January, 1759, in a small house about two miles from the town of Ayr, in Scotland. His father, William, after various attempts to gain a livelihood, took a lease of seven acres of land, with a view of commencing nurseryman and public gardener; and having built a house upon it with his own hands, he married, December 1757, Agnes Brown. The first fruit of his marriage was Robert, who in his sixth year was sent to a school at Alloway Miln, about a mile distant from his father’s house, where he made considerable proficiency in reading and writing, and where he discovered an inclination for books not very common at so early an age. With these, however, he appears at that time to have been rather scantily supplied; but what he could obtain he read with avidity and improvement. About the age of thirteen, or fourteen, he was sent to the parish school of Dalrymple, where he increased his acquaintance with English gramroar, and gained some knowledge of the French language. Latin was also recommended to him; but he was not induced to make any great progress in it. In the intervals from these studies, he was employed on his father’s farm, which, in spite of much industry, became so unproductive as to involve the family in great distress. This early portion of affliction is said to have been, in a great measure, the cause of that depression of spirits of which our poet often complained, and during which his sufferings appear to have been very acute. His father having taken another farm, the speculation was yet more fatal, and involved his affairs in complete ruin. He died Feb. 13, 1784.
total stranger to the tinsel, the overloading epithets, and other shifts of modern poets. If he read French, he imbibed nothing of the French manner: but his knowledge
Burns was entirely the poet of nature. Of literature he had none. He knew the Greek and Roman poets, if he knew them at all, only in translations. There have been, indeed, few poets less indebted to art and education. He was a total stranger to the tinsel, the overloading epithets, and other shifts of modern poets. If he read French, he imbibed nothing of the French manner: but his knowledge of that language does not appear to have been very intimate, although some common-place phrases occur in his letters. What superior culture might have done for a mind naturally vigorous and easily susceptible of knowledge, we shall not now inquire. Burns’ s w: orks claim no charitable allowance on account of the obscurity of his birth, or the stnallness of his acquisitions; they are such as few scholars could have produced, and such as learning could not have materially improved: as a poet, he may await the verdict of criticism, without the least necessity of putting in the plea of poverty, or want of literature. In all his works, he discovers his feelings, without betraying his situation. Had they been sent into the world without a name, conjecture would have found no pretence to fix them on a ploughman, or to suppose that they were published merely to raise pity and relief.
lso vyrote “Letters from France to the emperor Rodolph,” which exhibit an interesting picture of the French court at that period. An edition of all his letters was published
, was
the natural son of the lord of Bnsbec, or Boesbec, and
born at Commines, a town in Flanders, 1522. The early
proofs he gave of extraordinary genius induced his father
to spare neither care nor expence to get him properly instructed, and to obtain his legitimation from the emperor
Charles V. He was sent to study at the universities of
Louvain, Paris, Venice, Bologna, and Padua, and was
some time at London* whither he attended the ambassador
of Ferdinand, king of the Romans, and was present at the
marriage of Philip and Mary. In 1554 he was appointed
ambassador at Constantinople; but made a very short stay
there. Being sent back the following year, his second
embassy proved longer and more fortunate; for it lasted
seven years, and ended in a beneficial treaty. He acquired
a perfect, knowledge of the state of the Ottoman empire,
and the true means of attacking it with success; on which
subject he composed a very judicious discourse, entitled
“De re militari contra Turcam instituenda consilium.
”
Without neglecting any thing that related to the business
of his embassy, he laboured successfully for the republic
of letters, collecting inscriptions, purchasing manuscripts,
searching after rare plants, and inquiring into the nature
of animals, and when he set out the second time to Constantinople, he carried with him a painter, to make drawings of the plants and animals that were unknown in the
west. The relation which he wrote of his two journies to
Turkey is much commended by Thuanus. He was desirous of passing the latter part of his life in privacy, but
the emperor Maximilian made choice of him to be governor to his sons; and when his daughter princess Elizabeth
was married to Charles IX. of France, Busbec was nominated to conduct her to Paris. This queen gave him the
whole superintendance of her houshold and her affairs, and,
when she quitted France, on her husband’s death, left him
there as her ambassador, in which station he was retained
by the emperor Rodolph until 1592, when, on a journey
to the Low Countries, he was attacked by a party of soldiers,
and so harshly treated as to bring on a fever which proved
fatal in October of that year. He was a man of great learning, and an able antiquary. The public is indebted to
him for the “Monumentum Anciranum,
” which would be
one of the most curious and instructive inscriptions of antiquity, if it was entire, as it contained a list of the actions
of Augustus. Passing through Ancyra, a city of Galatia,
Busbec caused all that remained legible of that inscription
to be copied from the marble of a ruined palace, and sent
it to Schottus the Jesuit. It may be seen in Gruevius’s
Suetonius. Gronovius published this Monumentum Anciranum at Leyden in 1695, with notes, from a more full
and correct copy than that of Busbec. Busbec also vyrote
“Letters from France to the emperor Rodolph,
” which
exhibit an interesting picture of the French court at that
period. An edition of all his letters was published by
Elzivir at Leyden, 1633, and at London in 1660, 12mo.
His “Itinera Constantinopolitanum et Amasianum
” was
printed at Antwerp, Legationis Turcicæ Epistolæ,
” Francfort,
ng of a collection of original, authentic, and important papers, most of them in German, but some in French, relating to Portugal, Spain, France, &c. This is perhaps the
Busching compiled above an hundred volumes, mostly
elementary treatises on geography, history, &c. His system of “Geography,
” begun in Magazine of Modern History and Geography,
”
of which we have seen seventeen 4to. vols. from
, a French Jesuit, was born in 1607, either at Villa Franca in Beaujolais,
, a French Jesuit, was born in
1607, either at Villa Franca in Beaujolais, or at Lyons,
and became a very frequent and admired writer, although
little of his fame has reached modern times. He died in
1678. His French poetry is now forgot, but his Latin
poetry published at Lyons in 1675, 8vo, still has some admirers; and in his “Scanderbeg,
” an epic poem, and
his “Rhea,
” are some animated passages. He published
also an abridgment of the History of France, and another,
in Latin, of the universal history, called “Floscoli Historiarum,
” which he afterwards translated into French, under
the title “Parterre historique,
” Lyons, Memoires
de Ville Tranche en Beaujolais,
”
captain; in which station he served in 1694 and 1695 in the Mediterranean, where the designs of the French against Barcelona were prevented: and also the next year, 1696,
, lord viscount Torrington, an eminent naval officer, was descended from a family long seated in Kent, his direct ancestor Robert Byng, of Wrotham, inthat county, being high sheriff of it in the 34th year of queen Elizabeth; and he was the eldest son of John Byng, esq. by Philadelphia, daughter of Mr. Johnson, of Loans, Surrey. He was born in 1663, and went a Volunteer to sea in 1678, at the age of fifteen, with the king’s letter given him on the recommendation of the duke of York. In 1681 he quitted the sea-service upon the invitation of general Kirk, governor of Tangier, and served as a cadet in the grenadiers of that garrison; until on a vacancy, which soon happened, the general made him ensign of his own company; and soon after a lieutenant. In 1684, after the demolition of Tangier, lord Dartmouth, general of the sea and land forces, appointed him lieutenant of the Oxford; from which time he constantly kept to the sea-service, remaining likewise an officer in the army several years after. In 1685 he went lieutenant of his majesty’s ship the Phoenix to the East Indies where, engaging and boarding a Zinganian pirate, who maintained a desperate fight, most of those who entered with him were killed, himself much wounded, and the pirate sinking, he was taken out of the sea with scarce any remains of life. In 1688, being first lieutenant to sir John Ashby, in the fleet commanded by lord Dartmouth, fitted out to oppose the designs of the prince of Orange, he was in a particular manner intrusted and employed in the measures then carrying on amongst the most considerable officers of the fleet in favour of that prince; and was the person confided in by them to carry their secret assurances of obedience to his highness, to whom he was privately introduced, at Sherburn, by admiral Russel, afterwards earl of Orford. After his return to the fleet, lord Dartmouth sent him with capt. Aylmer, and capt. Flastings, to carry a message of submission to the prince at Windsor; and made him captain of the Constant Warwick, a ship of the fourth rate. In 1690 he commanded the Hope, a third rate, and was second to sir George Rooke, in the battle off Beachy head. In the years 1691 and 1692, he was captain of the Royal Oak, and served under admiral Russel, who commanded in chief their Majesty’s fleet. In F693, that great officer distinguished him in a particular manner, by promoting him to the rank of his first captain; in which station he served in 1694 and 1695 in the Mediterranean, where the designs of the French against Barcelona were prevented: and also the next year, 1696, in the Channel, to oppose the intended invasion of king James with a French army from the coast of France; which, upon the appearance of the fleet, was laid aside. In 1702, upon the breaking out of the war, he accepted of the command of the Nassau, a third rate, and was at the taking and burning of the French and Spanish fleets at Vigo. The year following he was made rearadmiral of the red, and served in the fleet commanded by *ir Cloudesley Shovel, in the Mediterranean; who detached him with a squadron to Algiers, where he renewed and improved our treaties with that government. In 1704 he served in the grand fleet in the Mediterranean, and commanded the squadron that attacked and cannonaded Gibraltar; and, by landing the seamen, whose valour was very remarkably displayed on this occasion, the town was taken. He was in the battle of Malaga, which followed soon after, and, for his behaviour in that action, had the honour of knighthood conferred on him by his Majesty. In the winter of this year he was sent oat with a squadron to cruise against the French, which he^ did with great success, taking about twenty of their largest privateers in about two months time, with the Thetis, a French man of war of fifty guns. In 1705 he was made vice-admiral of the blue: and upon the election of a new parliament, was returned burgess for Plymouth, which place he represented in every succeeding parliament to the year 1721, when he was advanced to the peerage.
During the summer of 1705, he commanded in chief a squadron in the channel, and blocked up the French fleet in Brest, with a much inferior strength. In 1706, king
During the summer of 1705, he commanded in chief a squadron in the channel, and blocked up the French fleet in Brest, with a much inferior strength. In 1706, king Charles of Spain, the late emperor, being closely beseiged in Barcelona, by sea and land, by the duke of Anjou, and the place reduced to great extremity, and our fleet in the Mediterranean being too weak to relieve it, sir George Byng was appointed to command a strong squadron fitting out in England; in the hastening of which service, he used such diligence and activity, and joined our fleet with such unexpected dispatch, that the saving of that city was entirely owing to it. He assisted at the other enterprizes of that campaign, and commanded the ships detached for the reduction of Carthagena and Alicant, which he accomplished. In 1707 he served in the second post under Sir Cloudesley Shovel, at the seige of Toulon: and the year following was made admiral of the blue, and commanded the squadron which was fitted out to oppose the invasion designed against Scotland by the pretender with a French army from Dunkirk; which he fortunately prevented, by arriving off the Frith of Edinburgh before their troops could land, and obliged them to betake themselves to flight. On his return from this expedition, he was offered by the queen the place of one of the prince of Denmark’s council in the admiralty, which he then declined. He continued to command all that summer in the channel, and upon the marriage of the queen of Portugal, had the honour of conducting her majesty to Lisbon, where a commission was sent to him to be admiral of the white. In 1709 he commanded in chief her majesty’s fleet in the Mediterranean; and, after his return to England, was made one of the commissioners of the admiralty, and continued so till some time before the queen’s death; when, not falling in with the measures of the court, he was removed, but upon the accession of George I. he was restored to that station. In 1715, upon the breaking out of the rebellion which was at first secretly supported with arms "and warlike stores from France, he was appointed to command a squadron, with which he kept such a watchful eye along the French coast, by examining ships even in their ports, and obtaining orders from the court of France to put on shore at Havre de Grace great quantities of arms and ammunition shipped there for the pretender’s service; that, in reward for his services, the king on Nov. 15, 1715, created him a baronet, and gave him a ring of great value, and other marks of his royal favour. In 1717, upon the discovery of some secret practices of the ministers of Sweden against this kingdom, he was sent with a squadron into the Baltic, and prevented the Swedes appearing at sea. In 1718 he was made admiral and commander in chief of the fleet, and being sent with a squadron into the Mediterranean for the protection of Italy, according to the obligation England was under by treaty, against the invasion of the Spaniards, who had the year before surprized Sardinia, and had this year landed an army in Sicily, he gave a total defeat to their fleet near Messina: for which action he was honoured with a letter from the king, written with his own hand, and received congratulatory letters from the emperor and the king of Sardinia; and was further honoured by his imperial majesty with his picture set in diamonds. He remained for some time in these seas, for composing and adjusting the differences between the several powers concerned, being vested with the character of plenipotentiary to all the princes of Italy; and that year and the next he supported the German arms in their expedition to Sicily; and enabled them, by his assistance, to subdue the greatest part of that island. After performing so many signal services, he attended his majesty, by his command, at Hanover, who made him rear-admiral of England, and treasurer of the navy, and, on his return to England, one of his most honourable privy-council; and on Sept 19, 1721 he was called to the peerage by the title of baron Byng, of Southill, in the county of Bedford, and viscount Torrington, in Devonshire; and 1725 was made one of the knights of the bath on the revival of that order. In 1727, his late majesty, on his accession to the crown, placed him at the head of his naval affairs, as first lord of the admiralty, in which station he died, Jan. 17, 1732-3; and was interred at Southill, in Bedfordshire. Lord Torrington married, in 1691, Mary, daughter of James Master, of East Langdon, in the county of Kent, esq. by whom (who died in 1756) he had eleven sons and four daughters. His fourth son, was the unfortunate John Byng, admiral of the blue, who was condemned by the sentence, of a court-martial in 1757, and shot at Portsmouth March 14th of that year, for a breach of the twelfth article of war. From the best accounts published on this affair, it may be concluded that he was a sacrifice to popular clamour artfully directed to the wrong object.
d continued to study, and to recommend to his pupils*, nature, Vivares, and the best examples of the French school. His larger performances are after Zuccarelli and Both:
, an eminent landscape engraver,
was born in 1742, and educated under an uncle, who engraved heraldry on plate; but young Byrne having succeeded in a landscape after Wilson, which obtained a premium from the society for the encouragement of arts, it
was regarded as the precursor of talent of a superior order,
and he was sent to Paris, at that time the chief seminary in
Europe for the study of engraving. There he studied successively under Aliamet and Wille: from the former of
whom he imbibed the leading traits of that style of engraving which he afterwards adopted as his own r under the
latter he engraved a large plate of a storm after Vernet;
but the manual dexterity of Wille was alien to his mind,
and probably contributed not rnuch to his improvement,
although he alw r ays spoke of Wille’s instructions with respect. When he returned to England, the success of
Woollett, as a landscape engraver, had set the fashion in
that department of the art; but Byrne, disdaining to copy
what he did not feel, or perhaps scorning the infiuence of
fashion in art, preserved the independence of his style;
and continued to study, and to recommend to his pupils*,
nature, Vivares, and the best examples of the French
school. His larger performances are after Zuccarelli and
Both: but his principal works (containing probably his best engraving) are the “Antiquities of Great Britain,
” after
Hearne; a set of “Views of the Lakes,
” after Farringdon;
and Smith’s “Scenery of Italy.
” His chief excellence
consisting in his aerial perspective, and the general effect
of his chiaroscuro, he was more agreeably and more beneficially employed, in finishing than in etching, and hence
he generally worked in conjunction with his pupils, who
were in his later years his own sons and daughters. His
manners were unassuming; his professional industry
unremitting; and his moral character exemplary. This ingenious artist died at his house in Great Titchfield street,
Sept. 24, 1805.
, a French physician of considerable eminence, the son of Mons. Cabanis,
, a French physician
of considerable eminence, the son of Mons. Cabanis, an
able agriculturist, was born about 1756 and in his youth
shewed much taste for scientific as well as polite literature,
which he pursued with success; although having caught the
revolutionary phrensy, his studies became interrupted by
his polkical engagements. He is said, however, to have
had no hand in any of the excesses which arose out of the
fury of contending parties. He was connected with Alirabeau, and attended him in his professional capacity on
his death-bed. He was also one of the Council of Five Hundred; and it was in consequence of a motion made by him,
that the Directory was dissolved. His principles, however,
do not appear to have been much more steady and consistent than those of his brethren. He published, 1. “Observations sur les Hopitaux,
” Paris, Journal
de la maladie et de la mort de Mirabeau,
” ibid. Travail sur I'education publique,
” a posthumous work of
Mirabeau, edited by Cabanis, 1791, 8vo. 4. “Melanges de
Litterature Allemande,
” Dudegrede certitude
delamedecine,
”Quelques considerations sur l'organization sociale en generale,
” &c. Des rapports du physique et du morale de Pnomme,
”
Coup d'ceil sur les revolutions
et la reforme de la medicine,
” Observations
sur les affections Catarrhales,
” &c. Magazin Encyclopedique;
”
and in the Moniteur for
he island of Patos, or Geese; and near Bahia de Todos los Santos, or the bay of All Saints, he met a French ship. When he came to the island just mentioned, he was in great
It was this disappointment which is supposed to have induced Sebastian Cabot to leave England, and go over into Spain. There he was treated with great respect, and appointed pilot-major, or chief pilot of Spain; and by his office entrusted with the reviewing of all projects for discovery; which at that period were numerous and important. His great capacity and reputation as a navigator, induced many opulent merchants to treat with him, in 1524, about a voyage to be undertaken at their expence by the new-found passage of Magellan to the Moluccos; and Cabot accordingly agreed to engage in the voyage. He set sail from Cadiz, with four ships, about the beginning of April 1525, first to the Canaries, then to the Cape Verd islands, and from thence to Cape St. Augustine, and the island of Patos, or Geese; and near Bahia de Todos los Santos, or the bay of All Saints, he met a French ship. When he came to the island just mentioned, he was in great want of provisions; but the Indians treated him with much kindness, and supplied him with provisions for all his ships. This he returned by an act of base ingratitude, carrying off with him by force four sons of the principal persons of the island. He then proceeded to the river of Plate, having left ashore, on a desert island, Martin Mendez, his vice-admiral, captain Francis do Rojas, and Michael de Rojas, because they censured his conduct. He was now prevented from prosecuting his original design of going to the Spice Islands, both by a scarcity of provisions, and a mutiny among his men. He sailed, however, up the river of Plate; and about thirty leagues above the mouth he found an island, which he called St. Gabriel, about a league in compass, dnd half a league from the continent towards Brazil. There he anchored; and, rowing with the boats three leagues higher, discovered a river he called San Salvador, or St. Saviour, very deep, and a safe harbour for the ships on the same side; whither he brought up his vessels, and unloaded them, because there was not much water at the mouth of the river. Having built a fort, and left some men in it, he determined to proceed up that river with boats, and a flat-bottomed caravel, in order to make discoveries; for he thought his voyage might thereby be rendered beneficial, though he did not pass through the Straits to the Spice Islands. When he had advanced thirty leagues, he came to a river called Zarcarana; the inhabitants in the neighbourhood of which he found to be intelligent, and not unfriendly; and here he erected another fort, calling it Santi Spiritus, i. e. of the Holy Ghost, and his followers by another name, viz. Cabot’s Fort. He then discovered the shores of the river Parana, where he found several islands and rivers, and at length came to the river Paraguay, in the neighbourhood of which he found people tilling the ground; a circumstance which had not occurred to him before in that part of the world. But here the natives opposed him with so much vigour, that he advanced no farther, though he had killed many of the Indians; but they slew twenty-five of his Spaniards, and took three of them, who went out to gather palmetos.
elected member of parliament for Woodstock; and on July 18th of the same year, at the forcing of the French lines near Tirlemont, he behaved with remarkable bravery at
, first earl of Cadogan, the son of Henry Cadogan, a counsellor at law, by Bridget, daughter to sir Hardress Waller, knt. was educated to a military life, and in 1701 was made quarter-master-general of the army. In 1703 he was constituted colonel of the second regiment of horse, and on August 25, 1704, brigadiergeneral, having that year behaved with great gallantry at the attack of Schellenberg, and the battle of Hochstet. In June 1705 he was elected member of parliament for Woodstock; and on July 18th of the same year, at the forcing of the French lines near Tirlemont, he behaved with remarkable bravery at the head of his regiment, xvhich first attacking the enemy had such success, that they defeated four squadrons of Bavarian guards, drove them through two battalions of their foot, and took four standards. He was also in the battle of Ramilies, fought on May 12, 1706; after which the duke of Marlborough sent from his camp at Meerlebeck, on June 3, brigadier Cadogan, with six squadrons of horse, and his letter to the governor of Antwerp, to invite him and the garrison to the obedience of king Charles III. and having reported to his grace that ten battalions were in the city and castle of Antwerp, who seemed inclined to surrender on honourable terms, the duke sent him authority to treat with them. And after some conferences, they complied, and the garrison, consisting of six French and six Spanish regiments, were allowed to march out in three days, and be conducted to Quesnoy. But of the Walloon regiment, consisting of 600 men each, only 372 men marched out; the rest entering into the service of king Charles, except some few who were not in condition to serve, and returned to their respective dwellings. Afterwards, towards the close of the campaign that year, he was taken prisoner when on a foraging party, and was carried into Tournay, but he remained there only three days, the duke of Vendosme sending him, on August 19, to the duke of Marl bo rough’s camp, upon his parole and five days after he was exchanged for the baron Palavicini, a major-general in the French service, taken at the battle of Ramilies. On Jan. 1, 1706-7, he was promoted to the rank of major-general of her majesty’s forces. On Mr. Stepney’s decease in 1707, he succeeded him as minister plenipotentiary in the government of the Spanish Netherlands. And he soon after, in conference, brought to a conclusion the negotiation for the speedy exchange of prisoners; and, having shared in the most difficult enterprizes throughout the war, was constituted a lieutenant-general on January 10, 1708-9.
tle of Tanniers, near Mons, when the two armies were in sight of each other, and an officer from the French having made a signal for a truce, several of both sides met
On September 10, 1709, the day before the battle of Tanniers, near Mons, when the two armies were in sight of each other, and an officer from the French having made a signal for a truce, several of both sides met in a friendly manner, and the French, inquiring for an officer of distinction, desired him to^acquaint the duke of Marlborough, that the marshal de Villars had some affairs of importance to propose to his grace, and that he would be pleased to send a trusty person, to whom he might communicate the same. On this his grace sent general Cadogan to know what marshal Villars had to offer, whereby being nearer the French army, than otherwise he could have been, he improved the opportunity so effectually, that, by viewing their intrcnchmcuts in the corner of the wood at Tanniers, he directed the colonel of the artillery, whom he took with him, to ohserve wbere he dropped his glove, and there, in the night, to plant his cannon; which, by enfilading their lines the next morning, greatly contributed to the forcing them, and was the principal means of obtaining that victory. Also an the siege of Mons, which ensued, being (as he ever had been) indefatigable in serving the common cause, and going voluntarily into the trenches to animate the troops that were in the attack of a ravelin, he received a dangerous wound in his neck; his aid-de-camp being also wounded by his side, of which he soon expired. In March 1711, he was at the Hague, at the desire of the council of state of the States General, to assist in consulting the operations of the ensuing campaign.
, an eminent French Inathematician and astronomer, was born at Rumigiiy in the diocese
, an eminent French
Inathematician and astronomer, was born at Rumigiiy in
the diocese of Rheims on March 15, 1713. His father
having quitted the army, in which he had served, amused
himself in his retirement with studying mathematics and
mechanics, in which he proved the author of several inventions of considerable use to the public. From this example of his father, our author “almost in his infancy took a
fancy to mechanics, which proved of signal service to him
in his maturer years. At school he discovered early tokens
of genius. He came to Paris in 1729; where he studied
the classics, philosophy, and mathematics, and afterwards
divinity in the college de Navarre, with a view to the
church, but he never entered into priest’s orders, apprehending that his astronomical studies, to which he had
become much devoted, might too much interfere with his
religious duties. His turn for astronomy soon connected
him with the celebrated Cassini, who procured him an
apartment in the observatory; where, assisted by the counsels of this master, he soon acquired a name among the
astronomers, in 1739 he was joined with M. Cassini de
Thury, son to M. Cassini, in verifying the meridian through
the whole extent of France; and in the same year he was,
named professor of mathematics in the college of Mazarine.
In 1741 or author was admitted into the academy of
sciences as an adjoint member for astronomy and had
many excellent papers inserted in their memoirs; beside
which he published several useful treatises, viz. Elements
of Geometry, Astronomy, Mechanics, and Optics. He also
carefully computed all the eclipses of the sun and moon
that had happened since the Christian sera, which were
printed in the work entitled
” L'Art de verifier les dates,“&c. Paris, 1750, 4to. He also compiled a volume of astronomical ephemerides for the years 1745 to 1755; another
for the years 1755 to 1765 and a third for the years 1765
to 1775 as also the most correct solar tables of any; and
an excellent work entitled
” Astronomic fundamenta novissimis solis et stellarum observationibus stabilita."
age. Besides the publications before mentioned, he had a vast number inserted in the Memoirs of the French academy, from 1711 to 1763. In most of the volumes of those
M. de la Caille returned to France in the autumn of
1754, after an absence of about four years; loaded, not
with the spoils of the east, but with those of the southern
heavens, beiore then almost unknown to astronomers. Upon
his return, he first drew up a reply to some strictures
which the celebrated Euler had published relative to the
meridian: after which he settled the results of the comparison of his observations for the parallaxes, with those of
other astronomers that of the sun he fixed at 9|“; of the
naoon at 56 56
”; of Mars in his opposition, 36“of Venus
3.
” He also settled the laws by which astronomical refractions are varied by the different density or rarity of the
air, by heat or cold, and by dry ness or moisture. And
lastly he shewed an easy and practicable method of finding the longitude at sea, by means of the moon. His fame
being now celebrated every where, M. de la Caille was
soon elected a member of most of the academies and societies of Europe, particularly of those of London, Bologna,
Petersburg!], Berlin, Stockholm, and Gottingen. In 1760
he was attacked by a severe fit of the gout, which, however, did not interrupt the course of his studies; for he
then planned out a new and large work, no less than a history of astronomy through all ages, with a comparison of
the ancient and modern observations, and the construction
and use of the instruments employed in making them.
Towards the latter part of 1761, his constitution became
greatly reduced; though his mind remained unaffected,
and he resolutely persisted in his studies to the last. He
died March 21, 1762, in the forty-ninth year of his age.
Besides the publications before mentioned, he had a vast
number inserted in the Memoirs of the French academy,
from 1711 to 1763. In most of the volumes of those years
are two or more of his papers.
ent. Some of his pieces are still performed on the Spanish stage, and some have been translated into French. This poet flourished about the year 1640.
, a celebrated Spanish dramatic poet, was chevalier of the order of St. James, and at first distinguished himself as a soldier. This profession he quitted, and became an ecclesiastic, and was made priest and canon of Toledo. There are several dramatical pieces by him in 9 vols. 4 to, Madrid, 1689; not to mention several others that have not been printed. The imagination of Calderoni, however, was too fertile to allow him to be regular and correct. The rules of the drama are violated in almost all his works. We perceive in his tragedies the irregularity of Shakspeare, his elevation and his degradation, flashes of genius as strong, comic turns as much out of place, an inflation no less capricious, and the same bustle of action and incident. Some of his pieces are still performed on the Spanish stage, and some have been translated into French. This poet flourished about the year 1640.
, a French mathematician, was born on the 25th of October 1744, at Versailles,
, a French mathematician, was born on the 25th of October 1744, at
Versailles, where he received a good education, and acquired an early taste for the mathematics. In 1768 he
came to Paris, where he had an opportunity of being more
thoroughly instructed. In 1774 he formed some distinguished pupils for the school of engineers, where the examinations were strict, and admission difficult to be obtained. In 1779 he gained the prize proposed by the society of arts at Geneva, for escapements. In 1783 he completed his edition of “Gardiner’s Tables of Logarithms,
”
which were exceedingly convenient, of great utility, and
very correct; and which possessed advantages above all
the others. In 1788 he was appointed professor of hydrography at Vann.es, afterwards at Dunkirk; and in 1792 he
returned to Paris, and was for a few years professor des ingenieurs geographes at the depot of war. This place having been suppressed, he continued to teach in Paris, where
he was always considered as one of the best mathematical
masters lo whom pupils could apply. In 1795 he published
the new stereotype edition of the “Tables of Logarithms,
”
considerably enlarged with logarithmic tables of the sines,
according to the new decimal division of the circle. These
are the first which ever appeared. Towards the end of
3797 he presented to the National Institute the plan of a
new telegraph and a telegraphic language, accompanied
with a dictionary of 12,000 French words adapted to it by
A combination worthy of so able a mathematician. These
labours had injured his health, and he had been a long time
asthmatic, but, notwithstanding his condition, he published
that year an excellent memoir on finding the longitude at
sea, under the modest title of “A Supplement to the
Trigonometry and Navigation of Bezout.
” He died on
the 14th of November, 1798, leaving behind him a daughter, born at Vannes in 1793. According to a tradition in
the family, he was descended from Descartes.
as most probably soon after translated from the Greek into the Latin, and at length from thence into French, Italian, and German. But it is unnecessary to say more of a
The “Life of Alexander,
” said to have been written by
Callisthenes, often referred to by the ancients, has been
long since lost; but a Greek life of Alexander, under the
adopted name of Callisthenes, at present exists, and is no
uncommon manuscript in good libraries. There is one
copy in the Bodleian, and another in the royal library at
Paris. It was written in Greek, being a translation from
the Persic by Simeon Seth, styled magister and protovestiary or wardrobe-keeper of the palace of Antiochus at
Constantinople, about the year 1070, under the emperor
Michaei Ducas. It was most probably soon after translated
from the Greek into the Latin, and at length from thence
into French, Italian, and German. But it is unnecessary
to say more of a work which does not belong to our Callisthenes. He is said to have written other works, as “A
History of Greece,
” a “History of the Trojan war,
” &c.
but no traces of them are now to be found.
, a celebrated French philosopher, was a native of Mesnil-Hubert, near Argenton, in
, a celebrated French philosopher, was
a native of Mesnil-Hubert, near Argenton, in the diocese
of Seez. About 165.5, he studied philosophy at Caen,
and afterwards divinity at Paris, but philosophy was his
favourite pursuit, and the foundation of his fame. In
1660 he taught in the college du Bois, in Caen, and became there acquainted with Huet, afterwards bishop of
Avranches, who acknowledged the assistance he derived
from Cally in his studies. Their intimacy, however, was
interrupted by Cally’s avowal of adherence to ttie Cartesian system. CaJly was the first in France who had the
courage to profess himself a Cartesian, in defiance of the
prejudices and numbers of those who adhered to the ancient philosophy. He first broached his Cartesianism in
the way of hypothesis, but afterwards taught it more
openly, which procured him many enemies. Huet, although then very young, ventured to censure him; and
father Valois, the Jesuit, who was a contemporary professor of philosophy, attacked both Cally and his opinions
in a work which he published under the name of Louis de
la Ville, in 1680, entitled “Sentimens de M. Descartes,
touchant Pessence et les proprietes des corps, opposes a la
doctrine de Peglise, et conformesaux erreurs de Calvin sur
I'eucharistie.
