, a voluminous English writer, the son of Thomas Howell, minister of Abernant in Caermarthenshire, was born about 1594, and, to
, a voluminous English writer, the
son of Thomas Howell, minister of Abernant in Caermarthenshire, was born about 1594, and, to use his own
words, “his ascendant was that hot constellation of cancer
about the midst of the dog-days.
” He was sent to the freeschool at Hereford -, and entered of Jesus-college, Oxford,
in 1610. His elder brother Thomas Howell was already a
fellow of that society, afterwards king’s chaplain, and was
nominated in 1644 to the see of Bristol. James Howell,
having taken the degree of B. A. in 1613, left college, and
removed to London; for being, says Wood, “a pure
cadet, a true cosmopolite, not born to land, lease, house,
or office, he had his fortune to make; and being withal not
so much inclined to a sedentary as an active life, this situation pleased him best, as most likely to answer his views.
”
The first employment he obtained was that of steward to a
glass-house in Broad-street, which was procured for him
by sir Robert Mansel, who was principally concerned in it.
The proprietors of this work, intent upon improving the
manufactory, came to a resolution to send an agent abroad,
who should procure the best materials and workmen; and
they made choice of Howell for this purpose, who, setting
off in 1619, visited several of the principal places in Holland, Flanders, France, Spain, and Italy. In Dec. 1621,
he returned to London; having executed the purpose of
his mission very well, and particularly having acquired a
masterly knowledge in the modern languages, which afforded him a singular cause for gratitude. “Thank God,
”
he says, “I have this fruit of my foreign travels, that I
can pray unto him every day of the week in a separate
language, and upon Sunday in seven.
”
ount of the immense erudition with which it abounds, as by his acquaintance with its author, who was minister of the Protestant church at Caen. This book, being full of Greek
, bishop of Avranches in France,
a very eminent scholar, was born of a good family at Caen
in Normandy, Feb. 8, 1630. His parents dying when he
was scarcely out of his infancy, Huet fell into the hands
of guardians, who neglected him: his own invincible love
of letters, however, made him amends for all disadvantages;
and he finished his studies in the belles lettres before he was
thirteen years of age. In the prosecution of his philosophical studies, he met with an excellent professor, father
Mambrun, a Jesuit; who, alter Plato’s example, directed
him to begin by learning a little geometry, and Huet contracted such a relish for it, that he went through every
branch of mathematics, and maintained public theses at
Caen, a thing never before done in that city. Having
passed through his classes, it was his business to study the
law, and to take his degrees in it; but two books then
published, seduced him from this pursuit. These were,
“The Principles of Des Cartes,
” and “Bochart’s Sacred
Geography.
” He was a great admirer of Des Cartes, and
adhered to his philosophy for many years; but afterwards
saw reason to abandon it as a visionary fabrick, and wrote
against it. Bochart’s geography made a more lasting impression upon him, as well on account of the immense
erudition with which it abounds, as by his acquaintance
with its author, who was minister of the Protestant church
at Caen. This book, being full of Greek and Hebrew
learning, inspired Huet with an ardent desire of being
versed in those languages, and, to assist his progress in
these studies, he contracted a friendship with Bochart, and
put himself under his directions.
onicle," or History, from the beginning of the world to 840, and a small Chronicle from 996 to 1109, Minister, 163S, 4to, valuable and scarce. It may also be found in Troher’s
, or de St. Marie, a celebrated
monk of the abbey of Fleury towards the end of the 11th
century, was called Hugh de St. Marie from the name of a
village which belonged to his father. He is little known
but by his works, which are two books: “De la Puissance
Royale, et de la Dignite
” Sacerdotale,“dedicated to Henry
king of England, in which he establishes with great solidity the rights and bounds of the priestly and royal powers,
in opposition to the prejudices which prevailed at that time.
This work may be found in torn. IV. of the
” Miscellanea“of Beluze. % He wrote also
” A Chronicle," or History,
from the beginning of the world to 840, and a small Chronicle from 996 to 1109, Minister, 163S, 4to, valuable and
scarce. It may also be found in Troher’s collection.
y became much followed on account of his popular talents. He was ordained in 1766, and was appointed minister of South Leith. On a visit to London in 1769, he preached in
, a popular preacher and writer, was
born at Culross, in Perthshire, in 1741. He had the best
education that the circumstances of his parents would permit, and at the age of thirteen was sent to the university
of Edinburgh, where, by his talents and proficiency, he
attracted the notice of the professors, and when he left
Edinburgh he accepted the office of tutor to lord Dundonald’s sons at Culross abbey. In 1764 he was licensed
to preach, having passed the several trials with great applause: and very quickly became much followed on account of his popular talents. He was ordained in 1766,
and was appointed minister of South Leith. On a visit to
London in 1769, he preached in most of the Scotch meeting-houses with great acceptance, and soon after his return he received an invitation to become pastor of the Scotch
church in Swallow-street, which he declined; but in 1771
he removed to London, and undertook the pastoral office
in the Scotch church at London-wall. He appeared first
as an author in 1783, by the commencement of his “Sacred Biography,
” which was at length extended to seven
volumes octavo. While this work was in the course of publication, he engaged in the translation of Lavater’s “Essays
on Physiognomy,
” and in order to render his work as complete as possible, he took a journey into Swisserland, for
the purpose of procuring information from Lavater himself.
He attained, in some measure, his object, though the author did not receive him with the cordiality which he expected, suspecting that the English version must injure the
sale of the French translation. The first number of this
work was published in 1789, and it was finished in a style
worthy the improved state of the arts. From this period
Dr. Hunter spent much of his time in translating different
works from the French language. In 1790 he was elected
secretary to the corresponding board of the “Society for
propagating Christian Knowledge in the Highlands and
Islands of Scotland.
” He was likewise chaplain to the
“Scotch Corporation;
” and both these institutions Were
much benefited by his zealous exertions in their behalf.
In 1795, he published two volumes of Sermons; and in
1798 he gave the world eight “Lectures on the Evidences
of Christianity,
” being the completion of a plan begun by
Mr. Fell. The whole contains a popular and useful elucidation of the proofs in favour of the Christian religion,
arising from its internal evidence, its beneficial influence,
and the superior value of the information which it conveys
with respect to futurity. During the latter years of his
life, Dr. Hunter’s constitution suffered the severest shocks
from the loss of three children, which, with other causes,
contributed to render him unable to withstand the attacks
of disease. He died at the Hot-Wells, Bristol, on the
27th of October, 1802, in the 62d year of his age. Dr.
Hunter was a man of learning: his writings are eloquent,
and shew how well he had studied human nature. In the
pulpit his manner was unaffected, solemn, and impressive.
He indulged his liberal and friendly heart in the exercise
of hospitality, charity, and the pleasures of social intercourse, but the latter frequently beyond the limits which a
regard to prudence and economy should have prescribed.
He was the translator of “Letters of Euler to a German
Princess, on different subjects in Physics and Philosophy
”
“The Studies of Nature by St. Pierre
” “Saurin’s Sermons;
” “Sonnini’s Travels.
” Miscellaneous pieces and
sermons of his own have been published since his death, to
which are prefixed memoirs: from these the foregoing particulars have been taken. Dr. Hunter, about 1796 or 7,
began “A History of London and its Environs,
” which
came out in parts, but did little credit to him, as he evidently had no talents or research for a work of this description.
his purpose, about 1765, during the administration of Mr. Grenville, he presented a memorial to that minister, in which he requested the grant of a piece of ground in the
We must now go back a little in the order of time, to describe the origin and progress of Dr. Hunter’s Museum, without some account of which these memoirs would be very incomplete. When he began to practise midwifery, he was desirous of acquiring a fortune sufficient to place him in easy and independent circumstances. Before many years had elapsed, he found himself in possession of a sum adequate to his wishes iii this respect; and this he set apart as a resource of which he might avail himself whenever age or infirmities should oblige him to retire from business. He has been heard to say, that he once took a considerable sum from this fund for the purposes of his museum, but that he did not feel himself perfectly at ease till he had restored it again. After he had obtained this competency, as his wealth continued to accumulate, he formed a laudable design of engaging in some scheme of public utility, and at first had it in contemplation to found an anatomical school in this metropolis. For this purpose, about 1765, during the administration of Mr. Grenville, he presented a memorial to that minister, in which he requested the grant of a piece of ground in the Mews for the site of an anatomical theatre. Dr. Hunter undertook to expend 7000l. on the building, and to endow a professorship of anatomy in perpetuity. This scheme did not meet with the reception it deserved. In a conversation on this subject soon afterwards with the earl of Shelburne, his lordship expressed a wish that the plan might be carried into execution by subscription, and very generously requested to have his name set down for 1000 guineas. Dr. Hunter’s delicacy would not allow him to adopt this proposal. He chose rather to execute it at his own expence, and accordingly purchased a spot of ground in Great Windmill-street, where he erected a spacious house, to which he removed from Jermyn-street in 1770. In this building, besides a handsome amphitheatre and other convenient apartments for his lectures and dissections, there was one magnificent room, fitted up with great elegance and propriety as a museum.
, a learned English divine, was born at Deorhyrst in Gloucestershire, where his father was minister, in 1636. Having been educated in school learning at Bristol,
, a learned English divine, was born at Deorhyrst in Gloucestershire, where his father was minister, in 1636. Having been educated in school learning at Bristol, he was sent to Merton-college, Oxford, of which in due time he was chosen fellow. He went through the usual course of arts and sciences with great applause, and then applied himself most diligently to divinity and the Oriental languages. The latter became afterwards of infinite service to him, for he was chosen, chaplain to the English factory at Aleppo, and sailed from England in Sept. 1670. During his eleven years’ residence in this place, he applied himself particularly to search out and procure manuscripts; and for this purpose maintained a correspondence with the learned and eminent of every profession and degree, which his knowledge in the Eastern, languages, and especially the Arabic, enabled him to do. He travelled also for his diversion and improvement, not only into the adjacent, but even into distant places; and after having carefully visited almost all Galilee and Samaria, he went to Jerusalem. In 1677 he went into Cyprus; and the year after undertook a journey of 150 miles, for the sake of beholding the venerable ruins of the once noble and glorious city of Palmyra; but, instead of having an opportunity of viewing the place, he and they that were with him were very near being destroyed by two Arabian princes, who had taken possession of those parts. He had better success in a journey to Egypt in 1680, where he met with several curiosities and manuscripts, and had the pleasure of conversing with John Lascaris, archbishop of mount Sinai.
the degree of B. A. in 1393, and that of master in 1395; and we find him, in 1400, in orders, and a minister of a church in that city. About this time the writings of our
, a celebrated divine and martyr, was born at a town in Bohemia, called Hussenitz, about 1376, and liberally educated in the university of Prague. Here he took the degree of B. A. in 1393, and that of master in 1395; and we find him, in 1400, in orders, and a minister of a church in that city. About this time the writings of our countryman Wickliffe had spread themselves among the Bohemians, which was owing to the following circumstance: Queen Anne, the wife of Richard II. of England, was daughter to the emperor Charles IV. and sister to Wenceslaus king of Bohemia, and Sigismund emperor of Germany. She was a princess of great piety, virtue, and knowledge, nor could she endure the implicit service and devotion of the Romish church. Her death happened in 1394, and her funeral was attended by all the nobility of England. She had patronized Wickliffe, and after her death, several of Wickliffe’s books were carried by her attendants into Bohemia, and were the means of promoting the reformation there. They had also been carried into the same country by Peter Payne, an Englishman, one of his disciples, and principal of Edmund-hall. Fox mentions another person, a young nobleman of Bohemia, who had studied some time at Oxford, and carried home with him several of Wickliffe’s tracts. They were particularly read by the students at Prague, among the chief of whom was Huss; who, being much taken with Wickliffe’s notions, began to preach and write with great zeal against the superstitions and errors of the church of Rome. He succeeded so far, that the sale of indulgences gradually decreased among the Bohemians; and the pope’s party declared, that there would soon be an end of religion, if measures were not taken to oppose the restless endeavours of the Hussites. With a view, therefore, of preventing this danger, Subinco, the archbishop of Prague, issued forth two mandates in 1408; one, addressed to the members of the university, by which they were ordered to bring together all Wickliffe’s writings, that such as were found no contain any thing erroneous or heretical might be burnt; the other, to all curates and ministers, commanding them to teach the people, that, after the consecration of the elements in the holy Sacrament, there remained nothing but the real body and blood of Christ, under the appearance of bread and wine. Hjiss, whose credit and authority in the university were very great, as well for his piety and learning, as on account of considerable services he had done, found no difficulty in persuading many of its members of the unreasonableness and absurdity of these mandates: the first being, as he said, a plain encroachment upon the liberties and privileges of the university, whose members had an indisputable right to possess, and to read all sorts of books; the second, inculcating a most abominable error. Upon this foundation they appealed to Gregory XII. and the archbishop Subinco was summoned to Rome. But, on acquainting the pope that the heretical notions of WicklifTe were gaining ground apace in Bohemia, through the zeal of some preachers who had read his books, a bull was granted him for the suppression of all such notions in his province. By virtue of this bull, Subinco condemned the writings of Wickliffe, and proceeded against four doctors, who bad not complied with his mandate in bringing in their copies. Huss and others, who were involved in this sentence, protested against this projcedure of the archbishop, and appealed from him a second time, in June 1410. The matter was then brought before John XXIII. who ordered Huss, accused of many errors and heresies, to appear in person at the court of Rome, and gave a special commission to cardinal Colonna to cite him. Huss, however, under the protection and countenance of Wenceslaus king of Bohemia, did riot appear, but sent three deputies to excuse his absence, and to answe'r all which should be alledged against him. Colonna paid no regard to the deputies, nor to any defence they could make; but. declared Huss guilty of contumacy to the court of Rome, and excommunicated him for it. Upon this the deputies appealed from the cardinal to the pope, who commissioned four other cardinals to examine into the affair. These commissaries not only confirmed all that Colonna had done, but extended the excommunication, which was limited to Huss, to his friends and followers: they also declared him an Heresiarch, and pronounced an interdict against him.
, a philosopher of the Shaftesbury school, was the son of a dissenting; minister in Ireland, and was born Aug. 8, 1694. He, discovered early
, a philosopher of the Shaftesbury school, was the son of a dissenting; minister in Ireland, and was born Aug. 8, 1694. He, discovered early a superior capacity, and ardent thirst after knowledge; and when he had gone through his school-education, was sent to an academy to begin his course of philosophy. In 1710 he removed from the academy, and entered a student in the university of Glasgow in Scotland. Here he renewed his study of the Latin and Greek languages, and applied himself to all parts of literature, in which he made a progress suitable to his uncommon abilities. Afterwards h.e turned his thoughts to divinity, which he proposed to make the peculiar study and profession of his life, and for the prosecution of this he continued several years longer at Glasgow.
, a very learned writer, was son of Mr. Ralph Hyde, minister of Billingsley near Bridgenorth in Shropshire, and born there
, a very learned writer, was son
of Mr. Ralph Hyde, minister of Billingsley near Bridgenorth in Shropshire, and born there June 2i), 1636. Having
a strong inclination for the Oriental languages from his
youth, he studied them first under his father; and afterwards, in 1652, being admitted of King’s college, Cambridge, he became acquainted with Mr. Abraham Wheelock, an admirable linguist, who encouraged him to prosecute his study of them in that place. By him, Hyde,
when he had been at Cambridge little more than a year,
was sent to London, and recommended to Walton, afterwards bishop of Chester, as a person very capable of assisting him in the Polyglott Bible, in which work he was
then engaged. Hyde rendered him great services; for,
besides his attendance in the correction of it, he transcribed
the Pentateuch out of the Hebrew characters, in which it
was first printed at Constantinople, into the proper Persian
characters; which by archbishop Usher was then judged
impossible to have been done by a native Persian, because
one Hebrew letter frequently answered to several Persian
letters, which were difficult to be known. He translated
it likewise into Latin. What he did farther in the Polyglott, is specified by the editor in these words: “Nee
praetereundus est D. Thomas Hyde, summae spei juvenis,
cjui in linguis Orientalibus supra aetatem magnos progressuB
fecit, quorum specimina dedit turn in Arabibus, Syriacis,
Persicis, &c. corrigendis, turn in Pentateucho Persico
characteribus Persicis describendo, quia antea soils Hebraicis extitit, ejusque versionem Latinam concinnando.
”
uch as he would have done towards the completing this useful work: but that he relied chiefly on his minister Salaheddin, and t.iat he dying before the work was finished,
In 1658 he went to Oxford, and was admitted of Queen’s
college, where he was soon after made Hebrew rea ler.
The year after, Richard Cromwell, then chancellor of that
university, directed his letters to the delegates, signifying,
that “Mr. Hyde was of full standing, since his admission,
into the university of Cambridge, for the degree of master
of arts, and that he had given public testimony of his more
than ordinary abilities and learning in the Oriental languages;
” on which they made an order that he should
accumulate that degree by reading only a lecture in one
of the Oriental languages in the schools; and having ac-.
cordingly read upon the Persian tongue, he was created
M. A. in April 1659. Soon after he was made underkeeper of the Bodleian library, upon the ejection of Mr,.
Henry Stubbe; and behaved himself so well in this employment, that, when the office of head -keeper became
vacant, he was elected into it with the unanimous approbation of the university. In 1665 he published a Latin translation from the Persian of Uiugh Beig’s “Observations
concerning the Longitude and Latitude of the fixed Stars,
”
with notes. This Ulugh Beig was a great Tartajr monarch,
the son of Shahrokn, and the grandson of Timur Beig, or,
as he is usually called, Tamerlane. In the pre/ace he informs us, “that the great occupations of government hindered him from performing in person, so much as he would
have done towards the completing this useful work: but
that he relied chiefly on his minister Salaheddin, and t.iat
he dying before the work was finished, his colleague Gaiatheddin Giamshed and his son Ali al Cousin were afterwards
employed, who put the last hand to it.
” It was written
originally in the Arabic tongue, but afterwards translated
twice into the Persian.
thence to England, for further improvement in his studies. Thus accomplished, he became successively minister of Magdebourg, Lissa, Koningsberg, and Berlin, and was at length
, a learned Polish Protestant divine, was born Nov. 20, 1660, at Dantzic, and had the first part of his education in Germany; after which he travelled into Holland, and thence to England, for further improvement in his studies. Thus accomplished, he became successively minister of Magdebourg, Lissa, Koningsberg, and Berlin, and was at length ecclesiastical counsellor and president of the society of sciences in this last city. His zeal against infidelity, both in the atheists and deists, shewed itself on all occasions; and he took a deal of pains to effect an union betwixt the Lutherans and Calvinists, but to no purpose. The truth is, considering the rooted prejudices on each side, such a coalition, like that between the church of England and the Dissenters, is rather to be wished than expected. Mr. Jablonski died in May 1741.
divine, and celebrated preacher, was born December 16, 1647, at Vassy, of which place his father was minister. He distinguished himself so much by his studies that he was
, an eminent Protestant divine,
and celebrated preacher, was born December 16, 1647, at
Vassy, of which place his father was minister. He distinguished himself so much by his studies that he was ordained at the age of twenty-one, and appointed colleague,
and assistant to his father. On the revocation of the edict
of Nantes, Jacquelot quitted France, and retiring to Heidelberg, received public marks of favour from the electress
Palatine. He went afterwards to the Hague, where he
gained great reputation by his sermons; and the king of
Prussia being in that city, and having heard him preach,
desired to have him far his French chaplain at Berlin, and
settled a large pension upon him. Jaequelot went into
Prussia, 17>02, and died at Berlin, October 15, 1708. His
works are, 1. “Traite de l'Existence de Dieu,
” Amsterdam, Dissertations sur le Messie,
” Hague,
Conformite de la Foi avec la Raison,
”
8vothe second, “Examen de la Theologie de M. Bayle,
”
I2nio; and the third, “Reponse aux Entretiens composes
par M. BayLe,
” 12mo. 4. “Traitede l'Inspiration des
Livres Sacres,
” Avis sur le Tableau du Socinianisme.
” This
last work occasioned much trouble to Jacquelot from Jurieu,
author of the “Tableau du Socinianisme.
” He wrote also
twenty-eight “Letters
” to the French bishops, persuading
them to a mild conduct towards the Calvinists; and published “Sermons,
” 2 vols. 12mo. All his works are distinguished by learning and strength of argument, but are
thought to be defective in method.
ospitable neighbour, and sincere friend; and both by his doctrine and example, a faithful and worthy minister of the parish over which he presided.”
His personal character is thus given by his biographer
“Mr. Jago, in his person, was about the middle stature.
In his manner, like most people of sensibility, he appeared
reserved among strangers; amongst his friends he was free
and easy; and his conversation sprightly and entertaining.
In domestic life, he was the affectionate husband, the tender parent, the kind master, the hospitable neighbour, and
sincere friend; and both by his doctrine and example, a
faithful and worthy minister of the parish over which he
presided.
”
t known or heard of in the world for some years. At length, becoming known, he was, in 1678, elected minister of St. Peter’s of Mancroft in Norwich; where his good temper,
, an English divine, was born Dec. 20,
1647, at Ipswich, where he had his grammar-learning;
and thence removed in 1664 to Catharine-hall, Cambridge,
under the tuition of Dr. John Echard. Here he took his first
degree, and as soon after as he could, he went into orders,
and accepted of the curacy of Dennington in Suffolk. He
applied very closely to his studies, lived quite retired, and
was not known or heard of in the world for some years. At
length, becoming known, he was, in 1678, elected minister of St. Peter’s of Mancroft in Norwich; where his good
temper, exemplary life, judicious preaching, and great
learning, soon recommended him to the esteem of the
wisest and best men in his parish. Sir Thomas Brown, so
well known to the learned world, respected and valued him.
Sir Edward Atkyns, lord chief baron of the Exchequer,
who then spent the long vacations in that city, took great
notice of his singular modesty of behaviour, and rational
method of recommending religion in sermons; gave him
an apartment in his house, took him up to town with him,
carried him into company, and brought him acquainted with
Dr. Tillotson, then preacher at Lincoln’s-inn, who often
engaged Mr. Jeffery to preach for him, and was probably
the means of making him known to Dr. Whichcote, three
volumes of whose sermons he afterwards published, and
to other eminent men. In 1687, Dr. Sharp, then dean
of Norwich, afterwards archbishop of York, obtained
for him, without solicitation, the two small livings of Kirton and Falkenham in Suffolk; and, in 1694, archbishop
Tillotson made him archdeacon of Norwich. In 17 Jo he
married a second wife; and after his marriage, discontinued
his attendance on the convocation: and when he was asked
the reason, would pleasantly excuse himself out of the old
law, which saith, “that, when a man has taken a new wife,
he shall not be obliged to go out to war.
” He died in
1720, aged 72.
, an eminent nonconformist divine, was born at Sudbury, in 1612, where his father was minister, and died when this his son was very young. His mother was grand-
, an eminent nonconformist divine,
was born at Sudbury, in 1612, where his father was minister, and died when this his son was very young. His
mother was grand- daughter to John Rogers, the protomartyr in queen Mary’s persecution. He was sent to
Cambridge in 1626, and placed under Mr. Anthony Burgess. Here he pursued his studies with great success, and
although a young man of a sprightly turn, and much
courted by the wits of the university, was distinguished for
a circumspect and pious behaviour. After he had completed his degrees in arts, he was ordained; and doming
to London, was chosen lecturer of St. Nicholas Aeons, $n'd
thence was invited to Hithe, near Colchester, in, Essex^ 5
but the air of the place disagreeing with him, he obeyed
the solicitations of his friends, and returned to London in
1641, where he was chosen minister of Christ-church,
Newgate- street, and some months after, lecturer of St.
Anne’s Blackfriars. He continued to fill up this double
station with great usefulness, until, upon the destruction
of monarchy, he peremptorily refused to observe the public thanksgivings appointed by the parliament, for which
he was suspended from his ministry, and had his benefice
of Christ-church sequestered, and afterwards was imprisoned in the Tower on suspicion of being concerned in
what was called Love’s plot. (See Love.) On petition-,
the parliament granted him a pardoft, and he was afterwards re-elected by the governors of St. Bartholomew’s
hospital to the living of Christ-church. On the restoration, as he did not conform, he was of coarse ejected from
this, and retired to a house he had at Langley, in Hertfordshire, where he occasionally preached, as he did afterwards in London, until 1684, when he was apprehended
for preaching, and committed to Newgate. Here he was
treated with the utmost rigour, and his death precipitated
by the noxious air of the place. He died before he had
been imprisoned four months, on Jan. 19, 1685. The inveteracy of Charles II. against this man seems unaccountable. He had been a great sufferer for loyalty to Charles I.
and was one of those who not only resisted the decrees of
the parliament, but was even implicated in Love’s plot,
the object of which was the restoration of the king. When,
however, Charles II. was petitioned for his release, with
the attestation of his physicians, that Mr. Jenkin’s life was
in danger from his close imprisonment, no other answer
could be obtained than that “Jenkin shall be a prisoner as
long as he lives.