” Cally, not thinking there was much in this,
did not answer it until pressed by his friends, when he
wrote an answer in Latin, which, however, was not at
this time published. When the duke de Montausier was
appointed by Louis XIV. to provide eminent classical
scholars to write notes on the classics published for the use
of the Dauphin, Cally was selected for the edition of
“Boethius de Consolatione,
” which he published, accordingly, in Institutio philosophica,
” 4to, which he
afterwards greatly enlarged, and published in 1695 under
the title “Universae philosophise institutio,
” Caen, 4 vols.
4to. In 1675 he was appointed principal of the college of
arts in Caen, on which he began a new course of philosophical lectures, and laid out ten or twelve thousand francs
on rebuilding a part of the college which had fallen into
ruin. In 1684 he was appointed curate of the parish of
St. Martin, in Caen, and the Protestants who were then
very numerous in that city, flocked to his sermons, and he
held conferences once or twice a week in his vestry, which
they attended with much pleasure, and we are told he 'made
many converts to the Popish religion. But this success,
for which every Catholic ought to have been thankful, excited the envy of those who had quarrelled with him before
on account of his Cartesianism, and by false accusations,
they procured him to be exiled to Moulins in 1686, where
he remained for two years. Finding on his return that the
Protestants were still numerous in Caen, and that they
entertained the same respect for him as before, he wrote for
their use a work entitled “Durand cornmente, ou Paccord
de la philosophie avec la theologie, tonchaut la transubstantialion.
” In this, which contained part of his answer
to father Valois, mentioned above, he revives the opinion
of the celebrated Durand, who said, if the church decided
that there was a transubstantiation in the eucharist, there
must remain something of what was bread, to make a difference between the creation and production of a thing
which was not, and annihilation or a thing reduced to
nothing. Cally sent this work in ms. to M. Basnage, who
had been one of his scholars, but received no answer. la
the mean time, unwilling to delay a work which he hoped
would contribute to the conversion of the Protestants, “he
engaged with a bookseller at Caen to print only sixty
copies, which he purposed to send to his friends at Paris,
and obtain their opinion as to a more extended publication.
The bookseller, however, having an eye only to his own
interest, undertook to assure Cally that the work would be
approved by the doctors of the Sorbonne, and he therefore
would print eight hundred. Cally unfortunately consented, and the work no sooner appeared, than he who
fondly hoped it would convert heretics, was himself treated
as a heretic. M. de Nesmond, then bishop of Bayeux,
condemned the work in a pastoral letter March 30, 1701,
and Cally in April following made his retractation, which
he not only read in his own church, but it was read in all
other churches; and he also destroyed the impression, so
that it is now classed among rare books. It was a small
vol. 12mo, 1700, printed at Cologne, under the name of
Pierre Marteau. Cally also published some of his sermons,
but they were too philosophical and dry for the closet, although he had contrived to give them a popular effect in
the pulpit. A work entitled
” Doctrine heretique, &c.
touchant la primauté du pape, enseignee par les Jesuites
dans leur college de Caen," is attributed to him, but as it
bears date 1644, he must have then been too young. He
died Dec. 31, 1709.
ised by the abbe Duguet, to whom he had been recommended by Mabillon, to publish his commentaries in French, and the first volume accordingly appeared in 1707. In 1715
, a learned Benedictine of the
college of St. Vanncs, was born at Mesnil-la-Horgue, near
Commercy, Feb. 26, 1672, and was first educated in the
priory of Breuii. In 1687 he went to study at the
university of Pont-a-Mousson, where he was taught a course of
rhetoric. On leaving this class, he entered among the
Benedictines in the abbey of St. Mansuy, in the fauxbourg
of Toul, Oct. 17, 1688, and mad,e profession in the same
place Oct. 23, 1689. He began his philosophical course
in the abbey of fcfe. Evre, and completed that and his theological studies in the abbey of St. Munster. At his leisure
hours he studied the Hebrew language with great attention
and success, and likewise improved his knowledge of the
Greek. In 1696 he was sent with some of his companions
to the abbey of Moyenmoutier, where they studied the
Holy Scriptures under P. D. Hyacinthe Alliot. Two years
aftef, in 1698, Calmet was appointed to teach philosophy
and theology to the young religious of that monastery, an
employment which he filled until 1704, when he was sent,
with the rank of sub-prior, to the abbey of Munster. There
he was at the head of an academy of eight or ten religious,
with whom he pursued his biblical studies, and having,
while at Moyenmoutier written commentaries and dissertations, on various parts of the Bible, he here retouched and
improved these, although without any other design, at this
time, than his own instruction. During a visit, however,
at Paris, in 1706, he was advised by the abbe Duguet, to
whom he had been recommended by Mabillon, to publish
his commentaries in French, and the first volume accordingly appeared in 1707. In 1715 he became prior of Lay,
and in 1718 the chapter-general appointed bim abb 6 of
St. Leopold, of Nancy, and the year following he was
made visitor of the congregation. In 1728 he was chosen
abbe* of Senones, on which occasion he resigned his priory
of Lay. When pope Benedict XIII. confirmed his election, the cardinals proposed to his holiness that Calmet
should also have the title of bishop in partibus infiddium,
with power to exercise the episcopal functions in those
parts of the province which are exempt from the jurisdiction of the ordinary; but this Calmet refused, and wrote
on the subject to Rome. The pope in Sept. 1729, addressed a brief to him, accepting of his excuses, and some
time after sent him a present of his works, in 3 vols. fol.
Calmet took possession of the abbey of Senones, January
3, 1729, and continued his studies, and increased the library and museum belonging to the abbey with several
valuable purchases, particularly of the medals of the deceased M. de Corberon, secretary of slate, and of the
natural curiosities of M, Voile. Here be died Oct. 25, 1757,
respected by all ranks, Roman catholics and Protestants,
for his learning and candour, and by his more particular
friends and those of his own order, for his amiable temper
and personal virtues. His learning, indeed, was most extensive, as the greater part of his long life was devoted to
study, but amidst such vast accumulation of materials, we
are not surprized that he was sometimes deficient in selection, and appears rather as a collector of facts, than as
an original thinker. His principal works are, 1. “Commentaire litteral sur tous les livres de l'Aneten et da Nouyeau Testament,
” Dissertations and Prefaces
” belonging to his commentary,
published separately with nineteen new Dissertations,
Paris, 1720, 2 vols. 4to. 3. “Histoire de PAncien et du
Nouveau Testament,
” intended as an introduction to Fleury’s “Ecclesiastical History,
” 2 and 4 vols. 4to; and 5 and
7 vols. 12mo. 4. “Dictionnaire historique, critique, et
chronologique de la Bible.
” Paris, Histoire ecclesiasiique et civile de la Lorraine,
” 3 vols.
fol. reprinted 1745, in 5 vols. fol. 6. “Bibliotheque des
Ecrivains de Lorraine,
” fol, Histoire
universelle sacrée et profane,
” 15 vols. 4to. This Calmet did not
live to finish, and in other respects it is not his best work.
7. “Dissertations sur les apparitions des Anges, des Demons,
et des Esprits, et sur les Revenans et Vampires de Hongrie,
”
Paris, 1754, 2 vols. 4to. 10.
” De la Poesie et Musique des anciens Hebreux," Amst. 1723, 8vo. His conjectures on this subject, Dr. Burney thinks, are perhaps as
probable as those of any one of the numerous authors who
have exercised their skill in expounding and defining what
some have long since thought involved in Cimmerian darkness. Calmet also left a vast number of manuscripts, or
rather manuscript collections, as it had long been his practice to copy, or employ others to copy, whatever he found
curious in books. In 1733, he deposited in the royal
library, a correct transcript of the Vedam, a work which
the natives of Hiudostan attribute to their legislator Brama,
who received it, according to their tradition, from God
himself. This copy came into Calmet' s possession by means
of a bramin who had been converted by the Jesuit missionaries. Calmet’s life was written by Dom Fange, his
nephew and successor in the abbey of Senones, and published in 8vo. It was afterwards translated into Italian by
Benedetto Passionei, and published at Rome in 1770.
, an eminent but unfortunate French minister, was born at Douay in 1734. His father was president
, an eminent but unfortunate French minister, was born at Douay in 1734. His father was president of the parliament of Flanders, and descended from a noble family, originally of Tournay, and well known in the history of that city, which makes honourable mention of his ancestors in the remotest times. Having finished his studies at the university of Paris with extraordinary success, young Calonne was appointed, in histwenty-third year, advocate or solicitor- general of the superior council of Artois and before he had attained the age of twenty -five, was promoted to the office of procurator-general of the parliament of Flanders, the duties of which he performed with distinguished ability for six years. He was then called as rapporteur to the king’s council, to report to his majesty the most momentous affairs of administration, of which arduous and laborious task he acquitted himself in a manner that evinced his profound knowledge of the government, constitution, history, and jurisprudence of France, and established his reputation as a writer of no less perspicuity and judgment, than elegance and energy of diction.
, a French dramatic and romance writer, was born in the chateau of Toulgon
, a French dramatic and romance writer, was born in the chateau of
Toulgon in Perigord, in the diocese of Cahors, about the
year 1612, and became gentleman in ordinary to the king.
He is said to have conciliated the good opinion of the court
by his happy talent for telling agreeable stories. When a
very young man he wrote several tragedies and comedies
which procured him some reputation, particularly his
“Mithridates
” and the “Earl of Essex,
” but he was most
celebrated for his romances, particularly “Cassandra,
”
“Cleopatra,
” and “Pharamond,
” which gave place, however, to a better taste in the course of some years, and are
now thought intolerable by their insipidity and tediousness.
Calprenede had an excellent opinion of himself, and when
the cardinal Richelieu said of some of his verses, that they
were dull, he replied that “nothing dull belonged to the
family of Calprenede.
” He died in 1663.
erryland. After the death of king James he went twice to Newfoundland. When M. de PArade, with three French men of war, had reduced the English fishermen there to great
While he was secretary of state, he had obtained a patent for him and his heirs to be absolute lord and proprietor (with the royalties of a count-palatine) of the province of Avalon in Newfoundland. This name he gave it from Avalon in Somersetshire, whereon Glastonbury stands, the first-fruits of Christianity in Britain, as the other was in that part of America. He laid out 2500l. in advancing this new plantation, and built a handsome house in Ferryland. After the death of king James he went twice to Newfoundland. When M. de PArade, with three French men of war, had reduced the English fishermen there to great extremity, lord Baltimore, with two ships manned at his own expence, drove away the French, taking sixty of them prisoners, and relieved the English; but still finding his plantation very much exposed to the insults of the French, he at last determined to abandon it. He then went to Virginia; and having viewed the neighbouring country, returned to England, and obtained from Charles I. (who had as great a regard for him as James had) a patent to him and his heirs for Maryland on the north of Virginia. He died at London, April 15, 1632, before the grant was made out; but his son Cecil Calvert, lord Baltimore, who had been at Virginia, took it out in his own name, and the patent bears date June 20, 1632. He was to hold it of the crown of England in common soccage> as of the manor of Windsor; paying yearly, on Easter r l uesday, two Indian arrows of those parts at the castle of Windsor, and the fifth part of the gold and silver ore that should be found therein. King Charles himself gave that province the name of Maryland, in honour of his queen Henrietta Maria. The first colony sent thither consisted of about 200 people, Roman catholics, the chief of whom were gentlemen of good families. The Baltimore family were in danger of losing their property on account of their religion, by the act which requires all Roman catholic heirs to profess the protestant religion, on pain of being deprived of their estates: but this was prevented by their professing the protesunt religion.
pathianis, 1770.” It is dedicated, in Latin, to LinIkeiis, and consists of various pieces in Latin, French, and English, prose and verse, of very little merit. A copy,
, Lord Baltimore, a descendant of the preceding, and eldest son of Charles, the sixth
lord, was born in 1731, and succeeded to the title on the
death of his father in 1751, and also to the proprietorship
of Maryland. After returning from his travels he married
lady Diana Egerton, youngest daughter of the duke of
Bridgwater. In 1768 he was indicted at the Kingston assizes for a rape, but acquitted. He went soon after to
reside on the continent, and died at Naples, Sept. 14, 1771,
without issue by marriage, leaving his fortune to his sister,
Mrs. Eden. In 1767, he published “A Tour to the East
in the years 1763 and 1764, with remarks on the city of
'Constantinople and the Turks. Also select pieces of Oriental wit, poetry, and wisdom,
” Lond. Gaudia Poetica, Latina, Anglica,
et Gallica, Lingua composita, anuo 1769. Augustse Litteris Spathianis, 1770.
” It is dedicated, in Latin, to LinIkeiis, and consists of various pieces in Latin, French, and
English, prose and verse, of very little merit. A copy,
the only one said to be known in this country , was sold
at Mr. Isaac Reed’s sale, who likewise had another performance of his lordship’s, equally rare, and valued only
for its rarity, entitled “Coelestes et Inferi,
” Venetiis,
ed to spread his fame, though he himself was desirous of living in obscurity. It is dedicated to the French king, Francis I. This prince being solicitous, according to
, one of the chief reformers of the
church, was born at Noyon in Picardy, July 10, 1509. He
was instructed in grammar at Paris under Maturinus Corderius, to whom he afterwards dedicated his Commentary
on the first epistle of the Thessalonians, and studied philosophy in the college of Montaigu under a Spanish professor. His father, uho discovered many marks of hitf
early piety, particularly in his reprehensions of the vices of
his companions, designed him for the church, and got him
presented, May 21, 1521, to the chapel of Notre Dame
de la Gesine, in the church of Noyon. In 1527 he was
presented to the rectory of Marteville, which he exchanged
in 1529 fortlie rectory of Pont I‘Eveque near Noyon. His
father afterwards changed his resolution, and would have
him study law; to which Calvin, who, by reading the
scriptures, had conceived a dislike to the superstitions of
popery, readily consented, and resigned the chapel of Gesine and the rectory of Pont l’Eveque in 1534. He had
never, it must here be observed, been in priest’s orders, and
belonged to the church only by having received the tonsure.
He was sent to study the law first under Peter de l'Etoile
(Petrus Stella) at Orleans, and afterwards under Andrew
Alciat at Bourges, and while he made a great progress in
that science, he improved no less in the knowledge of divinity by his private studies. At Bourges he applied to the
Greek tongue, under the direction of professor Wolmar.
His father’s death having called him back to Noyon, he
staid there a short time, and then went to Paris, where he
wrote a commentary on Seneca’s treatise “De dementia,
”
being at this time about twenty- four years of age. Having
put his name in Latin to this piece, he laid aside his surname Cauvin, for that of Calvin, styling himself in the
title-page “Lucius Calvinus civis Romanus.
” He soon
made himself known at Paris to such as had privately embraced the reformation, and by frequent intercourse with
them became more confirmed in his principles. A speech
of Nicholas Cop, rector of the university of Paris, of which
Calvin furnished the materials, having greatly displeased
the Sorbonne and the parliament, gave rise to a persecu^
tion against the protestants; and Calvin, who narrowly escaped being taken in the college of Forteret, was forced to
retire to Xaintonge, after having had the honour to be introduced to the queen of Navarre, who allayed this first storm
raised against the protestants. Calvin returned to Paris in
1534. This year the reformed met with severe treatment,
which determined him to leave France, after publishing a
treatise against those who believe that departed souls are
in a kind of sleep. He retired to Basil, where he studied
Hebrew; at this time he published his “Institutions of the
Christian Religion,
” a work well adapted to spread his fame,
though he himself was desirous of living in obscurity. It
is dedicated to the French king, Francis I. This prince
being solicitous, according to Beza, to gain the friendship
of the Protestants in Germany, and knowing that they
were highly incensed by the cruel persecutions which their
brethren suffered in France, he, by advice of William de
Bellay, represented to them that he had only punished
certain enthusiasts, who substituted their own imaginations
in the place of God’s word, and despised the civil magistrate. Calvin, stung with indignation at this wicked evasion, wrote this work as an apology for the Protestants who
were burnt for their religion in France. The dedication to
Francis I. is one of the three that have been highly admired: that of Thuanus to his history, and Casaubon’s to
Polybius, are the two others. But this treatise, when first
published in 1555, was only a sketch of a larger work.
The complete editions, both in Latin and in French, with
the author’s last additions and corrections, did not appear
till 1558. After the publication of this work, Calvin went
to Italy to pay a visit to the duchess of Ferrara, a lady of
eminent piety, by whom he was very kindly received.
Prom Italy he came back to France, and having settled his
private affairs, he purposed to go to Strasbourg, or Basil,
in company with his sole surviving brother Antony Calvin;
but as the roads were not safe on account of the war, except through the duke of Savoy’s territories, he chose that
road. “This was a particular direction of Providence,
”
says Bayle; “it was his destiny that he should settle at
Geneva, and when he was wholly intent on going farther,
he found himself detained by an order from heaven, if I
may so speak.
” William Farel, a man of a warm enthusiastic temper, who had in vain used many entreaties to
prevail with Calvin to be his fellow-labourer in that part of
the Lord’s vineyard, at last solemnly declared to him, in
the name of God, that if he would not stay, the curse of
God would attend him wherever he went, as seeking himself and not Christ. Calvin therefore was obliged to
comply with the choice which the consistory and magistrates of Geneva made of him, with the consent of the,
people, to be one of their ministers, and professor of divinity. It was his own wish to undertake only this last
office, but he was gbliged to take both upon him in August
1536. The year following he made all the people declare,
upon oath, their assent to a confession of faith, which contained a renunciation of Popery: and because this reformation in doctrine did not put an entire stop to the immoralities that prevailed at Geneva, nor banish that spirit of
faction which had set the principal families at variance,
Calvin, in concert with his colleagues, declared that they
could not celebrate the sacrament whilst they kept up their
animosities, and trampled on the discipline of the church.
He also intimated, that he could not submit to the regulation which the synod of the canton of Berne had lately
made *. On this, the syndics of Geneva summoned an assembly of the people; and it was ordered that Calvin,
Farel, and another minister, should leave the town in two
days, for refusing to administer the sacrament. Calvin'
retired to Strasbourg, and established a French church in
that city, of which he was the first minister; he was also
appointed to be professor of divinity there* During his
stay at Strasbourg, he continued to give many marks of
his affection for the church of Geneva; as appears, amongst
other things, by the answer which he wrote in 1539, to the
beautiful but artful letter of cardinal Sadolet, bishop of
Carpentras, inviting the people of Geneva to return into
the bosom of the Romish church. Two years after, the
divines of Strasbourg being very desirous that he should
assist at the diet which the emperor had appointed to be
held at Worms and at Ratisbon, for accommodating religious differences, he went thither with Bucer, and had a
conference with Melancthon. In the mean time the people
of Geneva (the syndics who promoted his banishment being now some of them executed, and others forced to fly their country for their crimes), entreated him so earnestly to
return to them, that at last he consented. He arrived at
Geneva, Sept. 13, 1541, to the great satisfaction both of
the people and the magistrates; and the first measure ha
adopted after his arrival, was to establish a form of church,
discipline, and a consistorial jurisdiction, invested with,
the power of inflicting censures and canonical punishments,
particularly at Francfort, in 1556, whither he went to put an end to the disputes which divided the French church in that city. He, was always employed, having almost
The inflexible rigour with which Calvin asserted, on all occasions, the rights of his consistory, procured him many enemies; but nothing daunted him; and one would hardly believe, if there were not unquestionable proofs of it, that amidst all the commotions at home, he could take so much care as he did of the churches abroad, in France, Germany, England, and Poland, and write so many books and letters. He did more by his pen than his presence; yet on some occasions he acted in person, particularly at Francfort, in 1556, whither he went to put an end to the disputes which divided the French church in that city. He, was always employed, having almost constantly his pen in his hand, even when sickness confined him to his bed; and he continued the discharge of all those duties, which his zeal for the general good of the churches imposed on him, till the day of his death, May 27, 1564.
sidered as an important memoir of the period it embraced, and as a fair and correct statement of the French proceed' ings in India; and it served to introduce him more
On the commencement of the war with France in 1756,
in the events of which he appears to have taken a more
lively interest than could have been expected from a man
of his retired disposition, he was induced to undertake a
history of the rise and progress of the British power in
India, in order to enlighten the public mind in the nature
and importance of that acquisition. At first he intended
that this work should be on a very large scale, but as recent
events demanded such information as could be immediately
procured, and promised to be useful, he produced his
“History of the War upon the Coast of Coromandel,
”
which was published in
en’s own hand, collated with another ms. in Mr. Rawlinson’s library. Both parts were translated into French by M. Paul de Belligent, advocate in the parliament of Paris;
His impartiality has been attacked on several parts of this work. He has been charged with being influenced in his account of the queen of Scots by complaisance for her son, and with contradictions in the information given by him to M. deThou, and his own account of the same particulars. It is not to be wondered if James made his own corrections on the ms. which his warrant sets forth he had perused before he permitted it to be published. It was no easy matter to speak the truth in that reign of flattery in points where filial piety and mean ambition divided the mind of the reigning monarch. An English historian in such a reign could not indulge the same freedom as Thuanus. The calumnies cast upon him for his detail of Irish affairs were thought by him beneath the notice his friends wanted to take of them. But though he declined adding his own justification to that which the government of Ireland thought proper to publish of their own conduct, we have the letters he wrote on the subject to archbishop Usher and others and it had this effect on him, that he declined publishing in his life-time the second part of his history, which he completed in 1617. He kept the original by him, which was preserved in the Cottonian library, and sent an exact copy of it to his friend Mr. Dupuy, who had given him the strongest assurances that he would punctually perform the duty of this important trust, and faithfully kept his word. It was first printed at Leyden, 1625, 8vo, again London, 1627, folio, Leyden, 1639, 8vo, &c. But the most correct edition of the whole is that by Hearne from Dr. Smith’s copy corrected by Mr. Camden’s own hand, collated with another ms. in Mr. Rawlinson’s library. Both parts were translated into French by M. Paul de Belligent, advocate in the parliament of Paris; and from thence into English with many errors, by one Abraham D'Arcy, who did not understand English. The materials whence Camden compiled this history are most of them to be found in the Cottonian library. We learn from a ms letter of Dr. Goodman’s, that he desired them as a legacy, but received for answer, that they had been promised to archbishop Bancroft, upon whose death he transferred them to his successor Abbot, and archbishop Laud said they were deposited in the palace at Lambeth, but whereever they were archbishop Sancroft could not find one of them.
hin doors and without, up and in bed, on a journey, and in hours even of recreation; that he learned French and Italian when he was old; that he had but a smattering of
His labours in the literary republic were prodigious.
He wrote a vast number of books, among which are the
lives of Melancthon and Hessius, and “Commentaries on
the NewTestament, grammatical and critical,
” printed with
Beza’s Greek Testament, Cambridge, he studied incessantly,
within doors and without, up and in bed, on a journey, and
in hours even of recreation; that he learned French and
Italian when he was old; that he had but a smattering of
Hebrew; that he understood Greek well; and that in Latin
he was inferior to none.
” Turnebus, Henry Stephens,
Lipsius, Beza, Scaliger, Thuanus, and Vossius, all speak
of him in the highest terms. Erasmus only said he owed
more to industry than to nature, which might, however,
apply to the uncommon care he took in remedying her
defects; but this opinion does not correspond with that
of any of his contemporaries. In private character he was a
man of great goodness of disposition, great humanity, candour, and. sincerity in his searches after truth.
, one of the most famous divines of the seventeenth century, among the French Protestants, was born at Glasgow, in Scotland, about the year
, one of the most famous divines of
the seventeenth century, among the French Protestants,
was born at Glasgow, in Scotland, about the year 1580,
and educated at the university of his native city. After
reading lectures on the Greek language for a year, he began his travels in 1600, and at Bourdeaux evinced so much
ability and erudition, that the ministers of that city appointed him master of a college which they had established
at Bergerac, for teaching Greek and Latin; and from this
the duke de Bouillon removed him to the philosophical
professorship at Sedan, where he remained for two years.
He then went to Paris, and from Paris to Bourdeaux,
where he arrived in 1604, and began his divinity studies, and in 1608 was appointed one of the ministers
of Bourdeaux, and officiated there with such increasing
reputation, that the university of Saumur judged him worthy to succeed Gomarus in the divinity chair. Having
accepted this offer, he gave his lectures until 1620, when
the university was almost dispersed by the civil war. He
now came over to England with his family, and was recommended to king James, who appointed him professor
of divinity at Glasgow, in the room of Robert Boyd, of
Trochrig, (whom Bayle and his translators call Trochoregius), because he was supposed to be more attached to the
episcopal form of church government. This situation,
however, not suiting his taste, he returned to Saumur in
less than a year; but even there he met with opposition,
and the court having prohibited his public teaching, he was
obliged to read lectures in private. After a year passed in
this precarious state of toleration, he went in 1624 to Montauban, where he was chosen professor of divinity, but
having declared himself too openly against the party which
preached up the civil war, he created many enemies, and
among the rest an unknown miscreant who assaulted him
in the street, and wounded him so desperately as to occasion his death, which took place, after he had languished a
considerable time, in 1625. Bayle says, he was a man of
a great deal of wit and judgment, had a happy memory,
was very learned, a good philosopher, of a chcarful temper,
and ready to communicate not only his knowledge, but
even his money: he was a great talker, a long preacher,
little acquainted with the works of the fathers, obstinate
in his opinions, and somewhat troublesome. He frankly
owned to his friends, that he found several things still to
reform in the reformed churches. He took a delight in
publishing particular opinions, and in going out of the
beaten road; and he gave instances of this when he was a
youth, in his theses “De Tribus Frederibus,
” which he
published and maintained at Heidelberg, although yet
but a proposant, or candidate for the ministry. He also
mixed some novelties in all the theological questions
which he examined; and when in explaining some passages of the holy scripture, he met with great difficulties,
he took all opportunities to contradict the other divines,
and especially Beza; for he pretended that they had not
penetrated into the very marrow of that science. It was
from him that monsieur Amyraut adopted the doctrine of
universal grace, which occasioned so many disputes in
France, and will always be found, at least upon Amyraut’s
principles, to be too inconsistent for general belief. Cameron’s works are his “Theological Lectures,
” Saumur,
Myrothecium
Evangelicum.
”
f very superior merit, and has been often reprinted and translated into several languages, once into French, twice into Italian, four times into Spanish; and lately, with
Camoens wrote a variety of poetical compositions, some
of which have been lately very elegantly translated into
English by lord viscount Strangford, who has also prefixed
a life of the author, from which we have extracted some
remarks. According to the researches his lordship has
made into the character of Camoens, he appears to have
possessed a lofty and independent spirit, with a disposition to gallantry which may probably have involved him in
difficulties. His genius, however, appears principally io
the “Lusiad,
” the subject of which is the first discovery of
the East Indies by Vasco de Gama the poem is conducted
according to the epic plan: both the subject and the in r
cidents are magnificent, but the machinery is perfectly
extravagant. Not only, says Blair, is it formed of a singular mixture of Christian ideas and pagan mythology,
tout it is so conducted, that the pagan gods appear to be
the true deities, and Christ and the blessed Virgin, to be
subordinate agents. One great scope of the Portuguese
expedition, our author informs us, is to propagate the
Christian faith, and to extirpate Mahometanism. In this
religious undertaking, the great protector of the Portuguese is Venus, and their great adversary is Bacchus,
whose displeasure is excited by Vasco’s attempting to rival
his tame in the Indies. Councils of the gods are held, in
which Jupiter is introduced, as foretelling the downfall of
Mahometanism, and the propagation of the gospel Vasco,
in a great distress from a storm, prays most seriously to
God; implores the aid of Christ and the Virgin; and begs
for such assistance as was given to the Israelites, when they
were passing through the Red Sea; and to the apostle
Paul, when he was in hazard of shipwreck. In return to
this prayer, Venus appears, who, discerning the storm to
be the work of Bacchus, complains to Jupiter, and procures the winds to be calmed. Such strange and preposterous machinery, shews how much authors have been
misled by the absurd opinion, that there could be no epic
poetry without the gods of Homer. Towards the end of
the work, indeed, the author gives us an awkward salvo for
his whole mythology: making the goddess Thetis inform
Vasco, that she, and the rest of the heathen deities, are no
more than names to describe the operations of Providence.
There is, however, says the same judicious critic, some
fine machinery of a different kind in the Lusiad. The genius of the river Ganges, appearing to Emanuel king of
Portugal, in a dream, inviting that prince to discover his
secret springs, and acquainting him that he was the destined monarch for whom the treasures of the East were
reserved, is a happy idea. But the noblest conception of
this sort is in the fifth canto, where Vasco is recounting to
the king of Melinda all the wonders which he met with in
his navigation. He tells him, that when the fleet arrived
at the Cape of Good Hope, which never before had been
doubled by any navigator, there appeared to them on a
sudden, a huge and monstrous phantom rising out of the
sea, in the midst of tempests and thunders, with a head
that reached the clouds, and a countenance that filled them
with terror. This was the genius, or guardian, of that
hitherto unknown ocean. It spoke to them with a voice
like thunder: menaced them for invading those seas which
he had so long possessed undisturbed, and for daring to
explore those secrets of the deep, which never had been
revealed to the eye of mortals; required them to proceed
no farther: if they should proceed, foretold all the successive calamities that were to befall them: and then, with
a mighty noise, disappeared. This is one of the most solemn and striking pieces of machinery that ever was employed, and is sufficient to show that Camoens is a poet,
though of an irregular, yet of a bold and lofty imagination.
The critical student will find a more severe censure of Canioens in Rapin, Dryden, and Voltaire. But the Lusiad
lias generally been considered as a poem of very superior
merit, and has been often reprinted and translated into
several languages, once into French, twice into Italian,
four times into Spanish; and lately, with uncommon excellence, into English, by Mr. Mickle; but it had beea
translated in the 17th century by sir Richard Fanshaw.