” Calamy informs us that a nobleman
having heard of his death, said to the king, “May it please
your majesty, Jenkin has got his liberty.
” Upon which
he asked with eagerness, “Aye, who gave it him?
” The
Nobleman replied, “A greater than your majesty, the king
of kings!
” with which the king seemed greatly struck,
and remained silent. Mr. Jenkin was buried with great
pomp in Bunhill-fields, and in 1715 a monument was
erected to his memory in that place, with a Latin inscription. He published some controversial pieces and a few
sermons.Baxter calls him a “sententious elegant
preacher,
” a character which may be justly applied to his
principal work, “An Exposition of the Epistle of Jude,
”
2 vols. 4to and fol. a book yet in high request.
ciples led him to join that branch of the old administration which supported Mr. Pitt; and when that minister came into power in 1783-4, Mr. Jenkinson was appointed president
* Some of the city were so much freedom, and afterwards chose master satisfied with the part he acted in this of the Sailers’ company, Wynne, p. affair, that he was presented with his 57. Colonel Jenkinson, who died in 1750, had married Amantha, daughter of Wolfran Cornwall, a captain in the royal navy, by whom he had the subject of this memoir, who was born May 16, 1727, and educated at the Charter-house. He went afterwards to University college, Oxford, where he took the degree of M. A. in Nov. 1752, and thence came to London, having previously distinguished himself by the active part he took in an election controversy for the county of Oxford, where his alliances were numerous, and not unconnected with the contending parties. On this occasion his literary talents were supposed to have contributed materially to the interests of the side he espoused; and those talents are likewise said to have been sometimes displayed in the Monthly Review about the period of its commencement. By the first earl of Harcourt, who was governor to the king, when prince of Wales, he was introduced to his majesty, and through the same channel obtained the notice and confidence of the eail of Bute, to jvhom he was private secretary. In 1761 he sat in parliament for Cockermouth, and held the office of under-secretary of state. In 1763 and 1764 he was secretary to the treasury; in 1766 he was nominated one of the lords of the admiralty; and from 1767 to 1773, was a lord of the treasury. In 1772 he was appointed joint vice-treasurer of Ireland, and called to the privy-council; and in exchange for this office, had afterwards the clerkship of the pells in Ireland, which had been purchased back by government of Mr. Charles Fox. In 1778 he was made secretary at war, which he held until the dissolution of lord North’s administration in 1782. On this occasion his principles led him to join that branch of the old administration which supported Mr. Pitt; and when that minister came into power in 1783-4, Mr. Jenkinson was appointed president of the board of trade, of which office he continued to discharge the duties with uncommon industry and abilities until age and bad health incapacitated him, in 18CU, from farther exertions in this department. In 1786 he obtained the situation of chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, which he held till 1803. He was elevated to the peerage in 1786 by the title of baron Hawksbury, of Hawksbury, in the county of Gloucester; and advanced to be carl of Liverpool in 1796. His lordship died at his house in Hertford-street, May Pair, Dec. 17, 1808. At that time he held the place of collector of the customs inwards, in the port of London, and clerk of the pells in Ireland. He was interred in the family vault at Hawksbury, in Gloucestershire, and was succeeded in honours and estate by his eldest son, Robert Banks, second earl of Liverpool, and now first lord of the treasury.
he House of Commons, and he had the courage, unasked and unknown, to give his support to the falling minister, as far as he could without contributing his eloquence, for
Soon after his father’s death, at the general election in 1742, he was unanimously chosen one of the representatives for the county of Cambridge. From this time he continued to sit in parliament, either for the county or borough of Cambridge, until 1780, except on the call of a new parliament in 1754, when he was returned for the borougli of Dumvich. In 1755, he was appointed one of the lords commissioners of the board of trade and plantations, at which he sat during. all changes of administration, until the business of the board, which was not great, was removed into another department. At the time of its abolition, it consisted of our author, the present earl of Carlisle, the late lord Auckland, and Gibbon the historian. Mr. Cumberland, the well-known dramatic poet, was secretary. His parliamentary conduct was more uniform than is supposed to be consistent with freedom of opinion, or the usual attachments of party. When he was first elected a member, he found sir Robert Walpole on the eve of being dismissed from the confidence of the House of Commons, and he had the courage, unasked and unknown, to give his support to the falling minister, as far as he could without contributing his eloquence, for Mr. Jenyns seldom spoke, and only in reply to a personal question. He was conscious that he could make no figure as a public speaker, and early desisted from the attempt. After the dismissal of sir Robert Walpole, he constantly ranked among the friends of government. Without giving a public assent to every measure of the minister for the day, he contrived to give him no offence, and seems very early to have conceived an abhorrence of systematic oppositions. What his opinions were on great constitutional questions, may be found in his writings, where, however, they are not laid down with much precision, and seem at no time of his life to have been steady. In his attendance at the board of trade, he was very assiduous, and bestowed much attention on the commercial interests of his country. He has not left any thing in print expressly on this subject, but his biographer has given some of his private opinions, which are liberal and manly.
re being found by one Augustine Berner, a Swiss, first a servant of bishop Latimer, and afterwards a minister, this person provided him a horse, and conveyed him to lady
Burnet informs us, that her majesty declared, at her
accession, that she would force no man’s conscience, nor
make any change in religion. These specious promises,
joined to Jewel’s fondness for the university, seem to
have been the motives which disposed him to entertain a
more favourable opinion of popery than before. In this
state of his mind, he went to Clive, to consult his old tutor
Dr. Parkhurst, who was rector of that parish; but Parkhurst,
upon the re-establishment of popery, having fled to London, Jewel returned to Oxford, where he lingered and
waited, till, being called upon in St. Mary’s church to
subscribe some of the popish doctrines under the several
penalties, he took his pen and subscribed with great reluctance. Yet this compliance, of which his conscience severely accused him, was of no avail; for the dean of Christ
church, Dr. Martial, alleging his subscription to be insincere, laid a plot to deliver him into the hands of bishop
Bonner; and would certainly have caught him in the snare,
had he not set out the very night in which he was sent for,
by a bye-way to London. He walked till he was forced to
lay himself on the ground, quite spent and almost breathless: where being found by one Augustine Berner, a Swiss,
first a servant of bishop Latimer, and afterwards a minister,
this person provided him a horse, and conveyed him to lady
Warcup, by whom he was entertained for some time, and
then sent safely to the metropolis. Here he lay concealed,
changing his lodgings twice or thrice for that purpose, till
a ship was provided for him to go abroad, together with
money for the journey, by sir Nicholas Throgmorton, a
person of great distinction, and at that time in considerable
offices. His escape was managed by one Giles Lawrence,
who had been his fellow-collegian, and was at this time
tutor to sir Arthur Darcy’s children, living near the Tower
of London. Upon his arrival at Francfort, in 1554, he
made a public confession of his sorrow for his late subscription to popery; and soon afterwards went to Strasburgh,
at the invitation of Peter Martyr, who kept a kind of college for learned men in his own house, of which he made
Jewel his vice-master: he likewise attended this friend to
Zurich, and assisted him in his theological lectures. It
was probably about this time that he made an excursion to
Padua, where he contracted a friendship with Sig. Scipio,
a Venetian gentleman, to whom he afterwards addressed
his “Epistle concerning the Council of Trent.
” During
all the time of his exile, which was about four years, he
studied hard, and spent the rest of his time in consoling
and confirming his friends, frequently telling them that
when their brethren endured such “bitter tortures and
horrible martyrdoms at home, it was not reasonable they
should expect to fare deliciously in banishment,
” always
concluding with “These things will not last an age,
” which
he repeated so often as to impress their minds with a firm
belief that their deliverance was not far off. This, however, was not peculiar to Jewel. Fox was likewise remarked for using the same language, and there was among
these exiles in general a very firm persuasion that the dominion of popery and cruelty, under queen Mary, would
not be of long duration.
nistration of sir Robert YValpole; but lived to reflect with more complacency on the conduct of that minister, when compared with some of his successors.
In 1738 he m.ade his name at once known and highly
respected among the eminent men of his time, by the publication of “London,
” a poem in imitation of the third
satire of Juvenal. The history of this publication is not
uninteresting. Young authors did not then present themselves to the public without much cautious preparation.
Johnson conveyed his poem to Cave as the production' of
another, of one who was “under very disadvantageous
circumstances of fortune;
” and as some small encouragement to the printer, he not only offered to correct the
press, but even to alter any stroke of satire which he might
dislike. Cave, whose heart appears to more advantage in
this than in some other of his transactions with authors,
sent a present to Johnson for the use of his poor friend,
and afterwards, it appears, recommended Dodsley as a
purchaser. Dodsley had just begun business, and had speculated but on a few publications of no great consequence.
He had, however, judgment enough to discern the merit
of the poem now submitted to him, and bargained for the
whole property. The sum Johnson received was ten guineas, and such were his circumstances, or such the state of
literary property at that time, that he was fully content,
and was ever ready to acknowledge Dodsley’s useful patronage. The poem was accordingly published in May
1738, and on the same morning with Pope’s satire of
“Seventeen hundred and thirty-eight.
” Johnson’s was so
eagerly bought up, that a second edition became necessary
in less than a week. *Pope behaved on this occasion with
great liberality. He bestowed high praise on the “London,
” and intimated that the author, whose name had not
yet appeared, could not be long concealed. In this poem
may be observed some of those political prejudices for
which Johnson frequently contended afterwards. He
thought proper to join in the popular clamour against the
administration of sir Robert YValpole; but lived to reflect
with more complacency on the conduct of that minister,
when compared with some of his successors.
of public approbation. Whether he had offers of patronage, or was thought a formidable enemy to the minister, is not certain; but, having leisure to calculate how little
His “London
” procured him fame, and Cave was not
sorry to have engaged the services of a man whose talents
had now the stamp of public approbation. Whether he
had offers of patronage, or was thought a formidable enemy
to the minister, is not certain; but, having leisure to calculate how little his labours were likely to produce, he
soon began to wish for some establishment of a more permanent kind. With this view an offer was made to him of
the mastership of the school of Appleby in Leicestershire,
the salary of which was about sixty pounds, but the laws
of the school required that the candidate should be a master
of arts. The university of Oxford, when applied to, refused to grant this favour. Earl Gower was then solicited,
in behalf of Johnson, by Pope, who knew him only as the
author of “London.
” His lordship accordingly wrote to
Swift, soliciting a diploma from the university of Dublin,
but, for what reason we are not told, this application, too,
was unsuccessful. Mr. Murphy says, “There is reason to
think, that Swift declined to meddle in the business; and
to that circumstance Johnson’s known dislike of Swift has
been often imputed.
” That Swift declined to meddle in
the business is not improbable, for it appears by his letters
of this date (August 1738) that he was incapable of attenc(ing to any business; but Johnson’s Life of Swift proves that his dislike had a more honourable foundation. About this time Johnson formed a design of studying the civil law, in order to practise in the Commons, yet this also was rendered impossible for want of a degree, and he was obliged to resume his labours in the Gentleman’s Magazine. The various articles which came from his pen are enumerated in chronological series by Mr. Boswell. It will be sufficient for our purpose to notice only his more
important productions, or such as were of sufficient consequence to be published separately. In 1739, he wrote
“A Complete Vindication of the Licensers of the Stage,
from the malicious and scandalous aspersions of Mr. Brooke,
author of Gustavus Vasa;
” and a political tract entitled
t( Marmor Norfolciense, or an Essay on an ancient prophetical inscription, in monkish rhyme, lately discovered near Lynne in Norfolk, by Probus Britannicus.“These pieces, it is almost needless to add, were ironical, a mode of writing in which our author was not eminently successful. Some notice has already been taken of
” Gustavus Vasa“in the Life of Brooke. The
” Marmor Norfolciense" was a severe attack on the Walpole administration, and on the reigning family; but whether it was not well understood, or when understood, considered as feeble, it certainly was not much attended to by the friends of government, nor procured to the author the reputation of a dangerous opponent. Sir John Hawkins indeed says that a prosecution was ordered, but of this no traces can be found
in any of the public offices. One of his political enemies
reprinted it in 1775, to shew what a change had been
effected in his principles by a pension; but the publisher
does not seem to have known what a very small change was
really effected, and how little was necessary to render
Johnson a loyal subject to his munificent sovereign, and a
determined enemy of the popular politics of that time.
that he should not have been sorry to try. Why the interference of his friends were ineffectual, the minister only could tell, but he was probably not ill advised. It is
About this time, an ineffectual attempt was made by his
steady friend Mr. Strahan, his majesty’s printer, to procure him a seat in parliament. His biographers have
amused their readers by conjectures on the probable figure
he would make in that assembly, and he owned frequently
that he should not have been sorry to try. Why the interference of his friends were ineffectual, the minister only
could tell, but he was probably not ill advised. It is not
improbable that Johnson would have proved an able assistant on some occasions, where a nervous and manly speech
was wanted to silence the inferiors in opposition, but it
may be doubted whether he would have given that uniform
and open consent which is expected from a party man.
Whatever aid he might be induced to give by his pen on
certain subjects, which accorded with his own sentiments,
and of which he thought himself master, he by no means
approved of many parts of the conduct of those ministers
who carried on the American war; and he was ever decidedly against the principle (if it may be so called), that
a man should go along with his party right or wrong,
“This,
” he once said, “is so remote from native virtue,
from scholastic virtue, that a good man must have undergone a great change before he can reconcile himself tosuch a doctrine. It is maintaining that you may lie to the
public, for you do lie when you call that right which you
think wrong, or the reverse.
”
friends ever considered in that light, although it might make him acquiesce more readily in what the minister required. He was willing to do something for gratitude, but
It is not improbable, however, that he felt the force of some of the replies made to his pamphlet, seconded 'as they were by the popular voice, and by the discomfiture of the measures of administration. It is certain that he complained, and perhaps about this time, of being called upon to write political pamphlets, and threatened to give up his pension. Whether this complaint was carried to the proper quarter, Mr. Boswell has not informed us; but he wrote no more in defence of the ministry, and he received no kind of reward for what he had done. His pension, neither he or his friends ever considered in that light, although it might make him acquiesce more readily in what the minister required. He was willing to do something for gratitude, but nothing for hire.
he above seminary, a younger brother, a youth of quick parts, who afterwards settled as a dissenting minister at Manchester. Mr. Jones, soon after he had finished his course
, a learned dissenting divine, was born in 1693, and received his academical learning under his uncle, the rev. Samuel Jones, first of Gloucester, then of Tewksbury, the tutor of Chandler, Butler, and Seeker. He was fellow-student with the latter in 1711, and was a distinguished scholar, when he entered upon academical studies. It is apprehended, that he was a native of the North of England, and that his father was a gentleman in affluent circumstances. There was with him, at the above seminary, a younger brother, a youth of quick parts, who afterwards settled as a dissenting minister at Manchester. Mr. Jones, soon after he had finished his course of preparatory studies, became the minister of the congregation of Protestant dissenters, who assembled for worship in Forest Green, Avening, Gloucestershire, and resided at Nailsworth, where he also kept an academy. He had the character of being an eminent linguist. He was popular as a preacher; for the place of worship was considerably enlarged in his time. His discourses met with the approbation of the more judicious, for his salary amounted to one hundred pounds per annum, and the whole subscription came from persons of superior rank in life. Though a deep scholar and hard student, he was not a man of severe manners; but of an open and social disposition, and one of a bowling party at a place still called the Lodge, on Hampton common, at which healthy exercise he relaxed from his studies, and by his presence and influence preserved decorum in the company. His character secured him the marked respect of a neighbouring clergyman. His anxiety to fulfil an engagement, which he had made, to perform some ministerial service at a place on the other side of the Severn, hastened his death. It escaped his recollection, till the time drew near; to prevent disappointment, he made so much speed, that his tender constitution was injured by it, and a complaint contracted, from which he never recovered. He died in 1724, aged 31.
many, if not all his manucripts, passed into the hands of the Rev. Thomas Dawson, M. D. a dissenting minister of Hackney, whence they passed to the dissenters’ library in
, an English divine of some note for
exciting a controversy respecting the Liturgy, was born in
1700, and is supposed to have been a native of Carmarthen.
He was admitted of Worcester college, Oxford, where he
took the degree of B. A. about 1721, and quitted the university in or before 1726, in which year he received
priest’s orders at Buckden, from Dr. Reynolds, bishop of
Lincoln. He had a curacy in that diocese, but in what
partis not known. In 1741 he was resident at
AbbotsRipton in Huntingdonshire, and soon after was presented
to the vicarage of Alconbury, which he resigned in 1751
for the rectory of Boulne-Hurst in Bedfordshire. In 1755
he was vicar of Hitchin, and in 1759 accepted the curacy
of Welwyn from Dr. Young, and continued there until
1765, when that celebrated poet died, and Mr. Jones was
appointed one of his executors. He afterwards returned
to Boulne-Hurst, and probably obtained no other preferment. He was killed by a fall from his horse in going to
Abbots-Ripton, but in what year we have not been able
to discover, although such a circumstance must have been
known to his friends, who, however, have neglected to
record it. After his death, many, if not all his manucripts, passed into the hands of the Rev. Thomas Dawson,
M. D. a dissenting minister of Hackney, whence they
passed to the dissenters’ library in Redcross-street. Some
biographical notices which have appeared in the Gentleman’s Magazine were extracted from them. Mr. Nichols
has given an extensive series of extracts from his literary
correspondence with Dr. Birch, from which many particulars of his talents and character may be gleaned. His
chief work was entitled “Free and Candid Disquisitions,
”
published in Catholic Faith
and Practice,
” and “A Letter to a Friend in the Country;
” but with the subjects of these we are unacquainted.
which he was desirous of having translated in England. The secretary of state, with whom the Danish minister had conversed upon the subject, sent the volume to Mr. Jones,
“The king of Denmark, then upon a visit to this country (1768), had brought with him an eastern manuscript,
containing the life of Nadir Shah, which he was desirous
of having translated in England. The secretary of state,
with whom the Danish minister had conversed upon the
subject, sent the volume to Mr. Jones, requesting him to
give a literal translation of it in the French language: but
he wholly declined the task, alleging for his excuse, the
dryness of the subject, the difficulty of the style, and
chiefly his want both of leisure and ability, to enter upon
an undertaking so fruitless and laborious. He mentioned,
however, a gentleman, with whom he was not then acquainted, but who had distinguished himself by the translation of a Persian history, and some popular tales froi
the Persic, as capable of gratifying the wishes of his Danish Majesty. Major Dow, the wriu-r alluded to, excuse
himself on account of his numerous engagements; and tl
application to Mr.lono, uus renewed. It was hinted, th
his compliance would be of no small advantage to him, at
his entrance into life; that it would procure him some mark
of distinction, which would be pleasing to him; and above
all, that it would be a reflection upon this country, if the
king should be obliged to carry the manuscript to France.
Incited by these motives, and principally the last, unwilling to be thought churlish or morose, and eager for reputation, he undertook the work, and sent the specimen of
it to his Danish majesty, who returned his approbation of
the style and method, but desired that the whole translation might be perfectly literal, and the oriental images accurately preserved. The task would have been far easier
to him, if he had been directed to finish it in Latin; for
the acquisition of a French style was infinitely more tedious,
and it was necessary to have every chapter corrected by a
native of France, before it could be offered to the discerning eye of the public, since in every language there are
certain peculiarities of idiom, and nice shades of meaning,
which a foreigner can never attain to perfection. The
work, however arduous and unpleasant, was completed in
a year, not without repeated hints from the secretary’s
office, that it was expected with great impatience by the
court of Denmark. The translation was not, however,
published until 1770. Forty copies upon large paper were
sent to Copenhagen; one of them, bound with uncommon
elegance, for the king himself: and the others as presents
to his courtiers.
”
now dean of Welles) say, that Ben: Johnson was a Warwyckshire man. ‘Tis agreed that his father was a minister; and by his epistle D. D. of Every Man to Mr. W. Camden, that
“I remember when I was a scholar at Trin. Coll. Oxon.
1646, I heard Mr. Ralph Bathurst (now dean of Welles)
say, that Ben: Johnson was a Warwyckshire man. ‘Tis
agreed that his father was a minister; and by his epistle
D. D. of Every Man to Mr. W. Camden, that he was
a Westminster scholar, and that Mr. W. Camden was his
schoolmaster. His mother, after his father’s death, married a bricklayer, and ’tis generally said that he wrought
for some time with his father-in-lawe, and particularly on
the garden wall of Lincoln’s inne next to Chancery lane;
and that a knight, a bencher, walking thro‘, and hearing
him repeat some Greeke verses out of Homer, discoursing
with him and finding him to have a witt extraordinary,
gave him some exhibition to maintain him at Trinity
college in Cambridge, where he was: then he went
into the Lowe Countryes, and spent some time, not very
long, in the armie; not to the disgrace of [it], as you
may find in his Epigrames. Then he came into England,
and acted and wrote at the Greene Curtaine, but both ill;
a kind of nursery or obscure playhouse somewhere in the
suburbs (I think towards Shoreditch or Clerkenwell). Then
he undertook again to write a play, and did hitt it admirably well, viz. Evtry Man which was his first good one.
Sergeant Jo. Hoskins of Herefordshire was his Father. I
remember his sonne (sir Bennet Hoskins, baronet, who was something poetical in his youth) told me, that when
he desired to be adopted his sonne, No, sayd he, ’tis
honour enough for me to be your brother I am your father’s
sonne 'twas he that polished me I do acknowledge it.
He was (or rather had been) of a clear and faire skin. His
habit was very plain. I have heard Mr. Lacy the player
say, that he was wont to weare a coate like a coachman’s
coate, with slitts under the arm-pitts. He would many
times exceede in drinke: Canarie was his beloved liquour:
then he would tumble home to bed; and when he had
thoroughly perspired, then to studie. I have seen his
studyeing chaire, which was of strawe, such as old women
used: and as Aulus Gellius is drawn in. When I was in
Oxon: Bishop Skinner (Bp. of Oxford) who lay at our
college was wont to say, that he understood an author as
well as any man in England. He mentions in his Epigrames, a son that he had, and his epitaph. Long since
in king James time, I have heard my uncle Davers (Danvers) say, who knew him, that he lived without Temple
Barre at a combe- maker’s shop about the Elephant’s castle.
In his later time he lived in Westminster, in the house
under which you passe as you go out of the church-yard
into the old palace; where he dyed. He lyes buried in
the north-aisle, the path square of stones, the rest is lozenge, opposite to the scutcheon of Robert de Ros, with
this inscription only on him, in a pavement square of blue
marble, 14 inches square, O Rare Ben: Jonson: which
was done at the charge of Jack Young, afterwards knighted,
who walking there when the grave was covering, gave the
fellow eighteen pence to cutt it.
”
er lost his estate under queen Mary, having been cast in prison and forfeited; and at last he turned minister. He was posthumous, being born a month after his father’s death,
The account Jonson gave of himself to Drummond is
jiot uninteresting. It was first published in the folia
editiort of Drummond’s Works, 1711. “He,
” Ben Jonson,
"said that his grandfather came from Carlisle, to which
he had come from Annandale in Scotland that he served
king Henry VIII. and was a gentleman. His father lost
his estate under queen Mary, having been cast in prison
and forfeited; and at last he turned minister. He was
posthumous, being born a month after his father’s death,
and was put to school by a friend. His master was Camden. Afterwards he was taken from it, and put to another
craft, viz. to be a bricklayer, which he could not endure,
but went into the Low Countries, and returning home he
again betook himself to his wonted studies. In his service
in the Low Countries, he had, in the view of both the
armies, killed an enemy, and taken the opima spolia from
him; and since coming to England, being appealed to in.
a duel, he had killed his adversary, who had hurt him in
the arm, and whose sword was ten inches longer than his.
For this crime he was imprisoned, and almost at the gallows. Then he took his religion on trust of a priest, who
visited him in prison. He was twelve years a papist; but
after this he was reconciled to the church of England, and
left off to be a recusant. At his first communion, in token
of his true reconciliation, he drank out the full cup of wine.
He was master of arts in both universities. In the time of
his close imprisonment under queen Elizabeth, there were
spies to catch him, but he was advertised of them by the
keeper. He had an epigram on the spies. He married a
wife, who was a shrew, yet honest to him. When the
king came to England, about the time that the plague was
in London, he (Ben Jonson) being in the country at sir
Robert Cotton’s house, with old Camden, saw in a vision
his eldest son, then a young child, and at London, appear
unto him with the mark of a bloody cross on his forehead,
as if it had been cut with a sword; at which, amazed, he
prayed unto God, and in the morning he came to Mr.