Mickle’s translation will be considered in his life. It was
translated into Latin by Thomas de Faria, bishop of Targa
in Africa; who, concealing his name, and saying nothing
of its being a translation, made some believe that the Lusiadas was originally in Latin. Large commentaries have
been written upon the Lusiadas; the most considerable of
which are those of Emanuel Faria de Sousa, in 2 vols. folio,
Madrid, 1639. These commentaries were followed the
year after with the publication of another volume in folio,
written to defend them; besides eight volumes of observations upon the miscellaneous poems of Camoens, which
this commentator left behind him in manuscript.
conferred many other favours on him, excited their jealousy; and his correspondence with some of the French nation, gave them new suspicions of him. Being informed of their
, a celebrated Italian philosopher, was born at Stilo, a small village in Calabria, Sept. 5, 1568. At thirteen he understood the ancient orators and poets, and wrote discourses and verses on various subjects; and the year after, his father purposed to send him to Naples to study law: but young Campanella, having other views, entered himself into the order of the Dominicans. Whilst he was studying philosophy at San Giorgio, his professor was invited to dispute upon some theses which were to be maintained by the Franciscans; but finding himself indisposed, he sent Campanella in his room, who argued with so much subtilty and force, as to charm his auditory. When his course of philosophy was finished, he was sent to Cosenza to study divinity: but his inclination led him to philosophy. Having conceived a notion that the truth was not to be found in the peripatetic philosophy, he anxiously examined all the Greek, Latin, and Arabian commentators upon Aristotle, and began to hesitate more and more with regard to the doctrines of that sect. His doubts still remaining, he determined to peruse the writings of Plato, Pliny, Galen, the Stoics, the followers of Democritus, and especially those of Telesius; and he found the doctrine of his masters to be false in so many points, that he began to doubt even of uncontroverted matters of fact. At the age of twenty- two he began to commit his new system to writing, and in 1500 he went to Naples to get it printed. Some time after he was present at a disputation in divinity, and took occasion to commend what was spoken by an ancient professor of his order, as very judicious;but the old man, jealous, perhaps, of the glory which Campanella had gained, bade him, in a very contemptuous manner, be silent, since it did not belong to a young man, as he was, to interpose in questions of divinity. Campanella 'fired at this, and said, that, young as he was, he was able to teach him; and immediately confuted what the professor had advanced, tothe satisfaction of the audience. The professor conceived a mortal hatred to him on this account, and accused him to the inquisition, as if he had gained by magic that vast extent of learning which he had acquired without a master. His writings now made a great noise in the world, and the novelty of his opinions stirring up many enemies agaiast him at Naples, he removed to Rome; but not meeting with a better reception in that city, he proceeded to Florence, and presented some of his works to the grand duke, Ferdinand I. the patron of learned men. After a short stay there, as he was passing through Bologna, in his way to Padua, his writings were seized, and carried to the inquisition at Rome, which, however, gave him little disturbance, and he continued his journey. At Padua, he was employed in instructing some young Venetians in his doctrines, and composing some pieces. Returning afterwards to Rome, he met with a hetter reception than before, and was honoured with the friendship of several cardinals. In 1598 he went to Naples, where he staid but a short time, then visited his own country. Some expressions which he dropped, with regard to the government of the Spaniards, and the project of an insurrection, being reported to the Spaniards, he was seized and carried to Naples in 1599, as a criminal against the state, and put seven times to the rack, and afterwards condemned to perpetual imprisonment. At first he was not permitted to see any person, and denied the use of pen, ink, and paper; but, being afterwards indulged with these implements, he wrote several of his pieces in prison; some of which Tobias Adamus of Saxony procured from him, and published in Germany. Pope Urban VIII. who knew him from his writings, having obtained his liberty from Philip IV. of Spain in May 1626, Campanella went immediately to Rome, where he continued some years in the prisons of the inquisition, but was a prisoner only in name. In 1629 he was discharged, but the resentment of the Spaniards was not abated. The friendship shewn him by the pope, who settled a considerable pension, and conferred many other favours on him, excited their jealousy; and his correspondence with some of the French nation, gave them new suspicions of him. Being informed of their designs against him, he went out of Rome, disguised like a minim, in the French ambassador’s coach, and, embarking for France, landed at Marseilles in 1634. Mr. Peiresc, being informed of his arrival, sent a letter to bring him to Aix, where he entertained him some months. The year following he went to Paris, and was graciously received by Lewis XIII. and cardinal Richelieu; the latter procured him a pension of 2000 livres, and often consulted him on the affairs of Italy. He passed the remainder of his days in a monastery of the Dominicans at Paris, and died March 21, 1639.
work was in proportion to its merit, most extensive in Great Britain, and being translated into the French, Dutch, and nan languages, the name of Dr. Campbell was from
After remaining nine years in this country parish, he
was chosen one of the ministers of Aberdeen in June, 1757,
where his various and extensive talents were appreciated
by those who knew best their worth, and where his fame
was most likely to be rewarded. Accordingly in 1759, he
was presented by his majesty to the office of principal of
Marischal college, and soon made it appear that he was
worthy of this dignity. Hume had recently published his
“Essay on Miracles,
” and despised his opponents until
principal Campbell published his celebrated “Dissertation on Miracles,
” which deservedly raised his character as
an acute metaphysician and an able polemical writer. This
“Dissertation
” was originally drawn up in the form of a
sermon, which he preached before the provincial synod of
Aberdeen, Oct. 9, 1760, and which, on their requesting
him to publish it, he afterwards enlarged into its present
form. Some circumstances attended the publication which
are rather singular, and which we shall relate in the words
of his biographer. “Before it was published, he sent a
copy of his manuscript to Dr. Blair of Edinburgh, with a
request that, after perusing it, he would communicate the
performance to Mr. Hume. The learned aud judicious
Blair read the dissertation both as a friend, and as a critic,
then showed it to his opponent, and afterwards wrote to
Mr. Campbell both what had occurred to himself, and
what Mr. Hume chose at first to write on the subject. It
soon appeared, that this sceptical philosopher, with all his
affected equanimity, felt very sensibly, on reading so
acute, so learned, and so complete an answer to his essay
on miracles. He complained of some harsh expressions,
and stated a few objections to what Mr. Campbell had advanced, shewing, in some cases, where his meaning had
been misunderstood. Instead of being displeased, his generous adversary instantly expunged, or softened, every
expression that either was severe, or was only supposed to
be offensive, removed every objection that had been made
to his arguments, and availed himself of the remarks both
of his friend, and of his opponent, in rendering his dissertation a complete and unanswerable performance. Thus
corrected and improved, it was put to the press, and a
copy of it sent to Mr. Hume. That philosopher was
charmed with the gentlemanly conduct of Mr. Campbell,
confessed that he felt a great desire to answer the dissertation, and declared that he would have attempted to do
something in this way, if he had not laid it down as a rule,
in early life, never to return an answer to any of his opponents. Thus principal Campbell, from a rnanly and
well-bred treatment of his adversary, rendered his own
work more correct, gained the esteem of his opponent,
and left an example worthy to be imitated by all polemical
writers.
” How far such an example is worthy to be imitated, may surely be questioned; in Mr. Campbell’s conduct we see somewhat of timidity and irresolution, nor
does he seem to have been aware of the impropriety of
gratifying Hume by personal respect; and after all no
good was produced, for Hume reprinted his essay again
and again without any notice of Campbell or any other of
his opponents, a decisive proof that in this respect he had
no title to the character of philosopher.
The “Dissertation on Miracles
” was published in
ilosophy, &c. in the university of Utrecht. This gentleman had been driven from these offices by the French invasion of Holland, on account of his attachment to the house
In his seventy-second year, he was seized with a severe
illness, from which he unexpectedly recovered, and though
his bodily strength was impaired, resumed his former occupations. Some years before his death, he made. a dis^
interested and unsolicited offer of resigning his professorship of divinity, provided that any one of three gentlemen
whom he named, and to whom he applied for their consent,
should succeed him; but this offer not being accepted by
the patrons of the professorship, he continued to hold his
office, lest an improper person should in his life-time be
chosen as his successor. But afterwards application was made
to him, and also to the patrons of the professorship, in Lehalf
of Dr. William Laurence Brown, late minister of the English
church, and professor of moral philosophy, &c. in the university of Utrecht. This gentleman had been driven from
these offices by the French invasion of Holland, on account
of his attachment to the house of Orange, and his native
country; and because, in some of his writings, he had
opposed the progress of French principles, and maintained
the cause of religion. Dr. Campbell, knowing the excellence of his character, instantly resigned the offices of
professor of divinity, and minister of Gray Friars church,
which were worth 160l. a year, and soon after his resignation, government, desirous of testifying in a public manner, the high respect so justly entertained of his abilities
and services, offered him, on condition of resigning the
principalship of Marischal college, a pension of 300l. a
year. Dr. Campbell accepted this token of his majesty’s
munificence, and was succeeded in the office of principal
also by Dr. Brown. This pension, however, he did not
long live to enjoy, though he continued writing till within
a week of his death; an event which he expected with
great tranquillity and composure. On the 31st of March,
1796, after some previous symptoms of uneasiness, he was
struck with the palsy, which deprived him of speech, and
under which he languished for a few days till he died.
He had long accustomed himself to prepare for death; and
in a former illness he had given the testimony of a dying
man in favour of religion. A funeral sermon was preached
on occasion of his death, by Dr. Brown, in which he has
given a sketch of his character as a public teacher, as the
head of a public seminary of learning, and as a private
Christian. His character is thus summed up in a few sentences by his biographer, Dr. Keith: “His imagination
was lively and fertile his understanding equally acute and
vigorous and his erudition was at once very deep and
wonderfully diversified. His piety was unfeigned his
morals unimpeached his temper chearful and his manners gentle and unassuming. His love of truth was even
more remarkable than the uncommon success with which
he sought after it. Where intuitive faculties could be of
service to any man, he saw at once if he saw at all. But
his deep perspicacity was not satisfied with a superficial
view of any thing; his piercing eye darted to the bottom
of every sul/ic < i to which discernment could be applied.
Where study aud reflection were necessary, he could
bestow as much time on patient thinking, as if he had been
possessed of no genius at all, and had acquired only a
small share of erudition. And when once he began to examine any subject, he was never satisfied till he had viewed
it in every light in which it could be seen. He always
sought for truth in the love of truth, but he could not bear
to be suspected of deviating from it for he neither courted
those who might support, nor feared those who did oppose
him. The tone of his mind was high, and he would not
let it down from the elevation of truth and of virtue. Whether engaged in conversation, or employed in study, he
could pass easily from the lightest subject to the most serious one. And the reach of his mind was so great, as to
comprehend a great variety of subjects. He could explore
the causes of that pleasure which arises in the mind from
dramatic entertainments, and lay down the rules of Scripture criticism. He could illustrate the whole theory of
evidence, or detect the false reasonings of Mr. Hume. He
could explain the spirit of the Gospel, marking the extremes of superstition and enthusiasm; and both as a philosopher and a divine, declare the nature, extent, and
importance of the duty of allegiance. While he zealously
contended for the faith, he could warn the Christian against
imbibing a persecuting spirit, and yet shew the influence
of religion upon civil society, warning his countrymen
against infidelity, before they had seen its dreadful effects.
He could with manly eloquence describe the success of the
fishermen of Galilee, while preaching the doctrine of the
cross to prejudiced Jews, learned Greeks, and ambitious
Romans; and at the same time, with well -applied erudition, he could delineate the characters of the pretended
successors of the apostles, and trace the progress of the
hierarchy through all the dark and middle ages, until the
reformation of religion. As the principal of a college, a
professor of divinity, or a minister of the Gospel, as a
true patriot, a good man, and a sincere Christian, qwndo
ullum invenies 'par tin
”
an; the Russian discoveries by land and, sea; a distnct account of the Spanish, Portuguese, British, French, Dutch, and Danish settlements in America; with other pieces
honour of claiming a descent from the poet Waller. Our
anthor was their fourth son; and at the age of five years,
was brought to Windsor from Scotland, which country he
never saw afterwards. At a proper age he was placed out
as clerk to an attorney, being intended for the law; but
whether it was that his genius could not be confined to that
dry study, or to whatever causes besides it might be owing,
it is certain that he did not pursue his original designation:
neither did he engage in any other profession, unless that
of an author, in which he did not spend his time in idleness
and dissipation, but in such a close application to the acquisition of knowledge of various kinds, as soon enabled
him to appear with great advantage in the literary world.
What smaller pieces might be written by Mr. Campbell in
the early part of his life, we are not capable of ascertaining,
but, in 1736, before he had completed his thirtieth year,
he gave to the publick, in 2 vols. folio, “The military
history of prince Eugene, and the duke of Marlborough;
comprehending the history of both those illustrious persons to the time of their decease.
” This performance was
enriched with maps, plans, and cuts, by the best hands,
and particularly by the ingenious Claude de Bosc. The
reputation hence acquired by our author, occasioned him
soon after to be solicited to take a part in the “Ancient
Universal History.
” In this work Dr. Kippis says he wrote
on the Cosmogony; but Dr. Johnson assigns him the history of the Persians, and of the Constantinopolitan empire.
Whilst employed in this capital work, Mr. Campbell found
leisure to entertain the world with other productions. In
1739 he published the “Travels and adventures of Edward Brown, esq.
” 8vo. In the same year appeared his
“Memoirs of the bashaw duke de Rippercla,
” 8vo, reprinted, with improvements, in Concise history of Spanish America,
” 8vo. In A
letter to a friend in the country, on the publication of
Thurloe’s State papers;
” giving an account of their discovery, importance, and utility. The same year was distinguished by the appearance of the 1st and 2d volumes of
his “Lives of the English Admirals, and other ^eminent
Britisii ^eamen.
” The two remaining volumes were completed in Hermippus Revived
” a second edition of which, much improved and
enlarged, came out in 1749, under the following title
“Hermippus Redivivus or, the sage’s triumph over old
age and the grave. Wherein a method is laid down for
prolonging the life and vigour of man. Including a commentary upon an ancient inscription, in which this great
secret is revealed; supported by numerous authorities.
The whole interspersed with a great variety of remarkable
and well-attested relations.
” This extraordinary tract had
its origin in a foreign publication, under the title of “Hermippus Redivivus,
” Coblentz, great secret
” is no other than
inhaling the breath of young females, by which, we learn
from an inscription in Reinesius’s Supplement to Gruter,
one Hermippus prolonged his life to the age of 115. Mr.
Campbell, in 1744, gave to the public in 2 vols. fol. his
“Voyages and Travels,
” on Dr. Harris’s plan, being a
very distinguished improvement of that collection, which
had appeared in 1705. The work contains all the circumnavigators from the time of Columbus to lord Anson; a
complete history of the East Indies; historical details of
the several attempts made for the discovery of the northeast and north-west passages; the commercial history of
Corea and Japan; the Russian discoveries by land and,
sea; a distnct account of the Spanish, Portuguese,
British, French, Dutch, and Danish settlements in America; with other pieces not to be found in any former
collection. The whole was conducted wijh eminent skill
and judgment, and the preface is acknowledged to be a
master-piece of composition and information. The time
and care employed by Mr. Campbell in this important undertaking did not prevent his engaging in another great
work, the Biographia Britannica, which began to be published in weekly numbers in 1745, and the first volume
of which was completed in 1746, as was the second in
1748.
in 1759. The parts of it written by Campbell, were the histories of the Portuguese, Dutch, Spanish, French, Swedish, Danish, and Ostend settlements in the East Indies;
When the late Mr. Dodsley formed the design of “The
Preceptor,
” which appeared in Present
state of Europe;
” a work which had been originally begun
in Museum,
” a very valuable periodical performance, printed for Dodsley. There is no production
of our author’s that has met with a better reception. It
has gone through six editions, and fully deserved this encouragement. The next great undertaking which called
for the exertion of our author’s abilities and learning, was
“The modern Universal History.
” This extensive work
was published irom time to time in detached parts, till it
amounted to 16 vols. tol. and a 2d edition of it in 8vo,
began to make its appearance in 1759. The parts of it
written by Campbell, were the histories of the Portuguese,
Dutch, Spanish, French, Swedish, Danish, and Ostend
settlements in the East Indies; and the histories of the
kingdoms of Spain, Portugal, Algarve, Navarre, and that
of France, foin Clovis to 1656. As our author had thus
distinguished himself in the literary world, the degree of
LL. D. was very properly and honourably conferred upon
him, June 18, 1754, by the university of Glasgow. With
regard to his smaller publications, there are several, Dr.
Kippis apprehends, that have eluded his most diligent inquiry; but the following account, we believe, is tolerably
accurate: In early life, he wrote: 1. “A Discourse on
Providence,
” 8vo, the third edition of which was printed
in The Case of the Opposition impartially stated,
” 8vo. Mr. Reed had a copy
of this pamphlet, with various corrections and additions in
Dr. Campbell’s own hand, evidently written with a view to
a second impression. He published in 1746, 3. “The
Sentiments of a Dutch patriot; being the speech of Mr.
V. H***n, in an august assembly, on the present state
of affairs, and the resolution necessary at this juncture to
be taken for the safety of the republic,
” 8vo. The history
of this little tract, the design of which was to expose the
temporising policy of the states of Holland, is somewhat
amusing. His amanuensis, when he was going to write
the pamphlet, having disappointed him, he requested, after
tea in the afternoon, that Mrs. Campbell, when she had
ordered a good fire to be made, would retire to bed as
soon as possible, with the servants; and, at the same time,
leave him four ounces of coffee. This was done, and he
wrote till 12 o‘clock at night, when, finding his spirits flag,
he took two ounces. With this assistance he went on till
six in the morning, when again beginning to grow weary,
he drauk the remainder of the coffee. Hence he was enabled to proceed with fresh vigour till nine or ten o’clock
in the morning, when he finished the pamphlet, which had
a great run, and was productive of considerable profit.
Mr. Campbell having succeeded so well in a performance
hastily written, expected much greater success from
another work, about which he had taken extraordinary pains,
and which had cost him a long time in composing. But
when it came to be published, it scarcely paid the expence
of advertising. Some years afterwards, a book in French
was brought to him that had been translated from the German; and he was asked whether a translation of it into
English would not be likely to be acceptable. Upon examining it, he found that it was his own neglected work,
which had made its way into Germany, and had there been
translated and published, without any acknowledgement
of the obligation due to the original writer. But it is rather singular that his biographers have not told us what
work this was.
f which was to shew the value and importance of the neutral islands that had been ceded to us by the French. The only remaining publication of Dr. Campbell’s, that has
In 1749, he printed, 4. “Occasional thoughts on moral,
serious, and religious subjects,
” 8vo. In The Rational Amusement, comprehending a collection of letters on a great variety of subjects, interspersed with essays, and some little
pieces of humour,
” 8vo. 6. “An exact and authentic
account of the greatest white-herring-fishery in Scotland,
carried on yearly in the island of Zetland, by the Dutch
only,
” The Highland Gentleman’s Magazine, for Jan. 1751,
” 8vo. 8. “A Letter from the
Prince of the infernal legions, to a spiritual lord on this
side the great gulph, in answer to a late invective epistle
levelled at his highness,
” The naturalization bill confuted, as most pernicious to these united
kingdoms,
” His royal highness Frederick late prince of Wales deciphered: or a full and particular description of his character, from his juvenile years
until his death,
” A Vade Mecum: or
companion for the unmarried ladies: wherein are laid
down some examples whereby to direct them in the choice
of husbands,
” A particular but melancholy account of the great hardships, difficulties, and miseries, that those unhappy and much to be pitied creatures, the common women of the town, are plunged into
at this juncture,
” A full and particular
description of the Highlands of Scotland,
” The case of the publicans, both in town and country, laid open,
” The Shepherd of Banbury’s rules,
” a favourite pamphlet with the common people; and “The history of the war in the East-Indies,
”
which appeared in
e with the languages extended not only to the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin among the ancient, and to the French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Dutch, among the modern;
Let us now advert a little to Dr. Campbell’s personal
history. May 23, 1736, he married Elizabeth, daughter
of Benjamin Vobe, of Leominster, in the county of Hereford, gentleman, with which lady he lived nearly forty
years in the greatest conjugal harmony and happiness. So
wholly did he dedicate his time to books, that he seldom
went abroad: but to relieve himself, as much as possible,
from the inconveniencies incident to a sedentary life, it
was his custom, when the weather would admit, to walk in
his garden; or, otherwise, in some room of his house, by
way of exercise. By this method, united with the strictest
temperance in eating, and an equal abstemiousness in
drinking, he enjoyed a good state of health, though his
constitution was delicate. His domestic manner of living
did not preclude him from a very extensive and honourable acquaintance. His house, especially on a Sunday
evening, was the resort of the most distinguished persons
of all ranks, and particularly of such as had rendered themselves eminent hy their knowledge, or love of literature.
He received foreigners, who were fond of learning, with
an affability and kindness, which excited in them the
highest respect and veneration; and his instructive and
cheerful, conversation made him the delight of his friends
in general. On March 5, 1765, Dr. Campbell was
appointed his majesty’s agent for the province of Georgia, in
North America, which employment he held till his decease. His last illness was a decline, the consequence of
a life devoted to severe study, and which resisted every
attempt for his relief that the most skilful in the medical
science could devise. By this illness he was carried off,
at his house in Queen-square, Ormond-street, on Dec. 28,
1775, when he had nearly completed the 68th year of his
age. His end was tranquil and easy, and he preserved the
full use of all his faculties to the latest moment of his life.
On Jan. 4th following his decease, he was interred in the
new burying- ground, behind the Foundling-hospital, belonging to St. George the Martyr, where a monument,
with a plain and modest inscription, has been erected to
his memory. Dr. Campbell had by his lady seven children, one of whom only survived him, but is since dead.
Dr. Campbell’s literary knowledge was by no means confined to the subjects on which he more particularly treated
as an author. He was well acquainted with the mathematics, and had read much in medicine. It has been with
great reason believed, that, if he had dedicated his studies
to the last science, he would have made a very conspicuous
figure in the physical profession. He was eminently versed
in the different parts of sacred literature; and his acquaintance with the languages extended not only to the
Hebrew, Greek, and Latin among the ancient, and to the
French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Dutch, among
the modern; but, likewise, to the oriental tongues. He
was particularly fond of the Greek language. His attainment of such a variety of knowledge was exceedingly assisted by a memory surprisingly retentive, and which, indeed, astonished every person with whom he was conversant. A striking instance of this has been given by the
honourable Mr. Daines Barrington, in his tract, entitled,
“The probability of reaching the north pole discussed .
”
In communicating his ideas, our author had an uncommon
readiness and facility; and the style of his works, which
had been formed upon the model of that of the celebrated
bishop Sprat, was perspicuous, easy, flowing, and harmonious. Should it be thought that it is sometimes rather
too diffusive, it will, notwithstanding, indubitably be allowed, that it is, in general, elegant.
, a French physician, was born at Paris in 1722, and died in the same city
, a French physician, was born
at Paris in 1722, and died in the same city in 1772, at 50
years of age. He practised medicine there with great success, and wrote, 1. “Medicine de l'esprit,
” Paris, Abdeker,
” or the art of preserving beauty, Memoires sur divers sujets de
medicine,
” 1760, 8vo. 4. “Memoire sur Tetat actuel de la
Pharmacia,
” Projet d'aneaniirla Petiteverole,
” Medicine pratique,
” 3 vols.
12mo, and 1 vol. 4to. 7. “Amphitheatrum poeticum,
”
a poem, Journal
Economique,
” from Dissertations sur le
bois de charpente,
” Paris, Le Genie d'Architecture,
” ibid. Traite de la force de
bois,
” Le guide de reux qui veulent
batir,
” 2 vols. 8vo. He died July 24, 177.9. Another
brother, Armand Gaston Camus, who died in 1804, was
a very active agent in all the revolutionary measures of the
different French assemblies, and being sent to arrest Dumourier in 1793, was delivered by him to the Austrians,
and afterwards exchanged for the daughter of Louis XVI.
His political conduct belongs to the history of those turbulent periods. In 1800 he was commissioned to inspect the
libraries and collections of the united departments, and
particularly examined the library of Brussels, which is rich
in Mss. He was a man of some learning, and extensive
knowledge of books; and published, 1. “Observations sur
la distribution et le classement des livres d'une bibliotheque.
” 2. “Memoire sur un livre Allemand,
” the famous
Tewrdannckhs. 3. “Memoire sur Thistoire et les procédés du Polytypage et de la Stereotype.
” 4. “Rapport
sur la continuation de la collection des Historiens de la
France, et de celle des Chartres et Diplomes.
” 5. “Notice d'un livre imprim6 a Bamberg in 1462,
” a very curious memoir of a book, first described in the Magasin Hist.
Litt. Bibliog. 1792. 6. “Memoire sur la collection des
grands et petits voyages,
” Notices
des Mss. de la Bibl. Nationale,
” vol. VI. is an interesting
memoir by him, relating to two ancient manuscript bibles,
in 2 vols. fol. adorned with 5152 pictures, each of them
having a Latin and French verse beautifully written and
illuminated beneath.
, a celebrated French mathematician, examiner of the royal schools of Artillery and
, a celebrated
French mathematician, examiner of the royal schools of
Artillery and engineers, secretary and professor of the royal
academy of architecture, honorary member of that of the
marine, and fellow of the royal society of London, was,
born at Cressy en Brie, Aqgust 25, 1699. His early ingenuity in mechanics and his own intreaties induced his.
parents to send him to study at a college in Paris, at ten,
years of age; where in the space of two years his progress
was so great, that he was able to give lessons in mathematics, and thus to defray his own expences at the college
without any farther charge to his parents. By the assist^
ance of the celebrated Varignon, young Camus soon ran
through the course of the higher mathematics, and acquired
a name among the learned. He made himself more particularly known to the academy of sciences in 1727 by his memoir upon the subject of the prize which they had proposed
for that year, viz. “To determine the most advantageous
way of masting ships;
” in consequence of which he was
named that year adjoint mechanician to the academy; and
in 1730 he was appointed professor of architecture. In less
than three years after, he was honoured with the secretaryship of the same; and the 18th of April 1733, he obtained
the degree of associate in the academy, where he distinguished himself by his memoirs upon living forces, or bodies in motion acted upon by forces, on the figure of the
teeth of wheels and pinions, on pump work, and severa^
other ingenious memoirs.
year o.f his age; being succeeded by the celebrated d'Alembert in his office of geometrician in the French academy; and leaving behind him a great number of manuscript
In 1736 he was sent, in company with messieurs Clairaut,
Maupertuis, and Monnier, upon the celebrated expedition,
to measure a degree at the north polar circle; in which he
rendered himself highly useful, not only as a mathema~=
tician, but also as a mechanician and an artist, branches,
for which he had a remarkable talent. In 1741 Camus had
the honour to be appointed pensioner geometrician in the
academy; and the same year he invented a gauging-rod
and sliding-rule proper at once to gauge all sorts of casks,
and to calculate their contents. About the year 1747 he
was named examiner of the schools of artillery and engineers; and, in 1756, one of the eight mathematicians
appointed to examine by a new measurement, the base
which had formerly been measured by Picard, between.
Villejuive and Juvisi; an operation in which his ingenuity
and exactness were of great utility. In 1765 M. Camus
was elected a fellow of the royal society. of London; and
died the 4th of May 1768, in the sixty -ninth year o.f his
age; being succeeded by the celebrated d'Alembert in his
office of geometrician in the French academy; and leaving
behind him a great number of manuscript treatises on various branches of the mathematics. The works published
by M. Camus are, 1. “Course of Mathematics for the use
of -the Engineers,
” 4 vols. 8vo. 2. “Elements of Mechanics.
” 3. “Elements of Arithmetic.
” And his memoirs printed in the volumes of the academy are, 1. “Of
accelerated motions by living forces,
” vol. for 1732.
3.
” On the figure of the teeth and pinions in Clocks,“1733. 4.
” On the action of a musket-ball, piercing a
pretty thick piece of wood, without communicating any
considerable velocity to it,“1738. 5.
” On the best manner of employing Buckets for raising Water,“1739. 6.
” A problem in Statics,“1740. 7.
” On an Instrument for
gauging of vessels,“1741. 8.
” On the Standard of the
Ell measure,“1746. 9.
” On the Tangents of points common to several branches of the same curve,“1747. 10.
” On the operations in measuring the distance between
the centres of the pyramids of Villejuive and Juvisi, to
discover the best measure of the degree about Paris,“1754.
11.
” On the Masting of Ships;“Prize Tom. II. 12.
” The
Manner of working Oars;“Mach. torn. II. 13.
” A Machine
for moving many Colters at once;" Mach. torn. II.
, an exemplary French prelate, was born at Paris in 1582, and on account of his excellent
, an exemplary French prelate,
was born at Paris in 1582, and on account of his excellent
character and talents, was nominated to the bishopric of
Bellay by Henry IV. in 1609, before he was of age, but
having obtained the pope’s dispensation, he was consecrated
on Dec. 30th of the same year. From this time he appears to have devoted his time and talents to the edification
of his flock, and of the people at large, by frequent preaching, and more frequent publication of numerous works calculated to divert their attention to the concerns of an immortal life. In his time romances began to be the favourite
books with all who would be thought readers of taste; and
Camus, considering that it would not be easy to persuade
them to leave off such books without supplying them with
some kind of substitute, published several works of practical piety with a mixture of romantic narrative, by which
he hoped to attract and amuse the attention of romancereaders, and draw them on insensibly to matters of religious
importance. He contrived, therefore, that the lovers, in
these novels, while they encountered the usual perplexities,
should be led to see the vanity and perishable nature of all
human enjoyments, and to form resolutions of renouncing
worldly delights, and embracing a religious life. Among
these works we find enumerated, 1. “Dorothee, ou recit
de la pitoyable issue d'une volorite violentee,
” Paris, Alexis,
” 1^22, 3 vols. 8vo. 3. L'Hyacinte, histoire
Catalane,“ibid. 1627, 8yo. 4.
” Alcime, relation funeste,
&c.“ibid. 12mo, 1625, &c. But the principal object of
his reforming spirit was the conduct of the rnonks, or mendicant friars, against whom he wrote various severe remonstrances, and preached against them with a mixture
of religious fervour and satirical humour. Among the
works he published against them are, 1.
” Le Directeur
desinteresse,“Paris, 1632, 12mo. 2.
” Desappropriation
claustrale,“Besangon, 1634. 3.
” Le Rabat-joy e du triomphe monagal.“4.
” L'anti-Moine bien prepare,“1632,
&c. &c. These monks teazed the cardinal Richelieu to
silence him, and the cardinal told him,
” I really find no
other fault with you but this horrible bitterness against
the monks; were it not for that, I would canonize you.“”I wish that may come to pass,“said the bishop,
” “for
then we should both have our wish; you would be pope,
and I a saint.