Camden’s chamber to tell him, who persuaded him it was
but an apprehension, at which he should not be dejected.
In the mean time came letters from his wife, of the death
of that boy in the plague. He appeared to him, he said,
of a manly shape, and of that growth he thinks he shall be
at the resurrection.
him to embrace the reformed religion. Having obtained his degree of M. A. in 1512, he was appointed minister of a Swiss church, to the duties of which he applied himself
, one of the reformers, son of John Judah, a German priest, was born in 1482, in Alsace. Some
authors have reported that he was a converted Jew, but
father Simon has proved that he neither was a Jew, nor of
Jewish extraction, but the son of the above John Judah, or
de Juda, who, according to the custom of those times, kept
a concubine, by whom he had this Leo. He was educated at Slestadt, and thence in 1502, was sent to Basil to
pursue his academical studies. Here he had for a fellowstudent, the afterwards much celebrated Zuinglius; and
from him, who had at a very early age been shocked at
the superstitious practices of the church of Rome, he received such impressions, as disposed him to embrace the
reformed religion. Having obtained his degree of M. A.
in 1512, he was appointed minister of a Swiss church, to
the duties of which he applied himself with indefatigable
zeal, preaching boldly in defence of the protestant religion. At length he was appointed by the magistrates and
ecclesiastical assembly of Zurich, pastor of the church of
St. Peter in that city, and became very celebrated as an
advocate, as well from the press as the pulpit, of the reformed religion, for about eighteen years. At the desire
of his brethren, he undertook a translation, from the Hebrew into Latin, of the whole Old Testament; but the magnitude of the work, and the closeness with which he applied to it, impaired his health; and before he had completed it, he fell a sacrifice to his labours, June 9, 1542,
when he was about sixty years of age. The translation was
finished by other hands, and was printed at Zurich in 1543,
and two years afterwards it was reprinted at Paris by Robert
Stephens, accompanying the Vulgate version, in adjoining
columns, but without the name of the author of the new
version. Judah was likewise the author of “Annotations
upon Genesis and Exodus,
” in which he was assisted by
Xuinglius, and upon the four gospels, and the greater part
of the epistles. He also composed a larger and smaller
catechism, and translated some of Zuinglius’s works into
Latin. The Spanish divines, notwithstanding the severity
of the Inquisition, did not hesitate to reprint the Latin
Bible of Leo Judah, with the notes ascribed to Vatabius,
though some of them were from the pen of Calvin. Some
particulars of Judah and of this translation, not generally
known, may be found in a book written by a divine of
Zurich, and printed in that city in 1616, entitled “Vindicise pro Bibliorum translatione Tigurina.
”
then returned to Magdeburg, and taught the second form there for some years; and in 1554, was chosen minister of St. Ulric’s church.
, one of the principal writers of the Centuries of Magdeburg, was born Sept. 21, 1528, at Tippolswald, in Misnia. His inclination to literature induced his father to send him to study at Dresden: but the college of Wittenberg being more to his mind, he removed thither, and afterwards was driven, by necessity, to Magdeburg. Here he supported himself by being tutor in the family of a lawyer, who sent him with his son to Wittenberg, in 1546. This gave him an opportunity of completing his own studies; and he obtained the degree of M. A. in this university, 1548. He then returned to Magdeburg, and taught the second form there for some years; and in 1554, was chosen minister of St. Ulric’s church.
amily, he resolved to get his bread by teaching school, which he pursued till 1565, when he was made minister of the Walloon church at Antwerp. But as this was both a troublesome
, or Du Jon (Francis), professor of divinity at Leyden, was descended of a noble family, and born at Bourges in 1545. At the age of thirteen he began to study the law, and afterwards went to Geneva, to study the languages; but being restrained in his pursuits for want of a proper support from his family, he resolved to get his bread by teaching school, which he pursued till 1565, when he was made minister of the Walloon church at Antwerp. But as this was both a troublesome and dangerous post, on account of the tumultuous conflicts between the papists and protestants at that time, he was soon obliged to withdraw into Germany. He went first to Heidelberg, where the elector, Frederic III. received him very graciously. He then made a visit to his mother, who was still living at Bourges; after which, returning to the Palatinate, he was made minister of the church of Schoon there. This was hut a small congregation; and, while he held it, he was sent by the elector to the prince of Orange’s army, during the unsuccessful expedition of 1568. He continued chaplain to that prince till the troops returned into Germany; when he resumed his church in the Palatine, and resided upon it till 1579. This year his patron, the elector, appointed him to translate the Old Testament jointly with Tremellius, which employment brought him to Heidelberg. He afterwards read public lectures at Neustadt, till prince Casimir, administrator of the electorate, gave him the divinity-professor’s chair at Heidelberg. He returned into France with the duke de Bouillon; and paying his respects to Henry IV. that prince sent him upon some mission into Germany. Returning to give an account of his success, and passing through Holland, he was invited to be divinity-professor at Leyden; and, obtaining the permission of the French ambassador, he accepted the offer in 1592. He had passed through many scenes of life, and he wrote an account of them himself this year: after which, he filled the chair at Leyden with great reputation for the space of ten years, when he died of the plague in 1602.
the catholics the Goliah of the protestants, was born Dec. 24, 1637. His father, Daniel Jurieu, was minister of the reformed religion at Mer his mother, the daughter of
, a French protestant divine, sometimes
called by the catholics the Goliah of the protestants, was
born Dec. 24, 1637. His father, Daniel Jurieu, was minister of the reformed religion at Mer his mother, the
daughter of Peter du Moulin, minister and professor at
Sedan. He was sent, after the first rudiments of his education under Rivet in Holland, to his maternal uncle Peter
du Moulin, then in England where, having finished his
theological studies, he took orders in that church but,
upon the death of his father, being called home to succeed
him at Mer, and finding what he had done in England
disliked by the reformed in his own country, he submitted
to a re-ordination by presbyters, according to the form of the
foreign protestant churches. After some time, he officiated
in the French church of Vitri, where the people were so
much pleased with him, that they endeavoured to procure
his settlement among them; and here he composed his
“Treatise, of Devotion.
” Before this, in Preservative against Popery,
” which he opposed to the exposition of the doctrine of the catholic church by M. de
Meaux, bishop of Condom. This treatise did great credit
to the author, who endeavoured to prove that the prelate
had disguised the doctrine of his church. In 1675, Jurieu.
published the first part of his work (the whole of which appeared in 1685), entitled “La Justification de la Morale,
” &c. or, “A Vindication of the Morality of the Protestants against the Accusations of Mr. Arnauld,
” &c. la
La Politique du Clerge,
” which was a severe satire on
the Roman catholics, he was apprehensive of being prosecuted, and therefore retired hastily into Holland, where
be almost immediately received an offer of the divinitychair in the university of Groningen; but his friends having founded the same professorship for him at Rotterdam,
he preferred this residence to the other; and he was also
appointed minister of the Walloon church in the same
town. He had not been long in this happy situation,
when he produced to the public “Les derniers Efforts de
PInnocence afflige'e,
” or “The last Efforts of afflicted
Innocence.
”
of Scotland, by whom she had a son, Samuel Kello, who was educated at Christ-church, Oxford, and was minister of Speckshall in Suffolk. His son was sword-bearer of Norwich,
, a lady celebrated for her skill in
calligraphy, in queen Elizabeth’s and king James’s time,
appears to have lived single until the age of forty, when
she became the wife of one Bartholomew Keilo, a native
of Scotland, by whom she had a son, Samuel Kello, who
was educated at Christ-church, Oxford, and was minister
of Speckshall in Suffolk. His son was sword-bearer of
Norwich, and died in 1709. All we know besides of her
is, that she was a correspondent of bishop Hall, when he
was dean of Worcester in 1617. Various specimens of her
delicate and beautiful writing are in our public repositories,
and some in Edinburgh-castle. In the library of Christchurch, Oxford, are the Psalrns of David, written in French
by Mrs. Inglis, who presented them in person to queen
Elizabeth, by whom they were given to the library. Two
manuscripts, written by her, were also preserved with care
in the Bodleian library: one of them is entitled “Le six
vingt et six Quatrains de Guy de Tour, sieur de Pybrac,
escrits par Esther Inglis, pour son dernier adieu, ce 21e
jour de Juin, 1617.
” The following address is, in the
second leaf, written in capital letters: “To the right
worshipful my very singular friende, Joseph Hall, doctor of
divinity, and dean of Winchester, Esther Inglis wisheth
all increase of true happiness. Junii xxi. 1617.
” In the
third leaf is pasted the head of the writer, painted upon a
card. The other manuscript is entitled “Les Proverbes de
Salomon; escrites en diverses sortes de lettres, par Esther
Anglois, en Francoise. A Lislehourge en Escosse,
” DC
l'Eternel Je biert, de moi le mal, ou rien.
” A music-book
lies open before her. Under the picture is a Latin epigram by Andrew Melvin, and on the following page a
second by the same author, in praise of Mrs. Inglis. In
the royal library, D. xvi. are “Esther Inglis’s fifty Emblems,
” finely drawn and written: “A Lislebourg en
Escosse, Panne 1624.
”
inal Spanish was published at Madrid, in 1758, under the assumed name of Francisco Lobon de Salazar, minister of the parish of St. Peter in Villagarcia. It was not only highly
, was a Spanish Jesuit
who on the suppression of his order, went to Italy, and
settled at Bologna, where he died in 1783. He is known
chiefly as the author of “The History of the famous
preacher friar Gerund de Campazas; otherwise Gerund
Zotes.
” This work was written with a view to correct the
abuses of the Spanish pulpit, by turning bad preachers
into ridicule. The first volume of the original Spanish
was published at Madrid, in 1758, under the assumed
name of Francisco Lobon de Salazar, minister of the parish
of St. Peter in Villagarcia. It was not only highly applauded by many of the learned in Spain, to whom it had
been communicated in manuscript; but even the inquisitors encouraged the publication, and bore testimony in
writing to its laudable design, believing that it would in a
great measure produce a reformation. One of the revisers
for the inquisition says, “It is one of those lucky expedients which indignation and hard necessity suggest, when
the best means have proved ineffectual, and we are not to
find fault if the dose of caustic and corrosive salts be somewhat too strong, as cancers are not to be cured with rose
water.
” Notwithstanding this approbation of the inquisition, some orders, particularly the Dominican and Mendicant, represented to the king that such a piece of merciless criticism would too much diminish the respect due
to the clergy, and would render all religious orders ridiculous in the eyes of the common people, &c. These arguments, repeatedly urged by the friars, and supported by
several of the bishops, obliged the council of Castile to
take the book into their serious consideration, which produced a suppression of it. The author had a second volume ready; but, finding it impossible to print it in Spain,
presented the copy to Mr. Baretti, by whose means both
volumes were printed in English in 1771, with the omission of some tedious and irrelevant parts. In Spain this
work was so highly approved, that the author was hailed
as a second Cervantes, whom he certainly endeavours to
copy; but it would be too liberal to allow him the merit
of successful rivalship. Friar Gerund, however, is
certainly a work of great humour, and must have appeared to
much advantage in Spain, where the subjects of the satirQ
are more common and obvious than in this country. Here
it cannot be supposed to yield more than mere amusement,
unless where it presents us with the customs of the common
and middle ranks of Spain, and those are said to be faithfully depicted.
rofessor in philosophy at Leipsic, and published a treatise upon burning mountains. He then became a minister, and exercised that function in various churches in the same
, a learned professor of divinity at
Leipsic, was son of John Ittigius,“professor of physic in
the same university, and born there in 1644. He received
the first part of his education at Leipsic then went to Rostoc, and lastly to Strasburg, to perfect his studies after
which he was admitted a professor in philosophy at Leipsic, and published a treatise upon burning mountains. He
then became a minister, and exercised that function in various churches in the same place. In 1680 he was made
archdeacon, and licentiate in divinity; and, in 1691, professor extraordinary in the same faculty, and ordinary professor the ensuing year. He furnished several papers
published in the Leipsic Acts: besides which we have of
his,
” Dissertatio de haeresiarchis aevi apostolici ejus proximi;“”Appendix de ha3resiarchis“”Prolegomena ad
Josephi opera“” Bibliotheca patrum apostolkorum Graeco-Latina;“” Historia synodorum nationalium in Gallia a
reformatis habitarum“” Liber de bibliothecis et catenis
patrum“” Exhortationes theologicæ“” Historic ecclesiasticæ primi et secundi seculi selecta capita." Some
part of this last did not appear till after the death of the
author, which happened April 7, 1710.
, an eminent traveller, was born Sept. 16, 1651, at Lemgow in Westphalia, where his father was a minister. After studying in several towns, and making a quick progress,
, an eminent traveller, was
born Sept. 16, 1651, at Lemgow in Westphalia, where
his father was a minister. After studying in several towns,
and making a quick progress, not only in the learned languages, but also in history, geography, and music, vocal
and instrumental, he went to Dantzick, where he made some
stay, and gave the first public specimen of his proficiency
by a dissertation “De Divisione Majestatis,
” in Amrenitates Exoticae,
” published at Lemgow, in
t importance. Keller disputed publicly with James Kailbrunner, the duke of Neuburg’s most celebrated minister, on the accusation brought against the Lutheran ministers, of
, or in Latin Cellarius, was born
in 1568, at Seckingen. He entered the Jesuits’ order in
1588, was appointed rector of the college at Ratisbon,
afterwards of that at Munich, and was for a long time confessor to prince Albert of Bavaria, and the princess his wife.
The elector Maximilian had a particular esteem for him,
and frequently employed him in affairs of the utmost importance. Keller disputed publicly with James Kailbrunner, the duke of Neuburg’s most celebrated minister, on
the accusation brought against the Lutheran ministers, of
having corrupted several passages quoted from the Fathers,
in a German work entitled “Papatus Acatholicus;
” their
dispute was held at Neuburg, 1615. Father Keller died
at Munich, February 23, 1631, aged sixty-three, leaving
some controversial works, and several political ones, concerning the affairs of Germany, in which he frequently
conceals himself under the names of Fabius Hercynianus,
Aurirnontius, Didacus Tamias, &c. His book against
France, entitled “Mysteria Politica,
” Canea
Turturis,
” in answer to the learned Gravina’s Song of the
Turtle, is attributed to Keller.
On May 5, 1694, he took the degree of B. D. that of D. D. July 19, 1699 and in 1700, was appointed minister of St. Botolph Aldgate in London, without any solicitation of
On May 5, 1694, he took the degree of B. D. that of
D. D. July 19, 1699 and in 1700, was appointed minister
of St. Botolph Aldgate in London, without any solicitation
of his own. In 1701, he engaged against Dr. Atterbury,
in the disputes about the rights of convocation, of which
he became a member about this time, as archdeacon of
Huntingdon; to which dignity he was advanced the same
year by Dr. Gardiner, bishop of Lincoln. He now grew
into great esteem by those who were deemed the lowchurch party, and particularly with Tenison the archbishop
of Canterbury. He preached a sermon at Aldgate, January
30, 1703, which exposed him to great clamour, and occasioned many pamphlets to be written against it; and in
1705, when Dr. Wake was advanced to the see of Lincoln,
was appointed to preach his consecration sermon; which
was so much admired by lord chief-justice Holt, that he
declared, “it had more in it to the purpose of the legal and
Christian constitution of this church than any volume of
discourses.
” About the same time, some booksellers, having undertaken to print a collection of the best writers of
the English history, as far as to the reign of Charles I. in
two folio volumes, prevailed with Dr. Kennet to prepare a
third volume, which should carry the history down to the
then present reign of queen Anne. This, being finished
with a particular preface, was published with the other two,
tinder the title of “A complete History of England, &c.
”
in the preacher had built a bridge to heaven for men of wit
and parts, but excluded the duller part of mankind from
any chance of passing it.
” This charge was grounded on
the following passage; where, speaking of a late repentance, he says, that “this rarely happens but in men of
distinguished sense and judgment. Ordinary abilities may
Jt>e altogether sunk by a long vicious course of life: the
duller flame is easily extinguished. The meaner sinful
wretches are commonly given up to a reprobate mind, and
die as stupidly as they lived; while the nobler and brighter
parts have an advantage of understanding the worth of their
souls before they resign them. If they are allowed the
benefit of sickness, they commonly awake out of their
dream of sin, and reflect, and look upward. They acknowledge an infinite being they feel their own immortal part
they recollect and relish the holy Scriptures they call for
the elders of the church they think what to answer at a
judgment-seat. Not that God is a respecter of persons,
but the difference is in men; and, the more intelligent
nature is, the more susceptible of the divine grace.
” Of
this sermon a new edition, with “Memoirs of the Family
of Cavendish,
” and notes and illustrations, was published
in
my lord treasurer, that, according to his petition, he should obtain a salary of 200l. per annum, as minister of the English church at Rotterdam. Then he stopt F. Gwynne,
"Dr. Swift came into the coffee-house, and had a bow from every body but me, who, I confess, could not but despise him. When I came to the an ti- chamber to wait before prayers, Dr. Swift was the principal man of talk and business, and acted as a master of requests. He was soliciting the earl of Arran to speak to his brother the duke of Ormond, to get a chaplain’s place established in the garrison of Hull for Mr. Fiddes, a clergyman in that neighbourhood, who had lately been in gaol, and published sermons to pay fees. He was promising Mr. Thorold to undertake with my lord treasurer, that, according to his petition, he should obtain a salary of 200l. per annum, as minister of the English church at Rotterdam. Then he stopt F. Gwynne, esq. going in with his red bag to the queen, and told him aloud he had somewhat to say to him from my lord treasurer. He talked with the son of Dr. Davenant to be sent abroad, and took out his pocket-book and wrote down several things, as memoranda, to do for him. He turned to the fire, and took out his gold watch, and, telling the time of the day, complained it was very late. A gentleman said, ‘ he was too fast.’ * How can I help it,‘ says the doctor, ’ if the courtiers give me a watch that won‘t go right’ Then he instructed a young nobleman, that the best poet in England was Mr. Pope (a papist), who had begun a translation of Homer into English verse for which ‘ he must have ’em all subscribe' for, says he, the author shall not begin to print till I have a thousand guineas for him. Lord Treasurer, after leaving the queen, came through the room beckoning Dr. Swift to follow him: both went off just before prayers. 11 Nov. 3. I see and hear a great deal to confirm a doubt, that the pretender’s interest is much at the bottom of some
fixed upon as a proper person to undertake the education of two grandsons of baron Bernstorf, first minister of state to his Britannic majesty, as elector; and accordingly
Having returned safe with his pupils, and acquired great
honour by his care and management of them, he was afterwards fixed upon as a proper person to undertake the
education of two grandsons of baron Bernstorf, first minister
of state to his Britannic majesty, as elector; and accordingly he went to Hanover in 1716, and entered upon his
office. However, in 1718, he obtained leave to go over to
England, where he distinguished himself so much as an
antiquary, that he was complimented with being fellow of
the royal society. This honour he particularly owed to a
learned essay, “De Dea Nehalennia numine veterum
Walachiorum topico.
” He gave an explication also of the
Anglo-Saxon monument of antiquity on Salisbury Plain,
called Stonehenge; and likewise a “Dissertation on the
consecrated Misseltue of the Druids. 11 All these detached
essays, with other select discourses on the Celtic and
Northern antiquities, he published soon after his return to
Hanover, in Latin, under this title,
” Antiquitates selectae
Sepientrionales et CeUicae," &c. Hanov. 1720, 12mo.
try’s cause, the honour of which was thought to be blemished by that account, Mr. Scheel, the Danish minister, having presented a memorial against it. Animated with this
In 1690 he translated from the French of Monsieur and
Madame Dacier, “The Life of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, the Roman Emperor; together with some select remarks on the said Antoninus’s Meditations concerning himself, treating of a natural man’s happiness, &c. as also
upon the Life of Antoninus.
” About the same time he
wrote “A Dialogue shewing the way to Modern Preferment,
” a humourous satire, which contains some solid truths,
under the disguise of a conversation between three illustrious personages; the tooth-drawer to cardinal PortoCarero; the corn-cutter to pope Innocent XI.; and the
receiver-general to an Ottoman mufti. On July 7, 1692,
he took his degree of B. and D. LL. and Nov. 12, that
year, by favour of abp. Tillotson, obtained a fat, which,
admitting him an advocate at Doctor’s commons, enabled
him to plead in the courts of the civil and ecclesiastical
law. In 1693 he published a translation of “New Manners and Characters of the two great Brothers, the Duke of
Bouillon and MareschalTurenne, written in French by James
de Langdale, Baron of Saumieres.
” Either in this, or early
in the following year, appeared a very extraordinary morçeau,
under the title of “An Answer to a Book which will be published next week entitled A Letter to the Rev. Dr. South,
upon occasion of a late Book entitled Animadversions on Dr.
Sherlock’s Book, entiiled A Vindication of the Holy and
Ever-blessed Trinity. Being a Letter to the Author.
” In
August Account of
Denmark as it was in the year 1692,
” in which he treata
the Danes and their monarch with great contempt, and
takes the opportunity of insinuating those wild principles,
by which he supposes liberty to be established, and by which
his adversaries suspect that all subordination and government is endangered. Dr. King therefore took up his pen
once more in his country’s cause, the honour of which was
thought to be blemished by that account, Mr. Scheel, the
Danish minister, having presented a memorial against it.
Animated with this spirit, Dr. King drew up a censure of
it, which he printed in 1694, under the title of “Animadversions on the pretended Account of Denmark.
” This was
so much approved by prince George, consort to the princess Anne, that the doctor was soon after appointed secretary to her royal highness.
town; and his views being, in consequence of his advice, directed to the profession of a dissenting minister, he was placed, at the age of sixteen, in the academy at Northampton,
, an eminent dissenting divine and biographer, was born at Nottingham, March 28, 1725. His father, Mr. Robert Kippis, a silk- hosier at that town, was maternally descended from clergymen who were ejected for nonconformity, the principles of which were naturally conveyed to their posterity. His father dying when he was about five years of age, he was removed to his grandfather at Sleaford in Lincolnshire, where his talents and application during his grammatical education attracted the peculiar notice of Mr. Merrivaie, pastor of a congregation of dissenters in that town; and his views being, in consequence of his advice, directed to the profession of a dissenting minister, he was placed, at the age of sixteen, in the academy at Northampton, under the care of Dr. Doddridge. Here he prosecuted his studies with such diligence and improvement, and conducted himself with such exemplary propriety, as to conciliate the affectionate esteem and attachment of his tutor; and having completed his course, he was settled as minister of a dissenting congregation at Boston, in Lincolnshire, in September! 746. From Boston he removed to Dorking in Surrey, in 1750; and in 1753, he succeeded Dr. Hughes as pastor to the congregation in Prince’s-street, Westminster, which was his last charge. In the same year he married miss Elizabeth Bott, the daughter of a merchant at Boston, in whom he found a sensible, prudent, sprightly, and cheerful companion, and by whose attentions his mind was relieved from all family concerns; so that he was left at full leisure to prosecute the various duties which his numerous engagements devolved upon him. His settlement with the society in Westminster laid the foundation of that celebrity which he afterwards acquired, and of that extensive usefulness which distinguished his future life. Among his other public services among the dissenters, he was soon introduced into a connection with the presbyterian-fund, to the prosperity of which he was afterwards very ardently devoted and in June 1762, he became a member of Dr. Williams’s s trust, an appointment which afforded him an additional opportunity of being eminently and extensively useful in a variety of respects. His connection with the general body of Protestant dissenting ministers, belonging to the cities of London and Westminster, and with many charitable institutions belonging to the dissenters, gave him frequent occasion to exercise his talents to their advantage.
s ordinary conversation affability and openness, with that gravity of demeanour which well becomes a minister of the gospel persuasive in his addresses to his hearers, and
His works, which discover great learning in a style plain
and perspicuous, were, 1. “The scripture doctrine of the
Existence and Attributes of God, in twelve Sermons, with
a preface, in answer to a pamphlet concerning the argument d priori.
” 2. “An Answer to bishop Clayton’s Essay
on Spirit;
” for which archbishop Seeker conferred on him
the degree of D. D. 3. “Lord Hervey’s and Dr. Middleton’s Letters on the Roman Senate.
” 4. “Observations on the Tithe Bill.
” 5. “Dialogue on the Test Act.
”
6. “Primitive Christianity in favour of tha Trinity;
” attempted to be answered by Mr. Capel Lofft. 7. “Observations on the divine mission of Moses.
” 8. “Advice to
a young clergyman, in six letters.
” 9. “The Passion, a
sermon.
” 10. “On Charity Schools, on Sunday Schools,
and a preparatory discourse on Confirmation.
” Though he
occasionally meddled with controversial points, yet he always conducted himself with the urbanity of a scholar,
the politeness of a gentleman, and the meekness of a
Christian. He had particularly directed his studies to the
acquirement of biblical learning; and, by temporary seclusion from the world, had stored his mind with the treasures of divine wisdom. As a preacher, he was justly admired. His delivery in the pulpit was earnest and impressive his language nervous and affecting; his manner
plain and artless. His discourses were evidently written to
benefit those to whom they were addressed, not to acquire
for himself the title of a popular preacher. It was his grand
object to strike at the root of moral depravity, to rouse up
the languishing spirit of devotion, to improve the age, and
to lead men to the observance of those moral duties,
which his Divine Master taught them to regard as the essentials of his religion. To the doctrines of the Church of
England he was a zealous friend; but, at the same time,
he was also the friend of toleration. As a parish priest,
he stood unrivalled among his order; exemplary in his
conduct, unremitted in his attention to the duties of his
station, blending in his ordinary conversation affability and
openness, with that gravity of demeanour which well becomes a minister of the gospel persuasive in his addresses
to his hearers, and adorning his doctrine by his life he
will be long and unaffectedly lamented by his numerous
parishioners. His only daughter was married, in 1780, to
the rev. Benjamin Underwood, rector of East Barnet, and
of St. Mary Abchurch, London.
rned divine, was born in 1576, at Cobelen in Misnia, of a noble and ancient family. He was appointed minister at Eisleben, then preacher to the duchess dowager of Saxony,
, a learned divine, was born in
1576, at Cobelen in Misnia, of a noble and ancient family.
He was appointed minister at Eisleben, then preacher to
the duchess dowager of Saxony, and afterwards superintendant of Weimar, where he died in 1643, leaving, “Harmonia Evangelistarum
” “Examen Libri Christianas Concordiae
” “Historiae Ecclesise compendium
” and a valuable paraphrase on the book of Jeremiah and the Lamentations, which is in the Bible of Weimar.
a German, he visited the most celebrated towns of Franconia. His high reputation engaged Boccius, a minister of Oetingen in Swabia, to employ him as a preceptor to his children;
, a learned German, and accurate classical editor, was born in 1647 at Gripswalde, a town of Pomerania, where his father was a merchant. Great care was taken of his education; and, after he had finished his juvenile studies in his own country, he was sent to Stade in Lower Saxony. In 1668, he went to the university of Jena, where he applied himself to divinity and the belles lettres. Travelling making one part of the education of a German, he visited the most celebrated towns of Franconia. His high reputation engaged Boccius, a minister of Oetingen in Swabia, to employ him as a preceptor to his children; which office he discharged with so much credit, that he was in 1669 made principal of the college in this town. He held this post three years, and then went to Strasburg; where, in 1676, he was elected Greek professor in the principal college. Ten years he acquitted himself honourably in this professorship, and then was appointed Greek and Hebrew professor in the university of the same town. His uncommon skill in the Greek language drew a vast nnmber of scholars about him, and from places and countries very distant. He died Dec. 11, 1697, aged 50.
mendation of baron Spanheim, he was appointed tutor to the two sons of the count de Schewerin, prime- minister of the king of Prussia. He had also the promise of a professorship
, a learned critic, was born in the
month of Feb. 1670 at Blomberg, a little town in Westphalia, where his father was a magistrate. He learned
polite literature under his elder brother, who taught it in
the college of Joachim at Berlin. He distinguished himself so early in life, that on the recommendation of baron
Spanheim, he was appointed tutor to the two sons of the
count de Schewerin, prime-minister of the king of Prussia.
He had also the promise of a professorship in the college
of Joachim at Berlin but, till that should be vacant,
Kuster, who was then but about five-and-twenty, resolved
to travel into Germany, France, England, and Holland.
He went first to Francfort upon the Oder, where he
studied the civil law for some time; and thence to Antwerp, Ley den, and Utrecnt, where he remained a considerable time, and wrote several works. In 1699, he
passed over into England, and the year following into
France, where his chief employment was to collate Suidas
with three manuscripts in the king’s library. About the
end of this year he returned to England, and in four years
finished his edition of Suidas, on which he may be said to
have meditated day and night. He relates himself, that,
being one night awaked by thunder and lightning, he became so alarmed for this work, that he rose immediately,
and carried it to bed with him, as his most valuable treasure. It was published at Cambridge in 1705, and is by
far the best edition of that valuable Lexicon; and Le
Clerc tells us, that the university furnished part of the
expence of it. The Bodleian library has lately become
possessed of a copy, covered from one end to the other
with manuscript notes by D'Orville and others. Kuster
was honoured with the degree of doctor by the university
of Cambridge, and had several advantageous offers made
him to continue there; but was obliged to wave them,
being recalled to Berlin, to take possession of the professorship, which had been promised him. He afterwards resigned this place, and went to Amsterdam; where,
in 1710, he published an edition of “Aristophanes,
” in
folio, whicb the public had been prepared some time to
expect by an account as well as a specimen of that work,
given by LeClerc in his “Bibliotheque choisie,
” for Lysistrata,
” some notes of Isaac Casaubon on the “Equites,
”
and of Spanheim and Bentley, on a few of the earlier
plays. It is, upon the whole, a noble production, and has
been long esteemed by the first literary characters abroad
and at home. Kuster gave an edition also of “Mill’s
Greek Testament
” the same year; in which he had compared the text with twelve manuscripts which Mill never
saw. Of these twelve there were nine in the king of
France’s library; but, excepting one, which has all the
books of the New Testament, the rest contain no more
than the four Gospels. The tenth manuscript belonged to
Carpzovius, a minister of Leipsic, and contains the four
Gospels. The eleventh was brought from Greece by
Seidel, of Berlin; but it has not the four Gospels. The
last, which Kuster most highly valued, was communicated
to him by Bornier, who bought it at the public sale of
the library of Francius, professor of rhetoric at Amsterdam. After Kuster’s preface, follows a letter of Le Clerc
concerning Mill’s work. From Amsterdam he removed to
Rotterdam, and went some time after to Antwerp, to confer
with the Jesuits about some doubts he had in religious
matters; the consequence of this was his being brought
over to the Roman catholic religion, and his abjuring that
of the Protestants July 25, 1713, in the church of the noviciates belonging to the Jesuits. The king of France rewarded him with a pension of 2000 livres; and as a mark
of "distinction, ordered him to be admitted supernumerary
associate of the academy of inscriptions. But he did not
enjoy this new settlement long; for he died October 12,
1716, of an abscess in the pancreas, aged only forty-six.
gns against him, aimed to ward off the blow, by turning it upon them. Mr. de Wolzogue, professor and minister of the Walloon church at Utrecht, had lately published a piece,
The followers of Labadie, who were now distinguished by the title of Labadists, became so numerous, and so many persons of each sex abandoned the reformed to close with them, that the French church in the United Provinces set themselves in earnest to stop the desertion, which was daily increasing. But Labadie, perceiving their designs against him, aimed to ward off the blow, by turning it upon them. Mr. de Wolzogue, professor and minister of the Walloon church at Utrecht, had lately published a piece, several passages of which had given great offence to the protestants . Labadie therefore took this opportunity to accuse him of heterodoxy, in the name of the Walloon church at Middleburgh, to a synod which was held at Naerden. But, upon hearing the matter, Wolzogue was unanimously declared orthodox, the church of Middleburg censured, and Labadie condemned to make a public confession before the synod, and in the presence of Wolzogue, that he had been to blame in bringing the accusation, by which he had done him an injury. This judgment reaching the ears of Labadie, he resolved not to hear it pronounced and, lest it should be signified to him, he withdrew privately from Naerden and, returning to Middleburgh, raised such a spirit against the synod in his church as even threatened no less than a formal schism. Several synods endeavoured, by their decrees, to cut up the mischief by the root but in some of these Labadie refused to appear he disputed the authority of others, and appealed from the definitive sentences which they pronounced against him. At length commissaries were nominated by the synod, to determine the affair at Middleburgh, but they had no sooner arrived than the people rose against them, possessed themselves of the assemblyhouse, and locked the church-doors to keep them out. The magistrates supported Labadie, and the estates of the province contented themselves with proposing an accommodation; which being haughtily rejected by Labadie, the states were so provoked, that they confirmed the sentence passed by the commissaries, by which he was forbidden to preach, &c. And because Labadie exclaimed loudly against being condemned without a hearing, the decision of the synod to be held at Dort was sent to him, summoning him to appear there. Labadie was deposed by this synod, and cut off from all hopes of mercy on any other condition, except that of thorough repentance, of which he never gave any proofs. On the contrary, he procured a crowd of devotees to attend him to Middleburgh, where they broke open the church-doors; which done, he preached, and distributed the eucharist to such as followed him. The burgo- masters, apprehensive of consequences, sent him an order to quit the town and the boundaries of their jurisdiction. He obeyed the order, and withdrew to Ter-Veer, a neighbouring town, where he had some zealous partisans, among the rich merchants and traders, who had settled, and drawn a large share of commerce thither. They received him joyfully, and procured him a protection from the magistrates. However, the states of Zealand, being resolved to drive him from this fort, made an order to expel him the province. The magistrates of Ter-Veer took his part against the states, alledging three reasons in his favour: first, that he lived peaceably in their town, and had done nothing worthy of banishment secondly, that it was enough to interdict him from preaching in public and lastly, that they had reason to apprehend danger from the populace, who would not quietly be deprived of so edifying a person. The province was obliged to have recourse to the prince of Orange, who was marquis of Ter-Veer; and who ordered Labadie to submit, forbidding at the same time any of the inhabitants to harbour him.
at enfrerprize. He eagerly caught at the offer, hastened to Paris, refused, in a conference with the minister, the salary offered him, and taking a hasty leave of his friends,
, a member of the academy
of sciences at Paris, and member of the museum in the
same city, was born at Salon, in Provence, in 1752, of
an old and respectable family. He was destined for the
church, and sent to Paris to complete his theological studies. He rose to the dignity of canon, but by the death
of his father and elder brother acquired property, which
enabled him to follow the bent of his inclinations, by devoting himself to the physical sciences. He travelled
through Provence and Dauphine*, and scaled the Alps and
Pyrenees; “at the sight of these vast natural laboratories,
the bent of his mind burst forth instantaneously; he climbed
to the summit of rocks, and explored the abyss of caverns,
weighed the air, analysed specimens, and in this ardent
fancy, having attained the secrets of creation, he formed
a new system of the world.
” Upon his return home, he
applied with great ardour to the study of meteorology,
natural philosophy, and the other branches of the history
of nature. He spent three years at Paris, and gave to the
learned societies there many very valuable papers, particularly a memoir on the Cretans, a memoir on the theory
of the winds, and a treatise on the alteration in the course
of rivers, particularly the Rhone. He, again visited Switzerland and Italy, going first to Turin, where he allied
himself to the learned of that country: after his return,
laden with the spoils of the countries which he traversed,
he employed himself in the arrangement of the interesting
fruits of his journey. It was at the time when Lamanon
was preparing for the press his great work on the “Theory
of the Earth,
” that the French government conceived the
vast project of completing the discoveries of captain Cook;
the Academy of sciences was entrusted with the care of
selecting men capable of rectifying the common notions of
the southern hemisphere, of improving hydrography, and
advancing the progress of natural history; they invited,
at the recommendation of the illustrious Condorcet, Lamanon to share the danger, and to partake in the glory of
this great enfrerprize. He eagerly caught at the offer,
hastened to Paris, refused, in a conference with the minister, the salary offered him, and taking a hasty leave of
his friends, departed for Brest. On the 1st of August,
1785, the armament set sail under the orders of La Perouse, an experienced commander: the commencement
of the voyage was highly prosperous. After some delays,
and having embraced every opportunity of making observations, the vessels arrived at the island of Maouna,
one of the southern archipelago. Lamanon, eager to assure himself of the truth of the accounts of that country,
debarked with Langlc, the second in command. Having
explored the place, and being upon the point of returning,
they were attacked by the natives; a combat ensued, and
they, with several of the boat’s crew, fell a sacrifice to the
fury of these barbarians. Thus perished Lamanon, a
young man ardent in the pursuits of science, disinterested
in his principles, and a zealous advocate for the interests
of freedom. Uis eulogist, M. Ponce, said of him, “that
be seemed born to bring about a revolution in science;
the depth of his ideas, the energy of his character, the
sagacity of his mind, united to that lively curiosity that
can draw instruction out of every thing which he saw, and
which leaves nothing unexplored, would have led him to
the most valuable discoveries/
”
pastor. In 1720 he accepted the office of theological professor at Utrecht, but was not constituted minister of the church, as the author of his funeral eloge seems to intimate.
, a German protestant divine, was born at Dethmold, in the county of La Lippe, in Westphalia, Feb. 19, 1683. After being taught the learned languages at Bremen, he studied at Franeker and Utrecht, and fixing on divinity as a profession, became the pupil of Campejus, Vitringa, and other eminent lecturers of that period. His theological course being completed, he officiated successively in the churches of Weezen, Tenteburgh, and Bremen. In 1709 he officiated as second pastor at the latter place, and in 1719 was appointed first pastor. In 1720 he accepted the office of theological professor at Utrecht, but was not constituted minister of the church, as the author of his funeral eloge seems to intimate. His only duty was to preach each alternate Sunday in German, and besides this he held no ecclesiastical function. In 1726 he was appointed professor of church history, but the year following he was again invited to Bremen, where he was not only made ordinary professor of divinity, but rector of the college, and pastor of the church. These honours, however, he enjoyed for no long time, being cut off by a haemorrhage, in the forty-sixth year of his age, Dec. 8, 1729, and at a time when his health, which had been injured while at Utrecht, seemed to be re-established.
regarded, and disregarded his own interest at the same time, by dedicating this poem to lord Bute, a minister going out of place It produced him, however, a very flattering
During Churchill’s career, our author endeavoured to
counteract the scurrility he had thrown out against Scotland in his “Prophecy of Famine,
” by an elegant poem
entitled “Genius and Valour.
” This provoked Churchill
to introduce his name once or twice with his usual epithets
of contempt, which Langhorne disregarded, and disregarded his own interest at the same time, by dedicating
this poem to lord Bute, a minister going out of place It
produced him, however, a very flattering letter, in 1766,
from Dr. Robertson, the celebrated historian, and principal of the university of Edinburgh, requesting him to
accept a diploma for the degree of D. D. He was farther
consoled by the approbation of every wise and loyal man,
who contemplated the miseries of disunion, and the glaring
absurdity of perpetuating national prejudices.
t to reside at Folkstone, in Kent, where his brother, the Kev. William Langhorne, then officiated as minister, a man of a very amiable character. He was born in 1721, and
During Mrs. Langhorne’s life, he produced one poem
only, entitled “Precepts of Conjugal Happiness,
” addressed to Mrs. Nelthorpe, a sister of his wife. To this
lady he committed the care of his infant child, who lived
to acknowledge her friendship, and to discharge the duties of an affectionate son, by the late “Memoirs of his
Father,
” prefixed to an elegant edition of his poems. In
the “Precepts of Conjugal Happiness,
” there is more
good sense than poetry. It appears to have been a temporary effusion on which he bestowed no extraordinary
pains. Not long after Mrs. Langhorne’s death, our author
went to reside at Folkstone, in Kent, where his brother,
the Kev. William Langhorne, then officiated as minister, a
man of a very amiable character. He was born in 1721,
and presented by the archbishop of Canterbury to the rectory of Hakinge, with the perpetual curacy of Folkstone,
in 1754; and on this preferment he passed the remainder
of his life. He published “Job,
” a poem, and a poetical
Paraphrase on a part of Isaiah, neither of which raised
him to the fame of a poet, although they are not without
the merit of correctness and spirit. He died Feb. 17,
1772, and his brother wrote some elegant lines to his memory, which are inscribed on a tablet in the chancel of
Folkstone church. Between these brothers the closest affection subsisted; each was to the other “more the friend
than brother of his heart.
” During their residence together at Folkstone, they were employed in preparing a new
translation of Plutarch’s Lives; and our poet, who became
about this time intimate with Scott, the poet of Amwell
(who likewise had just lost a beloved wife from a similar cause) paid him a visit at Aniwell, where he wrote the monody inscribed to Mr. Scott.
, a gentleman of Westphalia, and provost of the cathedral church of Minister towards the end of the fifteenth century, distinguished himself
, a gentleman of Westphalia, and
provost of the cathedral church of Minister towards the end
of the fifteenth century, distinguished himself by his learning, and by his zeal for the restoration of polite literature.
He went through his first studies at Deventer, and was
afterwards sent into Italy, where, under the greatest masters in literature, Laurence Valla, Mapheus Vegius, Francis Philelphus, and Theodore Gaza, he acquired an elegant
Latin style both in verse and prose. His fellow-travellers
in this journey were Maurice count of Spiegelberg and
Rodolph Agricola, who, on their return to Germany, were
the first to introduce proper methods of classical teaching,
and to restore the purity of the Latin language. Langius
being sent to the court of Rome by the bishop and chapter of Munster, under pope Sixtus IV. acquitted himself
with great credit, and came back with letters from this
pope and from Lorenzo de Medici, which gave him so
much consequence in the eyes of his countrymen, that he
was enabled more successfully to banish from the schools
the ignorance which prevailed there. He was obliged,
however, to struggle some years with those who objected
that the introduction of a new method of teaching was
dangerous; but at length he overcame those prejudices,
and persuaded his bishop to found a school at Munster,
the direction of which was committed to learned men, to
whom he pointed out the method they were to follow, and
the books they were to explain, ann gave them the use of
his fine library. This school being thus established a little
before the end of the fifteenth century, became very
flourishing, and served as a nursery of literature to all
Germany till the Revolutions which were occasioned at
Munster by the anabaptists in the year 1554. Langius died
in 1519, at the age of fourscore. He published some poems
at Munster, 1486, 4to, by which, says Bayle, it appears
that there were Latin poets of some reputation in Germany
before Conrad Celtes. Rodolph Agricola dedicated his Latin
translation of Plato’s “Axiochus
” to Langius.
, a native of France, and minister of state to Augustus elector of Saxony, was born at Viteaux
, a native of France, and minister of state to Augustus elector of Saxony, was born at Viteaux in 1518; and, having passed through his studies at home, went to Italy in 1547, to complete his knowledge in the civil law, of which he commenced doctor at Padua. Thence going to Bologna, he met with one of Melancthon’s works, which raised in him a desire to be acquainted with that eminent reformer; accordingly he made a tour into Germany, on purpose to visit him at Wittenberg in Saxony, where he arrived in 1549, and shortly after embraced the protestant religion. From this time there commenced a strict friendship between him and Melancthon, so that they became inseparable companions; and Melancthon, finding Languet well acquainted with the political interest of princes, and with the history of illustrious men, was wonderfully delighted with his conversation, and his extensive fund of information, in all which he was not only minutely correct as to facts, but intelligent and judicious in his remarks and conjectures.
d was a preacher at Antwerp, in 1586, and afterwards for several years; Vossius mentions that he was minister at Goese in Zealand, twenty-nine years; and being then discharged
, a mathematician, was born in
Zealand, in 1561, and was a preacher at Antwerp, in
1586, and afterwards for several years; Vossius mentions
that he was minister at Goese in Zealand, twenty-nine
years; and being then discharged of his functions, on account of his old age, he retired to Middleburgh, where
he died in 1632. His works were principally the following:
1. “Six Books of sacred Chronology,
” printed in Essays on the Restitution of Astronomy,
” printed at
Middleburgh, Four Books of Geometrical
Triangles,
” printed in Of Measuring the
Heavens,
” in three books, in the same year. 5. “An
Account of the diurnal and annual Motion of the Earth
and of the true Situation of the visible celestial Bodies.
”
In this work he declares himself openly for Copernicus’s
System, and even pretends to improve it. He composed
this work in Dutch, and it was translated into Latin by
M-minus Hortensius, and printed at Middleburgh, 1630.
Fromond, a doctor of Louvain, wrote an answer to it, and
endeavoured to prove the earth stood still; and his son
published an answer not only to Fromond, but to Morin,
regius professor at Paris, and to Peter Bartholinus, which
is entitled “A Defence of the Account,
” &c. This occasioned a controversy, but of no long duration.
senters; but, in 1729, he was invited by the congregation of Crutcbedfriars to be assistant to their minister. At this period the enthusiasm of Mr. Woolston introduced an
, a very learned dissenting clergyman, was born at Hawkhurst, in Kent, June 6, 1684.
He was educated for some time at a dissenter’s academy
in London, by the Rev. Dr. Oldfield, whence he went to
Utrecht, and studied under Grsevius and Burman, and
made all the improvement which might be expected under
such masters. From Utrecht Mr. Lardner went to Leyden,
whence, after a short stay, he came to England, and employed himself in diligent preparation for the sacred profession. He did not, however, preach his first sermon till
he was twenty-five years of age. In 1713 he was invited
to reside in the house of lady Treby, widow of the lord
chief justice of common pleas, as domestic chaplain to the
lady, and tutor to her youngest son. He accompanied his
pupil to France, the Netherlands, and United Provinces,
and continued in the family till the death of lady Treby.
It reflects no honour upon the dissenters that such a man
should be so long neglected; but, in 1723, he was engaged with other ministers to carry on a course of lectures
at the Old Jewry. The gentlemen who conducted these
lectures preached a course of sermons on the evidences of
natural and revealed religion. The proof of the credibility
of the gospel history was assigned to Mr Lardner, and he
delivered three sermons on this subject, which probably
laid the foundation of his great work, as from this period
he was diligently engaged in writing the first part of the
Credibility. In 1727 he published, in two volumes octavo,
the first part of “The Credibility of the Gospel History;
or the facts occasionally mentioned in the New Testament,
confirmed by passages of ancient authors who were contemporary with our Saviour, or his apostles, or lived near
their time.
” It is unnecessary to say how well these volumes were received by the learned world, without any
distinction of sect or party. Notwithstanding, however,
his great merit, Mr. Lardner was forty-five years of age
before he obtained a settlement among the dissenters; but,
in 1729, he was invited by the congregation of Crutcbedfriars to be assistant to their minister. At this period the
enthusiasm of Mr. Woolston introduced an important controversy. In various absurd publications he treated the
miracles of our Saviour with extreme licentiousness. These
Mr. Lardner confuted with the happiest success, in a work
which he at this time published, and which was entitled
“A Vindication of three of our Saviour’s Miracles.
” About
the same time also he found leisure to write other occasional
pieces, the principal of which was his “Letter on the Logos.
”
In Credibility of the Gospel-history,
” which, besides being
universally well received at home, was so much approved
abroad, that it was translated by two learned foreigners;
by Mr. Cornelius Westerbaen into Low Dutch, and by Mr.
J. Christopher Wolff into Latin. The second volume of
the second part of this work appeared in 1735; and the
farther Mr. Lardner proceeded in his design, the more he
advanced in esteem and reputation among learned men of
all denominations. In 1737 he published his “Counsels
of Prudence
” for the use of young people, on account of
which he received a complimentary letter from Dr. Seeker,
bishop of Oxford. The third and fourth volumes of the
second part of the “Credibility,
” no less curious than the
precediug, were published in 1738 and 1740. The fifth
volume in 1743. To be circumstantial in the account of
all the writings which this eminent man produced would
greatly exceed our limits. They were all considered as of
distinguished usefulness and merit. We may in particular
notice the “Supplement to the Credibility,
” which has
a place in the collection of treatises published by Dr. Watson, bishop of Llandaff. Notwithstanding Dr. Lardner’s
life and pen were so long and so usefully devoted to the
public, he never rfceived any adequate recompence. The
college of Aberdeen conferred on him the degree of doctor of divinity, and the diploma had the unanimous signature of the professors. But his salary as a preacher was
inconsiderable, and his works often published to his loss
instead of gain. Dr. Lardner lived to a very advanced age,
and, with the exception of his hearing, retained the use of
his faculties to the last, in a remarkably perfect degree.
In 1768 he fell into a gradual decline, which carried him
off in a few weeks, at Hawkhurst, his native place, at the
age of eighty-five. He had, previously to his last illness,
parted with the copy-right of his great work for the miserable sum of 150l. but he hoped if the booksellers had
the whole interest of his labours, they would then do their
utmost to promote the sale of a work that could not fail to
be useful in promoting the interests of his fellow creatures,
by promulgating the great truths of Christianity. After
the death of Dr. Lardner, some of his posthumous pieces
made their appearance; of these the first consist of eight
sermons, and brief memoirs of the author. In 1776 was
published a short letter which the doctor had written in
1762, “Upon the Personality of the Spirit.
” It was part
of his design, with regard to “The Credibility of the Gospel History,
” to give an account of the heretics of the first
two centuries. In 1780 Mr. Hogg, of Exeter, published
another of Dr. Lardner' s pieces, upon which he had bestowed much labour, though it was not left in a perfect
state; this was “The History of the Heretics of the first
two centuries after Christ, containing an account of their
time, opinions, and testimonies to the books of the New
Testament; to which are prefixed general observations
concerning Heretics.