” Many of his bons-mots were long in
circulation, and show that he had the courage to reprove
vices and absurdities among the highest classes. In 1620
he established in the city of Bellay a convent of capuchins,
and in 1622 one for the nuns of the visitation, instituted
by St. Francis de Sales. In 1629 he resigned his bishopric
that he might pass the remainder of his days in retirement,
in the abbey of Cluny in Normandy, but the archbishop of
Rouen, unwilling that so active a member of the church
should not be employed in public services, associated him
in his episcopal cares, by appointing him his grand vicar.
At length he finally retired to the hospital of incurables in
Paris, where he died April 26, 1652. Moreri has enumerated a large catalogue of his works, the principal of
which, besides what we have enumerated, are, “L' Esprit
de S. Frangois de Sales,
” 6 vols. 8vo, reduced to one by a
doctor of the Sorbonne; and “L'Avoisinement des Protestans avec TEglise Romaine,
” republished in Moyens de reunir les
Protestans avec l'Eglise Romaine.
” Simon asserted, that
Bossuet’s exposition of the catholic faith was no more than
this work in a new dress.
, a French historian, was born at Troyes in 1575. In his eighteenth year
, a French historian, was born
at Troyes in 1575. In his eighteenth year he was promoted to a canonry in the cathedral of his native city, but
appears to have devoted himself chiefly to the study of history and antiquities. He died Jan. 20, 1655, in the
eightieth year of his age, after publishing, 1. “Chronologia ab origine orbis, usque adann. 1200, auctore anonymo,
sed ccenobii S. Mariani apud Altissiodorum (Auxerre) regulu? Praemonstratensis inonacho,
” with an appendix to the
year Promptuarium
sacrarum antiquitatum Tricassinse dicecesis, &c.
” Historia
Albigensiuoi, &c. auclore Petro, coenobii Vallis-Sarnensis
ordinis Cisterciensis in dioecesi Parisiensi monacho,
” Trccis, Melanges historiques, ou recueii
de plusieurs actes, traits, et lettres missives, depuis Pan
1390 jusqu'a Tan 1580,
” ibid.
. He is said to haVe taken Horace for his model, "and to have written purely and delicately; and the French biographers complimented him with the title of the Pope of Germany.
, a German poet and statesman, and privy counsellor of state, was of an ancient and illustrious family in Brandenburg, and born at Berlin in 1654, five months after his father’s death. After his early studies, he travelled to France, Italy, Holland, and England; and upon his return to his country, was charged with important negociations by Frederic II. and Frederic III. Canitz united the statesman with the poet; and was conversant in many languages, dead as well as living. His German poems were published for the tenth time, 1750, in 8vo. He is said to haVe taken Horace for his model, "and to have written purely and delicately; and the French biographers complimented him with the title of the Pope of Germany. He not only cultivated the fine arts himself, but gave all the encouragement he could to them in others. He died at Berlin in 1699, highly praised for the excellence of his private character.
on, shortened his days, and he diedin the Jesuits’ college at Paris, Dec. 6, 1684. He was one of the French literati employed in preparing the Delphin classics, and edited
, a man of considerable learning in classical criticism, was born Nov. 1, 1645, in the
diocese of Rouen, and entered the society of the Jesuits in
1664, completing his vows in 1679. His immoderate and
incessant application to study, operating upon a delicate
constitution, shortened his days, and he diedin the Jesuits’
college at Paris, Dec. 6, 1684. He was one of the French
literati employed in preparing the Delphin classics, and
edited Justin in 1677, 4to, and Valerius Maximus in 1679,
enriched with six dissertations, on the names, families,
inagistrates, &c. of the Romans. He published also, 1.
“De Rouiana llepublica, de re militari et civiii Romanorum,
” Paris, Metropolitanarum urbium historia civilis et
ecclesiastica, tomus primus, &c.
” Paris,
ely. He understood six languages, besides that of his native country, viz. the Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, Italian, and German.
, an eminent linguist and philologer, was born at Utrecht of an ancient and reputable
family in 1542; and educated in the belles lettres under
the inspection of his parents, till he was 12 years of age.
He was then sent to Cornelius Valerius at Lou vain, with
whom he continued four years; and gave surprising proofs
of his progress in Greek and Latin literature, by writing
letters in those languages, by translations, and by drawing
up some dramatic pieces. Having an uncommon taste for
the Greek, he removed in 1559 from Lou vain to Paris, for
the sake of learning that language more perfectly from
John Auratus, under whom he studied till 1562, and then
was obliged to leave France on account of the civil wars.
He travelled next into Germany and Italy, and visited the
several universities of those countries; Bononia particularly, where he became known to the famous Carolus
Sigonius, to whom he afterwards dedicated his eight books
“Novarum Lectionum.
” Venice he had a great desire to
see, not only for the beauty and magnificence of the place,
but for the opportunity he should have of purchasing manuscripts; which the Greeks brought in great abundance
from their own country, and there exposed to sale: and
from Venice he purposed to go to Rome. But, not being
able to bear the heat of those regions, he dropped the
pursuit of his journey, and returned through Germany to
l^ouvain, where in about eight years’ time excessive study
brought on a lingering consumption, of which he died in
1*75, when he was only in his 33d year. Thuanus says,
that he deserved to be reckoned among the most learned
men of his age; and that he would certainly have done
great things, if he had not died so very immaturely. He
understood six languages, besides that of his native country, viz. the Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, Italian, and
German.
n Paris, where he was made doctor in medicine in 1742. The same year he published a translation into French of the account of Mrs. Stephens’s medicine for dissolving the
, a native of Tipperary in Ireland, lived principally in Paris, where he was made doctor in medicine in 1742. The same year he published a translation into French of the account of Mrs. Stephens’s medicine for dissolving the stone in the bladder; and in 1746 an account of sir Hans Sloane’s medicines for diseases of the eyes; also some severe strictures on the practice of propagating the small pox by inoculation; and in the Philosophical Transactions, London, No. 453, an account of a double child, a boy. He died at Paris, July 11, 1764.
, an eminent French protestant and learned divine, was born at Sedan, a town in
, an eminent French
protestant and learned divine, was born at Sedan, a town
in Champagne, about 1579. He was professor of divinity
and of the Oriental languages in the university of Saumur;
and so very deeply skilled in the Hebrew, that our learned
bishop Hall calls him “magnum Hebraizantium oraculurn
in Gallia,
” the great oracle of all that studied Hebrew in
France. He was the author of some very learned works;
but is now chiefly memorable for the controversy he had
with the younger Buxtorf concerning the antiquity of the
Hebrew points. Two opinions have prevailed concerning
the true date and origin of these points both of which
have been very warmly espoused. The first is, that the
points are coeval with the language, and were always in
use among the Jews: the second, that the points were not
known to the Jews before their dispersion from Jerusalem,
but invented afterwards by modern rabbis to prevent the
language, which was every day decaying, from being utterly lost; viz. that they were invented by the Masoreth
Jews of Tiberias, about 600 years after Christ . This
opinion of their late invention was taken up by Capellus,
who defended it in a very excellent and learned treatise
entitled “Arcanum punctuationis revelatum,
” &c. which
work, after being refused a licence in France and at Geneva, was printed in Holland, and caused a great clamour
among the protestants, as if it had a tendency to hurt their
cause. It is, however, certain, that Luther, Calvin, Zuinglius, and others, had espoused the same notion as well as
the Scaligers, Casaubons, Erpenius, Salmasius, Grotius,
and the Heinsii; and therefore it could not be said, that
Capellus introduced any novelty, but only more solidly
established an opinion, which had been approved of by the
most learned and judicious protestants. The true reason,
perhaps, why the German protestants in general so warmly
opposed Capellus’s opinion, was, that they had been accustomed to follow that of the two Buxtorfs, whom they
considered as oracles in Hebrew learning. Buxtorf the
father had written a little treatise in defence of the antiquity of the points; and as Buxtorfs credit was justly
great among them, they chose rather to rely upon his authority than to examine his arguments, in so abstruse an
inquiry. Buxtorf the son wrote against Capellus, and
maintained his father’s opinion. Capellus, however, has
been generally supposed to have put the matter beyond
any father dispute; on which account his scholars Bochart,
Grotius, Spanheim, Vossius, Daille, and almost all the
learned in Hebrew since, have very readily acceded to
his opinion.
agems of Charles IX. against the Huguenots,” which he published in Italian at Rome, 1572, 4to, and a French translation was printed 1574. He describes the massacre of St.
, a native of Mantua, who died
in 1548, made himself famous by a work entitled “The
Stratagems of Charles IX. against the Huguenots,
” which
he published in Italian at Rome, 1572, 4to, and a French
translation was printed 1574. He describes the massacre
of St. Bartholomew, and relates some very remarkable particulars respecting the motives and consequences of that
outrage, which very naturally gave offence to the French
court.
erard Rufus were sent privately from France to hear him, by Margaret queen of Navarre, sister to the French king; and by this means the protestant doctrine was introduced
, an eminent Lutheran reformer, was born at Hagenau in Alsace, in 1478. His father was of the senatorian rank, and being averse to the lives of the divines of his time, had him brought up to the profession of physic at Basil, where he took his doctor’s degree, and likewise made great proficiency in other studies. After his father’s death, however, in 1504, he studied divinity, and also civil law, under Zasius, an eminent civilian, and took a degree in that faculty. At Heidelberg he became acquainted with Oecolampadius, with whom he ever after preserved the strictest intimacy and friendship. On their first acquaintance they studied Hebrew together under the tuition of one Matthew Adrian, a converted Jew, and Capito then became a preacher, first at Spire and afterwards at Basil, where he continued for some years. From thence he was sent for by the elector Palatine, who made him his counsellor, and sent him on several embassies, and Cliarles V. is said to have conferred upon him the order of knighthood. From Mcntz he followed Bucer to Strasburgh, where he astonished his hearers by preaching the reformed, or rather reforming religion, at 8t. Thomas’s church in that city, beginning his ministry by expounding St. Paul’s epistle to the Colossians. The fame of Capito and Bucer spread so wide, that James Faber and Gerard Rufus were sent privately from France to hear him, by Margaret queen of Navarre, sister to the French king; and by this means the protestant doctrine was introduced into France. Capito was a man of great learning and eloquence, tempered with a prudence which gave weight to his public services as well as to his writings. In all disputes, he insisted on brotherly love and peaceable discussion.
and interpreter to Dermot, son of Murchard king of Leinster, in 1171, and which had been turned into French verse by a friend of Regan. Bishop Nicolson describes this history
* In a biographical account of the Carew, which was without his knowfamily placed on the back of a picture ledge and consent, and intended to
of lord Totness, in the possession of disinherit her but, upon an accidental
his descendant, the late Boothby Clop- conversation with captain Carew, found
ton, esq. this lady’s name is Anne, and him a gentleman of superior genius
not Joyce: and it is added, that Mr. and fine address, *nd settled his estate,
Clopton was extremely displeased with which was very considerable, upon him
his daughter’s marriage with captain and his dmjghter.
library: and made collections, notes, and extracts for writing The History of the reign of king Henry V. which were
inserted in J. Speed’s Chronicle. Sir James Ware says, that
the earl of Totness translated into English “A History of
the affairs of Ireland,
” written by Maurice Regan, servant
and interpreter to Dermot, son of Murchard king of Leinster, in 1171, and which had been turned into French
verse by a friend of Regan. Bishop Nicolson describes
this history as extant in the duke of Chandos’s library,
under the title of “Mauritii Regani, servi et interpretis
Dermitii, filii Murchardi, &c. Historian de Hibernia fragmentum Anglice redditum a D. Georgio Carew, Memoniae preside sub Elizabetha;
” and Mr. Harris mentions
another ms copy among the bishop of Clogher’s Mss. in
the college library, Dublin. Nicolson also informs us that
this learned nobleman wrote forty-two volumes relating to
the affairs of Ireland, which are in the Lambeth library,
and four more of collections from the originals in the Cotton library.
latter end of the year 1605 till 1609. During his residence in that country, he was regarded by the French ministers as being too partial to the Spanish interest, but
, brother to Richard, hereafter mentioned, and second son of Thomas Carew, esq. and Elizabeth his wife, was probably born at his father’s seat at East Anthony, but in what particular year we are not able to ascertain. He was educated in the university of Oxford, after which he studied law in the inns of court, and then set out on his travels. On his return to his native country he was called to the bar, and after some time was appointed secretary to sir Christopher Hatton, lord chancellor of England, by the especial recommendation of queen Elizabeth, who gave him a pro thonotary ship in the chancery, and conferred upon him the honour of knighthood. In 1597, being then a master in chancery, he was sent ambassador to the king of Poland. In the next rei.gn, he was one of the commissioners for treating with the Scotch concerning an union between the two kingdoms; after which he was appointed ambassador to the court of France, where he continued from the latter end of the year 1605 till 1609. During his residence in that country, he was regarded by the French ministers as being too partial to the Spanish interest, but probably ttoeir disgust to him might arise from his not being very tractable in some points of his negotiation, and particularly in the demand of the debts due to the king his master. Whatever might be, his political principles, it is certain, that he sought the conversation of men of letters; and formed an intimacy with Thuanus, to whom he communicated an account of the transactions in Poland, whilst he was employed there, which was of great service to that admirable author in drawing up the 12lst book of his History. After sir George Caret’s return from France, he was advanced to the post of master of the court of wards, which honourable situation he did not long live to enjoy; for it appears from a letter written by Thuanus to Camden, in the spring of the year 1613, that he was then lately deceased. In this letter, Thuanus laments his death as a great misfortune to himself; for he considered sir George’s friendship not only as a personal honour, but as very useful in his work, and especially in removing the calumnies and misrepresentations which might be raised of him in the court of England. Sir George Carew married Thomasine, daughter of sir Francis Godolphin, great grandfather of the lord treasurer Godolphin, and had by her two sons and three daughters. Francis, the elder son, was created knight of the bath at the coronation of king Charles the First, and Attended the earl of Denbigh in the expedition for the relief of ilochelle, where he acquired great reputation by his courage and conduct; but, being seized with a fit of sickness in his voyage homeward, he died in the Isle of Wight, on the 4th of June, 1628, at the age of twenty-seven.
When sir George Carew returned in 1G09 from his French embassy, he drew up, and addressed to king James the First,
When sir George Carew returned in 1G09 from his
French embassy, he drew up, and addressed to king James
the First, “A Relation of the state of France, with the
characters of Henry the Fourth, and the principal persons
of that court;
” which reflects great credit upon his sagacity and attention as an ambassador, and his abilities as
a writer. In this piece are considered, 1. The name of
France. 2. Its ancient and modern limits. 3. Its quality,
strength, and situation. 4. Its riches. 5. Its political ordeis.
6. Its disorders and dangers. 7. The persons governing,
with those who are likely to succeed. 8. In what terms the
French live with their bordering neighbours. And lastly,
the state of matters between the king of England’s dominions and theirs. These heads are divided, as occasion
requires, into other subordinate ones. The characters are
drawn from personal knowledge and close observation, and
might be of service to a general historian of that period.
The composition is perspicuous and manly, and entirely
free from the pedantry which prevailed in the reign of king
James I. his taste having been formed in a better aera, that
of Queen Elizabeth. The valuable tract we are speaking
of lay for a long time in manuscript, till happily falling
into the hands of the late earl of Hardwicke, it was communicated by him to Dr. Birch, who published it in 1749,
at the end of his “Historical view of the Negotiations
between the Courts of England, France and Brussels, from
the year 1592 to 1617.
” That intelligent and industrious
writer justly observes, that it is a model, upon which ambassadors may form and digest their notions and representations and the late celebrated poet, Gray, spoke of it as
an excellent performance.
d upon some public business in France, he became, as many other young men have been, so enamoured of French fashions and amusements, that, when he returned to his own country,
, of the Carews of Beddington, in
Surrey, was the son of sir Richard Carew, knight banneret,
and Magdalen, daughter of sir Robert Oxenbridge. At an
early age he was introduced to the court of king Henry
VIII. where he soon became a favourite, and was made
one of the gentlemen of the privy chamber. Having been
employed upon some public business in France, he became, as many other young men have been, so enamoured
of French fashions and amusements, that, when he returned to his own country, he was continually makino- invidious comparisons to the- disadvantage of the English
court. His majesty, who was too much of a Briton not to
be disgusted at this behaviour, removed him from his person, and sentenced him to an honourable banishment, appointing him governor of Ruysbank in Picardy; to which
government he was forthwith commanded to repair, much
against his inclination. This little offence^ however, was
soon passed over, and we find him again employed by the
king, and for several years his constant companion, and a
partaker with him in all the justs, tournaments, masques,
and other diversions of the same kind, with wh'rch that reign
abounded, and which are described very much at large in
Hall’s Chronicle: and as a more substantial mark of his
favour, the king appointed him master of the horse, an
office of great honour, being reckoned the third in rank
about the king’s household, and afterwards created him
knight of the garter* His promotion may probably be attributed in some measure to the interest of Anne Bullen,
to whom he was related through their common ancestor,
lord Hoo. His good fortune was not of long continuance;
for in 1539 he engaged in a conspiracy, as we are told by
our historians, with the marquis of Exeter, the lord Montacute, and sir Edward Neville; the object of which was
to set cardinal Pole upon the throne. The accuser was sir
Geffrey Poole, lord Montacute’s brother; the trial was
summary, and the conspirators were all executed. Sir Nicholas Carew was beheaded on Tower-hill, March 3, 1539,
when he made, says Holinshed, “a godly confession, both
of his fault and superstitious faith.
” Fuller mentions a
tradition of a quarrel which happened at bowls between
the kipg and sir Nicholas Carew, to which he ascribes his
majesty’s displeasure, and sir Nicholas’s death. The monarch’s known caprice, his hatred of the papists, to whom
sir Nicholas was zealously attached, the absurdity of the
plot, and the improbability of its success, might incline us
to hearken to Fuller’s story, if sir Nicholas alone had suffered; but as he had so many partners in his punishment,
with whom it is not pretended that the king had any quarrel, it will be more safe, perhaps, to rely upon the account
given by our annalists. Sir Nicholas Carew was buried in
the church of St. Botolph, Aldersgate, in the same tomb
with Thomas lord Darcy, and others of his family.
e years, and then travelled into France, and applied himself so diligently to the acquisition of the French language, that by reading and conversation he gained a complete
, author of the Survey of Cornwal,
and brother of the preceding sir George Carew, the ambassador, was the eldest son of Thomas Carew, of Mast
Anthony, esq. by Elizabeth Edgecombe, daughter of Richard Edgecombe, of Edgecombe, esq. both in the same
county, and was born in 1555. When very young, he
became a gentleman commoner of Christ Church college,
Oxford; and at fourteen years of age had the honour of
disputing, extempore, with the afterwards famous sir Philip
Sydney, in the presence of the earls of Leicester, Warwick, and other nobility. After spending three years at
the university, he removed to the Middle Temple, where
he also resided three years, and then travelled into France,
and applied himself so diligently to the acquisition of the
French language, that by reading and conversation he
gained a complete knowledge of it in three quarters of a
year. Not long after his return to England he married, in
1577, Juliana Arundel, of Trerice. In 1581, Mr. Carew
was made justice of the peace, and in 1586 was appointed
high sheriff of the county of Cornwal; about which time
he was, likewise, queen’s deputy for the militia. In 1589
he was elected a member of the college of antiquaries, a
distinction to which he was entitled by his literary abilities
and pursuits. What particularly engaged his attention
was his native county, his “Survey
” of which was published
in quarto, at London, in Survey
” must have been greatly diminished.
Mr. Gough remarks, that the history and monuments of
this county were faintly touched by Mr. Carew; but it is
added, that he was a person extremely capable of describing them, if the infancy of those studies at that time had
afforded him light and materials. Another work of our
author was a translation from the Italian, but originally
written by Huarte in Spanish, entitled “The Examination
of Men’s Wits. In which, by discovering the variety of
natures, is shewed for what profession each one is apt, and
how far he shall profit therein.
” This was published at
London in 1504, and afterwards in 1604; and, thouo-h.
Richard Carew’s name is prefixed to it, has been principally ascribed by some persons to his father. According
to Wood, Mr. Carevv wrote also “The true and ready way
to learn the Latin Tongue,
” in answer to a query, whether
the ordinary method of teaching the Latin by the rules of
grammar, be the best mode of instructing youths in that
language? This tract t is involved in Mr. Samuel Hartlib’s
book upon the same subject, and with the same title. It
is certain that Mr. Carew was a gentleman of considerable
abilities and literature,and that he was held in great estimation by some of the most eminent scholars of his time. He
was particularly intimate with sir Henry Spelman, who
extols him for his ingenuity, virtue, and learning. Amongst
his neighbours he was celebrated as the most excellent
manager of bees in Cornwall. He died Nov. 6, 1620, and
was buried with his ancestors, in the church of St. Anthony,
where a splendid monument, with a large inscription, in
Latin, was erected to his memory. In an epigram written upon him he was styled “another Livy, another
Maro, another Papinian,
” epithets somewhat too high fot
his real merit. An English translation of “Godfrey of
Bulloigne,
” from Tasso, by him, was published in
both from Paul Paruta, a noble Venetian. 8.” The use of Passions,“ibid. 1649 and 1671, 8vo, from the French of J. F. Senault. 9.” Man become guilty or the corruption of
, earl of Monmouth, was the eldest
son of Robert, the first earl of Monmouth, who died in
1639, and whose “Memoirs,
” written by himself, and
containing some curious particulars of secret history of the
Elizabethan period, were published from a manuscript in
the possession of the late earl of Corke and Orrery, in
1759, 8vo. Henry, his son, was born in 1596, admitted
a fellow commoner of Exeter college, Oxford, at the age
of fifteen, and took the degree of B. A. in 1613, after
which he was sent to travel into foreign countries. In 1616
he was made a knight of the bath at the creation of Charles
prince of Wales. In 1625 he was known by the name of
lord Lepington, his father’s title before he was created earl
of Monmouth, and was noted, Wood says, as “a person
well skilled in modern languages, and a general scholar.
”
This taste for study was his consolation when the depression of the nobility after the death of Charles I. threw many
of them into retirement. He died June 13, 1661. In
Chauncey’s Hertfordshire is the inscription on his monument
in the church at Rickmansworth, which mentions his living
forty-one years in marriage, with his countess, Martha,
daughter of the lord treasurer Middlesex. He was a
most laborious writer, but chiefly of translations, and, as
lord Orford observes, seems to have distrusted his abilities,
and to have made the fruits of his studies his amusement
rather than his method of fame. Of his lordship’s publications we have, 1. “Romulus and Tarquin; or De Principe
et Tyranno,
” Lond. Fragmenta Aurea,
” and others were prefixed by
Stapylton, Davenant, Carew, &c. It came to a third edition in 1648. 2. “Speech in the house of peers, Jan.
30, 1641, upon occasion of the present distractions, and
of his Majesty’s removal from Whitehall,
” London, Historical relations of the United Provinces, and of
Flanders,
” London, History of the Wars in Flanders,
” ibid. ibid. 1656, fol. from Boccalini. 6.
” Politic Discourses, in six books,“ibid. 1657, fol. 7.
” History of Venice,“ibid. 1658, fol. both from Paul Paruta, a noble Venetian. 8.
” The use of Passions,“ibid.
1649 and 1671, 8vo, from the French of J. F. Senault. 9.
” Man become guilty or the corruption of his nature by
sin,“ibid, from the same author. 10.
” The History of
the late Wair of Christendom,“1641, fol. which lord Orford thinks is the same work with his translation of
” Sir
Francis Biondi’s History of the Civil Wars of England,
between the houses of York and Lancaster.“11.
” Capriata’s “History of Italy,
” Priorato’s History of
France,
” but died before he could finish it. It was completed by William Brent, esq. and printed at London,
1677.
was soon involved in the disputes which then raged between the Arminians and Galvinists; and as the French supported the pensionary Banievelt, sir Dudley took the part
On his arrival in Holland, he was soon involved in the disputes which then raged between the Arminians and Galvinists; and as the French supported the pensionary Banievelt, sir Dudley took the part of prince Maurice. His situation here, owing to the politics of the duke of Buckingham and other events, which belong to the history of the times, was one of peculiar delicacy and difficulty; yet he appears to have conducted himself as ambassador from England, with great wisdom, firmness, and prudence. Thinking that such services merited some reward, and as every thing of that kind depended on the duke of Buckingham, sir Dudley addressed his grace on the subject in a strain of servility and adulation, which might diminish our respect for his character, if we were to forget the relative state of the parties. We do not find, however, that his application was at this time successful.
ich had been lent to Louis XIII. and were employed against the Rochellers; to obtain a peace for the French protestants agreeably to former edicts, and to obtain the French
In December 1625, soon after his return to England, he was appointed vice chamberlain of his majesty’s household, and at the same time was joined with earl Holland in an embassy to France, respecting the restitution of the ships, which had been lent to Louis XIII. and were employed against the Rochellers; to obtain a peace for the French protestants agreeably to former edicts, and to obtain the French accession to the treaty of the Hague. Although all these objects were not attained in the fullest intention, yet the ambassadors were thought entitled to commendation for their firm and prudent management of the various conferences. On their return in March 1625-6, they found the parliament sitting, and the nation inflamed to the highest degree at the mismanagement of public affairs. At this crisis, sir Dudley Carleton, who represented Hastings in Sussex, endeavoured to mitigate the violence of the commons in their impeachment of the duke of Buckingham; but his arguments, although not well suited to the humour of the time, were acceptable at court, and immediately after he was called up to the house of peers by the style and title of Baron Carleton of Imbercourt in the county of Surrey: and his next employment was more fully adapted to his talents. This was an embassy-extraordinary to France to justify the sending away of the queen of England’s French servants, which he managed with his usual skill.
ers to George, duke of Buckingham, in “Cabala, or Mysteries of State,” London, 1654, 4to. 5. Several French and Latin Letters to the learned Vossius, printed in “Ger. Jo.
With regard to the general abilities and character of
lord Dorchester, it appears from alt his political remains,
that he was a judicious, faithful, and diligent minister, and
better qualified for his department than any who were his
immediate predecessors or successors in the same office.
King Charles himself, who was a good judge of his servants’ abilities, used to say, as sir P. Warwick relates in
his Memoirs, “that he had two secretaries of state, the
lords Dorchester and Falkland; one of whom was a dull
man in comparison of the other, and yet pleased him the
best for he always brought him his own thoughts in his
own woreds: the latter cloathed them in so fine a dress, that
he did not always know them again.
” Allowing for some
defects of stiffness and circumlocution, which are common
to all the writings of that time, lord Dorchester’s dispatches
are drawn up in that plain, perspicuous, and unaffected
stile which was fittest for business. Domestic concerns
were no part of his province, but entirely managed by the
lord treasurer Weston and archbishop Laud. He held the
pen singly in foreign affairs, and was regretted by those
who were used to receive the instructions of government
from a secretary of state, upon whom they could depend
that he would make a just report of their services, and that
he would not mislead or misrepresent the ministers with
whom he corresponded. That he died much lamented by
the public in general, and with the reputation of an honest
and well-deserving statesman, is declared by sir Thomas
Roe, in a manuscript letter to a friend in Holland. The
earl of Clarendon’s assertion, that lord Dorchester was
unacquainted with the government, laws, and customs of
his own country, and the nature of the people, is disputed
by Dr. Birch, in his “Review of the Negociations,
” who
considers it as absolutely incompatible with the experience
which he must have acquired in the house of commons.
But, not to mention that the noble historian, who had no
prejudice against his lordship, could not well be deceived
in the fact, it is, we think, confirmed by the figure he
made in the parliament of 1626, and by his acquiescence
in all the obnoxious measures of Buckingham, Weston,
and Laud. The following articles are attributed to his
pen, by Anthony Wood and lord Orford: 1. “Balance
pour peser en toute equite & droicture la Harangue fait
vagueres en L'Assemblee des illustres & puissans Seignoures
Messeigneurs les Estats generaux des Provinces Unies du
Pais has, &c.
” Harangue fait au Counseile
de Mess, les Estats generaux des Provinces Unies, touchant le Discord & le Troubles de PEglise & la Police,
causes par la Doctrine d'Arminius,
” 6 Oct. 1617, printed
with the former. 3. Various Letters in the “Cabala, or
Scrinia sacra,
” London, Cabala, or Mysteries of
State,
” London, Ger. Jo. Vossii
& clarorum Virorum ad.eum Epistoiae,
” London, Sir Ralph Winwood’s Memorials,
” published at
London, in folio, Howard’s Collection.
” 9. Memoirs
for Dispatches of political Affairs relating to Holland and
England, arm. 1618; with several Propositions made to the
States. Manuscript. 10. Particular Observations of the
military Affairs in the Palatinate, and the Low Countries,
annis 1621, 1622. Manuscript. 11. Letters relating to
State Affairs, written to the king and viscount Rochester,
from Venice, ann. 1613. Manuscript. The manuscript
pieces here mentioned, are probably no more than parts of
the collections preserved in the Paper office. The letters
from and to sir Dudley Carleton, during his embassy in
Holland, from January 1615-16, to December 1620, properly selected, and as occasion required, abridged, or only
noted, were published by the late earl of Hardwicke, in
1757, in one vol. 4to, with an historical preface. The second edition of the same work, with large additions to the
historical preface, appeared in 1775, and has been twice
reprinted since. These letters, if some allowances be made
for party violences and prejudices, contain more clear,
accurate, and interesting accounts of that remarkable period of Dutch history to which they relate, than are anj
where extant. There are, likewise, discussed in the
course of them, many points of great importance, at that
time, to the English commerce. Lord Hardwicke’s excellent preface has furnished the materials of the present
sketch.
ada, where they knew the late acts were very unpopular, not only among the British settlers, but the French Canadians themsi-lvrs, who having experienced the difference
In 1775, when the American war broke out, general Carleton had an ample field for the display of his military talents. The American congress, having resolved to resort to arms, began soon to turn their eyes to Canada, where they knew the late acts were very unpopular, not only among the British settlers, but the French Canadians themsi-lvrs, who having experienced the difference between a French and British constitution, gave the preference to the latter. To co-operate with the disaffected in Canada, and to anticipate the probable and suspected designs of general Carleton, the congress formed the bold project of invading this province. General Montgomery, their commander, headed the expedition, and proceeded with such vigour, that he compelled the fort of St. John’s to surrender at discretion on the 2d of November. Hence, crossing St. Laurence, he proceeded to Montreal, which being incapable of defence against the American force, general Carleton evacuated ir, and retired to" Quebec. Having taken possession of Montreal, Montgomery made dispositions for advancing to besiege the capital of Canada, and there were several circumstances favourable to his hopes of success. The works of the town had been neglected for a long time of peace; the garrison did not exceed 1100, of which few were regulars, and the majority of the inhabitants were disaffected to the framers of their new constitution, and particularly to general Carleton, who was supposed to have had a chief hand in that measure. While he was endeavouring to defend Quebec amidst all these disadvantages, the American generals Montgomery and Arnold summoned him to surrender, which he treated with contempt, and refused to hold any correspondence with rebels. The inhabitants too, displeased as they were with their new constitution, joined the British troops with cordial unanimity, and the American commander, unprepared for a regular siege, endeavoured to take the place by storm. In this attempt Montgomery fell at the head of his troops, whom the garrison, after an obstinate resistance, drove from the town with great loss; and although Arnold encamped on the heights of Abraham, where he fortified himself, and continued the siege of Quebec in the following year, 1776, he thought proper to retire on the arrival of an English squadron. General Carleton being now reinforced by troops, which, added to what he had, formed a body of 13,Ooo, prepared for offensive operations, and the Amer cans evacuated their conquests, stationing themselves at Crown Point, whither the British commander did not follow them for the present. An armament was now prepared for crossing Lake Champlain, in order to besiege Crown Point and Ticonderago. The Americans had a considerable fleet on Lake Champlain, whereas the British had not a single vessel. The general, therefore, used every effort to procure the requisite naval force; but October was begun before this was ready to oppose the enemy. On Oct. 11, the British fleet, commanded by capt. Pringle, and under the general direction of Carleton, discovered the American armament; and engaging them, the conflict continued on both sides for several hours with great intrepidity, but a contrary wind preventing the chief British ships from taking a part, and night coming on, it was thought prudent to discontinue the action, and Arnold took advantage of the night to retreat. The British pursued them the next day and the following, and overtook them a few leagues from Crown Point; where, after a furious battle of two hours, they yielded to our superior force and skill. General Carleton remained at Crown Point till Nov. 3, and as the winter was commencing, did not think proper to besiege Ticonderago. He returned therefore to St. John’s, whence he distributed his army into winter quarters.
e engagement. He was again desperately wounded in defending the breach at Britmega against the whole French and Spanish army, where they "were at last taken prisoners.