” The last of Dr. Lardner’s pieces
was given to the world by the late Rev. Mr. Wicbe, then
of Muidstone, in Kent, and is entitled “Two schemes of a
Trinity considered, and the Divine Unity asserted;
” it
consists of four discourses; the first represents the commonly received opinion of the Trinity; the second describes the Arian scheme the third treats of the Nazarene
doctrine and the fourth explains the text according to
that doctrine. This work may perhaps be regarded as
Supplementary to a piece which he wrote in early life, and
which he published in 1759, without his name, entitled “A
Letter written in the year 1730, concerning the question,
Whether the Logos supplied the place of the Human Soul
in the person of Jesus Christ:
” in this piece his aim was to
prove that Jesus Christ was, in the proper and natural
meaning of the word, a man, appointed, anointed, beloved,
honoured, and exalted by God, above all other beings.
Dr. Lardner, it is generally known, had adopted the Socinian tenets.
d above all, that of divinity. He made a considerable progress in these sciences, and was admitted a minister with great applause. Two years after he had been admitted in
, in Latin Larroquanus, whom Bayle styles one of the most illustrious ministers the reformed ever had in France, was born at Leirac, a small city of Guienne, near Agen, in 1619. He was hardly past his youth when he lost his father and mother, who were persons of rank and character. This misfortune was soon ifol lowed by the loss of his whole patrimony, although by what means is not known; but the effect was to animate him more strongly to his studies, and to add to polite literature, which he had already learned, the knowledge of philosophy, and above all, that of divinity. He made a considerable progress in these sciences, and was admitted a minister with great applause. Two years after he had been admitted in his office he was obliged to go to Paris to answer the cavils of those who intended to ruin his church, in which, although he was not successful, he met with such circumstances as proved favourable to him. He preached sometimes at Charenton, and was so well liked by the duchess de la Tremouille, that she appointed him minister of the church of Vitre, in Britany, and gave him afterwards a great many proofs of her esteem; nor was he less respected by the prince and princess of Tarente, and the duchess of Weimar. He served that church about twenty-seven years, and studied the ancient fathers with the utmost application. He gave very soon public proofs of the progress he had made in that study, for the answer he published to the motives which an opponent had alledged for his conversion to popery, abounded with passages quoted from the fathers, and the works which he published afterwards raised his reputation greatly. There was an intimate friendship between him and Messieurs Daille, father and son, which was kept up by a constant literary correspondence; and the journey he took to Paris procured him the acquaintance of several illustrious men of letters. The church of Charenton wished to have invited him in 1669, but his enemies had so prepossessed the court against him, that his majesty sent a prohibition to that church not to think of calling him, notwithstanding the deputy general of the reformed had offered to answer for Mods, de Larroque’s good behaviour. He was afterwards chosen to be both minister and professor of divinity at Saumur. The former he accepted, but refused the professorship of divinity, as it might interfere with the study of church history, to ttfhich he was very partial. The intendant of the province, however, forbad him to go to Saumur; and although the church complained of this unjust prohibition, and petitoned very zealously for the necessary permission, which she obtained, Larroquc did not think it proper to enter upon an employment against the will of the intendant. He continued therefore still at Vitré, where he did not suffer his pen to be idle. Three of the most considerable churches of the kingdom chose him at once, the church of Moutauban, that of Bourdeaux, and thut of Roan. He accepted the invitation of Roan, and there died, Jan. 31, 1684, having gained the reputation not only of a learned man, but also of an honest man, and a faithful pastor.
r to M. Bossuet’s treatise “De la Communion sous les deux espèces;” “An Answer to the motives of the minister Martin’s Conversion;” “An Answer to the office of the Holy Sacrament
His principal works are, a “Histoire de l'Eucharistie,
”
Elzevir, De la Communion sous les deux espèces;
”
“An Answer to the motives of the minister Martin’s Conversion;
” “An Answer to the office of the Holy Sacrament of Port Royal;
” two Latin dissertations, “De Photino et Liberio
” “Considerations servant de repnnse a ce
que M. David a ecrit contre la dissertation de Photin,
” 4to
“Observations,
” in Latin, in support of Daillés opinion,
that the epistles of St. Ignatius are spurious, against Pearson and Beveridge; “Conformity de EglUes reformers de
France avec les anciens;
” “Considerations sur la nature
de l'Eglise, etsur quelques-unes de ses propriétés
” 12mo;
a treatise in French on the Regal and Sacred Observations,
in Latin, with “A Dissertation on the Thundering Legion.
”
These two last works were published by his son.
ed his liberty by the abbess of Fontevraud’s solicitations, and got a place in M. de Torcy’s office, minister and secretary of state. When the regency commenced, Larroque
, son of the preceding, was
born at Vitré. He retired 1681, to London, on the revocation of the edict of Nantes, and afterwards to Copenhagen, where his father’s friends promised him a settlement, but finding them unsuccessful, he went into Holland,
where he remained till 1690, and then going into France,
abjured the protestant religion, and turned Roman catholic.
He usually resided at Paris, but having written the preface
to a satirical piece, in which great liberties were taken with
Louis XIV. on account of the famine in 1693, he was arresied and sent to the Chatelet, and then removed to the
castle of Saumnr, where he remained rive years. At the
end of that time, however, he regained his liberty by the
abbess of Fontevraud’s solicitations, and got a place in M.
de Torcy’s office, minister and secretary of state. When
the regency commenced, Larroque was appointed secretary to the interior council, and on the suppression of that
council, had a pension of 4000 livres till his death, September 5, 1731, when he was about seventy. He left several works, but much inferior to his father’s: the principal are, “La Vie de I'lmposteur Mahomet,
” 12mo, transLt'-d from the English of Dr. Prideaux “Les ve>4tables
Motifs de la Conversion de M. (le Bouthilier de Ranc6)
l'Abbe de la Trappe,
” with some reflections on his life and
writings, Nouvelles Accusations con t re Van lias, ou Kemarqnes critiques contre
une Partie de son Histoire de PHe>esie,
” 8vo; ' La Vie
de Frai>9ois Kiuies de Mexerai,“12mo, a satirical romance;
a translation of Kc hard’s Roman History, revised and published by the abbe Desfontaines. Larroque also assisted,
during some months, in the
” Nouveiles de la Repubiique
des Lettres,“while Bayle was ill. The
” Advice to the
Refugees" is also attributed to him, which was believed to
have been written by Bayle, besause the latter would never
betray Larroque, who, it is supposed, was the real author
of it, chusing rather to suffer the persecution which this
publication raised against him, than prove false to his friend,
who had enjoined him secrecy.
from it: “You are deserting,” said he, “the fairest opportunities of making your fortune: the prime minister intends this only as an earnest of his future favours, and will
Though the influence of the popish party then prevailed
so far that this letter produced no effect, yet the king, no
way displeased, received it, not only with temper, but
with condescension, graciously thanking him for his wellintended advice. The king, capricious and tyrannical as
he was, shewed, in many instances, that he loved sincerity
and openness; and Larimer’s plain and simple manner had
before made a favourable impression upon him, which this
letter contributed not a little to strengthen; and the part
he acted in promoting the establishment of the king’s supremacy, in 1535, riveted him in the royal favour. Dr.
Butts, the king’s physician, being sent to Cambridge on that
occasion, began immediately to pay his court to the protestant party, from whom the king expected most unanimity in his favour. Among the first, he made his application to Latimer, as a person most likely to serve him;
begging that he would^collect the opinions of his friends in
the case, and do his utmost to bring over those of most
eminence, who were still inclined to the papacy. Latimer,
being a thorough friend to the cause he was to solicit, undertook it with his usual zeal, and discharged himself so
much to the satisfaction of the doctor, that, when that
gentleman returned to court, he took Latimer along with
him, with a design, no doubt, to procure him some favour
suitable to his merit.
About this time a person was rising into power, who became his chief friend and patron: The lord Cromwell, who,
being a friend to the Reformation, encouraged of course
such churchmen as inclined towards it. Among these was
Latimer, for whom his patron soon obtained West Kington,
a benefice in Wiltshire, whither he resolved, as soon as
possible, to repair, and keep a constant residence. His friend
Dr. Butts, surprized at this resolution, did what he could
to dissuade him from it: “You are deserting,
” said he,
“the fairest opportunities of making your fortune: the prime
minister intends this only as an earnest of his future favours, and will certainly in time do great things for you:
but it is the manner of courts to consider them as provided
for, who seem to be satisfied; and, take my word for it, an
absent claimant stands but a poor chance among rivals who
have the advantage of being present.
” Thus the old
courtier advised. But these arguments had no weight. He
wag heartily tired of the court, where he saw much debauchery and irreligion, without being able to oppose them;
and, leaving the palace therefore, entered immediately
upon the duties of his parish. Nor was he satisfied within
those limits; he extended his labours throughout the
county, where he observed the pastoral care most neglected, having for that purpose obtained a general licence
from the university of Cambridge. As his manner of
preaching was very popular in those times, the pulpits every
where were gladly opened for him; and at Bristol, where
he often preached, he was countenanced by the magistrates. But this reputation was too much for the popish
clergy to sulVcr, and their opposition first broke out at
Bristol. The mayor had appointed him to preach there on
Easter-day. Public notice had been given, and all people
were pleased; when, suddenly, came an order from the
bishop, prohibiting any one to preach there without his
licence. The clergy of the place waited upon Latimer, informed him of the bishop’s order; and, knowing he had no
such licence, were extremely sorry that they were thus
deprived of the pleasure of hearing him. Latimer received
their compliment with a smile; for he had been apprized
of the affair, and knew that these very persons had written
to the bishop against him. Their opposition became afterwards more public and avowed; the pulpits were used to
spread invectives against him; and such liberties were
taken with his character, that he thought it necessary to
justify himself. Accordingly, he called upon his maligners
to accuse him publicly before the mayor of Bristol; and,
with all men of candour, he was justified; for, when the
parties were convened, and the accusers produced, nothing appeared against him; but the whole accusation
was left to rest upon the uncertain evidence of hearsay
information.
, a parliament was called, to confirm the seizure and surrendry of the monasteries, when that subtle minister took his opportunity, and succeeded in prevailing upon his majesty
Henry VIII. made so little use of his judgment, that his
whole reign was one continued rotation of violent passions,
which rendered him a mere machine in the hands of his
ministers; and he among them who could make the most
artful address to the passion of the day, carried his point.
Gardiner, bishop of Winchester, was just returned from
Germany, having successfully negotiated some commissions which the king had greatly at heart; and, in 1539,
a parliament was called, to confirm the seizure and surrendry of the monasteries, when that subtle minister took
his opportunity, and succeeded in prevailing upon his majesty to do something, towards restoring the old religion,
as being most advantageous for his views in the present
situation of Europe. In this state of affairs, Latimer received his summons to parliament, and, soon after his arrival in town, he was accused of preaching a seditious
sermon. The sermon was preached at court, and the
preacher, according to his custom, had been unquestionably severe enough against whatever he observed amiss.
The king had called together several bishops, with a view
to consult them upon some points of religion. When they
had all given their opinions, and were about to be
dismissed, the bishop of Winchester (for it was most probably be) kneeled down and accused the bishop of Worcester as
above-mentioned. The bishop being called upon by the
king with some sternness, to vindicate himself, was so far
from denying or even palliating what he said, that he
boldly justified it; and turning to the king, with that
noble unconcern which a good conscience inspires, made
this answer: “I never thought myself worthy, nor I never
sued to be a preacher before your grace; but I was called to
it, and would be willing, if you mislike it, to give place
to my betters; for I grant there may be a great many more
worthy of the room than I am. And if it be your grace’s
pleasure to allow them for preachers, I could be content to
bear their books after them. But if your grace allow me
for a preacher, I would desire you to give me leave to discharge my conscience, and to frame my doctrine according
to my audience. I bad been a very dolt indeed, to have
preached so at the borders of your realm, as I preach before your grace.
” This answer baffled his accuser’s malice,
the severity of the king’s conscience changed into a gracious smile, and the bishop was dismissed with that obliging freedom which this monarch never used but to those
whom he esteemed. In this parliament passed the famous
act, as it was called, of the six articles, which was no
sooner published than it gave an universal alarm to all the
favourers of the reformation; and, as the bishop of Worcester could not give his vote for the act, he thought it
wrong to hold any office. He therefore resigned his bishopric , and retired into the country; where he resided
during the heat of that persecution which followed upon
this act, and thought of nothing for the remainder of his
days but a sequestered life. He knew the storm which was
up could not soon be appeased, and he had no inclination
to trust himself in it. But, in the midst of his security,
an unhappy accident carried him again into the
tempestuous weather that was abroad he received a bruise by the
fall of a tree, and the contusion was so dangerous, that he
was obliged to seek out for better assistance than the country afforded. With this view he repaired to London,
where he had the misfortune to see the fall of his patron,
the lord Cromwell; a loss of which he was soon made sensible. Gardiner’s emissaries quickly found him out; and
something, that somebody had somewhere heard him say
against the six articles, being alleged against him, he was
sent tp the Tower, where, without any judicial examination, he suffered, through one pretence or another, a
cruel imprisonment for the remaining six years of king
Henry’s reign.
hat strangers from every part of England would resort to him, so that he had as crowded a levee as a minister of state. In these employments he spent more than two years,
Immediately upon the accession of Edward VI. he and all others who were imprisoned in the same cause, were set at liberty; and Latimer, whose old friends were now in power, was received by them with every mark of affection. He would have found no difficulty in dispossessing Heath, in every respect an insignificant man, who had succeeded to his bishopric: but he had other sentiments, and would neither make suit himself, nor suffer his friends to make any, for his restoration. However, this was done by the parliament, who, after settling the national concerns, sent up an address to the protector to restore him: and the protector was very well inclined, and proposed the resumption to Latimer as a point which he had very much at heart; but LatinYer persevered in the negative, alleging his great age, and the claim he had from thence to a private life. Having thus rid himself of all incumbrance, he accepted an invitation from Cranmer, and took up his residence at Lambeth, where he led a very retired life, being chiefly employed in hearing the complaints and redressing the injuries, of the poor people. And, indeed, his character for services of this kind was so universally known, that strangers from every part of England would resort to him, so that he had as crowded a levee as a minister of state. In these employments he spent more than two years, interfering as little as possible in any public transaction; only he assisted the archbishop in composing the homilies, which were set forth by authority in the first year of king Edward; he was also appointed to preach the Lent sermons before his majesty, which office he performed during the first three years of his reign. As to his sermons, which are still extant, they are, indeed, far enough from being exact pieces of composition: yet, his simplicity and familiarity, his humour and gibing drollery, were well adapted to the times; and his oratory, according to the mode of eloquence at that day, was exceedingly popular. His action and manner of preaching too were very affecting, for he spoke immediately from his heart His abilities, however, as an orator, made only the inferior part of his character as a preacher. What particularly recommends him is, that noble and apostolic zeal whi^h he exerts in the cause of truth.
lar preachers; and many of them were taken into custody. The bishop of Winchester, who was now prime minister, having proscribed Latimer from the first, sent a message to
Upon the revolution which happened at court after the
death of the duke of Somerset, Latimer seems to have retired
into the country, and made use of the king’s licence as a
general preacher in those parts where he thought his labours
might be most serviceable. He was thus employed during
the remainder of that reign, and continued in the same course,
for a short time, in the beginning of the next; but, as soon as
the introduction of popery was resolved on, the first step towards it was the prohibition of all preaching throughout the
kingdom, and a licensing only of such as were known to be
popishly inclined: accordingly, a strict inquiry was made
after the more forward and popular preachers; and many
of them were taken into custody. The bishop of Winchester, who was now prime minister, having proscribed
Latimer from the first, sent a message to cite him before
the council. He had notice of this design some hours before the messenger’s arrival, but made no use of the intelligence. The messenger found him equipped for his journey; at which expressing surprize, Latimer told him that
he was as ready to attend him to London, thus called upon to
answer for his faith, as he ever was to take any journey in
his life and that he doubted not but God, who had en- abled him to stand before two princes, would enable him to
stand before a third. The messenger, then acquainting
him that he had no orders to seize his person, delivered a
letter, and departed. Latimer, however, opening the letter,
and finding it contain a citation from the council, resolved
to obey it. He set out therefore immediately; and, as he
passed through Smithfield, where heretics were usually
burnt, he said cheerfully, “This place hath long groaned
for me.
” The next morning he waited upon the council,
who, having loaded him with many severe reproaches, sent
him to the Tower. This was his second visit to this prison,
but now he met with harsher treatment, and had more frequent occasion to exercise his resignation, which virtue no
man possessed in a larger measure; nor did the usual cheerfulness of his disposition forsake him. A servant leaving
his apartment one day, Latimer called after him, and bid
him tell his master, that unless he took better care of him,
he would certainly escape him. Upon this message the
lieutenant, with some discomposure of countenance, came
to Latimer, and desired an explanation. “Why, you expect, I suppose, sir,
” replied Latimerj “that I should be
burnt; but if you do not allow me a little fire this frosty
weather, I can tell you, I shall first be starved.
” Cranmer and Ridley were also prisoners in the same cause with
Latimer; and when it was resolved to have a public disputation at Oxford, between the most eminent of the popish
and protestant divines, these three were appointed to manage the dispute on the part of the protestants. Accordingly they were taken out of the Tower, and sent to Oxford,
where they were closely confined in the common prison,
and might easily imagine how free the disputation was
likely to be, when they found themselves denied the use
even of books, and pen and ink.
the nobility could not brook his warm and imperious manner, and his grasping at the office of prime- minister; and the Scots were excited to rebellion, by the restoring of
It can be no wonder that his ruin should appear certain, considering his many and powerful enemies; almost the whole body of the puritans; many of the English nobility and others; and the bulk of the Scotch nation. The puritans considered him as the sole author of the innovations and of the persecutions against them; the nobility could not brook his warm and imperious manner, and his grasping at the office of prime-minister; and the Scots were excited to rebellion, by the restoring of episcopal government, and the introduction ol the English service-book among them. In this state of general discontent, he was not only examined, Dec. 4, on the earl of Strafford’s case, but, when the Commons came to debate upon the late canons and convocation, he was represented as the author of them; and a committee was appointed to inquire into all his actions, and prepare a charge against him on the 16th. The same morning, in the House of Lords, he was named as an incendiary, in an accusation from the Scottish commissioners; and, two days after, an impeachment of high-treason was carried up to the lords by Denzil Holies, desiring he might be forthwith sequestered from parliament, and committed, and the Commons would, in a convenient time, resort to them with particular articles. Soon after, the Scotch commissioners presented also to the upper House the charge against him, tending to prove liim an incendiary, and he was immediately committed to the custody of the black rod. After ten weeks, sir Henry Vane, junior, brought up, Feb. 26, fourteen articles against him, which they desired time to prove in particular, and, in the mean time, that he be kept safe. Accordingly, the black rod conveyed him to the Tower, March 1, 1640-1, amidst the insults and reproaches of the mob.
he church of St. Peter, the only persons in the canton of Zurich who have a right to chuse their own minister, made choice of Lavater as deacon; and, in 1786, as first pastor.
, the celebrated physiognomist, was born at Zurich, Nov. 15, 1741. He was from
his earliest years of a gentle, timid disposition, but restless in the pursuit of knowledge. At school he was perpetually varying his studies by attempting mechanical operations, and often showed indications of genius and invention in his amusements. When he reached the upper
classes of school, his diligence in study was encouraged by
the advice of Bodmer and Breitenger, and quickened by a
wish to emulate some school -fellows of superior talent.
His turn of thinking was original, liberal, and manly. As
he grew up he wrote some essays on subjects of morals and
religion, which gained him the hearts of his countrymen.
Having gone through the usual course of reading and instruction for the ecclesiastical profession, he was admitted
into orders in May 1761, and two years afterwards he travelled with the brothers Hess, two amiable friends, of whom
death deprived him, and, with Henry Fuseli, our celebrated painter. They went over Prussia, under the tuition
of professor Sulzer, and Lavater made a considerable stay
with Spalding, then curate of Barth in Pomeranian Prussia, and afterwards counsellor of the grand consistory. On
his return to Zurich he became a very eloquent and much
admired preacher, and proved himself the father of his flock
by the most benevolent attention to their wants bodily and
mental. After having been for some years deacon of th
Orphans’ church, he was in 1774 appointed first pastor. In
1778 the parishioners of the church of St. Peter, the only
persons in the canton of Zurich who have a right to chuse
their own minister, made choice of Lavater as deacon;
and, in 1786, as first pastor. Here he remained, intenton
the duties of his office, and on his physiognomical studies
until Zurich was stormed in 1797. On this occasion he was
wounded by a Swiss soldier, on whom he had conferred
important benefits; from the effects of this he never recovered, although he lived in full possession of his faculties
till Jan. 2, 1801, when he expired in the sixtieth year of
his age. His principal works are, 1. “Swiss Songs,
” which
he composed at the desire of the Helvetic society, aud
which were sung in that society, and in other cantons. 2.
Three collections of “Spiritual Songs, or Hymns,
” and
two volumes of “Odes,
” in blank verse. 3. “Jesus Messiah, or the Evangelists and Acts of the Apostles,
” 4 vols. a
poetical history of our Saviour, ornamented with 72 engravings from his designs, executed by Chodoweiki, Lips,
&c. 4. “A Look into Eternity,
” which being severely
criticised by Gothe, Lavater, who loved truth in every
shape, instead of being offended at the liberties he took,
sought out the author, and became his friend and correspondent. 5. “The secret Journal of a Self-Observer,
”
which was published here in
y the rectories of St. Mary Aldermary, and St. Michael Bassishaw. In both parishes he was esteemed a minister attentive to his duty, and an instructive and awakening preacher.
, an English prelate, and very
eminent scholar, was descended from a family long settled
in Wiltshire, and was born at the parsonage- house of Mildenhall, in the above county, and baptised Jan. 18, 1683,
his grandfather, Constable, being then rector of that parish. Joseph, father to bishop Lavington, is supposed to
have exchanged his original benefice of Broad Hinton, in
Wiltshire, for Newton Longville, in Bucks, a living and
a manor belonging to New college, in Oxford. Transplanted thither, and introduced to the acquaintance of
several members of that society, he was encouraged to
educate the eldest of his numerous children, George, the
subject of this article, at Wykeham’s foundation, near
Winchester, from whence he succeeded to a fellowship of
New college, early in the reign of queen Anne. George,
while yet a schoolboy, had produced a Greek translation
of Virgil’s eclogues, in the style and dialect of Theocritus,
which is still preserved at Winchester in manuscript. At
the university he was distinguished by his wit and learning,
and equally so by a marked attachment to the protestant
succession, at a period when a zeal of that kind could promise him neither preferment nor popularity. But if some
of his contemporaries thought his ardour in a good cause
excessive, still their affection and esteem for him remained
undiminished by any difference of political sentiment. In
1717, he was presented by his college to their rectory of
Hayford Warren, in the diocese of Oxford. Before this
his talents and principles had recommended him to the
notice of many eminent persons in church and state.
Among others Talbot, then bishop of Oxford, intended
him for the benefice of Hook Norton, to which his successor, bishop Potter, collated him. Earl Coningsby not
only appointed him his own domestic chaplain, but introduced him in the same capacity to the court of king George
I. In this reign he was preferred to a stall in the cathedral church of Worcester, which he always esteemed as
one of the happiest events of his life, since it laid the
foundation of that close intimacy which ever after subsisted
between him and the learned Dr. Francis Hare, the dean.
No sooner was Dr. Hare removed to St. Paul’s, than he
exerted all his influence to draw his friend to the capital
after him; and his endeavours were so successful that Dr.
Lavington was appointed in 1732, to be a canon residentiary of that church, and in consequence of this station,
obtained successively the rectories of St. Mary Aldermary,
and St. Michael Bassishaw. In both parishes he was esteemed a minister attentive to his duty, and an instructive
and awakening preacher. He would probably never have
thought of any other advancement, if the death of Dr. Stillingfleet, dean of Worcester, in 1746, had not recalled to
his memory the pleasing ideas of many years spent in that
city, in the prime of life. His friends, however, had
higher views for him; and, therefore, on the death of
bishop Clagget, lord chancellor Hardwick, and the duke
of Newcastle, recommended him to the king, to till the
vacancy, without his solicitation or knowledge. From this
time he resided at Exeter among his clergy, a faithful and
vigilant pastor, and died universally lamented, Sept. 13,
1762; crowning a life that had been devoted to God’s
honour and service, by a pious act of resignation to his
will; for the last words pronounced by his faultering tongue,
were Ao<* in 0sa> “Glory to God.
” He married Francis
Maria, daughter of Lave, of Corf Mullion, Dorset, who
had taken refuge in this kingdom from the popish persecution in France. She survived the bishop little more
than one year, after an union of forty years. Their only
daughter is the wife of the rev. N. Nutcombe, of Nutcombe,
in Devonshire, and chancellor of the cathedral at Exeter.
Bishop Lavington published only a few occasional sermons,
except his “Enthusiasm of the Methodists and Papists
compared,
” three parts; which involved him in a temporary controvery with Messrs. Whitfield and Wesley.
Lavoisier caused him to be applied to, in 1776, to superintend the manufacture of gunpowder, by the minister Turgot. By the application of his chemical knowledge to this
We have hitherto viewed M. Lavoisier principally a* a
chemical philosopher, in which character he has founded
his great claims to the respect and admiration of posterity.
But the other arts and sciences are indebted to him for
considerable services which he rendered them, both in a
public and private capacity. In France, more than in any
other country, men of science have been consulted in matters of public concern; and the reputation of Lavoisier
caused him to be applied to, in 1776, to superintend the
manufacture of gunpowder, by the minister Turgot. By
the application of his chemical knowledge to this
manufacture, he was enabled to increase the explosive force of the
powder by one- fourth and while he suppressed the troublesome regulations for the collection of its materials from
private houses, previously adopted, he quintupled the produce. The academy of sciences received many services
from his hands. In addition to the communication of forty
papers, relative to many of the most important subjects of
philosophical chemistry, which were printed in the twenty
volumes of Memoirs, from 1772 to 1793, he most actively
promoted all its useful plans and researches, being a member of its board of consultation, and, when appointed to
the office of treasurer, he introduced order into its accounts, and economy into its expenditure. When the new
system of measures was proposed, he contributed some
new and accurate experiments on the expansion of metals.
The national convention consulted him with advantage concerning the best method of manufacturing assignats, and
of securing them against forgery. Agriculture early engaged his attention, and he allotted a considerable tract of
land on his estate in the Vendome, for the purpose of experimental farming. The committee' of the constituent
assembly of 1791, appointed to form an improved system
of taxation, claimed the assistance of his extensive knowledge; and he drew up, for their information, an extract
of a large work on the different productions of the country
and their consumption, for which he had been long collecting materials. This was printed by order of the assembly,under the title of “Richesses Territoriales de la
France,
” and was esteemed the most valuable memoir on
the subject. In the same year, he wa appointed one of
the commissioners of the national treasury; and he introduced into that department such order and regularity, that
the proportion between the income and the expenditure,
in all the branches of government, could be seen at a single
view every evening. This spirit of systematic and lucid
arrangement was, indeed, the quality by which he was
peculiarly distinguished, and its happy influence appeared
in every subject which occupied his attention.
esented to the comptrollergeneral of the finances under Louis XIV. a plan which was approved by that minister, but is said to have been rejected by the king because “he would
On his arrival at Paris, his mind was occupied with
higher objects, and he now presented to the comptrollergeneral of the finances under Louis XIV. a plan which was
approved by that minister, but is said to have been rejected by the king because “he would have nothing to do with
a heretic.
” After, however, a short residence in Sardinia,
where he in vain wanted to persuade Victor Amadeus to
adopt one of his plans for aggrandizing his territories, he
returned to Paris on the death of Louis XIV. and was
more favourably received. He gained the confidence of
the regent to such a degree, that he not only admitted
him to all his convivial parties, but nominated him one of
his counsellors of state. France was at this time burthened
with an immense debt, which Law proposed to liquidate,
by establishing a bank for issuing notes secured on landed
property, and on all the royal revenues, unalienably engaged for that purpose. This scheme was approved of,
but the conjuncture being thought unfavourable, he could
only obtain letters patent, dated May 30, 1716, for establishing a private bank at Paris, along with his brother
and some other associates. This scheme promised success, and the bank had acquired great credit, when it was
dissolved in December 1718, by an arbitrary arret of the
regent, who, observing the great advantages arising from
it, and perceiving also that the people were growing fond
of paper money, resolved to take it into the hands of government.
to them, among which was the marquisate of Rosny, that had belonged to the great duke of Sully, the minister and friend of Henry IV. About this period too, a free pardon
Our projector had now arrived at an unexampled pitch of power and wealth; he possessed the ear of the duke of Orleans; he was almost adored by the people, and was constantly surrounded by princes, dukes, and prelates, who courted his friendship, and even seemed ambitious of his patronage. Such was the immensity of his property, that he bought no less than fourteen estates with titles annexed to them, among which was the marquisate of Rosny, that had belonged to the great duke of Sully, the minister and friend of Henry IV. About this period too, a free pardon for the murder of Mr. Wilson was conveyed to him from England, while Edinburgh, proud of having produced so great a man, transmitted the freedom of the city in a gold box.
which he was more or less engaged for a great many years. He continued his functions, however, as a minister, until the revocation of the edict of Nantes, in 1685, which
, a learned protestant divine, was born about the end of 1646, at Caen, in Normandy, where he was first educated. He afterwards went through a course of theological studies at Sedan. Returning thence in 1669, he was very honourably received by the learned of his native country, which he again left, in order to attend the lectures of the divinity-professors at Geneva. Here he remained until Nov. 1670, and after a residence of some time at Sanmur, came back in March 1672 to Caen, with the warmest recommendations from the various professors under whom he had studied. He then became pastor at Honfleur, where he married a lady of fortune, which joined to his own, enabled him to prosecute his studies without anxiety. It appears to be about this time that he conceived the design of translating the Bible into French, on which he was more or less engaged for a great many years. He continued his functions, however, as a minister, until the revocation of the edict of Nantes, in 1685, which annihilated the protestant churches in France.
hed occasionally. About 1678 be removed to Newingtoii Green near London, where he was for many years minister of a congregation of independents. In 1686, being dissatisfied
, an English nonconformist divine, was
the son of an eminent citizen of London, from whom he
inherited some property, and was born in 1625. He was
educated under Dr. Gale at St. Paul’s school, and afterwards entered a commoner of Magdalen-bail about the
year 1647. The following year he was created M. A.
by the parliamentary visitors, and was made fellow of
Wadham college. In the latter end of 1650 he was elected
by his society one of the proctors, although he was not
of sufficient standing as master; but this the visitors, with
whom he appears to have been a favourite, dispensed with.
About that time he became a frequent preacher in or near
Oxford, and was preferred by Cromwell to the living of St.
Botolph’s, Bishopsgate- street, but ejected by the rump parliament. Afterwards he was chosen lecturer of Great St.
Helen’s church in Bishopsgate-street According to Wood,
he was not in possession of either of these preferments at
the restoration, but Calamy says he was ejected from St.
Botolph’s. His friend Dr. Wilkins, of Wadham college,
afterwards bishop of Chester, urged him much to conform,
but he was inflexible. He then lived for some time on an
estate he had near Bisseter in Oxfordshire, and preached
occasionally. About 1678 be removed to Newingtoii
Green near London, where he was for many years minister of a congregation of independents. In 1686, being
dissatisfied with the times, he went over to New England,
and became pastor of a church at Bristol. The revolution
in 1688 affording brighter prospects, he determined to
revisit his own country, but in his passage home, with his
family, the ship was captured by a French privateer, and
carried into St. Malo, where he died a few weeks after, in
Nov. 1691. His death is said to have been hastened by
his losses in this capture, and especially by his being kept
in confinement while his wife and children were permitted
to go to England. He was at one time a great dabbler in
astrology, but, disapproving of this study afterwards, he is
said to have burnt many books and manuscripts which he
had collected on that subject. It was probably when addicted to astrology, that he informed his wife of his having
seen a star, which, according to all the rules of astrology,
predicted that he should be taken captive. Mr. Lee’s
other studies were more creditable. He was a very considerable scholar; understood the learned languages well,
and spoke Latin fluently and eloquently. He was also a
good antiquary. He wrote “Chronicon Castrense,
” a
chronology of all the rulers and governors of Cheshire and
Chester, which is added to King’s “Vale Royal.
” Wood
suspects that he was of the family of Lee in Cheshire. His
other works are: 1. “Orbis Miraculum; or the Temple of
Solomon portrayed by Scripture light,
” Lond.
t the beginning of 1731 he was licensed as a preacher, but it was not till 1736 that he was ordained minister of Beith, on which charge he continued seven years. In 1740
, a learned Scotch divine, was
born at Dolphinston, in Lanerkshire, in 1706. He received his academical education at the university of Edinburgh, where he distinguished himself by his great proficiency in different branches of learning. He began his
theological studies in 1724, and in 1727 he undertook the
education of a young gentleman at Caldwell, in Renfrewshire, where he resided in the summer months, but during
the remainder of the year he lived at Glasgow, and was
honoured with the friendship of professors Hutcheson and
Dunlop. About the beginning of 1731 he was licensed as
a preacher, but it was not till 1736 that he was ordained
minister of Beith, on which charge he continued seven
years. In 1740 he was elected moderator of a meeting of
the synod at Irvine, and opened the assembly at Glasgow
on the 7th of April 1741, with a sermon to the clergy “On
the temper, character, and duty, of a minister of the gospel,
” which has passed through many editions, and is still
in high reputation. In 1743 he published a much longer
discourse on “The nature, reasonableness, and advantages of Prayer; with an attempt to answer the objections
against it.
” This, likewise, added much to his reputation,
and has been frequently reprinted. He was shortly after
elected to the professorship of theology at the university of
Glasgow; an honour which he obtained only by the casting vote of the president, owing to some suspicions entertained of the orthodoxy of his sentiments, founded on his
sermon on prayer, in which he v.a thought to have laid
too little stress on the atonement and intercession of Christ.
A prosecution for heresy was the consequence, which was
ultimately decided in his favour by the synod, the members
of which almost unanimously determined, that there was
no reason to charge him with any unsoundness in the passages of the sermon complained against. After this the
prejudices against him appear to have subsided, and his
character became very generally and highly respected,
even by some who had thought it their duty to promote the
prosecution. Soon after he had been established in the
professorship, he took the degree of doctor in divinity; and
continued in the theological chair seventeen years, vindicating and establishing the grand truths of natural and revealed religion, in answer to the principal objections made
to them by Mr. Hume, lord Bolingbroke, and other sceptical writers. He had, in his lectures, a remarkable talent
of selecting what was most important and striking on every
subject that he handled: his arguments were solid, founded on indisputable facts; and they were urged with a degree of warmth which carried his auditors along with him;
for they were addressed equally to the judgment and the
heart. Dr. Leechman’s fame extended far and wide, the
divinity-hall at Glasgow was crowded, in his time, with a
greater number of scholars than any other in Scotland:
and his numerous scholars, however they might differ in
their sentiments on speculative theology and church government, were all cordially united in their affection and
veneration for their master. In 1761, Dr. Leechman was
raised to the office of principal of the university of Glasgow by a presentation from the king. He had previously
to this been in a very bad state of health, and this change
in his avocations was probably the means of prolonging his
life; yet, though released from the more fatiguing part of
his duties, he gave a lecture, for some time, once a week,
to the students in divinity, and weekly lectures to the
whole university. Dr. Leechman’s faculties remained in
full vigour amidst the increasing infirmities of old age, and
his taste for knowledge continued as acute as ever. In
September and October 1785, he experienced two violent
paralytic strokes, from which he partially recovered; but
a third attack carried him off on the 3d of December, 1785,
when he was almost eighty years of age. Dr. Leechman
committed nothing to the press, except nine sermons,
which went through several editions during his life-time.
These were republished, with others, forming together two
volumes, in 1789. To the first of these volumes is prefixed an account of the author, by Dr. Wodrow, from which
the preceding particulars are taken.
ession of the faith of the Greek and Eastern churches. On his return to the Vallies he was appointed minister there; but being condemned to death by the duke of Savoy, took
, a learned Protestant divine, was born in 1594, at Ville Seiche, in the valley of St. Martin in Piedmont. Going to Constantinople as chaplain to the ambassador from the States-general, he formed a friendship in that city with the famous Cyrillus Lucar, and obtained from him a confession of the faith of the Greek and Eastern churches. On his return to the Vallies he was appointed minister there; but being condemned to death by the duke of Savoy, took refuge in Geneva, where he was made professor of divinity, and died in 1661. He left an edition of the New Testament in the original Greek, and vulgar Greek, 2 vols. 4to. His son, Anthony Leger, born 1652, at Geneva, was a celebrated preacher, and five volumes of his sermons have been published since his death, which happened at Geneva, in 1719.
ille-Seiche, in the valley of St. Martin, in Piedmont, was nephew of Anthony Leger the elder. He was minister of several churches, particularly that at St. Jean, and escaped
, a learned protestant divine, born in 1615,
at Ville-Seiche, in the valley of St. Martin, in Piedmont,
was nephew of Anthony Leger the elder. He was minister of several churches, particularly that at St. Jean,
and escaped from the massacre of the Waldenses in 1655.
Having been deputed to several protestant powers in 1661,
the court of Turin ordered his house at St. Jean to be
razed to the ground, and declared him guilty of high treason. He became pastor afterwards of the Walloon church
at Leyden, in which city he was living in 1665, and there
published his “Hist, des Eglises Evangeliques des Vallees
de Piemont,
” fol. The year of his death is unknown.
s such things as might be of use to them in their pursuits. About this time, baron Boinebourg, first minister of the elector of Mentz, passing through Nuremberg, met Leibnitz
His views being at this time chiefly fixed upon the law,
he commenced bachelor in that faculty in 1665, and the
year after supplicated for his doctor’s degree; but was
denied, as not being of sufficient standing, that is, not
quite twenty; but the real cause of the demur was his
rejecting the principles of Aristotle and the schoolmen,
against the received doctrine of that time. Resenting the
affront, he went to Altorf, where he maintained a thesis,
“De Casibus perplexis,
” with so much reputation, that
he not only obtained his doctor’s degree, but had an offer
of being made professor of law extraordinary. This, however, was declined; and he went from Altorf to Nuremberg, to visit the learned in that university. He had
heard of some literati there who were engaged in the pursuit of the philosopher’s stone; and his curiosity was raised
to be initiated into their mysteries. For this purpose he
drew up a letter full of abstruse terms, extracted out of
books of chemistry; and, unintelligible as it was to himself, addressed it to the director of that society, desiring
to be admitted a member. They were satisfied of his merit, from the proofs given in his letter; and not only admitted him into their laboratory, but even requested him
to accept the secretaryship, with a stipend. His office
was, to register their processes and experiments, and to
extract from the books of the best chemists such things as
might be of use to them in their pursuits.
About this time, baron Boinebourg, first minister of the
elector of Mentz, passing through Nuremberg, met Leibnitz at a common entertainment; and conceived so great
an opinion of his parts and learning from his conversation,
that he advised him to apply himself wholly to law and history; giving him at the same time the strongest assurances,
that he would engage the elector, John Philip of Schonborn, to send for him to his court. Leibnitz accepted the
kindness, promising to do his utmost to render himself
worthy of such a patronage; and, to be more within the
reach of its happy effects, he repaired to Francfort upon
the Maine, in the neighbourhood of Mentz. In 1668,
John Casimir, king of Poland, resigning his crown, the
elector palatine, among others, became a competitor for
that dignity; and, while baron Boinebourg went into Poland to manage the elector’s interests, Leibnitz wrote a
treatise to shew that the Polonnois could not make choice
of a better person for their king. With this piece the
elector palatine was extremely pleased, and invited our
author to his court. But baron Boinebourg, resolving to
provide for him at the court of Mentz, would not suffer him
to accept this last offer from the palatine; and immediately
obtained for him the post of counsellor of the chamber of
review to the elector of Mentz. Baron Boinebourg had
some connexions at the French court; and as his son, who
was at Paris, was not of years to be trusted with the management of his affairs, he begged Mr. Leibnitz to undertake that charge.
nd in his last sickness, being desired by his coachman, who was his favourite servant, to send for a minister, he would not hear of it, saying he had no occasion for one.
universal language. him by cardinal Casanata, while hf
Leibnitz was in person of a middle stature, and of a thin
habit. He had a studious air, and a sweet aspect, though
short-sighted. He was indefatigably industrious, and so
continued to the end of his life. He ate and drank little.
Hunger alone marked the time of his meals, and his diet
was plain and strong. He loved travelling, and different
climates never affected his health. In order to impress
upon his memory what he had a mind to remember, he
wrote it down, and never read it afterwards. His temper
was naturally choleric, but on most occasions he had th
art to restrain it. As he had the honour of passing for
one of the greatest men in Europe, he was sufficiency
sensible of it. He was solicitous in procuring the favour
of princes, which he turned to his own advantage, as well
as to the service of learning. He was affable and polite in
conversation, and averse to disputes. He was thought to
love money, and is said to have left sixty thousand crowns,
yet no more than fifteen or twenty thousand out at interest;
the rest being found in crown-pieces and other specie,
hoarded in corn-sacks. He always professed himself a Lutheran, but never joined in public worship; and in his
last sickness, being desired by his coachman, who was his
favourite servant, to send for a minister, he would not
hear of it, saying he had no occasion for one. He was
never married, and never attempted it but once, when he
was about fifty years old; and the lady desiring time to
consider of it, gave him an opportunity of doing the same;
which produced this conclusion, “that marriage was a
good thing, but a wise man ought to consider of it all his
life.
” Mr. Lcefler, son of his sister, was his sole heir,
whose wife died suddenly with joy at the sight of so much
money left them by their uncle. It is said he had a natural son in his youth, who afterwards lived with him, was
serviceable to him in many ways, and had a considerable
share in his confidence. He went by the name of William
Dinninger, and extremely resembledhis father.
ched his thirtieth year, in 1643, he was settled in Scotland, according to the presbyterian form, as minister of the parish of Newbottle, near Edinburgh. Here he remained
, sometime bishop of Dunblane,
and afterwards archbishop of Glasgow, son to the preceding, was born at London in 1613, but educated at the
university of Edinburgh, where his talents were not more
conspicuous than his piety and humble temper. He afterwards spent some time in France, particularly at Doway,
where some of his relations lived. Our accounts, however,
of his early years, are very imperfect. All we know with
certainty of the period before us is, that when he had
reached his thirtieth year, in 1643, he was settled in Scotland, according to the presbyterian form, as minister of
the parish of Newbottle, near Edinburgh. Here he
remained several years, and was most assiduous in discharging the various duties of his office. He did not, however, conceive it to be any part of that office to add to
the distractions of that unhappy period, by making the
pulpit the vehicle of political opinions. His object was
to exhort his parishioners to live in charity, and not to
trouble themselves with religious and political disputes.
But such was not the common practice; and it being the
custom of the presbytery to inquire of the several brethren,
twice a year, “whether they had preached to the times?
”
“For God’s sake,
” answered Leighton, “when all my
brethren preach to the times, suffer one poor priest to
preach about eternity.
” Such moderation could not fail
to give offence; and finding his labours of no service, he
retired to a life of privacy. His mind was not, however,
indifferent to what was passing in the political world, and
he was one of those who dreaded the downfall of the monarchy, and the subsequent evils of a republican tyranny,
and having probably declared his sentiments on these subjects, he was solicited by his friends, and particularly by
his brother, sir Elisha Leighton, to change his connexions.
For this he was denounced by the presbycerians as an apostate, and welcomed by the episcopalians as a convert. In
his first outset, however, it is denied that he was a thorough
presbyterian, or in his second, entirely an episcopalian;
and it is certain that his becoming the latter could not bo
imputed to motives of ambition or interest, for episcopacy
was at this time the profession of the minority, and extremely unpopular. His design, however, of retiring to
a life of privacy, was prevented by a circumstance which
proved the high opinion entertained of his integrity, learn
ing, and piety. The office of principal in the university
of Edinburgh becoming vacant soon after Leighton’s resignation of his ministerial charge, the magistrates, who
had the gift of presentation, unanimously chose him to
fill the chair, and pressed his acceptance of it by urging
that he might thereby be of great service to the church,
without taking any part in public measures. Such a motive to a man of his moderation, was irresistible; and accordingly he accepted the offer, and executed the duties
of his office for ten years with great reputation. It was
the custom then for the principal to lecture to the students
of theology in the Latin tongue; and Leighton’s lectures
delivered at this period, which are extant both in Latin
and English, are very striking proofs of the ability and assiduity with which he discharged this part of his duty.
he eighteenth century, was born at Bazoches, in Beausse, April 13, 1661. He was son of Paul Lenfant, minister at Chatillon, who died at Marbourg, in June 1686. He studied
, a learned French writer in the
eighteenth century, was born at Bazoches, in Beausse,
April 13, 1661. He was son of Paul Lenfant, minister at
Chatillon, who died at Marbourg, in June 1686. He studied
divinity at Saumur, where he lodged at the house of James
Cappel, professor of Hebrew, by whom he was always
highly esteemed; and afterwards went to Geneva, to continue his studies there. Leaving Geneva towards the end
of 1683, he went to Heidelberg, where he was ordained
in August, 1684. He discharged the duties of his function
there with great reputation as chaplain of the electress
dowager of Palatine, and pastor in ordinary to the French
church. The descent of the French into the Palatinate,
however, obliged him to depart from Heidelberg in 1688.
Two letters which he had written against the Jesuits, and
which are jnserted at the end of his “Preservatif,
” ren r
dered it somewhat hazardous to continue at the mercy of
a society whose power was then in its plenitude. He left
the Palatinate, therefore, in October 1688, with the consent of his church and superiors, and arrived at Berlin in
November following. Though the French church of Berlin had already a sufficient number of ministers, the elector
Frederic, afterwards king of Prussia, appointed Mr. Lenfant one of them, who began his functions on Easter-day,
March the 21st, 1689, and continued them thirty-nine
years and four months, and during this time added greatly
to his reputation by his writings. His merit was so fully
acknowledged, as to be rewarded with every mark of distinction suitable to his profession. He was preacher to the
queen of Prussia, Charlotta-Sophia, who was eminent for
her sense and extensive knowledge, and after her death he
became chaplain to the king of Prussia. He was counsellor of the superior consistory, and member of the French
council, which were formed to direct the general affairs of
that nation. In 1710 he was chosen a member of the society for propagating the gospel established in England;
and March the 2d, 1724, was elected member of the academy of sciences at Berlin. In 1707 he took a journey to
Holland and England, where he had the honour to preach
before queen Anne; and if he had thought proper to leave
his church at Berlin, for which he had a great respect, he
might have had a settlement at London, with the rank of
chaplain to her majesty. In 1712, he went to Helmstad;
in 1715 to Leipsic; and in 1725, to Breslaw, to search
for rare books and manuscripts necessary for the histories
which he was writing. In those excursions he was honoured with several valuable materials from the electress
of Brunswic-Lunebourg, princess Palatine; the princess
of Wales, afterwards Caroline queen of Great Britain;
the count de Fleming; mons. Daguesseau, chancellor of
France; and a great number of learned men, both protestants and papists, among the latter of whom was the abbé
Bignon. It is not certain whether he first formed thedesign of the “Bibliotheque Germanique,
” which began
in Set thine house in order, for thou shalt die,
and not live.
” He related this dream to some of his
friends, and although not a credulous man, it is thought
to have made some impression on him, for he applied with
additional vigour to finish his “History of the War of the
Hussites and the Council of Basil.
” On Sunday July the
25tn following, he had preached in his turn at his church;
but on Thursday, July the 29th, he had a slight attack
of the palsy, which was followed by one more violent, of
which he died on the 7th of the next month, in his sixtyeighthyear. He was interred at Berlin, at the foot of the pulpit of the French church, where he ordinarily preached since
1715, when his Prussian majesty appointed particular ministers to every church, which before were served by the
same ministers in their turns. His stature was a little below the common height. His eye was very lively anil penetrating. He did not talk much, but always well. Whenever any dispute arose in conversation, he spoke without
any heat; a proper and delicate irony was the only weapon
he made use of on such occasions. He loved company,
and passed but few days without seeing some of his friends.
He was a sincere friend, and remarkable for a disinterested
and generous disposition. In preaching, his voice was
good; his pronunciation distinct and varied; his style
clear, grave, and elegant without affectation; and he entered into the true sense of a text with great force. His
publications were numerous in divinity, ecclesiastical history, criticism, and polite literature. Those which are
held in the highest estimation, are his Histories of the
Councils of Pisa, Constance, and Basil, each in 2 vols.
4to. These are written with great ability and impartiality,
and they abound with interesting facts and curious researches. Lenfant, in conjunction with M. Beausobre,
published “The New Testament, translated from the original Greek into French,
” in 2 vols. 4to, with notes, and
a general preface, or introduction to the reading of the
Holy Scriptures, useful for students in divinity. He is
known also by his “De iuquirenda Veritate,
” which is a
translation of Malebranche’s “Search after Truth
”
“The History of Pope Joan
” “Poggiana or, the life,
character,- opinions, c. of Poggio the Florentine, with
the History of the Republic of Florence,
” and the abovementioned “History of the Wars of the Hussites,
” Utrecht,
Dissertation upon the Adamites of Bohemia.