, baron of Killaghy in the kingdom of Ireland, descended from an ancient and good family in Herefordshire, was born at Pitchers Ocul in that county, February 10, 1657. His father was Mr. Warncomb Carpenter, sixth son of Thomas Carpenter, esq, of the Homme or Holme, in the parish of Dilwyn in Herefordshire. His mother was daughter to Mr. Taylor of the same county, and widow to Mr. John Hill, by whom she had one son. George lord Carpenter was the youngest of seven children, whom his father left at his death, and was educated at a private school in the country. In 1672 he went into the third troop of guards as a private gentleman, and was afterwards appointed quarter-master to the regiment of horse commanded by the earl of Peterborough, and went through the several posts of cornet, lieutenant, captain, &c. till he was advanced to that of lieutenant-colonel of the regiment, in which commission he continued thirteen years, though the regiment was almost coastantly in service. In 1693 he married Alice, daughter of William lord viscount Charlemont, who having a considerable jointure from her first husband James Margetson, esq. by the sale of part of it for her life he was enabled to purchase the regiment of dragoons which he commanded till his death. He served in all the first wars in Ireland and Flanders, and the last in Spain, with unblemished honour and reputation, and distinguished himself to great advantage by his courage, conduct, and humanity. At the unfortunate battle of Almanza in Spain he commanded the rear, and brought up the last squadron in the retreat, which saved the baggage of the army. At the battle of Almenara he was wounded, but received the compliments of Charles then king of Spain, and afterwards emperor of Germany, for his conduct in the engagement. He was again desperately wounded in defending the breach at Britmega against the whole French and Spanish army, where they "were at last taken prisoners. In 1705 he was made a brigadier-general; in 1708 major-general; and in 1710 lieutenant-general. In 1714 he was chosen member of parliament for Whitchurch in Hampshire; and the year following was appointed envoy extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the emperor, whose personal regard and esteem he had gained while he served under that prince in Spain. But the rebellion breaking out that year, he was sent into the North, where he not only prevented the rebels from seizing Newcastle, and marching into Yorkshire, but having overtaken them at Preston, where they were invested by major-general Wills, he, by altering the disposition which that general had made, cut off entirely both their escape and their receiving any supplies, which immediately reduced them to a capitulation. In the beginning of February 1715-16 he sent a challenge to general Wills, but they were prevented from fighting by the interposition of the dukes of Marlborough and Montague. In 1716 he was appointed governor of 'Minorca, and commander in chief of his majesty’s forces in Scotland; and in 1719 was created baron Carpenter of Killaghy in the kingdom of Ireland. In 1722 he was chosen member of parliament for the city of Westminster, and upon all occasions voted for what he thought to be the real good of his country, without any regard to party. In October 1731 being near seventy-four years of age, he began to labour under the failure of appetite, and having had a fall, by which his teeth were loosened on that side which had not been wounded, he was capable of taking but little nourishment, which together with old age, and a decay of nature, put an end to his life February 10, 1731-2. He was interred near his beloved wife in the chancel of the parish church of Owselbury in Hampshire, where a monument of marble was erected to his memory by his son, the late lord Carpenter, who was the only issue he left.
, one of those French philosophers and statesmen to whom the revolution gave a shortlived
, one of those French philosophers and statesmen to whom the revolution gave a shortlived importance, was born at Pont-de-Vesle in Dombes,
of poor parents. He early discovered an impetuous and
ungovernable temper, and even his youth is said to have
been stained with crimes. He travelled into Moldavia and
Walachia, and wrote an account of those countries, which
is the most unexceptionable of his works. On the commencement of the revolution he came to Paris, with all
the talents requisite to give him consequence, a violent
hatred of the royal family, and confused and ill-digested
notions of political freedom. Mirabeau, during his short
life, appears to have discerned and despised his character;
but in 1792 he acted without controul, and was one of the
chiefs of the revolt on the 10th of August, and gloried in
having laid the plan of that fatal day. When the unhappy
king was brought to trial, he was among the most active in
preventing any change in the sentence, or any access to
the voice of clemency. His triumph, however, was very
short. Having fallen out with Robespierre and his colleagues, he joined the party of the Gironde, was implicated in their fate, and guillotined Nov. 1, 1793. The
convention afterwards honoured him as a martyr to liberty,
but his countrymen now seem disposed to revive his real
character. As a writer, they tell us, he first acquired
notice by some bad articles in the Encyclopaedia. His
separate publications were, 1. “Systeme de la Raison,
” a
declamation against royalty; said to have been printed at
London in 1773. 2. “Esprit de la Morale et de la Philosophic,
” Histoire de la
Moldavie et de la Valachie,
” Nouveaux
principes de Physique,
” Essai sur la nautique
aerienneV' 1784, in which he assumes the merit of a plan.
to guide air-balloons with safety and speed which in point
of utility may be classed with the following 6.
” Examen
physique du magnetisme animal,“1785, 8vo. 7.
” Dissertation elementaire sur la nature de la lumiere, de la
chaleur, du feu, et de Pelectricite,“1787, 8vo. 8.
” Un
mot de reponse a M. de Calonne, sur s;i Kcquete au roi.“9.
” L'Orateur des Etats-Generawx,“1781;, 8vo. 10.
” Annales politiques,“a sort of newspaper, if we mistake
not, at the time when every party had its newspaper.
1.
” Mernoires historiques sur la Bastille," 1790, 3 vols.
8vo; and many anonymous pamphlets.
antly, that, as an acknowledgment for the pains he took to teach her philosophy, she would teach him French; and he ever after owned that her lessons were of great service
, was born in 1663, in the province of Brie in France. His father, a substantial farmer, intended him for the church. But young Carre, after going through, the usual course of education for that purpose, having an utter aversion to it, refused to enter upon that function; by which he incurred his father’s displeasure. His resources being thus cut off, he was obliged to quit the university, and look out into the world for some employment. In this exigency he had the good fortune to be engaged as an amanuensis by the celebrated father Malebranche; by which he found himself transported at once from the mazes of scholastic darkness, to the source of the most brilliant and enlightened philosophy. Under this great master he studied mathematics and metaphysics, and after seven years spent in this excellent school, M. Carré found it necessary, in order to procure himself some less precarious establishment, to teach mathematics and philosophy in Paris; but especially that philosophy which, on account of its tendency to improve our morals, he valued more than all the mathematics in the world. And accordingly his greatest care was to make geometry serve as an introduction to his well-beloved metaphysics. Most of M. Carrels pupils were of the fair sex. The first of these, who soon perceived that his language was rather the reverse of elegant and correct, told him pleasantly, that, as an acknowledgment for the pains he took to teach her philosophy, she would teach him French; and he ever after owned that her lessons were of great service to him. In general he seemed to set more value upon the genius of women than that of men.
pleasure. Some sketches of his ingenuity and industry in this way may be seen in the Memoirs of the French Academy of Sciences. M. Carre also composed some treatises on
M. Carré, although he gave the preference to metaphysics, did not neglect mathematics and while he taught
both, he took care to make himself acquainted with all
the new discoveries in the latter. This was all that his
constant attendance on his pupils would allow him to do,
till the year 1697, when M. Varignon, so remarkable for
his extreme scrupulousness in the choice of his eleves,
took M. Carre* to him in that station. Soon after, viz. in
1700, our author thinking himself bound to do something
that might render him worthy of that title, published the
first complete work on the integral calculus, under the
title of “A method of measuring surfaces and solids, and
finding their centres of gravity, percussion, and oscillation.
” He afterwards discovered some errors in the work,
and was candid enough to own and correct them in a subsequent edition. In a little time M. Carre became associate, and at length one of the pensioners of the academy.
And as this was a sufficient establishment for one who
knew so well how to keep his desires within just bounds,
he gave himself up entirely to study; and as he enjoyed
the appointment of Mechanician, he applied himself more
particularly to mechanics. He took also a survey of every
branch relating to music; such as the doctrine of sounds, the
description of musical instruments; though he despised the
practice of music, as a mere sensual pleasure. Some sketches
of his ingenuity and industry in this way may be seen in the
Memoirs of the French Academy of Sciences. M. Carre
also composed some treatises on other branches of natural
philosophy, and some on mathematical subjects all which
he bequeathed to that illustrious body; though it does not
appear that any of them have yet been published. It is
not unlikely that he was hindered from putting the last
hand to them by a train of disorders proceeding from a
bad digestion, which, after harassing him during the space
of five or six years, at length brought him to the grave in
1711, at forty-eight years of age.
correct indexes of places and persons. This valuable collection, being calculated for the use of the French, is introduced with a preface in that language. 6. “A preface
Besides the works mentioned, he was the author of the
following publications: 1. “A collection of original letters
and papers, concerning the affairs of England, from 1641
to 1660,
” The History of the Revolutions of Portugal, from the foundation of that kingdom
to the year 1567, with letters of sir Robert Southwell,
during his embassy there, to the duke of Ormonde; giving
a particular account of the deposing don Alphonso, and
placing don Pedro on the throne,
” A full
Answer to the Letter from a bystander,
” a pamphlet, A full and clear vindication of the full answer
to a Letter from a bystander,
” ditto, Catalogue des rolles Gascons, Normans, et
Francois, conserves dans les archives de la Tour de Londres;
tire* d‘apres celui du Garde* desdites archives; & contenant
la precis & le sommaire de tous les titres qui s’y trouvent
concernant la Guienne, la Normandie, & les autres provinces de la France, sujettes autres fois auX rois d’Angleterre, &c.
” Paris, A preface to a translation, by Mrs. Thompson, of the
history of the memorable and extraordinary calamities of
Margaret of Anjou, queen of England, &c. by the chevalier
Michael Baudier,
” London, Advice of
a Mother to her son and daughter,
” translated from the
French of the marchioness de Lambert. This has gone
through several editions. 8. “Farther reasons, addressed
to parliament, for rendering more effectual an act of queen
Anne, relating to the vesting in authors the right of copies,
for the encouragement of learning, by R. H.
” about The case of the royal martyr considered with candour,
” in 2 vols. 8vo, the author of which acknowledges
his obligations to Mr. Carte. It was written by the rev.
J. Boswell, M. A. a clergyman and a schoolmaster, at
Taunton, in Somersetshire, and the author of a “Method
of Study, or a useful library,
” printed in Remarks on the Free and Candid Disquisitions,
”
which appeared in
and her perseverance was crowned with unexampled success. She early became mistress of Latin, Greek, French, German, and afterwards understood Italian, Spanish, Portuguese,
, an English lady of profound
learning and genius, was the eldest daughter of the rev.
Dr. Nicholas Carter, a clergyman in Kent, who, with
other preferment, held the cure of the chapel of Deal,
where this daughter was born, Dec. 16, 1717, and educated by her father. At first she discovered such a slowness of faculties, as to make him despair of her progress ia
intellectual attainment, even with the aid of the greatest
industry, and the most ardent desire, which characterized
her efforts. She herself, however, though mortified and
sorrowful at her own difficulties, resolved to persevere, and
her perseverance was crowned with unexampled success.
She early became mistress of Latin, Greek, French, German, and afterwards understood Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Hebrew, and last of all acquired something of
Arabic. Before she was seventeen years of age, many of
her poetical attempts had appeared, particularly in the
Gentleman’s Magazine for 1734, with the signature of
Eliza. This extraordinary display of genius and acquirements procured her immediate celebrity, and the learned
flocked about her with admiration. In 1738, when she
was about twenty, Cave, the proprietor of the Gentleman’s
Magazine, published some of her poems in a quarto
pamphlet, now little known, as it was published without
her name. It is probable she did not think many of these
worthy of her; as in 1762, when she published a small collection with her name, she admitted only two from the former publication, the “Lines on her birth-day,
” and the
“Ode of Anacreon.
”
nce to Oliver Cromwell, by some hostile design or attempt against the English vessels trading to the French ports, that, by the Protector’s interest with cardinal Mazarine,
, a loyalist in the time of
Charles f. of uncommon firmness and bravery, the descendant of an ancient family, originally from Normandy,
but afterwards settled at Guernsey and Jersey, was born
at Jersey in 1599, his father Ilelier Carteret, esq. being
at that time deputy governor of the island. He entered
early into the sea service, and had acquired the character
of an experienced officer, when king Charles I. ascended
the throne. This circumstance recommending him to the
notice and esteem of the duke of Buckingham, he was
appointed, in 1626, joint governor of Jersey, with Henry,
afterwards lord Jermyn and, in 1C '6 9, he obtained a grant
of the office and place of comptroller of all his Majesty’s
ships. At the commencement of the civil war, when the
parliament resolved to send out the earl of Warwick as
admiral of the fleet, they also resolved, that captain Carteret should be vice-ad miral. But he, thinking that he
ought not to accept the command without knowing the
royal pleasure, addressed himself to the king for direction,
who ordered him to decline the employment; and captain,
Batten, surveyor-general, was substituted in his place.
His Majesty was probably mistaken in this advice; for, if
captain Carteret had accepted of the charge, he might
probably have prevented the greater part of the fleet from
engaging in the cause of the parliament. Captain Carteret, however, likewise quitted the post of comptroller, and
retired, with his family, to the island of Jersey, the inhabitants of which were confirmed by him in their adherence
to the king; and desirous of more active service, he transported himself into Cornwall, with the purpose of raising a
troop of horse. When he arrived in that country, finding
there was a great want of powder, he went into France to
procure that and other necessary supplies; and was so successful, that, through the remainder of the war, the Cornish army was never destitute of ammunition. This was so
important and seasonable a service, that the king acknowledged it by particular approbation; and by conferring
upon him, at Oxford, the honour of knighthood, which
was speedily followed by his being advanced, on the 9th
of May 1645, to the dignity, of a baronet. Returning the
same year into Jersey, he found that several of the inhabitants had been induced to embrace the cause of the parliament, on which account he threw some of them into
confinement. This was so alarming and offensive to the
members at Westminster, that an order was made, that if,
for the future, he should put to death any of the island
whom he should take prisoners, for every one so slain,
three of the king’s men should be hung up. From the
words here used, it seems implied that sir George Carteret
had actually executed some one or more of the people of
Jersey who had appeared for the Parliament; a step highly
injudicious, whence, in all the subsequent propositions for
peace with the king, sir George was excepted from pardon.
When the prince of Wales, and many persons of distinction with him, came into Jersey in 1646, and brought with
them very little for their subsistence, they were all chear
fully entertained, and at a large expence, by sir George
Carteret who, being sensible how much it behoved him
to take care for supplies, equipped about half a score small
frigates and privateers, which soon struck a terror through
the whole channel, and made a number of captures. Upon
the prince’s leaving the island, at the positive command of
the queen, several of the council chose to stay with sir
George; au<=! the chancellor of the exchequer (afterwards earl of Clarendon) resided with him above two years.
After the death of the king, sir George Carteret, though
the republican party was completely triumphant, and
though Charles II. was at the Hague in a very destitute condition, immediately proclaimed him at Jersey, with all
his titles. Some months afterwards his Majesty determined
to pay a second visit to the island of Jersey, and arrived
in the latter end of September 1649, accompanied by his
brother the duke of York, with several of the nobility.
Here they were supplied by sir George with all necessaries.
The king, when prince of Wales, had procured his father’s
leave for making sir George Carteret his vice-chamberlain,
and he now appointed him treasurer of his navy; which however, at this time, chiefly consisted of the privateers that sir
George hue! provided, and of the men of war with prince Rupert. Charles II. staid in the island till the latter end of March
1650, when he embarked for Holland, in order to be more
commodiously situated for treating with the Scots, who had
invited him into that kingdom. This defiance of sir George
Carteret in harbouring the king, and taking many of their
trading vessels, enraged the republicans so much, that they
determined to exert every nerve for the reduction of Jersey.
A formidable armament being prepared, it put to sea in
October 1651, under the command of admiral Blake, and
major-general Holmes, to the last of whom the charge of
the forces for the descent was committed. In this crisis,
sir George Carteret prevented the landing of the republican army as long as possible; and when that was effected,
and the remaining forts of the island were taken, he retired
into Elizabeth castle, resolving to hold it out to the last extremity. The king being safely arrived in France, after the,
fatal battle of Worcester, sir George informed him of the
state of the garrison, but the king not being able to assist
him, he advised sir George Carteret, rather to accept of a
reasonable composition, than, by too obstinate a defence,
to bring himself and the loyal gentlemen who were with
him into danger of being made prisoners of war. Sir
George was ambitious that Elizabeth castle should be the
last of the king’s garrisons (as was in fact the case) which
should yield to the prevailing powers. He determined,
therefore, to conceal his majesty’s permission to treat, that
the knowledge of it might not renew the cry for a surrender. But, at length, provisions growing scarce, the
number of defenders lessening daily by death and desertion, and there being no possibility of supplies or recruits,
Elizabeth castle was surrendered in the? latter end of December, and sir George went first to St. Maloes, and
afterwards travelled through several parts of Europe. To
facilitate his reception at the different courts and places he
might be disposed to visit, he obtained from his royal
master a very honourable and remarkable certificate of recommendation. In 1657, sir George had given such offence
to Oliver Cromwell, by some hostile design or attempt
against the English vessels trading to the French ports,
that, by the Protector’s interest with cardinal Mazarine, he
was committed prisoner to the Bastile from which he was,
after some time, released by the intercession of his friends,
upon condition of his quitting France. In 1659, however,
we find him at Rheims, from whence, he repaired to the
king at Brussels, and followed him to Breda. Upon his
majesty’s being restored to his kingdoms, sir George Carteret rode, with him in his triumphant entry into the city of
London, on the 2<nh of May 1660, and next day he was
declared vice-chamberlain of the hoiishold, an-d sworn of
the privy council. He was also constituted treasurer of
the navy; and at the coronation of the king, he had the
honour of being almoner for the day. In the first parliament called by Charles II. in May, 1661, sir George Carteret
was elected representative for the corporation of Portsmouth; and it appears, that he was au active member of
the house. When the duke of York, 1673, resigned the
office of high admiral of England, sir George was constituted one of the commissioners of the admiralty; and“in
1676, he was appointed one of the lords of the committee
of trade. He was also vice-treasurer of Ireland, and
treasurer of the military forces there. At length, in consequence of his merit and services, the king determined
to raise him to the dignity of a peerage; but before the
design could be accomplished, he departed this life, on the
14th of January, 1679, being nearly eighty years of age.
On the 11th of February following, a royal warrant was
issued, in which it is recited,
” That whereas sir George
Carteret died before his patent for his barony was sued out,
liis Majesty authorizes Elizabeth, his widow, and her
youngest children, James Carteret, Caroline, wife of sir
Thomas S<:ot, kut. and Louisa, wife of sir Robert Atkins,
knt. to enjoy their precedency and pre-eminency, as if the
said sir George Carterei hail actually been created a baron."
Sir George’s rldest son, by his jady Elizabeth, who was his
cousin-gr nnan, being the daughter of sir PhiUp Carteret,
was ijained Philip after his grandfather. This gentleman
eminently distinguished himself in the civil wars, and was
khighted by Charles II on his arrival in Jersey. After the
king’s restoration, sir Philip Carteret married Jemima,
daughter of Edward Montague, the first earl of Sandwich,
and perished with that illustrious nobleman, in the great
sea-fight with the Dutch, in Solbay, on the 28th of May,
1672. Sir Philip determined, whilst many others left the
ship, to share the fate of his father-in-law. His eldest son
George was the first lord Carteret, and father to the subject
of the following article.
us that his person was as handsome as his mind, and that he not only understood Greek and Latin, but French and Italian, as perfectly as his mother tongue. Dr. Fell, bishop
Few men have ever been so praised and regretted by
their contemporaries, who have left so little to perpetuate
their fame. During his sickness, the king and queen,
who were then at Oxford, made anxious inquiries about
the progress of his disorder. His majesty wore black on
the day of his funeral, and being asked the reason, answered that since the muses had so much mourned for the
loss of such a son, it had been a shame that he should not
appear in mourning for the loss of such a subject. His
poems and plays, which were published in 1651, are preceded by fifty copies of verses by the wits of the time, and
all in a most laboured style of panegyric. His other encomiasts inform us that his person was as handsome as his
mind, and that he not only understood Greek and Latin,
but French and Italian, as perfectly as his mother tongue.
Dr. Fell, bishop of Oxford, said of him, “Cartwright is
the utmost man can come to;
” and Ben Jonson used to
say, “My son Cartwright writes all like a man.
”
fortunately escaped the dreadful massacre at Fort William Henry, an instance of Indian ferocity and French perfidy which he has pathetically described in his “Travels.”
, another unfortunate author in
our own country, was a native of America. His grandfather, William Joseph Carver, of Wigan in Lancashire,
a captain in king William’s army, was rewarded for his
services in Ireland with the government of Connecticut in
New England, in which province our author was born in.
1732, and where his father, a justice of the peace, died
in 1747. Soon after, being designed for the study of physic, he was placed with a practitioner at Elizabeth-town;
but this not suiting his enterprising spirit, he purchased, in.
1750, an ensigncy in the Connecticut regiment, and behaved so well as to obtain the command of a company.
Nothing more is known of him till 1757, when being in
general Webb’s army, he fortunately escaped the dreadful
massacre at Fort William Henry, an instance of Indian
ferocity and French perfidy which he has pathetically described in his “Travels.
” In the five succeeding campaigns he served also, first as lieutenant and afterwards as
captain of provincials, with a high reputation, not only for
bravery, but also for piety and morals. On the conclusion of the peace in 1763, captain Carver, with a view
to make that vast acquisition of territory gained by Great
Britain advantageous to her, determined to explore the
most unknown parts of North America, particularly the
vast continent which extends from the Atlantic to the
Pacific ocean. His failure in this is now less to be regretted, as captain Cook has since shewn the impracticability of a north-west passage in those parts. Captain Carver, however, penetrated farther north-westward
than any other European, except father Hennepin in 1680,
viz. to the river St. Francis. The utmost extent of his
travels to the west was towards the head of the river St.
Pierre, in the country of the Naudowessies of the plains,
whose language he learned, and among whom he wintered
in 1766, and resided seven months. In 1769 he came
over to England, in hopes of a reimbursement from government for the sums he had expended in their service;
but in this he was disappointed, and reduced to great difficulties. In 1778, he published “Travels through the
interior parts of North America in the years 1766, 1767,
and 1768,
” 8vo, a work considered as peculiarly interesting. In the following year, he published also “A Treatise on the Culture of the Tobacco Plant.
” Both these
ought unquestionably to have procured him employment as
a man of talents, but unfortunately no notice was taken of
him. About this time he was induced to lend his name
to a compilation entitled “The New Universal Traveller,
”
published in weekly numbers, but this afforded a scanty
supply. Through the winter of 1779, he preserved his
existence by acting as a clerk in a lottery office until Jan.
31, 1780, a putrid fever supervening a long-continued
dysentery, brought on by mere want, put an end to the
life of a man whose public services and character deserved
a better fate. We know not, however, that he perished
in vain. His case attracted the notice of Dr. Lettsom,
who, in some excellent letters in the Gentleman’s Magazine, recommended it to the public attention with such
effect, that while a temporary provision was made for
captain Carver’s widow and children, by the publication.
of a new edition of his “Travels,
” a salutary impression
was made on the public mind, to which, strengthened by
other instances, we now owe that excellent institution,
“The Literary Fund.
”
author. “Tavilat al Koran al hakim,” commentaries on the Koran, are likewise by him, and were in the French king’s library, number 641. The Rabi al Abrar relates, that
, the surname of Kemaleddin Abulganem Abdalrazzak ben Yemaleddin, a famous doctor, classed by
Yafei among the mussulman saints, is the author of several
works, and among them one entitled “Esthelahah al Sosiah,
” of the practices and mode of speaking of the sophis,
or monks of the mussulmans, of whom he was one of the
chiefs. That which bears the title of “Menazel ai sairin,
”
the lodgings for travellers, is another spiritual book of the
same author. “Tavilat al Koran al hakim,
” commentaries
on the Koran, are likewise by him, and were in the French
king’s library, number 641. The Rabi al Abrar relates,
that this doctor, who was the oracle of his time, preaching
one day at Medina, a contemplative person retired to a
corner of the mosque for the purpose of meditation, without paying any attention to the discourse of Caschi. One
of the audience asking him why he did not hearken like the
rest, this spiritual man replied: “When the master speaks,
it is not reasonable to listen to what the servant says.
”
The two following lines of Persian poetry are quoted from
Caschi:
received member of the academy in 1704. Cases may be considered as one of the first painters of the French school. His drawing is correct, and in the grand style, his
, a painter, was born at Paris in 1676, where he also died in the month of June 1754. He had for masters in his art Houasse, and afterwards Bon Boullogne. He obtained the grand prize of painting in 1699, and was received member of the academy in 1704. Cases may be considered as one of the first painters of the French school. His drawing is correct, and in the grand style, his compositions bear marks of genius; he excels in draperies, and possesses a knowledge of the chiaroscuro to a very high degree. His strokes are mellow, and his pencil brilliant. There is much freshness in his tints. This famous artist worked with great industry; but his performances are not all of equal beauty. Towards the latter end of his life, the coldness of age and the weakness of his organs, occasioned him to produce pictures which betray the decline of his powers. Some of his works may be seen at Paris, in the church of Notre Dame, in the college of Jesuits, at the house of charity, at the petit St. Antoine, at the chapel of la Jussienne, at the abbey of St. Martin, and particularly at St. Germain-des. Prs, where he has represented the lives of St. Germain and of St. Vincent. A holy family at St. Louis de Versailles, is much admired, and is one of his best productions. Cases mostly excelled in pictures with horses. The king of Prussia has two fine pieces by this painter, which have been compared for their execution with the works of Correggio. The celebrated Le Moine was a scholar of Cases.
Orleans, afterwards treasurer to the demesne of the Seneschally of Nismes. He was admitted into the French academy at the age of twenty-seven, in consequence of an ode
, a doctor of divinity, born at Nismes in 1633, was son of Michael Cassagnes, master of the requests to the duke of Orleans, afterwards treasurer to the demesne of the Seneschally of Nismes. He was admitted into the French academy at the age of twenty-seven, in consequence of an ode written in its praise, 1660; and the poem he published the year following, in which he introduces Henry IV. giving instructions to Louis XIV. gained him the friendship of M. Colbert. This minister procured him a pension from the court, appointed him keeper of the king’s library, and nominated him one of the first four academicians, who originally composed the academy of inscriptions. The abbe Cassagnes was preparing to preach at court, when Boileau placed his name by that of Cotin in his third satire: this satirical stroke made him renounce the pulpit, and preyed on a mind probably vain and weak. Imagining, afterwards, that he had entirely lost the esteem of the public, he thought to recover his reputation by publishing a multiplicity of works; but too great application, joined to a morose temper, and many disappointments, impaired his understanding, and his friends were obliged to place him at St. Lazare, where he died, May 19, 1675, aged 46. He left odes, which are printed separately, and in collections a translation of Cicero’s Rhetoric, 12mo, and of Sallust, 12mo, and other forgotten works.
ions,” or conferences of the fathers of the desert, and “Institutions,” in 12 books, translated iHto French by Nic. Fontaine, 1663, 2 vols. 8vo; and seven books upon the
, was a celebrated solitary, a native
of Scythia, of the fifth century, who spent part of his life
in the monastery of Bethlehem with the monk Germain,
his friend. They engaged openly in the defence of St.
Chrysostom, against Theophilus, patriarch of Alexandria.
Cassian went to Rome, and from thence to Marseilles,
where he founded two monasteries, one of men, the other
of virgins. He ranks among the greatest masters of the
monastic life, and died about the year 448. He left
“Collations,
” or conferences of the fathers of the desert,
and “Institutions,
” in 12 books, translated iHto French by
Nic. Fontaine, 1663, 2 vols. 8vo; and seven books upon
the Incarnation. These are all written in Latin, with a
clearness and simplicity of style excellently calculated to
inspire the heart with virtuous dispositions. They were
printed at Paris, 1642, and at Leipsic, 1722, folio, and are
in the library of the fathers. St. Prosper has written
against the “Conferences.