”
nto sacred orders, and took his licentiate’s degree, 1703. He was sent to Lisle, 1705, by M. Torcey, minister for foreign affairs, as first secretary for the Latin and French
, a voluminous
French writer, was born October 5, 1674, at Beauvais.
He entered the Sorbonne, as a student, under M. Pirot, a
celebrated doctor of that house; but, being convicted of
having privately obtained from this gentleman’s bureau,
some papers relative to what was then transacting in the
Sorbonne, respecting Maria d'Agreda’s “Mystical city of
God,
” and having published, Letter addressed
to Messieurs the Syndics and doctors in divinity of the
faculty of Paris,
” concerning this censure, M. Pirot expelled him. Lenglet then went to the seminary of St.
Magloire, entered into sacred orders, and took his licentiate’s degree, 1703. He was sent to Lisle, 1705, by M.
Torcey, minister for foreign affairs, as first secretary for
the Latin and French languages, and with a charge to
watch that the elector of Cologn’s ministers, who were
then at Lisle, might do nothing against the king’s interest;
and was also entrusted by the elector with the foreign
correspondence of Brussels and Holland. When Lisle was
taken in 1708, Lenglet obtained a safeguard for the elector of Cologn’s furniture and property from prince Eugene.
Having made himself known to that prince through M.
Hoendorf, he desired the latter to tell his highness, that he
would give up the memoirs of the Intendants for fifty pistoles, which the prince sent him; but be wrote to M. Hoendorf eight days after, to say that the papers had been seized
at his house by the minister’s order, and kept the money.
He discovered a conspiracy formed by a captain at the
gates of Mons, who had promised not only to deliver up
that city, but also the electors of Cologn and Bavaria, who
had retired thither, for a hundred thousand piastres. Lenglet was arrested at the Hague fur his “Memoirs sur la
Collation des Canonicats de Tournay,
” which he had published there, to exclude the disciples of Jansenius from
this collation; but he obtained his liberty six weeks after,
at prince Eugene’s solicitation. After his return to France,
the prince de Cellemare’s conspiracy, which cardinal Albtjroni had planned, being discovered in Dec. 1718, he was
chosen to find out the number and designs of the conspirators, which he did, after receiving a promise that none
of those so discovered should be sentenced to death; this
promise the court kept, and gave Lenglet a pension. In
1721, he went to Vienna, pretending to solicit the removal
of M. Ernest, whom the Dutch had made dean of Tournay;
but having no orders from France for the journey, was arrested at Strasburgh on his return, and confined six months
in prison. This disgrace the abbé Lenglet attributed to
the celebrated Rousseau, whom he had seen at Vienna, and
from whom he had received every possible service in that
city; and thence originated his aversion to him, and the
satire which he wrote against him, under the title of “Eloge
historique de Rousseau, par Brossette,
” which that friend
of Rousseau’s disavowed, and the latter found means to
have suppressed in Holland, where it had been printed,
in 1731. Lenglet refused to attach himself to cardinal
Passionei, who wished to have him at Rome, and, indeed,
he was so far from deriving any advantage from the favourable circumstances he found himself in, or from the powerful patrons which he had acquired by his talents and services, that his life was one continued series of adventures
and misfortunes. His passion was to write, think, act, and
live, with a kind of cynical freedom; and though badly
lodged, clothed, and fed, he was still satisfied, while at
liberty to say and write what he pleased; which liberty,
however, he carried to so great an extreme, and so strangely
abused, that he was sent to the bastille ten or twelve times.
Lenglet bore all this without murmuring, and no sooner
found himself out of prison, than he laboured to deserve a
fresh confinement. The bastille was become so familiar to
him, that when Tapin (one of the life guards) who usually
conducted him thither, entered his chamber, he did not
wait to hear his commission, but began himself by saying,
“Ah M. Tapin, good morning
” then turning to the
woman who waited upon him, cried, “Bring my little
bundle of linen and snuff directly,
” and followed M. Tapin
with the utmost cheerfulness. This spirit of freedom and
independence, and this rage for writing, never left him;
he chose rather to work and live alone in a kind of garret,
than reside with a rich sister, who was fond of him, and
offered him a convenient apartment at her house in Paris,
with the use of her table and servants. Lenglet would
have enjoyed greater plenty in this situation, but every
thing would have fatigued him, and he would have thought
regularity in meals quite a slavery. Some have supposed
that he studied chymistry, and endeavoured to discover the
philosopher’s stone, to which operations he desired no witnesses. He owed his death to a melancholy accident; for
going home about six in the evening, Jan. 15, 1755, after
having dined with his sister, he fell asleep, while reading a
new book which had been sent him, and fell into the tire.
The neighbours went to his assistance, but too late, his head
being almost entirely burnt. He had attained the age of
eighty-two. The abbé Lenglet’s works are numerous their
subjects extremely various, and many of them very extravagant. Those which are most likely to live are his, “Méthode pour etudier l'Histoire, avec un Catalogue des principaux Historiens,
” 12 vols.; “Methode pour Etudier la
Geographic,
” with maps; “Histoire de la Philosophic
Hermetique,
” and “Tablettes Chronologiques de T Histoire Universelle,
” Chronological
Tables
” were published in English, in 8vo. It is a work of
great accuracy, and of some whim, for he lays down a
calculation according to which a reader may go through an
entire course of universal history, sacred and profane, in
the space of ten years and six months at the rate of six
hours per day.
e Romans, has forfeited the privileges of an ambassador, and is liable to punishment. 2. Whether the minister or agent of a prince deposed from his public authority, and
At length, after several debates, five civilians, Lewis, Dale, Drury, Aubry, and Jones, were appointed to ejamine the bishop of Ross’s case, and to give in answers to the following queries. 1. Whether an ambassador, who raises rebellion against the prince to whom he is sent, should enjoy the privileges of an ambassador, and not rather be liable to punishment as an enemy? To this it was answered, that such an ambassador, by the laws of nations, and the civil law of the Romans, has forfeited the privileges of an ambassador, and is liable to punishment. 2. Whether the minister or agent of a prince deposed from his public authority, and in whose stead another is substituted, may enjoy the privileges of an ambassador? To this it was answered, if such a prince be lawfully deposed, his agent cannot challenge the privileges of an ambassador, since none but absolute princes, and such as enjoy a royal prerogative, can constitute ambassadors. 3. Whether a prince, who comes into another prince’s country, and is there kept prisoner, can have his agent, and whether that agent can be reputed an ambassador? To this it was answered, if such a prince have not lost his sovereignty, he may have an agent; but whether that agent may be reputed an ambassador, dependeth upon the authority of his commission. 4. Whether if a prince declare to such an agent, and his prince in custody, that he shall no longer be reputed an ambassador, that agent may, by law, challenge the privileges of an ambassador? To this it was answered, that a prince may forbid an ambassador to enter into his kingdom, and may command him to depart the kingdom, if he keep himself not within the bounds prescribed to an ambassador; yet in the mean while he is to enjoy the privileges of an ambassador Queen Elizabeth and her cdunsel being satisfied with these answers of the civilians, sent bishop Lesley prisoner to the isle of Ely, and afterwards to the Tower of London; but at length he was set at liberty in 1573, and being banished England, he retired to the Netherlands. The two following years he employed in soliciting the kings of France and Spain, and all the German princes, to interest themselves in the deliverance of his mistress. Finding them tardy in their proceedings, he went to Rome, to solicit the pope’s interference with them, but all his efforts being fruitless, he had recourse to his pen, and published several pieces to promote the same design. In 1579, he was made suffragan and vicar-general of the archbishopric of Rouen in Normandy, and, in his visitation of that diocese, was apprehended and thrown into prison, and obliged to pay three thousand pistoles for his ransom, to prevent his being given op to queen Elizabeth. He then remained unmolested under the protection of Henry III. of France; but, upon the accession of Henry IV. a protestant, who was supported in his claim to that crown by queen Elizabeth, he was apprehended, in his visitation through his diocese, in 1590; and, being thrown into prison, was again obliged to pay three thousand pistoles, to save himself from being given up to Elizabeth. In 1593, he was declared bishop of Constance, with licence to hold the bishopric of Ross, till he should obtain peaceable possession of the church of Constance and its revenues. Some time after this, he went and resided at Brussels; and when no hopes remained of his returning to his bishopric of Ross, by the establishment of the reformation under king James, he retired into a monastery at Guirtenburg, about two miles from Brussels, where he passed the remainder of his days, died May 31, 1596, and lies buried there under a monument erected to his memory by his nephew and heir, John Lesley.
ge, and therefore addressed a warm expostulation to the earl of Clarendon, in the dedication to that minister of his “Memento,” published in 1662; where he joins himself
This appearance at the court of Cromwell was much
censured, after the restoration, by some of the royal party,
who also objected to him, that he had once been heard
playing in a concert where the usurper was present, and,
therefore, they nick-named him “Oliver’s Fidler.
” He
was charged also with having bribed some of the protector’s
people, but he positively disavows it; averring, he never
spoke to Thurloe but once in his life about his discharge;
and that, though during the dependency of that affair he
might well be seen at Whitehall, yet he never spoke to
Cromwell on any other business, or had the least
commerce of any kind with him. From this to the time of
the restoration, he seems to have lived free from any disturbance from the then governing powers; and perhaps
the obscurity into which he had fallen made him be overlooked by Charles II. and his ministry, on that prince’s
recovering his throne. He did not, however, so undervalue his own sufferings and merits, as to put up quietly
with this usage, and therefore addressed a warm expostulation to the earl of Clarendon, in the dedication to that
minister of his “Memento,
” published in The Public Intelligencer, and the News;' f the first of which came out
the 1st of August, and continued to be published twice a
week, till January 19, 1665; when he laid it down, on
the design then concerted of publishing the
” London Gazette,“the first of which papers made its appearance on.
Saturday Feb. 4.
After the dissolution of Charles’s second parliament, in
1679, he set up a paper, called
” The Observator;“the
design of which was to vindicate the measures of the court,
and the character of the king, from the charge of being
popislily affected. With the same spirit he exerted himself in 1681, in ridiculing the popish plot; which he did
with such vehemence, that it raised him many enemies,
who endeavoured, notwithstanding his known loyalty, to
render him obnoxious to the government. But he appeared with no less vehemence against the fanatic plot in
1682; and, in 1683, was particularly employed by the
court to publish Dr. Tillotson’s papers exhorting lord Russel to avow the doctrine of non-resistance, a little before
his execution. In this manner he weathered all the storms
raised against him during that reign, and, in the next, unrewarded with the honour of knighthood, accompanied
with this declaration,
” that it was in consideration of his
eminent services and unshaken loyalty to the crown, in all
extremities; and as a mark of the singular satisfaction of
his majesty, in his present as well as his past services.“In 1687, he was obliged to lay down his
” Observator,“now swelled to three volumes; as he could not agree with
the toleration proposed by his majesty, though, in all other
respects, he had gone the utmost lengths. He had even
written strenuously in defence of the dispensing power,
claimed by that infatuated prince; and this was probably one
reason, why some accused him of having become a proselyte to the church of Home, an accusation which gave him
much uneasiness, and which was heightened by his daughter’s defection to that church. To clear himself from this
aspersion, he drew up a formal declaration, directed to his
kinsman, sir Nicolas L'Estrange, on the truth of which he
received the sacrament at the time of publishing the same,
which is supposed to be in 1690 . By this declaration we
find he was married his lady’s name was Anne Doleman
but what issue he had by her, besides the just- mentioned
daughter, has not come to our knowledge. After the revolution, he seems to have been left out of the commission
of the peace; and, it is said, queen Mary shewed her contempt of him by the following anagram she made upon his
name,
” Lying- Strange Roger:" and it is certain he met
with some trouble, for the remainder of his life, on account
of his being a disaffected person.
anty fortune not allowing him to reside constantly, he was recommended to Mr. William Churchey, then minister at Poole, to be assistant in the free-school of that town. By
Two years after, when he was about sixteen years old,
Mr. Daniel Wigfall, a merchant, took him into his family
as tutor to his sons, and after continuing here until 1694,
he went to Oxford, and was admitted batteler of Exetercollege: but his scanty fortune not allowing him to reside
constantly, he was recommended to Mr. William Churchey,
then minister at Poole, to be assistant in the free-school of
that town. By this gentleman’s indulgence in allowing
him to keep his terms in the university, he proceeded A. B.
in 1697, when he returned to Mr. Russel at Wapping,
and was ordained deacon by bishop Compton soon after.
In April following he took upon him the cure of Acryse in
Kent, and lived at the same time in the family of Philip
Papillon, esq. to whom his behaviour rendered him so acceptable, that although he had left the parish, and was
then chaplain to Paul Foley, esq. upon the recommendation of Dr. Barton, prebendary of Westminster, yet, upon
the death of the incumbent, he procured him a presentation from the lord chancellor Somers, upon which he was
instituted Sept. 4, 1699. He now applied himself to re-,
pair a dilapidated parsonage-house, as well as to discharge
his pastoral duties with all diligence, particularly that of
catechising the young, which he looked upon as a very important part of his ministry. While here, he soon after
met with a singular instance of unfair dealing. Being appointed to preach at the archdeacon’s visitation at Canterbury in 1701, his sermon (on 2 Cor. vi. 4.) was lent to
William Brockman, esq. upon his earnest request, wb.o
printed it under the title of a “Summary,
” &c. with a
preface calculated to injure him.
He found a kinder friend, however, in archbishop Tenison, who had heard a good character of him, and granted
him the sequestration of the little rectory of Hawkinge,
near Dover, in 1702, telling him at the same time, that
he hoped he should live to consider him farther. It was at
that time his acquaintance began with Mr. Johnson of Margate, who recommended him for his successor in that laborious cure; but his old friend and patron Mr. Papillon
being unwilling to part with him, he excused himself to
the archbishop at that time: afterwards, upon Mr. Warren’s resignation, he accepted it in 1705. On his becoming a member of the society for promoting Christian
knowledge, he was desired to draw up a short and plain
exposition of the Church Catechism, fit for the children
educated in charity-schools; and this, which he executed
to the entire satisfaction of the society, has passed through
many editions. In 1706, archbishop Tenison collated him
to the rectory of Saltwood with the chapel of Hythe, and
the desolate rectory of Eastbridge; but, being here disturbed by a dispute with a neighbouring 'squire, his patron removed him to the vicarage of Mynstre, on the cession of Dr. Green, in March 1708, where he rebuilt the
house, in a more elegant and commodious manner.
Irish-English dictionary, proposed to be published in 1732 by subscription, by Mr. David Malcolme, a minister of the church of Scotland, with additions; as also the elements
He left in ms. a Scottish or Irish-English dictionary,
proposed to be published in 1732 by subscription, by Mr.
David Malcolme, a minister of the church of Scotland, with
additions; as also the elements of the said language, with
necessary and useful information for propagating more
effectually the English language, and for promoting the
knowledge of the ancient Scottish or Irish, and many
branches of useful and curious learning. Lhuyd, at the
end of his preface to the “Archaeologia,
” promises an historical dictionary of British persons and places mentioned
in ancient records It seems to have been ready for press,
though he could not fix the time of publication. His collections for a second volume, which was to give an account
of the antiquities, monuments, &c. in the principality of
Wales, were numerous and well-chosen; but, on account
father and mother. Passing, however, through Stone in that county, he found the place destitute of a minister; and the pressing instances of the parishioners prevailed upon
As soon as he had taken the degree of B. A. he left the
university, and became assistant to his former master, Mr.
Wbitehead, who then kept a school at Repton, in Derbyshire. After he had supplied this place a year or two, he
entered into orders, and became curate of Norton under
Hales, in Shropshire. This curacy gave an occasion of
awakening his genius for the Hebrew tongue. Norton,
lies near Bellaport, then the seat of sir Rowland Cotton,
who was his constant hearer, made him his chaplain, and
took him into his house. This gentleman being a perfect
master of the Hebrew language, engaged Lightfoot in that
study; who, by conversing with his patron, soon became
sensible, that, without that knowledge, it was impossible
to attain an accurate understanding of the Scriptures. He
therefore applied himself to it with extraordinary vigour
and success; and his patron removing, with his family, to
reside in London, at the request of sir Allan Cotton, his
uncle, who was lord-mayor of that city, he followed his
preceptor thither. He had not been long in London before he conceived the design of going abroad for farther
improvement; and with that view he went into Staffordshire, and took leave of his father and mother. Passing,
however, through Stone in that county, he found the place
destitute of a minister; and the pressing instances of the
parishioners prevailed upon him to undertake that cure.
He now laid aside all thoughts of going abroad, and having in 1628 become possessed of the living, he married
the daughter of William Crompton, of Stone-park, esq.
After a time, his excessive attachment to rabbinical learning occasioned another removal to London, for the sake of
Sion-college-library, which he knew was well stocked with
books of that kind. He therefore quitted his charge at
Stone, and removed with his family to Hornsey, near
London, where he gave the public a specimen of his ad-?
vancement in those studies, by his “Erubhirn, or Miscellanies Christian and Judaical,
” in
nal motive. for his going to the capital. Here, however, he had not beert long, before he was chosen minister of St. Bartholomew’s, behind the Royal Exchange. He lived at
Thinking himself now fixed for life, he built a study in
the garden, retired from the noise of the house; and applied himself for twelve years with indefatigable diligence
in searching the Scriptures. Thus employed, the days
passed very agreeably; and he continued quiet and unmolested till the great change which happened in the public
affairs, brought him into a share of the administration relating to the church; for he was nominated a member of
the memorable assembly of divines, for settling a new
form of ecclesiastical polity. This appointment was purely
the effect of his distinguished merit; and he accepted it
purely with a view to serve his country as far as lay in his
power; but, although he contended on some points with
many of the most able innovators in that assembly, it cannot be denied that he had a favourable opinion of the Presbyterian form of church- government. The necessity for
residing in London, in consequence of this appointment,
induced him to resign his rectory; and, having obtained
the presentation for a younger brother, he set out for
London in 1642. He had now satisfied himself in clearing
up many of the abstrusest passages in the Bible, and had
provided the chief materials, as well as formed the plan,
of his “Harmony;
” and an opportunity of inspecting it
at the press was, no doubt, an additional motive. for his
going to the capital. Here, however, he had not beert
long, before he was chosen minister of St. Bartholomew’s,
behind the Royal Exchange. He lived at this time at the
upper end of Moore-lane, whence he dedicated to his
parishioners of St. Bartholomew, his “Handful of Gleanings out of the Book of Exodus.
” The assembly of divines
meeting in lf>43, our author gave his attendance diligently
there, and made a distinguished figure in their debates;
where he used great freedom, and gave signal proofs of
his courage as well as learning, in opposing many of those
tenets which the divines were endeavouring to establish.
His learning recommended him to the parliament, whose
visitors, having ejected Dr. William Spurstow from the
mastership of Catharine-hall in Cambridge, put Lightfoot
in his room this year, 1643; and he was also presented to
the living of Much-Mundeii, in Hertfordshire, void by the
death of Dr. Samuel Ward, Margaret- professor of divinity
in that university, before the expiration of this year. In
the mean time he had taken his turn with other favourites
in preaching before the House of Commons, most of which
sermons were printed; and in them we see him warmly
pressing the speedy settlement of the church in the Presbyterian form, w^ich he cordially believed to be according
to the pattern in the Mount. His leisure hours he employed in preparing and publishing the several branches of
his “Harmony;
” all which, although decidedly proving
the usefulness of human learning to true religion, occasioned to him great difficulties and discouragements, chiefly
owing to the vulgar prejudices of the illiterate part of the
revolutionists, which threatened even the destruction of
the universities. In 1655, he entered upon the office of
vice-chancellor of Cambridge, to which he was chosen that
year, having taken the degreeof doctor of divinity in
1652. He performed all the regular exercises for his degree with great applause*, and executed the vice-chancellor’s office with exemplary diligence and fidelity; and,
particularly at the commencement, supplied the place of
professor of divinity, then undisposed of, at an act which
was kept for a doctor’s degree in that profession f. At the
same time he was engaged, with others, in completing the
celebrated Polyglott Bible, then in the press; which being
encouraged by Oliver Cromwell, he expressed his joy at
this high patronage, in his speech at the commencement.
He also took occasion to commiserate the oppressed state
of the clergy of the church of England, and to extol their
learning, zeal, and confidence, in God.
son us, in memory of sir Rowland Cotton and sir John Jackson, two dear friends of our author; he was minister of Thundridge, in Hertfordshire, and died there, leaving one
As to his rabbinical learning, he was excelled by none,
and had few equals; and foreigners who came to England
for assistance in their rabbinical studies, usually paid their
court to him, as one of the most eminent scholars in that
branch. Among these were Frederic Miege and Theodore Haak, who were peculiarly recommended also to Dr.
Pocock, with whom our author had a correspondence as
also Dr. Marshal of Lincoln-college, in Oxford Samuel
Clarke, keeper of the Bodleian library Dr. Bernard, of
St. John’s; and the famous Buxtorf were all correspondents of his. Castell acknowledges his obligations to him,
when he had little encouragement elsewhere. It is true,
he is charged with maintaining some peculiar opinions t;
of which he says, “Innocua, ut spero, semper proponens;
”
yet he bore the reputation of one of the most ingenious as
well as learned of our English commentators, and has been
of great service to his successors. He bequeathed his
whole library of rabhinical works, oriental books, &c. to
Harvard college, in America, where the whole were burnt
in 1769.
publicly, as a probationer, which he did first at Haerlem. The same year he was invited to be stated minister of Alcmaer, but declined it, not thinking himself yet qualified
, a celebrated professor of divinity in Holland, of the Arminian persuasion, was of a good family, originally of Maestricht, and born at Amsterdam, June 19, 1633. He passed the first years of his life in his father’s house, going thence daily to school; and then, attending the public lectures, became the disciple of Gaspar Barlaeus in ethics, of Gerard John Vossius in history, and of Arnold Sanguerd in philosophy. This foundation being laid, he applied himself to divinity under Stephen Curcellseus, who succeeded Simon Episcopius in that chair, among the remonstrants. From Amsterdam he went to Utrecht, and frequented the lectures of Gilbert Voetius, and other divines of the reformed religion. In May 1654, he returned to Amsterdam, and made his first probationsermon there in Oct. following. He passed an examination in divinity in August 1655; and was admitted to preach publicly, as a probationer, which he did first at Haerlem. The same year he was invited to be stated minister of Alcmaer, but declined it, not thinking himself yet qualified for that important task. In 1657 he published a course of sermons in Dutch, by Episcopius, his greut uncle by the mother’s side, and the same year was invited to be minister of the remonstrants at Gouda, where there was a numerous congregation of that sect. He accepted this vocation, and exercised the ministerial function in that town till he was called to Amsterdam.
mber of letters relating to the affairs of the remonstrants; and, communicating these to Hartsoeker, minister of the remonstrants at Rotterdam, they joined in disposing them
Having inherited the papers of Episcopius, he found
Among them a great number of letters relating to the affairs
of the remonstrants; and, communicating these to Hartsoeker, minister of the remonstrants at Rotterdam, they
joined in disposing them into a proper order, and then
published them under the title of “Epistolae praestantium
et eruditorum Virorum, &c.
” at Amsterdam, in
Amsterdam in 1699, the two Burmans, one professor of history and eloquence at Utrecht, and the other minister at Amsterdam, published a book in viiulication of their father’s
In 1694 a young gentlewoman at Amsterdam, of twenty-two years of age, took a fancy to learn Hebrew of a Jew;
and was by frequent conversations with her tutor, induced
to quit the Christian religion for Judaism. As soon as her
mother understood this, she employed several divines, but
in vain; because they undertook to prove Christianity from
the Old Testament, omitting the authority of the New;
to which she, returning the common answers she had
learned from the Jews, received no reply that gave her
satisfaction. While the young lady was in the midst of
this perplexity, Dr. Veen, a physician, happened to be
sent for to the house; and, hearing her mother speak,
with great concern, of the doubts which disturbed her
daughter, he mentioned Limborch’s dispute with Orobio.