” Cassian is reckoned among
the first of the Semi-Pelagians, of which sect Faustus of
Riez, Vincent of Lerins, Gennadius of Marseilles, Hilerias
of Aries, and Arnobius the younger, were the principal
defenders. The semi-pelagians were opposed by the whole
united forces of St. Augustin and Prosper, without being
extirpated, or overcome by them. This sect was condemned by some synods, and was rejected by the church.
he happily effected, and published it at Rome, among other astronomical pieces, in 1666. Picard, the French astronomer, getting Cassini’s tables of Jupiter’s satellites,
Meanwhile he did not neglect his astronomical studies, but cultivated them with great care. He made many discoveries relative to the planets Mars and Venus, especially the revolution of Mars upon his own axis; but his principal object was to settle an accurate theory of Jupiter’s satellites, which after much labour and watching he happily effected, and published it at Rome, among other astronomical pieces, in 1666. Picard, the French astronomer, getting Cassini’s tables of Jupiter’s satellites, found them so very exact, that he conceived the highest opinion of his skill; and from that time his fame increased so fast in France, that Lewis XIV. desired to have him a member of the academy. Cassini, however, could not leave his station, without leave of his superiors; and therefore Lewis requested of pope Clement IX. and of the senate of Bologna, that Cassini might be permitted to come into France. Leave was granted for six years; and he came to Paris in the beginning of 1669, where he was immediately made the king’s astronomer. When this term was near expiring, the pope and the senate of Bologna insisted upon his return, on pain of forfeiting his revenues and emoluments, which had hitherto been remitted to him; but the minister Colbert prevailed on him to stay, and he was naturalized in the latter end of 1673, in which same year also he married.
, a celebrated French astronomer, and member of the several academies of sciences
, a celebrated French astronomer, and member of the several academies of sciences of France, England, Prussia, and Bologna, was born at Paris Feb. 18, 1677, being the younger son of the preceding, whom he succeeded as astronomer at the royal observatory, the elder son having lost his life at the battle of La Hogue.
above the level of the sea; Reflections on the perfecting of burning-glasses; and other memoirs. The French academy had properly judged that one of its most important objects
Although astronomy was the principal object of our author’s consideration, he made occasional excursions into other fields. We owe also to him, for example, Experiments on Electricity, or the light produced by bodies by friction; Experiments on the recoil of fire-arms; Researches on the rise of the mercury in the barometer at different heights above the level of the sea; Reflections on the perfecting of burning-glasses; and other memoirs. The French academy had properly judged that one of its most important objects was the measurement of the earth. In 1669, Picard measured a little more than a degree of latitude to the north of Paris; but as that extent appeared too small from which to conclude the whole circumference with sufficient accuracy, it was resolved to continue that measurement on the meridian of Paris to the north and south, through the whole extent of the country. Accordingly, in 1683, the late M. de la Hire continued that on the north side of Paris, and the older Cassini that on the south side. The latter was assisted in 1700 in the continuation of this operation by his son, our author. The same work was farther continued by the same academicians; and finally the part left unfinished by de la Hire in the north, was finished in 1718 by our author, with the late Maraldi, and de la Hire the younger.
ermination of Newton by the theory of gravity. In consequence of these assertions of our author, the French government sent two different sets of measurers, the one to
These operations produced a considerable degree of precision. It appeared also, from this measured extent of six degrees, that the degrees were of different lengths in different parts of the meridian; and in such sort that our author concluded, in the volume published for 17 18^ that they decreased more and more towards the pole, and that therefore the figure of the earth was that of an oblong spheroid, or having its axe longer than the equatorial diameter. He also measured the perpendicular to the same meridian, and compared the measured distance with the differences of longitude as before determined by the eclipses of Jupiter’s satellites; from whence he concluded that the length of the degrees of longitude was smaller than it would be on a sphere, and that therefore again the figure of the earth was an oblong spheroid; contrary to the determination of Newton by the theory of gravity. In consequence of these assertions of our author, the French government sent two different sets of measurers, the one to measure a degree at the equator, the other at the polar circle; and the comparison of the whole determined the figure to be an oblate spheroid, contrary to Cassini’s determination.
, a celebrated French astronomer, director of the observatory, pensioner astronomer,
, a celebrated French astronomer, director of the observatory, pensioner astronomer, and member of most of the learned societies of Europe, was born at Paris, June 17, 1714, being the second son of the preceding, whose occupations and talents our author inherited and supported with great honour. He received his first lessons in astronomy and mathematics from Messieurs Maraldi and Camus. He was hardly ten years of age when he calculated the phases of the total eclipse of the sun of 1727. At the age of eighteen he accompanied his father in his two journeys undertaken for drawing the perpendicular to the observatory meridian from Strasbourg to Brest. From that time a general chart of France was devised; for which purpose it was necessary to traverse the country by several lines parallel and perpendicular to the meridian of Paris, and our author was charged with the conduct of this business. He did not content himself with the measure of a degree by Picard; suspecting even that the measures which had been taken by his father and grandfather were not exempt from some errors, which the imperfections of their instruments at least would be liable to, he again undertook to measure the meridian of Paris, by means of a new series of triangles, of a smaller number, and more advantageously disposed. This great work was published in 1740, with a chart shewing the new meridian of Paris, by two different series of triangles, passing along the sea-coasts to Bayonne, traversing the frontiers of Spain to the Mediterranean and Antibes, and thence along the eastern limits of France to Dunkirk, with parallel and perpendicular lines described at the distance of 6000 toises from one another, from side to side of the country. Jn 1735 he had been received into the academy as adjoint supernumerary, at twenty-one years of age.
M. Cassini published in the volumes of Memoirs of the French academy a prodigious number of pieces, chiefly astronomical,
M. Cassini published in the volumes of Memoirs of the French academy a prodigious number of pieces, chiefly astronomical, too numerous to particularize in this place, between the years 1735 and 1770; consisting of astronomical observations and questions; among which are observable, Researches concerning the parallax of the Sun, the Moon, Mars, and Venus; on astronomical refractions, and the effect caused in their quantity and laws by the weather; numerous observations on the obliquity of the ecliptic, and on the law of its variations. In short, he cultivated astronomy for fifty years, of the most important for that science that ever elapsed, for the magnitude and variety of objects, in which he commonly sustained a principal share. M. Cassini was of a very strong and vigorous constitution, which carried him through the many laborious operations in geography and astronomy which he conducted. An habitual retention of urine, however, rendered the last twelve years of his life very painful and distressing, till it was at length terminated by the small-pox, the 4th of September, 178*, in the seventy-first year of his age; being succeeded in the academy, and as director of the observatory, by his only son, the present count John Dominic Cassini who is the fourth in order by direct descent in that honourable station.
ished a second edition of it in 1554, and another in 1556. The edition of 157& is most esteemed. The French version was dedicated to Henry II. of France, and printed at
He published in 1546, a translation of the Sibylline verses into Latin heroic verse, and of the books of Moses into Latin prose, with notes. This was followed, in 1547, by his Latin version of the psalms of David, and of all the other songs found in scripture. In 1548, he printed a Greek poem on the life of John the baptist, and a paraphrase on the prophecy of Jonah, in Latin verse. He translated some passages of Homer, and some books of Xenophon and St. Cyril. He also turned into Latin several treatises of the famous Ochinus, particularly the thirty dialogues, some of which seem to favour polygamy. He advanced some singular notions in his notes on the books of Moses; as for instance, that the bodies of malefactors ought not to be left on the gibbets; and that they ought not to be punished with death, but with slavery. His reason for these opinions was, that the political laws of Moses bind all nations. His notes on the Epistle to the Romans were condemned by the church of Basil, because they opposed the doctrine of predestination and efficacious grace. He began his Latin translation of the Bible at Geneva in 1542, and finished it at Basil in 1550. It was printed at Basil in 1551, and dedicated by the author to Edward VI. king of England. He published a second edition of it in 1554, and another in 1556. The edition of 157& is most esteemed. The French version was dedicated to Henry II. of France, and printed at Basil in 1555, and in this he is accused of having made use of low and vulgar terms. Those who have indulged their invectives against- Calvin and Beza for their dislike of Castalio’s translations, do not seem to advert to the serious consequences of exhibiting bad translations to the people, who had but just been admitted to the privilege of reading the scriptures in any shape.
, with less facility, was more profound. Such is pretty nearly the character of the two nations: the French genius builds upwards, the English genius downwards. Each of
The “Vrai systeme de physique generate de Newton,
”
Newton and Descartes,
” said he,
tt are nearly on a par in regard to invention; but the latter
had more facility and elevation; the other, with less facility,
was more profound. Such is pretty nearly the character
of the two nations: the French genius builds upwards, the
English genius downwards. Each of them had the ambition to make a world, as Alexander had that of conquering
it, and both had grand ideas of nature.“Other papers by
him are in the Memoires de Trevoux, in which he was for
some time concerned. The style of Castel partook of the
fire of 'his genius and the wanderings of his imagination.
The conversation turning one day, in presence of Fontenelle, on the marks of originality in the works of this scholar, somebody said,
” But he is mad.“” I know it,“returned Fontenelle,
” and I am sorry for it, for it is a great
pity! But I like him better for being original and a little
mad, than I should if he were in his senses without being
original.“Castel died the llth of January, 1757, at the
age of 68. The abbe dela Porte published in 1763, 12mo,
at Paris under the imprint of Amsterdam,
” L'esprit, les
saillies, & singularites du pere Castel." The author treats,
on a great number of subjects; and though he enters
deeply into none, yet he thinks much, and sometimes verjr
well. The life of Castel was exemplary and edifying he!
was ever assiduous in performing the duties of his station,
and had the highest reverence for religion.
, a French nobleman of high character and abilities, was frequently employed
, a French nobleman of high
character and abilities, was frequently employed in the
sixteenth century by Charles IX. and Henry III. of France
in negociations of great importance; and among other
destinations, he was five times ambassador in England, and
the first time resided above ten years. The “Memoirs of
his Negociations
” published by Le Laboreur in
, an eminent French physician and surgeon, was born at Blerancourt, between Noyon
, an eminent French physician and surgeon, was born at Blerancourt, between Noyon and Coucy, Sept. 6, 1700. If chirurgical skill be hereditary, his claims were considerable, as he was descended both by the father’s and mother’s side from eminent practitioners. His parents, however, first intended him for the church; but after completing his philosophy course, he applied himself to the study of medicine, not altogether with his inclination. From his infancy he had amused himself with making geometrical figures, and without the aid of a master, used to make drawings of military architecture with considerable accuracy, and at one time seems to have had an inclination for the bar, but at last he had no alternative but the church, or the profession of his ancestors, and having determined in favour of the latter, he went to Paris for education in the different branches of the healing art. The first publication by which he was known, was a curious dissertation, which he printed in his twenty-fourth year, on the mechanism of the buttresses of the church of St. Nicaise at Rheuns: these buttresses have always been an object of curiosity, as a motion is perceptible in them, which has never affected their solidity. la 1729, he was appointed surgeon and physician to M. de Tressan, archbishop of Rouen. He did not take his degree, however, until 1732, when he took it at Rheims, to avoid the heavy expence of 6000 livres, which it would have cost at Paris. In 1733, he settled at Rouen, and began to give a course of anatomical lectures, and there first he established a high reputation for his dextrous method of operation for the stone. In 1731 he obtained the reversion of the place of surgeon-major to the hospital at Rouen; and when the royal academy of surgery was established, he gained the first prize, and continued to gain all the prizes of that academy to the year 17:58 inclusive, when they paid him the high compliment of requesting that he would no longer become a candidate, but leave to others a chance of obtaining these rewards. Flattering as this seemed, M. Le Cat was aware that the academicians had it in their power to prevent his contending for prizes in a more effectual way, by electing him one of their body, and accordingly stood for the prize of 1739 with his usual success: about the end of the year, however, he was elected into the academy, and pursued his career of fame by those numerous publications on which it was so justly founded.
h reproaches on him that offered it. Being pressed to take another glass, when he called for milk, a French valet-de-chamhre, who was greatly attached to him, ran in; and
Peter’s conduct, on the other hand, was mere infatuation.
He permitted his mistress the countess Woronzoff to have
the most complete ascendancy over him, and this woman
had the hardihood to claim the performance of a promise
which he had made when grand duke, to marry her, place
her, in the room of Catherine, on the throne, and bastardize his son Paul, whose place he was to supply by
adopting prince Ivan, who had been dethroned by the empress Elizabeth. Whatever ground he might have for
expecting success to this wild project, he had not the sense
to conceal it; and his mistress openly made her boast of it.
Such indiscretion was, no doubt, in favour of Catherine^
but still the part she had to play required all her skill. It
was no less than a plot to counteract that of her husband,
and dethrone him. The minute details of this would extend too far in a sketch like the present; her conspirators
were numerous, secret, and well prepared, and by their
means she, who had been confined at Peterhof by her husband, was enabled to enter Petersburgh July 9, 1762,
where she was received as empress, and where, while the
enthusiasm was fresh in the minds of her troops and subjects, she was crowned in the church of Kazan, by the
archbishop of Novogorod, who proclaimed her with a loud
voice, sovereign of all the Russias, by the title of Catherine II. and declared at the same time the young grand
duke, Paul Petrovitch, her successor. But of all this
Peter III. had yet no suspicion. Such was his security,
that he set out, after having received some intimations of
the conspiracy, from Oranienbaum in a calash with his
mistress, his favourites, and the women of his court, for
Peterhof; but in the way, Gudovitch, the general aidede-camp, met one of the chamberlains of the empress, by
whom he was informed of her escape from Peterhof; and
upon his communicating the intelligence to Peter, he
turned pale, and appeared much agitated. On his arrival
at Peterhof, his agitation and confusion increased, when
he found that the empress had actually left the palace,
and he soon received the certain tidings of the revolution
that had been accomplished; and the chancellor Worouzof
offered his services to hasten to Petersburgh, engaging to
bring the empress back. The chancellor, on entering the
palace, found Catherine surrounded by a multitude of
people in the act of doing homage; and forgetting his
duty, he took the oath with the rest. He was permitted,
however, at his earnest request, to return to his house,
under the guard of some trusty officers; and thus secured
himself from the vindictive spirit of the partisans of Catherine, and from the suspicions of the czar. After the departure of the chancellor, Peter became a prey to the most
distressing anxieties, and he every instant received some
fresh intelligence of the progress of the revolution, but
knew not what steps to pursue. Although his Holstein
guards were firmly attached to him, and the veteran marshal Munich offered to risk every thing for his service, he
remained hesitating and undetermined; and after some
fruitless attempts, he found it absolutely necessary to submit unconditionally to her will, in consequence of which
he was compelled to sign a most humiliating act of abdication, in which he declared his conviction of his inability
to govern the empire, either as a sovereign, or in any other
capacity, and his sense of the distress in which his continuance at the head of affairs would inevitably involve it,
and in the evening an officer with a strong escort came
and conveyed him prisoner to Ropscha, a small imperial
palace, at the distance of about 20 versts from Peterhof.
He now sent a message to Catherine, requesting, that he
might retain in his service the negro who had been attached
to him, and who amused him with his singularities, together with a dog, of which he was fond, his violin, a Bible,
and a few romances; assuring her, that, disgusted at the
wickedness of mankind, he would henceforward devote
himself to a philosophical life. Not one of these requests
was granted. After he had been at Ropscha six days without the knowledge of any persons besides the chiefs of the
conspirators, and the soldiers by whom he was guarded,
Alexius Orlof, accompanied by Teplof, came to him with
the news of his speedy deliverance, and asked permission
to dine with him. While the officer amused the czar with
some trifling discourse, his chief rilled the wine-glasses,
which are usually brought in the northern countries before
dinner, and poured a poisonous mixture into that which
he intended for the prince. The czar, without distrust,
swallowed the potion; on which he was seized with the
most excruciating pains; and on his being offered a second glass, on pretence of its giving him relief, he refused
it with reproaches on him that offered it. Being pressed
to take another glass, when he called for milk, a French
valet-de-chamhre, who was greatly attached to him, ran
in; and throwing himself into his arms, he said in a faint
tone of \oice, “It was not enough, then, to prevent me
from reigning in Sweden, and to deprive me of the crown
of Russia! I must also be put to death.
” The valet-dechamhre interceded in his behalf; but the two miscreant
forced him out of the room, and continued their ill treatment of him. In the midst of the tumult, the younger of
the princes Baratinsky, who commanded the guard, entered; Orlof, who in a struggle had thrown down the emperor, was pressing upon his breast with both his knees,
and firmly griping his throat with his hand. In this situation the two other assassins threw a napkin with a running knot round his neck, and put an end to his life by
suffocation, July 17th, just one week after the revolution;
and it was announced to the nation, that Peter had died
of an haemorrhoidal colic. When Catherine received the
news of Peter’s death, she appeared at court, whither she
was going, with a tranquil air; and afterwards shut herself
up with Orlof, Panin, Rasumofsky, and others who had
been concerned in her counterplot, and resolved to inform
the senate and people next day of the death of the emperor. On this occasion she did not forget her part, but
rose from her seat with her eyes full of tears, and for some
days exhibited all the marks of profound grief. The best
part of her conduct was, that she showed no resentment to
the adherents of Peter, and even pardoned the countess
Woronzoff.
tore Otchakof to the Turks, but not being supported by the nation, this point was conceded. When the French revolution took place, the empress finding Prussia and Austria
In the following year, 1783, she augmented the splendour of her court, by instituting the new order of St.
Wolodimir, or Vladimir, and this year, having acquired,
without a war, the sovereignty of the Crimea, of the isle
of Taman, and a great part of the Kuban, she called the
former of these countries Taurida, and the other Caucasus.
Thus Catherine gained a point of much importance towards
the main object of her ambition, i. e. the destruction of
the Turkish empire in Europe; in the view of which she
had named the grand duke’s second son Constantine, and
had put him into the hands of Greek nurses, that he might
be thoroughly acquainted with the language of his future
subjects. Instigated by Potemkin, the empress formed a
design in 1787 of being splendidly crowned in her new
dominions “queen of Taurida;
” but the expence being
objected to by some of her courtiers, she contented herself
with making a grand progress through them. At her new
city of Cherson, she had a second interview with the emperor Joseph. She then traversed the Crimea, and returned to Moscow, having left traces in her progress of her
munificence and condescension. This ostentatious tour
was probably one cause of the new rupture with the Turkish court, in which the emperor of Germany engaged as
ally to Russia, and the king of Sweden as ally to the Porte.
The latter prevented the empress from sending a fleet into
the Mediterranean; and even endangered Petersburgh itself
by a sudden incursion into Finland. The danger, however,
was averted by the empress’s own vigorous exertions, by
the desertion of some of Gustavus’s troops, who would not
fight against the Russians, and by an attack of Sweden, on
the part of the prince of Denmark, who proceeded as far
as Gottenburgh. The Turkish army, though superior to
that of the empress, could not resist the efforts of the
Russian generals. Potemkin at the head of a numerous
army, and a large train of artillery, laid siege to Otchakof,
and it was at length taken by storm, with the loss of 25,000
Turks and 12,000 Russians, but the issue of the war was
upon the whole unfavourable, and all parties consented to
the peace signed in 1792, by which the Dniester was declared to be in future the limit of the two empires. Mr.
Pitt at this time had a strong desire to compel Russia to
restore Otchakof to the Turks, but not being supported by
the nation, this point was conceded. When the French
revolution took place, the empress finding Prussia and
Austria engaged in opposing it by force of arms, turned
her attention to Poland, marched an army thither, overturned the new constitution the Poles had formed, and
finally broke the spirit of the Poles by the dreadful massacre made on the inhabitants of the suburbs of Warsaw by
her general Suvarof: a new division took place of this illfated country, between Russia, Austria, and Prussia, and
afforded precedents for other divisions which the two latter
powers little suspected.
f from the German, and printed at Petersburg, 1769, but not for sale. It was afterwards reprinted in French, Latin, German, and Husse, at Petersburg!), 1770, 4to. She wrote
Misled by an extravagant confidence in her own abilities,
she was desirous of emulating the literary talents of Frederic of Prussia, at one time the first royal author in Europe.
With this view she wrote her celebrated “Instructions for
a Code of Laws,
” which she translated herself from the
German, and printed at Petersburg, 1769, but not for sale.
It was afterwards reprinted in French, Latin, German, and
Husse, at Petersburg!), 1770, 4to. She wrote also several
moral tales and allegories, for the education of her grandchildren; and a number of dramatic pieces and proverbs,
which were acted and admired at the Hermitage, and published under the title of “The Theatre of the Hermitage,
”
2 vols. 8vo. She likewise had a -design of collecting a
number of words from 300 different languages, and forming them into a dictionary, but this was never executed.
<>t all her writings, her letters to Voltaire are certainly
the best. Catherine was neither fond of poetry nor of
music; and she often confessed it. She could not even
endure the noise of the orchestra between the acts of a
play, and therefore commonly silenced it. At her Tauridan palace she constantly dined with the two pictures of
the sacking of Otchakof and Ismail before her eyes, in
which Cazanova has represented, with hideous accuracy,
the blood flowing in streams, the limbs torn from the
bodies, and still palpitating, the demoniac fury of the
slaughterers, and the convulsive agonies of the slaughtered.
It was upon these scenes of horror that her attention and
imagination were fixed, while Gasparini and Mandini were
displaying their vocal powers, or Sarti was conducting a
concert in her presence.
carce. Johndu Pins wrote the life of St. Catherine in Latin, Bologna, 1505, 4to; there is another in French by P. de Rechac, Paris, 1647, 12mo.
, of Sienna, was born in that city in
1347, and having vowed virginity at eight years old, she
took the Dominican habit some time after, and became
eminent for her genius, charity, zeal, and writings. Going to Avignon, in order to reconcile the Florentines with
Gregory XI. who had excommunicated them, she pressed that
pope so much, by her discourses and solicitations, that she
engaged him to quit France and go to Rome in 1377, where
he again fixed the pontifical seat, seventy years after Clement V. had removed it to France. She died 1380, aged
33, and was canonized by Pius II. 1461. Various “Letters
” in Italian are ascribed to her, which were printed at
Venice, 1500, fol. “Italian poems,
” Sienna,
valour has met with its deserts!” The war breaking out again in 1701, he was put at the head of the French army in Italy against prince Eugene, who commanded that of the
, one of the ablest generals under Louis XIV. the son of the dean of the counsellors of
parliament, was born at Paris, Sept. 1, 1637, and began
his career at the bar; but having lost a cause that had
justice on its side, he renounced the profession for that of
arms. He first served in the cavalry, where he never
omitted an opportunity of distinguishing himself. In 1667,
in the presence of Louis XIV. at the attack on the counterscarpe of Lisle, he performed an action so honourable
both to his judgment and his courage, that it procured
him a lieutenantcy in the regiment of guards. Gradually
rising to the first dignities in the army, he signalized himself at Maestricht, at Besangon, at Senef, at Cambray, at
Valenciennes, at St. Omer’s, at Ghent, and at Ypres.
The great Comic“set a proper value on his merit, and
wrote to him, after the hattle of Senef, where Catinat had
been wounded:
” No one takes a greater interest in your
wound than I do; there are so few men like you, that in
losing you our loss would be too great.' 7 Having attained
to the rank of lieutenant-general, in 1688, he beat the
duke of Savoy at Staffarde and at the Marsaille, made himself master of all Savoy and a part of Piedmont; marched
from Italy to Flanders, besieged and took the fortress of
Ath in 1697. He had been marechal of France from 1693,
and the king, reading the list of the marechals in his cabinet, exclaimed, on coming to his name: “Here valour has
met with its deserts!
” The war breaking out again in
If Villeroi has the command,
” said Eugene, “I shall beat him; if
Vendome be appointed, we shall have a stout struggle; if
it be Catinat, 1 shall be beaten.
” The bad state of the
army, the want of money for its subsistence, the little harmony there was between him and the duke of Savoy,
whose sincerity he suspected, prevented him from fulfilling
the prediction of prince Eugene. He was wounded in the
atfair of Chiari, and forced to retreat as far as behind the
Oglio. This retreat, occasioned by the prohibition he had
received from the court to oppose the passage of prince
Eugene, was the source of his subsequent mistakes and misfortunes. Catinat, notwithstanding his victories and his
negociations, was obliged to serve under Villeroi; and the
last disciple of Turenne and Conde was no longer allowed
to act but as second in command.' He bore this injustice
like a man superior to fortune. “I strive to forget my
misfortunes,
” he says in a letter to one of his friends,
“that my mind may be more at ease in executing the
orders of the marechal de Villeroi.
” In 1705 the king
named him to be a chevalier; but he refused the honour
intended him. His family testifying their displeasure at
this procedure, “Well, then,
” said he to his relations,
“strike me out of your genealogy
” He increased as little
as possible the crowd of courtiers. Louis XIV. once asking him why he was never seen at Marli; and whether it
was some business that prevented his coming? “None at
all,
” returned the marechal; “but the court is very numerous, and I keep away in order to let others have room
to pay their respects to you.
” He died at his estate of St.
Gratian, Feb. 25, 1712, at the age of 74, with the same
sedateness of mind that had accompanied him through life.
Numberless anecdotes are related of him, which shew that
this calmness of temper never forsook him. After an ineffectual attack at the unfortunate affair of Chiari, rallying
his troops, an officer said to him: “Whither would you
have us to go? to death?
” “It is true,
” replied Catinat,
“death is before us; but shame is behind.
” He had
qualities yet more estimable than bravery. He was humane and modest. The part of his labours most interesting
to humanity, was a regular correspondence with marechal
Vauban, on the administration of the revenues of the various countries which they had visited during their military
expeditions. They did not seek for means of increasing
the revenues of their sovereign beyond measure; but they
endeavoured to find the most equitable repartition of the
taxes, and the cheapest way of collecting them. Catinat,
on account of his cautiousness and judgment, was, by the
soldiers under his command, significantly called Pere la
Pensee, “Father Thought,
” a sirname which he appears
to have deserved in his peaceable retreat, not less than in
his military expeditions.
entrusted with the management of several political affairs, and when peace was concluded between the French and Spaniards, he retired to Padua, and passed the rest of his
, an Italian writer of
considerable fame, was born at Florence in 1503. After
being educated in polite literature, he left his country
when very young, and went to Rome, where he got into employment under pope Paul III. and his grandson Octavius
Farnese. He also served under Henry II. in the war of the
Siennese, as long as that republic was able to maintain the
conflict with assistance from France. He appears also
to have been entrusted with the management of several
political affairs, and when peace was concluded between
the French and Spaniards, he retired to Padua, and passed
the rest of his days in literary pursuits. He died there
Dec. 9, 1562. His principal works were his Rhetoric,
“liettorica,
” Venice, 1559, and often reprinted, and his
essay on the best forms of republics, “Trattati sopra gli
ottirni reggimenti dellaRepubliche antiche e moderne,
” Venice, Castrametation
” of Polybius, which was published
with some other military treatises, at Florence, 1552, 8vo.
. Montague in his embassy to France. Being accidentally at the opera in Paris, three officers of the French king’s guard, intoxicated with liquor, came upon the stage,
, the first duke of Devonshire, was born Jan. 25, 1640. He made the tour of Europe, under the care of Dr. Killigrew, afterwards master of the Savoy. In 1661 he was chosen to represent the county of Derby, and continued a member of the long parliament till its dissolution. Sept. 21, 1663, he was created M. A. of the university of Oxford, by the special command of the chancellor. In 1665 he went a volunteer on board the fleet under the duke of York, and in 1669 accompanied Mr. Montague in his embassy to France. Being accidentally at the opera in Paris, three officers of the French king’s guard, intoxicated with liquor, came upon the stage, and one of them coming up to him with a very insulting question, he gave him a severe blow on the face; upon which they all drew, and pushed hard upon him. He set his back against one of the scenrs, and made a stout defence, receiving several wounds; till a sturdy Swiss, belonging to the ambassador Montague, caught him up in his arms, and threw him over the stage into the pit. In his fall one of his arms caught upon an iron spike, which tore out the flesh. The three assailants were, by the king’s command, sent to prison, and not released but by his intercession. In 1677 he distinguished himself in the house of commons, by a vigorous opposition to the measures of the court. The year following he assiduously promoted an inquiry into the murder of sir Edmundbury Godfrey, and other particulars of the popish plot; and was one of the committee appointed to draw up articles of impeachment against the treasurer Dan by. In the parliament which met in the spring of 1679, he again represented Derby. This year he was chosen one of the king’s new privy-council: but soon finding that his attendance at the board would be wholly ineffectual, he, in conjunction with lord Russel and others, desired leave to withdraw. The county of Derby again elected him their representative in that parliament which met Oct. 21, 1680. The articles of impeachment against the chief justice Scroggs, for his arbitrary and illegal proceedings in the court of king’s bench, were carried up by him to the house of lords. When the king declared his resolution not to consent to a bill of exclusion, lord Cavendish made a motion, that a bill might be brought in for the association of all his majesty’s protestant subjects. He was also one of those who openly named the evil counsellors, and promoted the address to his majesty to remove them from all offices, and from his majesty’s councils and presence for ever. He shewed the same steadiness and zeal in the next parliament, in which also he represented Derbyshire. When parliaments were kid aside, though he was as obnoxious to the court as any, he was not afraid of meeting and conversing with his noble friends; but he condemned a bold overture which was made at one of those meetings, and declared, with great earnestness, that he would never more go with them. At the lord Russel’s trial, when it was almost as criminal to be a witness for him as to be his accomplice, he dared to appear to vindicate him in the face of the court. He afterwards sent him a message by sir James Forbes, that he would come and change clothes with him in the prison, and stay there to represent him, if he thought he could make his escape, but lord Russei was too generous to accept of this proposal. He prosecuted the immediate murderers of his friend Mr. Thynne to condign punishment, and brought the great abettor of it, count Koningsmark, to his trial, who happened to be acquitted by a jury prepossessed, or rather prepared, in favour of him. Lord Cavendish felt great indignation at the discharge of the count, which he thought owing to corruption; and knowing that an appeal to single combat was anciently the last resort in law for convicting a murderer, he obtained the favour of a noble peer to go in his name to count Koningsmark to charge the guilt of blood upon him, and to offer to prove it in the open field; but this method of trial the count thought fit to decline. In Nov. 1684 he became, by the decease of his father, earl of Devonshire. In the reisrn of James he was the same man in greater honour, and in greater zeal and concern for his country. He had been very much affronted within the verge of the court by colonel Culpepper; but restrained his resentment at the time, and pardoned him upon condition he should never more appear at Whitehall, but when, immediately after the defeat of the duke of Mon mouth, the colonel was encouraged to come publicly to court, and was rising to some degree of favour, the earl of Devonshire meeting him in the king’s presencechamber, and receiving from him, as he thought, an insulting look, took him by the nose, led him out of the room, and gave him some di>dainful blows with the head of his cane. For this bold act he v\as prosecuted in the king’s-bench upon an information, and had an exorbitant fine of 30,000l. imposed upon him; and, though a peer, was committed to the king’s-bench prison till he should make payment of it. He was never able to bear any confinement he could break from; and therefore escaped. only to go home to his scat at Chatsworth. Upon the news of his being there, the sheriff of Derbyshire had a precept to apprehend him, and bring him with his posse to town. But he invited the sheriff in, and kept him a, prisoner of honour, till he had compounded for his own liberty, by giving bond to pay the full sum of 3O,000l. This bond was found among the papers of king James, and given up by king William.
e dresser les Chevaux,” &c. Antwerp, 1658, fol. It was first written in English, and translated into French by a Walloon. 2 “A new method and extraordinary invention, to
His grace’s works are, 1. “La methode nouvelle de
dresser les Chevaux,
” &c. Antwerp, A new method and extraordinary invention,
to dress Horses, and work them according to nature; as
also to perfect nature by the subtlety of art,
” Lond. neither a
translation of the first, nor an absolute necessary addition
to it; and may be of use without the other, as the other
hath been hitherto, and still is, without this: but both together will, questionless, do best.
” His other works are
plays, 1. “The Exile.
” 2. “The Country Captain,
” Antwerp, Variety,
” The Humourous Lovers,
” The Triumphant Widow,
” Royal and Noble Authors.
”
upon herself the education of her daughters, and instructed them in needlework, dancing, music, the French tongue, and other things that were proper for women of fashion.
, duchess of Newcastle, and second wife of the preceding, was born at St. John’s, near Colchester in Essex, about the latter end of the reign of James I. Her father, of whom she was the youngest daughter, was sir Charles Lucas, a gentleman of a very ancient and honourable family, and who was himself a man of great spirit and fortune. Dying young, he left the care of his children to his widow, a lady of exquisite beauty and admirable accomplishments, who took upon herself the education of her daughters, and instructed them in needlework, dancing, music, the French tongue, and other things that were proper for women of fashion. As, however, she had from her infancy an inclination for literature, and spent much of her time in study and writing, her biographers have lamented that she had not the advantage of an acquaintance with the learned languages, which might have improved her judgment, and have been of infinite service to her in the numerous productions of her pen. In 1643 she obtained permission from her mother to go to Oxford, where the court then resided, and where she could not fail of meeting with a favourable reception, on account of the distinguished loyalty of her family, as well as of her own accomplishments. Accordingly, she was appointed one of the maids of honour to Henrietta Maria, the royal consort of Charles I.; and in that capacity accompanied her majesty to France, when the queen was obliged by the civil war to quit England. At Paris Miss Lucas first saw the marquis of Newcastle, then a widower, who admiring her person, disposition, and ingenuity, was married to her at that place, in 1645. The marquis had heard of the lady’s character before he met with her in France; for having been a friend and patron of her gallant brother lord Lucas, he took occasion one day to ask his lordship in what respect he could promote his interest. To this his lordship replied, that he was not solicitous about his own affairs, as being prepared to suffer either exile or death in the royal cause; but that he was chiefly concerned for his sister, on whom he could bestow no fortune, and whose beauty exposed her to danger. At the same time, he represented her other amiable qualities in so striking a light, as raised the marquis’s curiosity to see her. After their marriage, the marquis and marchioness of Newcastle went from Paris to Rotterdam, where they resided six months, and from that to Antwerp, which they fixed upon as the place of their residence during the time of their exile. In this city they enjoyed as quiet and pleasant a retirement as their ruined fortunes would permit. Though the marquis had much respect paid him by all men, as well foreigners as those of his own country, he principally confined himself to the society of his lady, who, both by her writings and her conversation, proved a most agreeable companion to him during his melancholy recess. The exigency of their affairs obliged the marchioness once to come over to England. Her view was to obtain some of the marquis’s rents, in order to supply their pressing necessities, and pay the debts they had contracted; but she could not procure a grant from the rulers of those times, to receive one penny out of her noble husband’s vast inheritance: and had it not been for the seasonable generosity of sir Charles Cavendish, she and her lord must have been exposed to extreme poverty. At length, however, having obtained a considerable sum from her own and the marquis’s relations, she returned to Antwerp, where she continued with him till the restoration, and employed herself in writing several of her works.
, a French Jesuit, and confessor to Lewis XIII. was born at Troyes, in
, a French Jesuit, and confessor to Lewis XIII. was born at Troyes, in Champagne, in 1580, and entered into the order of Jesuits when he was twentysix years of age. He taught rhetoric in several of their colleges; and afterwards began to preach, by which he gained very great reputation, and increased it not a little by his publications. At length he was preferred to bje confessor to the king; but, although pious and conscientious, did not discharge this office to the satisfaction of cardinal Richelieu, and the cardinal used every effort to get him removed. A little before his death, he is said to have delivered into the hands of a friend some original letters; from short extracts of which, since published, it appears that he "fell into disgrace because he would not reveal some things which he knew by the king’s confession; nor even take advice of his superiors how he was to behave himself in the direction of the king’s conscience, when he could not do it without breaking through the laws of confession. There are also some hints in the same extracts, which shew that he did not approve Lewis the Thirteenth’s conduct towards the queen his mother; and there is a probability that he caballed to get Richelieu removed. If we may believe the abbe Siri in his memoirs, this Jesuit, in his private conversations with the king, insisted upon the cardinal’s removal, for the four following reasons: 1. Because Mary de Meclicis, the queen-mother, was banished. 2. Because he left Lewis only the empty name of king. 3. Because he oppressed the nation. 4. Because he powerfully assisted the Protestants to the prejudice of the Catholic church. According to this author, he even engaged to maintain these four articles against the cardinal in the king’s presence; and he offered the cardinal’s place to the duke of Angouleme. This plot was the occasion of his disgrace, according to the abbe* Siri. Others have asserted, that the queen-mother obliged him to leave Paris, to gratify cardinal Mazarine, whom he had displeased; and that his disgrace was occasioned by his Latin piece concerning the kingdom and bouse of God, published in 1650, in which be had freely spoken of the qualities with which princes ought to be adorned. It is certain, however, that he was deprived of his employment, and banished to a city of Lower Britanny. He got leave to return to Paris aftr the cardinal’s death, and died there in the convent oi the Jesuits, July 1651.
alian, Spanish, Portugueze, German, and English. He published several other books, both in Latin and French particularly, 1. “De Kloquentia sacra et humana,” 1619, 4to,
None of his works did him more honour in his day, than
that which he entitled “La cour sainte,
” or “The holy court,
”
a moral work, illustrated by stories well known once to the
readers of old folios in this country. It has been often reprinted and translated into Latin, Italian, Spanish, Portugueze, German, and English. He published several other
books, both in Latin and French particularly, 1. “De Kloquentia sacra et humana,
” Klectorum Symbolorum et Parabolarum historicarum Syntagmata,
” Disputes
sur les quatre livres des Hois, touchant l'Education des
Princes,
” fol. 4. “Tragedise Sacra,
” Apologie pour les Religieux de la Compagnie de Jesus,
” La Vie neutre des Filles devotes,
” &c. 1G44-.
7. “Symbolica ^gyptiorum Sapientia,
” Christian Diary
” was printed in English, Father,
you have here an attendant, who, if I am not mistaken,
will become in time one of the greatest ornaments in your
society.
”
n uncommon acquaintance with the oriental languages, the Saxon, high and low Dutch, and the Italian, French, and Spanish. His religious principles he imbibed from Drs.
, a puritan clergyman of the church
of England, exiled for his loyalty during the rebellion, was
born at Rainham in Norfolk in 1605, of parents who were
not in circumstances to give him an education suited to his
capacity and their wishes, but were so much respected as
to procure the patronage of sir Roger Townsend, knt. who
not only sent him to school, but took the pains to assist
him in his tasks, particularly in the Greek. By the same
interest he was sent to Cambridge, and entered of Queen’s
college, and made a distinguished figure, not only in the
usual studies preparatory to the ministry, but in that of the
languages, acquiring an uncommon acquaintance with the
oriental languages, the Saxon, high and low Dutch, and
the Italian, French, and Spanish. His religious principles
he imbibed from Drs. Preston and Sibbs, and Mr. Herbert
Palmer, puritans of great reputation at that time. After
taking orders, he resided for four years in the house of sir
William Armine of Orton in Huntingdonshire; and his old
patron sir Roger Townscncl, just before his death in r
presented him to the living of \V ivcnhoc in Essex. Alter
he had been on this living about seven years, a violent and
long continued tit of ague rendered it necessary to try
a change of air, and in compliance with the advice of his
physicians, he removed to London, where, by the interest
of sir Ilai bottle Grirnston, he was promoted to the valuable
rectory of St. Bartholomew, Exchange. He had not been
here above five years when Charles I. was put to death. A
few weeks after, Mr. Gawton was called upon to preach
before the lord mayor and aldermen of London, at Mercers’
chapel, when he delivered himself in such plain terms
against the hypocrisy of the predominant powers, that he
was first sent for to Westminster, and then committed to the
Gatehouse. This served only to raise his character among
the loyal presbyterians, who, when Charles II. had thoughts
of entering England, and asserting his right, intrusted him,
with Mr. Christopher Love, and some other worthy persons,
with the money raised by them for his majesty’s service,
for which Mr. Love was imprisoned, and afterwards executed. Mr. Cawton then betook himself to a voluntary
exile, and retiring to Rotterdam, became minister of the
English church there, and died Ang. 7, 1659. His son,
th.e subject of our next article, took care to preserve a just
account of his merits and sufferings by writing “The Life
nnd Death of that holy and reverend man of God Mr.
Thomas Cawton, some time minister of St. Bartholomew,
”
&c. To which is added, his father’s Sermon, entitled
“God’s Rule for a godly Life, from Philippians i. 27.
”
which is the sermon for the preaching of which he was imprisoned, London, 1662, 8vo. This account is an artless
picture of a man who did great honour to his profession,
and was a pattern of virtue in every social relation. His
life is important in another respect, as proving that the
ambition of civil power was as much the cause of the trpu-f
bles of that time, as any want of liberty of conscience in
matters of religion. Cawton knew how to unite the puritan with the loyalist. His biographer informs us that when
he first received the sacrament, he ever afterwards expressed the profoundest reverence, and the most elevated
devotion at that solemnity.
e incorrect in saying that he was employed by the duchess to translate into English Kaoul Le Fevre’s French History of Troy t the fact was, that Caxton had commenced the
Of his pursuits and travels abroad nothing further is
known with certainty, except that in his peregrinations,
he declares that he confined himself “for the most part to
the countries of Brabant, Flanders, Holland, and Zealand
and in France was never.
” It is, however, reasonable
to suppose that he preserved the same respectable character
in foreign countries which he had acquired in his own;
and that, whilst he was indulging his favourite literary passion in the perusal of histories and romances, to which he
seems to have been excited by his friend Bolomyer, canon
of Lausanne, he was placed by his sovereign, or his sister,
the lady Margaret, on the household establishment of the
Jatter, when she came with a splendid retinue to Bruges to
offer her hand to Charles, duke of Burgundy; and Caxton was, without doubt, privy to all the splendid spectacles
and festivities of this marriage. In what rank or Duality he
served the duchess is not known; but the freedom with
which she used Mr. Caxton, in finding fault with his English, and ordering him to correct it, &c. seems to shew
that the place he had in her grace’s family was no mean or
ordinary one. Lewis and Oldys, in Mr. Dibdiu'.s opinion,
are incorrect in saying that he was employed by the duchess to translate into English Kaoul Le Fevre’s French
History of Troy t the fact was, that Caxton had commenced
the translation voluntarily, without her knowledge, and had
proceeded as far as five or six quires when he for some
reason gave it up. About this time, having mentioned to
Jady Margaret the progress he had made, she desired to
see his manuscript, and it was on this occasion that she
found fault with his English, but commanded him at the
same time to finish the translation, and amply rewarded
him on the completion of it. From the prologues and epilogues of this work we learn several particulars of the
author, as that, at the time of finishing the performance,
iiis eyes “were dimmed with over-much looking on the
white paper; that his courage was not so prone and ready
to labour as it had been; and that age was creeping on him
daily, and enfeebling all his body: that he had practised
and learnt, at his great charge and expense, to ordain this
said book in print, after the manner and form as v.e there
see it: and that it was not written with pen and ink as
other books be.
” Hence we discover that he was now adyanced in years, and that he had learnt to exercise the
art of printing, but by what steps he had acquired this
knowledge his biographers have not been able to discover.
It appears, as already noticed, that the original of Ilaonl’s
Trojan History was the first book Caxton printed: “The
Oration of John llussel on Charles duke of Burgundy being
created a Knight of the Garter,
” was the second, and
Caxton’s translation of Raoul, the third; and this third
was most probably printed in 1471. That he was particularly curious to know, and inquisitive after, the invention
of printing, can scarcely be doubted, but his inquiries as
well as his experience seem to have been con lined to such
specimens as the presses of the Low Countries produced,
and he does not appear to have seen any of the beautiful
productions of the Roman, Venetian, and Parisian presses
before he caused his own fount of letters to be cut. The
types used by Caxion in the French and English editions
of Raoul Le Fevre’s history, as well as those in the “Game
of Chess,
” resemble, in character and form, rather than in
size, the types of Ulric Zel and other printers in the Low
Countries. Nor is it at all improbable that Caxton consulted Zel and Olpe, the earliest typographical artists in
the city of Cologne, about the formation of his own letters, as those able men are supposed to have learnt the
art of printing in the office of Gutenberg and Fust. Colard Mansion, a printer at Bruges, might also have assisted him in the necessary materials for his office.
tion of the “Vitas Patrum,” 1495, it appears that these lives of the fathers were “translated out of French into English by William Caxton, of Westminster, late dead,”
There is no account whatever of the typographical labours of Caxton from the year 1471 to 1474; although it is
extremely probable that a curious and active mind like his,
just engaged in the exercise of a newly-discovered and important art, would have turned its attention to a variety of
objects for publication. Of the exact period of his return
to his native country no information has yet been obtained,
and what Oldys and Lewis have advanced on this subject
amounts to mere conjecture: still less credit is to be given
to the fabricated story of Henry VI. paving sent a person
to Holland who brought si way Frederick Corsellis, a vorkxnan, and that Caxton had a hand in this seduction. All
that is certainly known is, that previously to the year
1477, Caxton, after printing there the three works nentioncd, had quitted the Low Countries, and taken up his
residence in the vicinity of Westminster-abbey, vhen
Thomas Milling, bishop of Hereford, held the abbctship
of St. Peter’s in commendam; and he had no doubt brought
over with him all the necessary implements and materials
of his trade. The particular spot where Caxton first sxercised his business, if we may credit Stowe, was an old
chapel about the entrance of the abbey, and Oldys, somewhat whimsically, concludes that the name of chapel, which
is sometimes given to a printing room, is derived from this
circumstance; but what is called a chapel, in a printing-office, is not a building, but a convocation of journeymenprinters, to inquire into and punish certain faults in each
other. Where the place occurs in any of Caxton’s publications, Westminster is mentioned generally, but the
greater number of the productions of his press specify only
the. date of their execution. According to Bagford, Caxton’s ofHce was afterwards removed into King-street, but
whereabouts is not known; and we have yet to regret, as of
more importance, that the precise period of his first essay
in the art of printing is a matter of conjecture. Mr, Dibdin
has summed up the evidence with precision and judgment;
and to his valuahle work we must refer the reader, as well
as for a chronological detail of the works which issued from
the Caxton press. Exclusive of the labours attached to
the working of Caxton’s press, as a new art, he contrived,
though “well stricken in years,
” to translate no fewer
than 5000 closely printed folio pages; and, as Oldys expivsses it, “kept preparing copy for the press to the very
last.
” From the evidence of Wynkyn de Worde, in the
colophon of his edition of the “Vitas Patrum,
” translated
out of French into English by William Caxton, of Westminster, late dead,
” and that he finished it “at the last
day of his life.
” He might have chosen this work as his
final literary effort, from a consideration, according to
Oldys, that “from the examples of quiet and solemn retirement therein set forth, it might farther serve to wean
his mind from all worldly attachments, exalt it above the
solicitudes of this life, and inure him to that repose and
tranquillity with which he seems to have designed it.
”
emely creditable to him; for he was, in all probability, a complete master of the Dutch, German, and French, and considering his long absence from England (in the prime
The erudition of Caxton appears to be deserving of better treatment than Bale and others have bestowed upon it.
That he had a far greater claim to intellectual reputation than
that of possessing the mere negative excellence of “not
being downright stupid or slothful,
” (Bale’s words,) must
be allowed by the most fastidious reader of his numerous
prologues and translations. That he was not a poet, however, must be conceded, for nothing can be more barbarous than the couplets for which he has been admitted, by
Ritson, into the list of English poets. At the same time,
whoever reads his criticism upon Chaucer, must not only allow that he was a better judge, than writer, of poetry; but
that it will be difficult to find a criticism upon our venerable bard, in the whole compass of our language, which is
more sober and just; more clearly and forcibly expressed.
As to Caxton’s knowledge of languages, that seems to
have been extremely creditable to him; for he was, in all
probability, a complete master of the Dutch, German, and
French, and considering his long absence from England
(in the prime of his life), he wrote his own language with
fluency, simplicity, and occasional melody and force.
Mr. Warton observes, by translating, or procuring to be translated, a great number of books from the French, greatly contributed to promote the state of literature in England.
Caxton, Mr. Warton observes, by translating, or procuring to be translated, a great number of books from the
French, greatly contributed to promote the state of literature in England. It was only in this way that he could
introduce his countrymen to the knowledge of many valuable publications, at a time when an acquaintance with the
learned languages was confined to a few ecclesiastics.
Ancient learning had as yet made too little progress among
us, to encoumge him to publish the Roman authors in
their original tongue. Indeud, had not the French furnished Caxton with materials, it is not probable, that
Virgil, Ovid, Cicero, and many other good writers, vtoukl
by the means of his press have been circulated in the
English language, so early as the close of the fifteenth
century. It is remarkable, that from the time in which
Caxton began ta print, down to the year 1540, during which
period the English press flourished greatly under the conduct of many indnstrious, ingenious, and even learned
artists, only a few classics, some of which scarcely deserve
that name, were printed in England. The university of
Oxford, during this period, produced only the first book
of “Tully’s Epistles,
” at the expence of cardinal Wolsey,
without date or printer’s name. The university of Cainbridge cannot boast, during the term specified, the honour
Of having printed a single classic. No Greek book, of any
kind, had hitherto appeared from an English press. It is
believed, that the first Greek characters used in any work
printed in England, are in Linacet’s translation of “Galen
de Temperamentis,
” printed at Cambridge in 15LM. In.
this book a few Greek words, and abbreviatures, are here
and there introduced. In the same author’s treatise, “De
emendata Structura Latini Sermonis,
” printed by Pinson
in Oratio de Laudibus &
Utilitate trium Linguarum Arabicae, Chaldaicse, & Hebraicae;
” but he was obliged to omit his whole third part,
because the printer, who was Wynkyn de Worde, had no
Hebrew types. There are, however, some few Hebrew
and Arabic characters introduced; but they are extremely
rude, and evidently cut in wood. They are the first of
the sort used in England. It was a circumstance favourable at least to English literature, that the illiteracy of the
times obliged our first printers to employ themselves so
little on books written in the learned languages. Most of
the works printed by Caxton and his immediate successors
were English. The multiplication of English copies multiplied English readers, and these again produced new
vernacular writers; the existence of a press inducing many
persons to turn authors, who were only qualified to write
in their native tongue.
ime in another enterprize, still more honourable for the Roman grandeur, and more interesting to the French nation. In, the last age, Des Godetz, under the auspices of
Count de Caylus was engaged at the same time in another enterprize, still more honourable for the Roman grandeur, and more interesting to the French nation. In, the last age, Des Godetz, under the auspices of Colbert, published the Antiquities of Rome. The work was admired by all Europe, and gave birth to that indefatigable emulation which carried able and ingenious travellers to Spalatra, Balbec, and even to the burning sands of Palmyra, in order to visit the famous ruins of so many magnificent buildings, and to present them to our view. It is this that has made us spectators of the monuments of Athens, that mother of learning, of arts, and sciences; where, in spite of the injuries of time and barbarism, so many illustrious sculptors and architects still live in the ruins of their edifices, in like manner as so many incomparable authors still breathe in the valuable fragments of their writings. The same Colbert had framed the design of engraving the Roman antiquities that are still to be seen in the southern provinces c c France. By his orders, Mignard, the architect, had made drawings of them, which count de Caylus had the good fortune to recover. He resolved to finish the work projected by Colbert, and to dedicate it to that great minister; and so much had he this glorious enterprize at heart, that he was employed in it during his last illness, and recommended it warmly to M. Mariette, by whom it was in part executed.
Some Spanish ships, having great treasure on board, put into the English ports to secure it from the French, and afterwards landed it, the queen’s officers assisting, and
Some Spanish ships, having great treasure on board,
put into the English ports to secure it from the French,
and afterwards landed it, the queen’s officers assisting, and
the Spanish ambassador solemnly affirming it was his master’s money, and that he was sending it into the Netherlands for the pay of his army. The secretary, in the mean
time, received advice that this was not true, and that it
was the money of some Genoese bankers, who were in the
greatest terror lest the duke of Alva should convert the
same to his master’s use, in order to carry on some great
design, which the court of Spain kept as an impenetrable
secret. Cecil therefore advised the queen to take the
money herself, and give the Genoese security for it, by
which she would greatly advantage her own affairs, distress
the Spaniards, relieve the Netherlands, and wrong nobody.
The queen took his advice, and when upon this the duke
of Alva seized the effects of the English in the Netherlands,
she made reprisals, and out of them immediately indemnified her own merchants. The Spanish ambassador at London behaved with great violence upon this occasion, giving
secretary Cecil ill language at the council-table, and libelling the queen, by appealing to the people against
their sovereign’s administration. This produced a great
deal of disturbance, and Leicester and his party took care
to have it published every where, that Cecil was the sole
author of this counsel. While things were in this ferment,
Leicester held a private consultation with the lords he had
drawn to his interest, wherein he proposed that they should
take this occasion of removing a man whom they unanimously bated. Some of the lords inquiring how this could
be 4one? sir Nicholas Throgmorton answered, “Let him
be charged with some matter or other in council when the
queen is not present, commit him to the Tower thereupon,
and when he is once in prison we shall find things enow
against him.
” It so happened, that about this time a flagrant libel being published against the nobility, lord Leicester caused Cecil to be charged before the council,
either with being the author of it, or it’s patron; of which
he offered no other proof than that it had been seen on
Cecil’s table. This the secretary readily confessed, but
insisted that he looked upon it in the same light they
did, as a most scandalous invective; in support of which
he produced his own copy with notes on the margin, affirming that he had caused a strict inquiry to be made
after the author and publisher of the work. All this, however, would have been but of little use to him, if the
queen had not had private notice of their design. While
therefore the secretary was defending himself, she suddenly and unexpectedly entered the council-room, and
having in few words expressed her dislike of such cabals,
preserved her minister, and shewed even Leicester himself
that he could not be overthrown. The affair of the duke
of Norfolk’s ruin followed, not long after he had been
embarked in the faction against Cecil; and therefore we
find this minister sometimes charged, though very unjustly, with being the author of his misfortunes, a calumny
from which he vindicated himself with candour, clearness,
and vivacity, as equally abhorring the thoughts of revenge,
and hazarding the public safety to facilitate his private
advantage. Cecil, indeed, had no greater share in the
duke’s misfortune, than was necessarily imposed upon him
by his office of secretary, and which consequently it was
not in his power to avoid; to which we may add, that the
duke himself was in some measure accessary thereto, by
acting under the delusive influence of his capital enemy as
well as Cecil’s. The duke’s infatuated conduct, after
having once received a pardon, rendered his practices too
dangerous to be again forgiven. It cannot be doubted that
this great nobleman was the tool of the views of the catholic party: and there is reason to believe that the previous design of ruining Cecil was to get rid of him before
this plan was ripe, from a just fear of his penetration, and
his power to defeat it. Cecil’s fidelity was followed by
much, public and some severe private revenge. His sonin-law, lord Oxford, put his threat into execution of
ruining his daughter, by forsaking her bed, and wasting the
fortune of her posterity, if the duke’s life was not spared.
d, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth,” lord Orford mentions “La Complainte de PAme pecheresse,” in French verse, extant in the king’s library; “Car mina duo Latina in
Besides these lesser failings of this great man, he has
been accused of illiberality to the poet Spenser, which
perhaps may be attributed to his dislike of Leicester, under
whose patronage Spenser had come forward, but perhaps
more to his want of relish for poetry. On the other hand,
our historians are generally agreed in their praises of his
high character. Smollett only has endeavoured to lessen
it, but as this is coupled with a disregard for historical
truth, the attempt is entitled to little regard, and the advocates for Mary queen of Scots cannot be supposed to
forgive the share he had in her fate. Lord Orford has
given lord Burleigh a place among his “Royal and Noble
Authors,
” but at the same time justly observes, that he is one
of those great names, better known in the annals of his country than in those of the republic of letters. Besides lord
Burleigh’s answer to a Latin libel published abroad, which
he entitled “Slanders and Lies,
” and “A Meditation of
the State of England, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth,
”
lord Orford mentions “La Complainte de PAme pecheresse,
” in French verse, extant in the king’s library; “Car
mina duo Latina in Obitum Margaretae Nevillee, Reginoe
Catherine a Cubiculis;
” “Carmen Latinum in Memoriain
Tho. Challoneri Equitis aurati, prsefixum ejusdem Libro de
restaurata Republica;
” “A Preface to Queen Catherine
Parr’s Lamentation of a Sinner.
” When sir William Cecil
accompanied the duke of Somerset on his expedition to
Scotland, he furnished materials for an account of that
war, which was published by William Patten, under the
title of “Diarium Expeditions Scoticae,
” London, The first paper or memorial of sir William Cecil \
anno primo Eliz.
” This, which is only a paper of memorandums, is printed in Somers’s tracts, from a manuscript
in the Cotton library. “A Speech in Parliament, 1592.
”
This was first published by Strype in his Annals, and has
since been inserted in the Parliamentary History. “Lord
Burleigh’s Precepts, or directions for the well-ordering and
carriage of a man’s life,
” A Meditation on the
Death of his Lady.
” Mr. Ballard, in his Memoirs of British Ladies, has printed this Meditation from an original
formerly in the possession of James West, esq. but now in
the British Museum. Lord Burleigh was supposed to be
the author of a thin pamphlet, in defence of the punishments inflicted on the Roman catholics in the reign of
queen Elizabeth: it is called “The Execution of Justice
in England, for maintenance of public and Christian peace,
against certain stirrers of sedition, and adherents to the
traitors and enemies of the realm, without any persecution
of them for questions of religion, as it is falsely reported,
&c.
” London, Leicester’s Commonwealth,
” It was asserted, that
the hints, at least, were furnished by him for that
composition. But no proof has been given of this assertion,
and it was not founded on any degree of probability. His
lordship drew up also a number of pedigrees, some of
which are preserved in the archbishop of Canterbury’s
library at Lambeth. These contain the genealogies of the
kings of England, from William the Conqueror to Edward
the Fourth; of queen Anne Boleyn; and of several princely
houses in Germany.
, a voluminous French biographer, was born at Bar-le-duc in 1688, and was soon noted
, a voluminous French biographer,
was born at Bar-le-duc in 1688, and was soon noted for
learning and piety. He attached himself to the congregation of the Benedictines of St. Vanne and St. Hidulphe,
and after he took the habit of that order, was intrusted
with various business belonging to it, and became titular
prior of Flavigni. He died in 1761. He published “Histoire generale des auteurs sacres et ecclesiastiques,
” Apologie de la Moraledes Peres
contre Barbeyrac,
”
ther. When set at liberty, after many hardships and difficulties, he entered into the service of the French king, and set out with the cardinal of Ferrara for Paris: where
, a celebrated sculptor and engraver of Florence, was born in 1500, and intended to be
trained to music but, at fifteen years of age, bound himself, contrary to his father’s inclinations, apprentice to a
jeweller and goldsmith, under whom he made such a progress, as presently to rival the most skilful in the business.
He had also a turn for other arts: and in particular an
early taste for drawing and designing, which he afterwards
cultivated. Nor did he neglect music, but must have excelled in some degree in it; for, assisting at a concert before
Clement VII. that pope took him into his service, in the
double capacity of goldsmith and musician. He applied
himself also to seal-engraving; learned to make curious damaskeenings of steel and silver on Turkish daggers, &c. and
was very ingenious in medals and rings. But Cellini excelled in arms, as well as in arts; and Clement VII. valued him
as much for his bravery as for his skill in his profession.
When the duke of Bourbon laid siege to Rome, and the city
was taken and plundered, the pope committed the castle of
St. Angelo to Cellini; who defended it like a man bred to
arms, and did not suffer it to surrender but by c?.pitulation.
Meanwhile, Cellini was one of those great wits, wh'o
may truly be said to have bordered upon madness; he was
of a desultory, capricious, unequal humour, which involved him perpetually in adventures that often threatened to prove fatal to him. He travelled among the cities
of Italy, but chiefly resided at Rome where he was sometimes in favour with the great, and sometimes out. He
consorted with all the first artists in their several ways, with
Michael Angelo, Julio Romano, &c. Finding himself at
length upon ill terms in Italy, he formed a resolution of
going to France; and, passing from Rome through Florence, Bologna, and Venice, he arrived at Padua, where
he was most kindly received by, and made some stay with,
the famous Pietro Bembo. From Padua he travelled
through Swisserland, visited Geneva in his way to Lyons,
and, after resting a few days in this last city, arrived safe
at Paris. He met with a gracious reception from Francis I.
who would have taken him into his service; but, conceiving a dislike to France from a sudden illness he fell into
there, he returned to Italy. He was scarcely arrived,
when, being accused of having robbed the castle of St.
Angelo of a great treasure at the time that Rome was
sacked by the Spaniards, he was arrested and sent prisoner thither. When set at liberty, after many hardships
and difficulties, he entered into the service of the French
king, and set out with the cardinal of Ferrara for Paris:
where when they arrived, being highly disgusted at the
cardinal’s proposing what he thought an inconsiderable
salary, he abruptly undertook a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
He was, however, pursued and brought back to the king,
who settled a handsome salary upon him, assigned him a
house to work in at Paris, and granted him shortly after a
naturalization. But here, getting as usual into scrapes
and quarrels, and particularly having offended madame
d'Estampes, the king’s mistress, he was exposed to endless
troubles and persecutions; with which at length being
wearied out, he obtained the king’s permission to return
to Italy, and went to Florence; where he was kindly received by Cosmo de Medici, the grand duke, and engaged
himself in his service. Here again, disgusted with some
of the duke’s servants (for he could not accommodate himself to, or agree with, any body), he took a trip to Venice,
where he was greatly caressed by Titian, Sansovino, and
other ingenious artists; but, after a short stay, returned to
Florence, and resumed his business. He died in 1570.
His life was translated into English by Dr. Nugent, and
published in 1771, 2 vols. 8vo, with this title: “The Life
of Benevenuto Cellini, a Florentine artist; containing a
variety of curious and interesting particulars relative to
painting, sculpture, and architecture, and the history of
his own time.
” The original, written in the Tuscan language, lay in manuscript above a century and a half.
Though it was read with the greatest pleasure by the
learned of Italy, no man was hardy enough, during this
long period, to introduce to the world a book, in which
the successors of St. Peter were handled so roughly;
a narrative, where artists and sovereign princes, cardinals and courtezans, ministers of state and mechanics,
are treated with equal impartiality. At length, in 1730,
an enterprising Neapolitan, encouraged by Dr. Antonio
Cocchi, one of the politest scholars in Europe, published
it in one vol. 4to, but it soon was prohibited, and became
scarce. According to his own account, Cellini was at once
a man of pleasure and a slave to superstition; a despiser
of vulgar notions, and a believer in magical incantations;
a fighter of duels, and a composer of divine sonnets; an
ardent lover of truth, and a retailer of visionary fancies;
an admirer of papal power, and a hater of popes; art
offender against the laws, with a strong reliance on divine
providence. Such heterogeneous mixtures, however, generally form an amusing book, and Cellini’s life is amusing and interesting in a very high degree. It must not,
however, be omitted, that Cellini published two treatises
on the subject of his art, “Duo trattati, uno intorno alle
oito principal! arti dell* oreficiera, Paltro in materia dell*
arte della scoltura,
” &c.
, a French botanist, and member of the Institute, was born at Versailles
, a French botanist, and member
of the Institute, was born at Versailles in 1745, and having
been early introduced into the office of one of the farmersgeneral, acquired the once lucrative place of receiver.
Amidst the duties of this office, he found leisure for study,
and became so fond of books, as to attempt a new arrangement of libraries, which he published in 1773, under the
title of “Coup-d‘ceil eclaire d’une grande bibliotheque a
Tusage de tout possesseur de livres,
” 8vo. He became
also partial to the study of botany, and formed an extensive botanical garden, which he enriched by correspondence and exchanges with other horticulturists. When
the revolution took place, he retired to the village of
Montrouge near Paris, and confined himself entirely to
the cultivation and selling of plants. The principal works
on descriptive botany which have appeared in France, as
those of Heretier, Decandolle, Redouté, &c. have been
indebted to his assistance but it is to Ventenat that Gels’
future fame will be due, who published the “Description
des plantes rare du jardin de M. Cels.
” Cels died May
13, 1806.
ccess, and has since been revived at Drury-lane. The plot of this piece “was chiefly borrowed from a French comedy, called” Le Dissipateur." The Prologue was written by
It was at this period of her life that she commenced dramatic author; to which she was probably in some degree
induced by the narrowness of her circumstances. Some of
her earlier pieces were published under the name of Carrol. Her first attempt was in tragedy, in a play called
“The Perjured Husband,
” which was performed at
Drurylane Theatre in The Beau’s Duel, or a
Soldier for the Ladies, a comedy;
” and “Love’s Contrivances,
” which is chiefly a translation from Moliere; and
the following year another comedy, entitled “The Stolen
Heiress, or the Salamanca Doctor outwitted.
” In The Gamester
” was acted at Lincoln’sinn-fields, which met with considerable success, and has
since been revived at Drury-lane. The plot of this piece
“was chiefly borrowed from a French comedy, called
” Le
Dissipateur." The Prologue was written by Mr. Rowe.
ar to have been merely the result of her own application; but she is supposed to have understood the French, Dutch, and Spanish languages, and to have had some knowledge
Mrs. Centlivre enjoyed, for many years, the intimacy
and esteem of some of the most eminent wits of the time,
particularly -ir Richard Steele, Mr. Rowe, Dr. Sewell, and
Mr. Farquhar. P^ustace Budgell was also of the number
of her acquaintance. But she had the misfortune to incur
the displeasure of Mr. Pope, who introduced her into the
Dunciad, for having written a ballad against his Homer.
She died in Spring-garden, Charing-cross, on the first of
December, 1723, and was buried at St. Martin’s in the
Fields. She possessed a considerable share of beauty, was
of a friendly and benevolent disposition, and in conversation was sprightly and entertaining. Her literary acquisitions appear to have been merely the result of her own application; but she is supposed to have understood the
French, Dutch, and Spanish languages, and to have had
some knowledge of the Latin. An extensive acquaintance
with men and manners is exhibited in her dramatic wri
tings; but they are sometimes justly censurable for their
licentiousness. In 1761, her dramatic works were collected to Tether, and printed in three volumes 12 mo. She
was also the author of “several copies of verses on divers
subjects and occasions, and many ingenious letters, entitled, Letters of Wit, Politics, and Morality,
” which were
collected and published by Mr. Boyer.
, a French Jesuit, was born at Paris in 1670, and was early distinguished
, a French Jesuit, was
born at Paris in 1670, and was early distinguished by
spirit, vivacity, and a turn for poetry, which, while he
wrote in Latin, procured him considerable reputation.
This, however, he forfeited by his French verses, in imitation of Marot, in which he mistook burlesque and trifling,
for the familiar and simple. He wrote also some theatrical
pieces of an inferior order but was more successful in his
“Defense de la Poesie Francoise,
” and other dissertations
on the same subject. He wrote also, 1. “L'Histoire de
Thamas Kouli-Kan, sophi de Perse,
” Amsterdam, Histoire de la Conjuration de Rienzi,
”
12mo, which was completed by father Brumoy. 3. A criticism on the abbé Boileau’s “History of the Flagellants.
” He contributed also a great many papers to the Journal de
Trevoux, and was long engaged in a controversy with one
of the authors of the Journal des Savans, occasioned by
two dissertations printed at the end of the second volume
of Sannadon’s Horace, relative to a passage in Horace
concerning the music of the ancients. This produced from
Cerceau some valuable essays on the subject. His Latin
poetry was published in 1696, 12mo, under the title
“Varia de variis argumentis Carmina a multis e societate
Jesu.
” The other authors in this volume are Vaniere and
Tarillon. In 1807, his dramatic pieces were reprinted at
Paris, in 3 vols. 18mo, under the title “Theatre à l'usage
des colleges,
” He died suddenly in
merits of which are so admirably adjusted in the late lord VYoodhouselee’s Essay on Translation. The French have also good translations.
The editions of Don Quixote have been so many as to render it impossible to give a correct list nor of a work so easily accessible, isit, perhaps, necessary. The English public have been long familiarized with it in the translations of Jarvis and Smollett, the comparative merits of which are so admirably adjusted in the late lord VYoodhouselee’s Essay on Translation. The French have also good translations.
Segraisiana,“which seems to have escaped the biographers of Cervantes.” M. du Boulay accompanied the French ambassador to Spain when Cervantes was yet alive. He has told
Mr. D'Israeli, in his“” Curiosities of Literature,“has
published an anecdote from the
” Segraisiana,“which
seems to have escaped the biographers of Cervantes.
” M.
du Boulay accompanied the French ambassador to Spain
when Cervantes was yet alive. He has told me, that the
ambassador one day complimented Cervantes on the great
reputation he had acquired by his Don Quixote; and that
Cervantes whispered in his ear, “Had it not been for the
Inquisition, I should have made my book much more entertaining.
” In what manner he would have done so it
would be useless to conjecture.
, a French poet and miscellaneous writer, was born at Turin in 1738, and
, a French poet
and miscellaneous writer, was born at Turin in 1738, and
after being educated among the Jesuits, joined their order,
and became professor of their college at Lyons. In 1761
he gained two academical prizes at Toulouse and Dijon;
the subject of the one was “Duelling,
” and the other an
answer to the question “Why modern republics have acquired less splendour than the ancient.
” This last, before Cerutti was known as its author, was attributed to
Rousseau. It was printed at the Hague in 1761, 8vo,
and reprinted at Paris in 1791. When the order of the
Jesuits was about to be abolished, Cerutti wrote in their
defence “L'Apologie de Pinstitut des Jesuites,
” Yes, the Alcoran.
” His “Apology,
” however, was much admired, and recommended
him to the Dauphin, who welcomed him to court. Here
he contracted an unhappy and violent passion for a lady
of the first rank, which brought on a tedious illness, from
which the friendship of the duchess of Brancas recovered
him, and in her house at Fleville he found an honourable
asylum for fifteen years. This lady, who appears to have
been somewhat of the romantic kind, as soon as she received him into her house, put a ring on his finger, telling
him that friendship had espoused merit. When the revolution broke out, he came to Paris, and became a zealous
partizan, and was much employed by Mirabeau in drawing
up reports. His Memoir on patriotic contributions procured him a place in the legislative body, but he died in
1792, after which the municipality of Paris honoured him
by giving his name to one of the new streets. Besides
the works already mentioned, he published 1. “L'Aigle
et le hibou,
” an apologue in verse, Glasgow and Paris,
1783, 2. <c Recueil de quelques pieces de literature en
prose et en vers,“ibid. 1784. The best of these is a dissertation on antique monuments, occasioned by some
Greek verses discovered on a tomb at Naples, in 1756.
3.
” Les Jardins de Betz,“a descriptive poem, 1792, 8vo.
4.
” Lettre sur les avantages et l'origine de la gaiete“Francaise,
” Lyons, Combien un esprit trop subtil
ressemble a un esprit faux,
” Les vrais
plaisirs ne sont faits que pour la vertu,
” Pourquoi les arts utiles ne sont-ils pas
cultives preferablement aux arts agreables,
” Sur l'origine et les effets du desir de transmettre son
nom a la posterite,
” Hague, Traduction libre de trois odes d'Horace,
” De Tinteret d'un ouvrage dans le sujet, le plan, et le
style,
” Paris, Feuille. villageoise,
” a paper calculated to spread the
revolutionary delusions among the country people, but his
style was not sufficiently simple and popular. In 1793, a
collection of his works was published in an 8vo volume.
Those which are on subjects of literature are ingenious
and interesting, but as a poet he cannot be allowed to rank
high.
, a French writer of eminence in polite literature, is said to have been
, a French writer of eminence
in polite literature, is said to have been born in America,
of French parents, in 1730, and died in Paris July 12,
1792, but our only authority does not give his Christian
name, nor have we been able to discover it in any of the
French catalogues. He was a member of the French
academy, and of that of the belles-lettres, a dramatic author, an indifferent poet, but much esteemed for his
writings respecting criticism and elegant literature. His
principal works are: 1. “Eponine,
” a tragedy, Eloge de Rameau,
” Sur le sort de la poesie, en ce siecle philosophe, avec un dissertation sur Homere,
” Euxodie,
” a tragedy, Discours sur
Pindar,
” with a translation of some of his odes, Les Odes Pithiques de Pindare,
” translated, with
notes, Vie de Dante,
” Sabinus,
” a lyric tragedy, but unsuccessful, Epitre sur la manie des jardins Anglois,
” Idylles de Theocrite,
” a new translation, Vers sur Voltaire,
” De la Musique considereé en elle meme, et
dans ses rapports avec la parole, les langues, la poesie, et la
theatre,
” Discours
” he pronounced on his admission into the academy
Jan. 20, 1780, 4to. In 1795 was published from his manuscript, “Tableau de quelques circonstances de ma vie,
”
8vo, containing a faithful but not very pleasing disclosure
of his conduct and sentiments. It appears that in his
youth he was a devot, as serious as madame Guyon, but
that afterwards he went into the other extreme, no uncommon transition with his countrymen.
able talents, and his manners are said to have attracted universal esteem. His book entitled “Of the French monarchy and its laws,” 1785, 2 vols. 12mo, displays a novelty
, member of the supreme council
of Bouillon, and advocate in the parliament of Paris, died
in that capitol in 1785. Born to no fortune, his days were
shortened by difficulties and cares. His works give proof
of considerable talents, and his manners are said to have
attracted universal esteem. His book entitled “Of the
French monarchy and its laws,
”
nople, and at the end are the “Annales Sultanorum,” translated into Latin by Leunclavius. There is a French translation of it by Blaise de Vignere, 1660, 2 vols. fol. continued
, was also a native of
Athens, who flourished in the latter part of the fifteenth
century, but nothing farther is known of his history, and
his name is perpetuated only by his work “De Origine et'
rebus gestis Turcoman,
” Paris, Annales Sultanorum,
” translated into
Latin by Leunclavius. There is a French translation of it
by Blaise de Vignere, 1660, 2 vols. fol. continued by
Mezerai and others. It is esteemed a work of considerable authority.
ufve. He was admitted counsellor in the parliament of that city in 1553, afterwards created judge of French poesy, and maintainer of the floral sports. He was appointed
, in Latin Calventius, president of the Inquests of the parliament of Toulouse, was
born in May 1523. He was brought to Paris in 1539 by
Mr. Lizet his uncle, at that time advocate-general in the
parliament of Paris, who kept him six years to his studies
under Orontius Fineus, Tusan, Buchanan, and some other
learned persons. He went to Toulouse in 1546, to learn
the civil law, and lodged in the same house with Turnebus, Mercerus, and Govea. He travelled into Italy in
1550, in order to pursue his studies, and was Alciat’s disciple at Pavia, and Socinus’s at Bologna. Being returned
to France, he went to Toulouse, and there completed his
course of law-studies, and was associated with Roaldes and
Bodinus, reading law lectures together in the public schools
with reputation. Having taken his doctor’s degree in that
university, he resolved to go to Paris, in order to make his
fortune; but though this resolution of his was strengthened
by some letters he received from Mr. Lizet, yet he chose
rather to settle in Toulouse, where he married, in 1552,
Jane de Bernuy, daughter of the lord de Palficat, baron of
Villeneufve. He was admitted counsellor in the parliament
of that city in 1553, afterwards created judge of French
poesy, and maintainer of the floral sports. He was appointed president of the inquests by the parliament in
1573. Being of a peaceable temper, he retired to his house
in Auvergne, during the first and last furies of the civil
wars, in order that he might not be an eye-witness of the
confusions which he saw would break out in Toulouse. It
was in this retirement he studied and translated Seneca, to
administer some consolation to himself during the wild
havock that was then making, and to employ his leisure to
advantage. His attachment to his sovereign gained him
the particular esteem of Henry IV. who in 1603 appointed
him counsellor of state and privy counsellor. The year
after, he resigned his dignity of president to Francis
Chalvet sieur de Fenouiliet, one of his sons, and retired
from business to spend the remainder of his days in peace
and among his books. He spent two years in this -retirement, with so much satisfaction to himself, that he used
frequently to declare to his relations, that he could not say
he had lived during the previous years of his life. He died
at Toulouse the 20th of June, 1607, being seventy-nine
years of age. Several authors have honoured him with
eulogiums.
His “Translation of Seneca,
” was published at Paris,
De claris interpretibus,
” thinks that his translation of
Seneca is too diffuse.
ambridge. To the knowledge of the learned languages, which he cultivated there, he added that of the French and Italian. He enjoyed great intimacy with the most considerable
, esq. was born about the middle of January 1552, and was educated at Cambridge. To the knowledge of the learned languages, which he cultivated there, he added that of the French and Italian. He enjoyed great intimacy with the most considerable men in England, with sir Henry Savile, bishop Andrews, sir Thomas Boclley, sir Thomas Edmondes, sir Dudley Carleton, and sir Ralph Win wood. In the confidence of the last of these he had a very great share, while that honest and able minister was secretary of state, and the character of the latter appears in a very advantageous light in the letters of Mr. Chamberlain. Having a fortune sufficient to satisfy a quiet and unambitious temper, he enjoyed the satisfactions of private life in the society of his friends till a good old age, dying after the year 1626, and before April 1631, for his name does not appear among those of the commissioners for the repairing of St. Paul’s, in the second commission dated the 10th of that month, though he had been appointed a commissioner in the first. His correspondence is in the British Museum.
continued after his death until 1755, which, we believe, is the last edition. He translated, 1. from French and Spanish, “The manner of making Tea, Coffee, and Chocolate,
, son to the preceding, was
admitted into Trinity college, Oxford, 1685; but it does
not appear that he took any degree. He continued his
father’s “Angliae Notitia,
” or “Present State,
” as long
as he lived, and it was continued after his death until 1755,
which, we believe, is the last edition. He translated, 1.
from French and Spanish, “The manner of making Tea,
Coffee, and Chocolate, London,
” A Treasure of Health,
” London,
The Arguments of the books
and chapters of the Old and New Testament, with practical observations written originally in French, by the rev.
Mr. Ostervald, professor of divinity, and one of the ministers of the church at Neufchatel in Swisserland, and by
him presented to the society for promoting Christian
knowledge,
” Lond. The Lives of
the French Philosophers, translated from the French of M.
de Fontenelle, republished since in 1721, under the title
of
” Memoirs of the Royal Academy of Sciences in Paris,
epitomized, with t[ie lives of the late members of that society,“8vo. 5.
” The Religious Philosopher; or, the
right use of contemplating the works of the Creator, &c.
translated from the original Dutch of Dr. Nieuwentyt,“Lond. 1713, &c. 3 vols. 8vo, reprinted several times since
in 8vo, and once in 4to. 6.
” The History of the Reformation in and about the Low Countries, translated from the
Dutch of Gerrard Brandt,“Lond. 1721, &c. 4 vols. fol.
7.
” The Lord’s Prayer in Dissertations historical, critical, theological, and moral, on the most memorable events of the
Old and New Testaments; wherein the spirit of the sacred
writings is shewn, their authority confirmed, and the sentiments of the primitive fathers, as well as the modern,
critics, with regard to the difficult passages therein, considered and compared; vol. I. comprising the events related
in the Books of Moses to which are added, chronological
tables, fixing the date of each event, and connecting the
several dissertations together,
” one Chamberlayne, secretary to the
reformers, and to the committee for propagating religion
in the Indies.
” There are some of tylr. Chamberlayne’s
letters in bishop Nicolson’s “Epistolary Correspondence
”
lately published. The bishop wrote a preface to Mr. Chamberlayne’s “Lord’s Prayer in 100 Languages.
”
ndeed, he appears to have executed in a very slovenly manner, and to have been unacquainted with the French terms in natural history. The only work besides, that we find
Although the “Cyclopædia
” was the grand business of
Mr. Chambers’s life, and may be regarded as almost the
sole foundation of his fame, his attention was not wholly
confined to this undertaking. He was concerned in a
periodical publication entitled “The Literary Magazine,
”
which was begun in Moral Philosopher.
” He was engaged likewise, in conjunction with Mr. John Marty n,
F. R. S. and professor of botany at Cambridge, in preparing for the press a translation and abridgment of the
“Philosophical history and memoirs of the royal academy
of sciences at Paris or an abridgment of all the papers
relating to natural philosophy which have been published
by the members of that illustrious society.
” This undertaking, when completed, was comprised in five volumes,
8vo, which did not appear till 1742, some time after our
author’s decease, when they were published in the joint
names of Mr. Martyn and Mr. Chambers. Mr. Marty n, in
a subsequent publication, passed a severe censure upon the
share which his fellow-labourer had in the abridgment of
the Parisian papers; which, indeed, he appears to have
executed in a very slovenly manner, and to have been unacquainted with the French terms in natural history. The
only work besides, that we find ascribed to Mr. Chambers,
is a translation of the “Jesuit’s Perspective,
” from the
French; which was printed in 4to, and has gone through
several editions. How indefatigable he was in his literary
and scientific collections, is manifest from a circumstance
which used to be related by Mr. Airey, who was so well
known to many persons by the vivacity of his temper and
conversation, and his bold avowal of the principles of infidelity. This gentleman, in the very early part of his life,
was five years (from 1728 to 1733) amanuensis to Mr. Chambers; and, during that time, copied nearly 20 folio volumes, so large as to comprehend materials, if they had
been published, for printing 30 volumes in the same size.
Mr. Chambers however acknowledged, that if they were
printed, they would neither be sold nor read. His close
and unremitting attention to his studies at length impaired
his health, and obliged him occasionally to take a lodging
at Canonbury-house, Islington. This not having greatly
contributed to his recovery, he made an excursion to the
south of France, of which he left an account in ms. but
did not reap that benefit from the journey which he had
himself hoped and his friends wished. Returning to England in the autumn of 1739, he died at Canonbury-house,
and was buried at Westminster; where the following inscription, written by himself, is placed on the north side of
the cloisters of the abbey:
e derived, and the authorities upon which they depend. This charge was alleged by the editors of the French Encyclopedic, with some justice, but at the same time with
We have already mentioned that the “Cyclopædia
”
came to a fifth edition in Cyclopædia
” gave rise to a variety of similar publications; of many of which it may be truly said, that most
of the articles which compose them, are extracted verbatim, or at least with very few alterations and additions,
from this dictionary; and that they manifest very little
labour of research, or of compilation. One defect seems
to have been common to them all, with hardly any exception; and that is, that they do not furnish the reader witli
references to the sources from which their materials are
derived, and the authorities upon which they depend. This
charge was alleged by the editors of the French Encyclopedic, with some justice, but at the same time with unwarrantable acrimony, against Mr. Chambers. The editors
of that work, while they pass high encomiums on Mr.
Chambers’s Cyclopædia, blend with them censures that are
unfounded. They say, e. g. that the “merited honours it
has received would, perhaps, never have been produced
at all, if, before it appeared in English, we had not had in
our own tongue those works, from which Chambers has
drawn without measure, and without selection, the greatest
part* of the articles of which his dictionary is composed.
This being the case, what must Frenchmen think of a mere
translation of that work? It must excite the indignation of
the learned, and give just offence to the public, to whom,
under a new and pompous title, nothing is presented but
riches of which they have a long time been in possession?
”
They add, however, after appropriate and justly deserved
commendation; “We agree with him, that the plan and
the design of his dictionary are excellent, and that, if it
were executed to a certain degree of perfection, it would
alone contribute more to the progress of true science, than
one half of the books that are known.
” However, what
their vanity has led them to assert, viz. that the greatest
part of Chambers’s Cyclopædia is compiled from French
authors, is not true. When Mr. Chambers engaged in his
great undertaking, he extended his researches for materials to
a variety of publications, foreign and domestic, and in the
mathematical articles he was peculiarly indebted to Wolfius: and it cannot be questioned, that he availed himself
no less of the excellent writers of his native land than those
of France. As to the imperfections of which they complain, they were in a great measure removed, as science
advanced, by subsequent improvements; nor could the
work, in its last state, be considered as the production of
a single person. Nevertheless it cannot be conceived,
that any scientific dictionary, comprised in four volumes,
should attain to the full standard of human wishes and
human imagination. The proprietors, duly sensible of
this circumstance, and of the rapid progress of literature
and science in the period that has elapsed since the publication of Chambers’ s “Cyclopædia,
” have undertaken a
work on a much larger scale, which, with the encouragement already received and further reasonably expected,
will, it is hoped, preclude most of the objections urged
against the former dictionary. Of this a very considerable
proportion has already been published, and the editor bids
fair to accomplish what was once thought impossible. The
learned Mr. Bowyer once conceived an extensive idea of
improving Chambers’s Cyclopædia, on which his correspondent Mr. Clarke observes, “Your project of improving
and correcting Chambers is a very good one; but alas! who
can execute it? You should have as many undertakers as
professions; nay, perhaps as many antiquaries as there are
different branches of ancient learning.
” This, in fact,
which appeared to Mr. Clarke so impracticable, has been
accomplished under Dr. Rees’s management, by combining
the talents of, gentlemen who have made the various
sciences, arts, &c. their peculiar study. Of the contemporary Cyclopædias, or Encyclopaedias, it may be sufficient to notice in this place, that printed at Edinburgh
under the title of “Encyclopaedia Britannica,
” the plan
of which is different from that of Dr. Rees, but which has
been uncommonly successful, a third edition (in twenty vols. 4to) being now in the press; and one begun by Dr.
Brewster on a lesser scale, seems to be edited with care and
accuracy.
, a native of Mans, and king’s physician in ordinary. He was received into the French academy 1635, afterwards into that of sciences. Chancellor Sequier
, a native of Mans,
and king’s physician in ordinary. He was received into
the French academy 1635, afterwards into that of sciences.
Chancellor Sequier and cardinal Richelieu gave him public
testimonies of their esteem; and he acquired great reputation by his knowledge in physic, philosophy, and the
belles-lettres. He died November 29, 1669, at Paris,
aged seventy-five, and left many works, the principal oif
which are: “Les Characteres des Passions,
” 4 vols. 4to;
or Amsterdam, 1658, 5 vols. 12mo. “L'Art de connoitre
les Hommes.
” “De la Connoissance des Betes.
” “Conjectures sur la Digestion.
” “De l'Iris.
” “De la Lumiere.
” “Le Systeme de l'Ame.
” “Le Debordement
du Nil,
” each 1 vol. 4to. Peter de la Chambre, his second son, was curate of St. Bartholomew, and one of the
forty members of the French academy, and died 1693,
leaving several panegyrics, printed separately in 4to.
, an ingenious French writer, and one of the victims of the revolution, was born in
, an ingenious French writer, and one of the victims of the revolution, was born in 1741, in a bailiwick near Clermont, in
Auvergne. In supporting a revolution which levelled all
family distinctions, he had no prejudices to overcome,
being the natural son of a man whom he never knew. This
circumstance, however, did not diminish his affection for
his mother, who was a peasant girl, to supply whose wants
he often denied himself the necessaries of life. He was
taken at a very early age into the college des Prassins at
Paris, as a bursar, or exhibitioner, and was there known
by his Christian name of Nicolas. During the first two
years he indicated no extraordinary talents, but in the
third, out of the five prizes which were distributed annually, he gained four, failing only in Latin verses. The
next year he gained the whole, and used to say, “I lost
the prize last year, because 'I imitated Virgil; and this
year I obtained it, because I took Buchanan, Sarbievius,
and other moderns for my guides.
” In Greek he made a
rapid progress, but his petulance and waggish tricks threw
the class into so much disorder, that he was expelled, and
not long after left the college altogether. Thrown now on
the world, without friends or money, he became clerk to
a procurator, and afterwards was taken into the family of
a rich gentleman of Liege, as tutor. After this he was
employed on the “Journal Encyclopedique,
” and having
published his Eloges on Moliere and La Fontaine, they
were so much admired as to be honoured with the prizes
of the French academy, and that of Marseilles. About
this time he had little other maintenance than what he derived from the patronage of the duke de Choiseul and
madame Helvetius, and therefore was glad to take such
employment as the booksellers offered. For them he compiled a “French Vocabulary,
” and a “Dictionary of the
Theatres.
” While employed on this last, he fancied his
talents might succeed on the stage, and was not disappointed. His tragedy of “Mustapha,
” acted in Epistle from a father to a son, on the birth of a
grandson,
” gained him the prize of the French academy,
although it appears inferior to his “L'Homme de Lettres,
discours philosop.hic|iic en vers.
” At length he gained a
seat in the academy, on the death of St. Palaye, on whom
he wrote an elegant eloge. His tragedy of “Mustapha
”
procured him the situation of principal secretary to the
prince of Conde, but his love of liberty and independence
prevented him from long discharging its duties. After resigning it, he devoted himself wholly to the pleasures of
society, where he was considered as a most captivating
companion. He also held some considerable pensions,
which, however, he lost at the revolution.
, an eminent French protestant divine, was born in Dauphiny, and was long minister
, an eminent French protestant
divine, was born in Dauphiny, and was long minister at
Montelimart, in that province, from whence he removed
in 16 12 to Montaubon, to be professor of divinity; and
was killed at the siege of that place by a cannon ball in
1621. He was no less distinguished among his party as a
statesman than as a divine. No man opposed the artifices
employed by the court to distress the protestants with
more steadiness and inflexibility. Varillas says it was he
who drew up the edict of Nantz. Though politics took up
a great part of his time, he acquired a large fund of extensive learning, as appears from his writings. His treatise “De œcumenico pontifice,
” and his “Epistolæ Jesuiticæ,
” are commended by Scaliger. Hjs principal
work is his “Catholica Panstratia, or the Wars of the
Lord,
” in which the controversy between the protestants
and Roman catholics is learnedly handled. It was written
at the desire of the synod of the reformed churches in
France, to confute Bellarmine. The synod of Privas, in
1612, ordered him 2900 livres to defray the charges of the
impression of the first three volumes. Though this work
makes four large folio volumes, it is not complete: for it
wants the controversy concerning the church, intended
for a fifth volume, which the author’s death prevented
him from finishing. This body of controversy was printed
at Geneva in 1626, under the care of Turretin, professor
of divinity. An abridgment of it was published in the
same city in 1643, in one vol. folio, by Frederick Spanheim,
the father. His “Corpus Theologicum,
” and his “Epistolae Jesuiticae,
” were printed in a small folio volume, De cecumenico pontifice
” was also published in
8vo, Genev.
, a learned French antiquary, was born at Bourges, in 1656. In 1673 he entered
, a learned French antiquary,
was born at Bourges, in 1656. In 1673 he entered among
the Jesuits, and according to their custom, for some time
taught grammar and philosophy, and was a popular
preacher for about twenty years. He died at Paris, in
1730. He was deeply versed in the knowledge of antiquity. He published: 1. A learned edition of “Prudentius
” for the use of the Dauphin, with an interpretation and notes, Paris, 1687, 4to, in which he was much
indebted to Heinsius. It is become scarce. 2. Dissertations, in number eighteen, on several medals, gems, and
other monuments of antiquity, Paris, 1711, 4to. Smitten
with the desire of possessing something extraordinary, and
which was not to be found in the other cabinets of Europe,
he strangely imposed on himself in regard to two medals
which he imagined to be antiques. The first was a Pacatianus of silver, a medal unknown till his days, and which
is so still, for that it was a perfect counterfeit has been
generally acknowledged since the death of its possessor.
The other medal, on which he was the dupe of his own
fancy, was an Annia Faustina, Greek, of the true bronze.
The princess there bore the name of Aurelia; whence
father Chainillnrd concluded that she was descended from
the family of the Antonines. It had been struck, as he
pretended, in Syria, by order of a Quirinus or Cirinus,
descended, he asserted, from that Quit-in us who is spoken
of by St. Luke. Chamillard displayed his erudition on
the subject in a studied dissertation; but while he was
enjoying his triumph, a dealer in antiques at Rome declared himself the father of Annia Faustina, at the same
time shewing others of the same manufacture.