She immediately applied to Limborch, in hopes that he
would be able to remove her scruples, and bring her back
to the Christian religion. Limborch accordingly used the
same train of argument which he had pursued with Orobio,
and quickly recovered her to her former faith. In 1698 he
was accused of a calumny, in a book concerning the Xo'yog
in St. John’s gospel, by Vander Waeyen, professor of divinity at Franecker, because he had said, that Francis
Burman, a divine and professor at Leyden, had, in his
“Theologia Christiana,
” merely transcribed Spinoza without any judgment. Limborch, producing passages from
both, endeavoured to prove that he had said nothing which
was not strictly true; but when this was printed at Amsterdam in 1699, the two Burmans, one professor of history
and eloquence at Utrecht, and the other minister at Amsterdam, published a book in viiulication of their father’s
memory, entitled “Burmannorum Pietas,
” “The Piety
of the Burmans;
” to which Limborch made no reply. la
, a learned divine, of St. MaryVhall at Oxford, officiated for many years as minister of the nonjuring society in Trinity-chapel, Aldersgate-street,
, a learned divine, of St. MaryVhall
at Oxford, officiated for many years as minister of the
nonjuring society in Trinity-chapel, Aldersgate-street, and
is said to have been, their last minister. He was also for
some time a corrector of the press to Mr. Bowyer the
printer. He finished a long and useful life, June 21, 1768,
at the age of eighty-two; and was buried in Islington
church-yard. Mr. Lindsay published “The Short History
of the Regal Succession,
” &c. with “Remarks on Whiston’s
Scripture Politics,
” &c. Vindication of the Church of England,
” a
full and particular Series of the Succession of our Bishops,
through the several Reigns since the Reformation,
” &c.
He dates the second edition from “Islington, 13 Dec.
1727.
” In Two
Sermons preached at Court in 1620, by Francis Mason;
”
which he recommends, “as well for their own intrinsic
value, as to make up a complete Collection of that learned
Author’s Works.
” He had a nephew, who died curate of
Waltham abbey, Sept. 17, 1779.
rtification. His “Journal,” likewise, in which most of his effusions appeared, was suppressed by the minister of state, Maurepas; and Linguet, thinking his personal liberty
, a French advocate and political writer, was born at Rheims, July 14,
1736. His father was one of the professors of the college
of Beauvais, at Paris, and had his son educated under him,
v who made such proficiency in his studies as to gain the
three chief prizes of the college in 1751. This early celebrity was noticed by the duke de Deux-Pont, then at
Paris, who took him with him to the country; but Linguet
soon left this nobleman for the service of the prince de
Beavau, who employed him as his aide-de-camp in the war
in Portugal, on account of his skill in mathematics.
During his residence in that country, Linguet learned the
language so far as to be able to translate some Portuguese
dramas into French. Returning to France in 1762, he was
admitted to the bar, where his character was very various;
but amongst the reports both of enemies and friends, it
appears that of an hundred and thirty causes, he lost only
nine, and was allowed to shine both in oiatory and compo*sidon. He had the art, however, of making enemies by
the occasional liberties he took with characters; and at
one time twenty-four of his brethren at the bar, whether
from jealousy or a better reason, determined that they
would take no brief in any cause in which he was concerned, and the parliament of Paris approved this so far
as to interdict him from pleading. We are not sufficiently
acquainted with the circumstances of the case to be able to
form an opinion on the justice of this harsh measure. It
appears, however, to have thrown Linguet out of his profession, and he then began to employ his pen on his numerous political writings but these, while they added to
his reputation as a lively writer, added likewise to the
number of his enemies. The most pointed satire levelled
at him was the “Theory of Paradox,
” generally attributed
to the abbe Morellet, who collected all the absurd paradoxes to be found in Linguet’s productions, which it must
be allowed are sufficiently numerous, and deserve the castigation he received. Linguet endeavoured to reply, but
the laugh was against him, and all the wits of Paris enjoyed his mortification. His “Journal,
” likewise, in which
most of his effusions appeared, was suppressed by the minister of state, Maurepas; and Linguet, thinking his personal liberty was now in danger, came to London; but the
English not receiving him as he expected, he went to
Brussels, and in consequence of an application to the count
de Vergeunes, was allowed to return to France. He had not
been here long, before, fresh complaints having been made
of his conduct, he was, Sept. 27, 1780, sent to the Bastille,
where he remained twenty months. Of his imprisonment
and the causes he published a very interesting account,
which was translated into English, and printed here in
1783. He was, after being released, exiled to Rethel,
but in a short time returned to England. He had been
exiled on two other occasions, once to Chartres, and the
other to Nogent-le-Kotrou. At this last place, he seduced
a madame But, the wife of a manufacturer, who accompanied him to England. From England he went again to
Brussels, and resumed his journal, or “Annales politiques,
”
in which he endeavoured to pay his court to the emperor
Joseph, who was so much pleased with a paper he had
written on his favourite project of opening the Scheldt,
that he invited him to Vienna, and made him a present of
1000 ducats. Linguet, however, soon forfeited the emperor’s favour, by taking part with Varider Noot and the other
insurgents of Brabant. Obliged, therefore, to quit the
Netherlands, he came to Paris in 1791, and appeared at
the bar of the constituent assembly as advocate for the colonial assembly of St. Domingo and the cause of the blacks.
In February 1792, he appeared in the legislative assembly
to denounce Bertrand de Moleville, the minister of the
marine; but his manner was so absurd, that notwithstanding the unpopularity of that statesman, the assembly treated
it with contempt, and Linguet indignantly tore in pieces
his memorial, which he had been desired to leave on the
table. During the reign of terror, he withdrew into the
country, but was discovered and brought before the revolutionary tribunal, and condemned to death June 27, 1794,
for having in his works paid court to the despots of Vienna
and London. At the age of fifty-seven he went with serenity and courage to meet his fate. It is not very easy
to form an opinion of Linguet’s real character. His
being interrupted in his profession seems to have thrown
him upon the public, whose prejudices he alternately
opposed and flattered. His works abound in contradictions, but upon the whole it may be inferred that he was a
lover of liberty, and no inconsiderable promoter of those
opinions which precipitated the revolution. That he was
not one of the ferocious sect, appears from his escape, and
his death. His works are very numerous. The principal
are, 1. “Voyage au labyrinthe du jardin du roi,
” Hague,
(Paris,) Histoire du siecle d'Alexandre,
” Paris, Projet d‘un canal et
d’un pont sur les cotes de Picardie,
” Le Fanatisme de Philosophes,
” Necessit6 d‘une reforme dans l’administration de la justice
et des lois civiles de France,
” Amst. La
Dime royale,
” Histoire
des Revolutions de l'empire Remain,
” Theorie des Lois,
” Histoire impartiale des Jesuites,
” Hardion’s Universal History,
” vols. 19th and 20th. 11.
“Theatre Espagnole,
” Theorie
du Libelle,
” Amst. (Paris), Du plusheureux gouvernment,
” &c.
Essai philosophique sur le
Monachisme,
”
, in the province of Smaland, in Sweden, May 13th, 1707. His father, Nicholas Linnæus, was assistant minister of the parish of Stenbrohult, to which the hamlet of Rashult
, afterwards Von Linne', the most
eminent of modern naturalists, was born at Rashult, in
the province of Smaland, in Sweden, May 13th, 1707.
His father, Nicholas Linnæus, was assistant minister of the
parish of Stenbrohult, to which the hamlet of Rashult belongs, and became in process of time its pastor or rector;
having married Christina Broderson, the daughter of his
predecessor. The subject of our memoir was their first-born
child. The family of Linnæus had been peasants, but some
of them, early in the seventeenth century, had followed
literary pursuits. In the beginning of that century regular
and hereditary surnames were first adopted in Sweden, on
which occasion literary men often chose one of Latin or
Greek derivation and structure, retaining the termination
proper to the learned languages. A remarkable Lindentree, Tilia Europæa, growing near the place of their residence, is reported to have given origin to the names of
Lindelius and Tiliander, in some branches of this family
but the above-mentioned Nicholas, is said to have first
taken that of Linnæus, by which his son became so exlen--“sively known. Of the taste which laid the foundation of
his happiness, as well as his celebrity, this worthy father
was the primary cause. Residing in a delightful spot, on
the banks of a fine lake, surrounded by hills and valleys,
woods and cultivated ground, his garden and his fields
yielded him both amusement and profit, and his infant son
imbibed, under his auspices, that pure and ardent love of
nature for its own sake, with that habitual exercise of the
mind in observation and activity, which ever after marked
his character, and which were enhanced by a rectitude of
principle, an elevation of devotional taste, a warmth of
feeling, and an amiableness of manners, rarely united in
those who so transcendantly excel in any branch of philosophy or science, because the cultivation of the heart
does by no means so constantly as it ought keep pace with
that of the understanding. The maternal uncle of Nicholas
Linnæus, Sueno Tiliander, who had educated him with
his own children, was also fond of plants and of gardening,
so that these tastes were in some measure hereditary. From
his tutor he learned to avoid the error of the desultory
speculators of nature; and his memory, like his powers of
perception, was naturally good, and his sight was always
remarkably acute. He does not appear, however, to have
been very happy under this tutor, and at seven years of
age grammar had but an unequal contest with botany, in
the mind of the young student. Nor was he much more
fortunate when removed, in 1717, to the grammar-school
of Wexio, the master of which, as his disgusted pupil
relates,
” preferred stripes and punishments to admonitions and encouragements.“In 1722 he was admitted
to a higher form in the school, and his drier studies
were now allowed to be intermixed and sweetened with
the recreations of botany. In 1724, being seventeen
years of age, he was removed to the superior seminary or
Gymnasium, and his destination was fixed for the church;
but, having no taste for Greek or Hebrew, ethics, metaphysics, or theology, he devoted himself with success to
mathematics, natural philosophy,and a scientific pursuit
of his darling botany. The
” Chloris Gothica“of Bromelius, and
” Hortus Upsaliensis" of Rudbeck, which made
a part of his little library, were calculated rather to fire
than to satisfy his curiosity; while his Palmberg and Tillands might make him sensible how much still remained to
be done. His own copies of these books, used with the utmost care and neatness, are now in sir James Smith’s library.
Linnæus’ s literary reputation, therefore, made so little progress, that his tutors havino pronounced him a dunce, he
would probably have been put to some handicraft trade,
had not Dr. Hothmann, the lecturer on natural philosophy,
taken him into his own house, with a view to the studv of
physic, and given him a private course of instruction in
physiology. He first suggested to Linnæus the true principles upon which botany ought to be studied, founded on
the parts of fructification, and put the system of Tournefort into his hands, in the knowledge of which he made a
rapid progress.
nds for his support; but, although promised a full reparation for the damages he had sustained, that minister never performed his promise. When he was upon the point of leaving
, a Scotchman, born the latter
end of the fifteenth century, whose sufferings by imprisonment and torture at Malaga, and whose travels on foot
over Europe, Asia, and Africa, seem to raise him almost
to the rank of a martyr and a hero, published a well-known
account of his peregrinations and adventures. The first
edition of this was printed in 1614, 4to, and reprinted in
the next reign, with additions, and a dedication to Charles J.
Though the author deals much in the marvellous, the accounts of the strange cruelties, of whioh he tells us he was
the subject, have, however, an air of truth. Soon after
his arrival in England from Malaga, he was carried to
Theobalds on a feather-bed, that king James might be an
eye-witness of his martyred anatomy, by which he means
his wretched body, mangled and reduced to a skeleton.
The whole court crowded to see him; and his majesty ordered him to be taken care of; and he was twice sent to
Bath at his expence. By the king’s command, he applied
to Gondamor, the Spanish ambassador, for the recovery of
money and other things of value which the governor of
Malaga had taken from him, and for a thousand pounds
for his support; but, although promised a full reparation
for the damages he had sustained, that minister never performed his promise. When he was upon the point of
leaving England, Lithgow upbraided him with the breach
of his word, in the presence-chamber, before several gentlemen of the court. This occasioned their fighting upon
the spot; and the ambassador, as the traveller oddly expressed it, “had his fistula contrabanded with his fist;
”
but the unfortunate Lithgow, although generally commended for his spirited behaviour, was sent to the Marshalsea, where he continued a prisoner nine months. At
the conclusion of the 8vo edition of his travels, he informs
us, that “in his three voyages his painful feet have traced
over, besides passages of seas and rivers, thirty-six thousand and odd miles, which draweth near to twice the circumference of the whole earth.
” Here the marvellous seems
to rise to the incredible; and to set him in point of veracity below Coryat, whom it is nevertheless certain that he
far outwalked. His description of Ireland is whimsical
and curious. This, together with the narrative of his
sufferings, is reprinted in Morgan’s “Phcenix Britannicus.
” He published also an account of the siege of Breda,
1637, of which the reader will find a notice in the “Restituta.
”
, a learned English writer in the seventeenth century, was son of Mr. George Lloyd, minister of Wonson or Wonsington near Winchester, and grandson of Mr.
, a learned English writer in the
seventeenth century, was son of Mr. George Lloyd, minister of Wonson or Wonsington near Winchester, and grandson of Mr. David Lloyd, vicar of Lockford near Stockbridge in Hampshire. He was born at Hoi ton in Flintshire in 1634, and educated at Wykeham’s school near
Winchester, and admitted a scholar of Wadham college,
Oxford, from Hart-hall, October 20, 1653. He afterwards
became a fellow of Wadham, and July 6, 16.58, took the
degree of roaster of arts. In 1665, when Dr. Blandford,
warden of that college, became bishop of Oxford, our
author was appointed chaplain to him, being about that
time rector of St. Martin’s church in Oxford, and continued
with the bishop till he was translated to the see of Worcester in 1671. The year following, the rectory of St. Mary
Newington, in Surrey, falling void, the bishop of Worcester presented Mr. Lloyd to it, who kept it to his death,
which happened Nov. 27, 1680. He was interred in the
chancel of the church there, leaving behind him the character of an harmless quiet man, and an excellent philologist.
His “Dictionarium Historicum,
” &c. although now obsolete, was once reckoned a valuable work. The first edition
was published at Oxford in 1670, folio. The second edition was printed at London in 1686, folio, under the fMlowing title: “Dictionarium Historicum, geographicum,
poeticum, gentium, hominum, deorum gentilium, regionum, insularum, locorum, civitatum, aequorum, fluviorum,
sinuum, portuum, promontoriorum, ac montium, antiqua
recentioraque, ad sacras & profanas historias, poetarumque fabulas intelligendas nccessaria, Nomina, quo decet
erdine, complectens & illustrans. Opus admodum utile &
apprime necessarium; a Carolo Stephano inchoatum; ad
incudem vero revocatum, innumerisque pene locis auctum
& emaculatum per NicolaumV.Lloydium, Collegii Wadhami in celeberrima Academia Oxoniensi Socium. Editio
novissima.
” He left several unpublished Mss. consisting
principally of commentaries and translations. He had a
younger brother, John, somewhat of a poet, who appears
to have shared the friendship and esteem of Addison.
, a physician of considerable reputation, was the son of Stephen Lobb, a dissenting minister, and grandson of Richard Lobb, esq. M. P. for St. Michael in
, a physician of considerable reputation, was the son of Stephen Lobb, a dissenting minister,
and grandson of Richard Lobb, esq. M. P. for St. Michael
in Cornwall. He was born Aug. 17, 1678, and educated
for the ministry among the dissenters, which he exchanged
for the study of medicine, and having obtained a diploma
from Scotland, practised in London, and left several works
on medical topics. He died May 19, 1763, in the eightyfifth year of his age. The following are the titles of his
publications: “Treatise of the Small-pox,
” London, Rational method of curing Fevers, deduced from the
structure of the human body,
” ibid. Medical
Practice in curing Fevers,
” ibid. A practical
treatise on painful Distempers, with some effectual methods of curing them,
” ibid. A Treatise on Solvents of the Stone, and on curing the Stone and the Gout
by Aliments,
” ibid. Letters concerning the Plague and other contagious Distempers,
” ibid. A Compendium of the Practice
of Physic,
” ibid.
ness and composure. After receiving the sacrament at home, in company with some friends, he told the minister, “that he was in perfect charity with all men, and in a sincere
From this time, which was the year 1700, he lived altogether at Oates, and applied himself, without interruption,
entirely to the study of the holy scriptures; and in this
employment he found so much pleasure, that he regretted
his not having devoted more of his time to it in the former
part of his life. On one occasion, in answer to a young
gentleman, who asked what was the shortest and surest
way for a person to attain a true knowledge of the Christian religion? he replied, “Let him study the holy scripture, especially the New Testament. It has God for its
author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter.
” In that he was in perfect
charity with all men, and in a sincere communion with the
church of Christ, by what name soever it might be distinguished.
” He lived some months after this, which he
spent in acts of piety and devotion: when he was meditating on the wisdom and goodness of the Creator, he could
not forbear crying out, *' Oh the depth of the riches of the
goodness and knowledge of God:“what he felt himself on
this subject he was anxious to infuse into the hearts of
others. On the day previously to uis departure he said,
” he had lived long enough, and was thankful that he had
enjoyed a happy life but that, after all, he looked upon
this life to be nothing but vanity,“or, as he expresses a
similar sentiment, in a letter which he left behind him for
his friend Mr. Anthony Collins, one that
” affords no solid
satisfaction but in the consciousness of doing well, and in
the hopes of another life." He had no rest that night,
and begged in the morning to be carried into his study,;
where, being placed in an easy chair, he had a refreshing
sleep for a considerable time. He then requested lady
Masham to read aloud some of the psalms, to which he
appeared exceedingly attentive, till feeling, probably, the
approach of the last messenger, he begged her to desist,
and in a few minutes expired, on the 28th of October 1704,
in the 73d year of his age.
ion of the kind in any language. The only other publication of M. Le Long was a letter to M. Martin, minister of Utrecht, with whom he had a short controversy respecting
, an eminent French historian and
bibliographer, was born at Paris, April 19, 1665. His
mother dying while he was very young, his father married
again, and entrusted his education to one of his relations,
a priest, who was director of the religious at Estampes.
After he had been taught grammar and Latin for two or
three years under this ecclesiastic, his father sent him to
Malta, with a view to procure him admission among the
clerks of the order of St. John of Jerusalem. He had
scarcely arrived here when the plague broke out, to which
he incautiously exposed himself; but although he escaped
the contagion, he fancied that the air of Malta did not
agree with him, and obtained leave of his superiors to return to Paris, where he might prosecute his studies in the
classics, philosophy, and divinity. As he had not taken
the vows in the order of St. John, he had no sooner completed his studies at home, than he entered into the congregation of the oratory. His year of probation being
passed, he was sent to the college of Jully, where he
taught mathematics, and went afterwards to the seminary
of Notre Dame des Vertus, where he employed his leisure
time in study, particularly of philosophy, which brought
him acquainted with father Malbranche. On his return
to Paris he was appointed to the care of the library belonging to the fathers of the oratory, a place for which he was
admirably qualified, as he was not only acquainted with
Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and the Chaldean, but with the
Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and English languages, and
had a very extensive knowledge of literary history, of books,
editions, and printing. The continual pains, however,
which he bestowed on this library, and on his own publications, undermined his constitution, which was originally
delicate, and brought on a complaint in the chest, which
proved fatal, Aug. 13, 1721, in the fifty. sixth year of his
life. His time for many years had been divided between
devotion and study; he allowed very little to sleep, and
less to the table. Although a man of extensive knowledge,
and often consulted, he was equally modest and unaffected.
In all his researches he shewed much acuteness and judgment, but the course of his studies had alienated him from
works of taste and imagination, for which he had little relish. His principal object was the ascertaining of truth in
matters of literary history; and the recovery of dates and
other minutiae, on which he was frequently obliged to
bestow the time that seemed disproportionate, was to him
a matter of great importance, nor was he to be diverted
from such accuracy by his friend Malbranche, who did not
think philosophy concerned in such matters. “Truth,
”
said Le Long, “is so valuable, that we ought not to
neglect it even in trifles.
” His works are, 1. “Methode
Hebraique du P. Renou,
” Bibliotheca
Sacra, sive syllabus omnium ferme Sacrse Scripture eclitionum ac versionum,
” Paris, Discours historique sur les principales Editions des Bibles
Polyglottes,
” Paris, Histoire des demelez du pape Boniface VIII. avec Philippe Le Bel, roi de France,
” 1718, 12mo, a posthumous
work of M. Baillet, to which Le Long added some documents illustrating that period of French history. 5. “Bibliotheque Historique de France,
”
and was obliged to divide his time between following the plow and attending to the lessons which the minister of the parish gave him, by which he profited so much as to acquire
, an eminent astronomer, was born at Longomontum, a town in Denmark,
whence he took his name, in 1562. Vossius, by mistake,
calls him Christopher. He was the son of Severinus, a
poor labourer, and was obliged to divide his time between
following the plow and attending to the lessons which the
minister of the parish gave him, by which he profited so
much as to acquire considerable knowledge, especially in
the mathematics. At length, when he was fifteen, he
stole from his family, and went to Wiburg, where there
was a college, in which he spent eleven years, supporting
himself by his talents: and on his removing thence to
Copenhagen, the professors of this university soon conceived a high esteem for him, and recommended him
to Tycho Brahe, who received him very kindly. He lived
eight years with this eminent astronomer, and assisted him
so much in his observations and calculations, that Tycho
conceived a very particular affection for him, and having
left his native country to settle in Germany, he was desirous of having the company of Longomontanus, who accordingly attended him. Afterwards being, in 1600, desirous of a professor’s chair in Denmark, Tycho generously
consented to give up his assistant and friend, with the
highest testimonies of his merit, and supplied him plentifully with money for his journey. On his return to Denmark, he deviated from his road, in order to view the
places whence Copernicus had made his astronomical
observations; and passed so much time in this journey, that
it was not till 1605 that he was nominated to the professorship of mathematics in the university of Copenhagen. In
this situation he continued till his death, in 1647, when
he was eighty-five years old. He married, and had children; but the whole of his family died before him. He
was the author of several works, in mathematics and astronomy. His “Astronomia Danica,
” first printed in Christianus Longomontanus
Severini films.
”
asburg, 1732. 4.” Dissertation on Transubstantiation," which passed under the name of his friend the minister Allix, because unfavourable to the catholic faith. He wrote
, son of Peter Dufour, seigneur de Longuerue, a Norman gentleman, king’s
lieutenant of Charleville, in which city he was born, 1652,
discovered such uncommon genius for learning t four
years old, that Louis XIV. passing through Charleville, and
hearing him mentioned, desired to see him. His tutor
was the celebrated Richelet; and Peter d'Ablancourt, who
was related to him, superintended his education and studies. He was taught both the oriental and European languages, and acquired an extensive knowledge of history,
antiquities, the sacred writings, the holy fathers, &c. To
an uncommon memory he joined very considerable critical
talents. He held two abbeys, that of Sept- Fontaines in the
diocese of Rheims, and of Jard in the diocese of Sens. He
died November 22, 1733, at Paris, aged eighty-two. Hi
works are, 1. A Dissertation in Latin, on Tatian, in the
edition of that author, published at Oxford, 1700, 8vo
2. “La Description Historique de la France,
” Paris, de Longuerue, from the changes which have been
made in it, and the hurry in which it was printed. The
original maps, which have been altered, may be found in
some copies. 3.
” Annales Arsacidarum,“Strasburg,
1732. 4.
” Dissertation on Transubstantiation," which
passed under the name of his friend the minister Allix, because unfavourable to the catholic faith. He wrote also
Remarks on the Life of Cardinal Wolsey, and left numerous works in Mss. on different subjects in several volumes,
folio. There is a collection of his bon mots among the
Ana.
He was next appointed one of the Assembly of Divines, and minister of St. Lawrence Jury, and is said also to have been chosen minister
He was next appointed one of the Assembly of Divines,
and minister of St. Lawrence Jury, and is said also to have
been chosen minister of St. Anne’s, Aldersgate-street. He
was one of the London ministers who signed a declaration
against the king’s death. He was afterwards engaged in a
plot, which cost him his life, and was known at the time by
the name of Love’s plot, either because he was a principal
agent, or a principal sufferer. Mr. Love, we have already
noticed, was a presbyterian, and when he found that the
independents were gaining the ascendancy, he united with
various gentlemen and ministers of his own way of thinking to assist the Scotch (before whom Charles II. had taken the covenant, and by whom he had been crowned,) in
their endeavours to advance that sovereign to the crown of
England. Cromwell, howev&r, was too watchful for the
success of such a design in London; and the chief conspirators being apprehended, Mr. Love and a Mr. Gibbons
were tried and executed, the rest escaping by interest, or
servile submission. Mr. Love appears on his trial to have
used every means to defeat its purpose, and was certainly
more tenacious of life, than might have been expected
from the boldness of his former professions. Great intercessions were made to the parliament for a pardon: his
wife presented one petition, and himself four; several
parishes also, and a great number of his brethren interceded with great fervour; but all that could be obtained
was the respite of a month. It is said that the affairs of
the commonwealth being now at a crisis, and Charles II.
having entered England with 16,000 Scots, it was thought
necessary to strike terror in the presbyterian party, by
making an example of one of their favourite ministers.
Some historians say that Cromwell, then in the north, sent
a letter of reprieve and pardon for Mr. Love, but that the
post-boy was stopped on the road by some persons belonging to the late king’s army, who opened the mail, and
finding this letter, tore it in pieces, exclaiming that “he
who had been so great a firebrand at Uxbridge, was not
fit to live.
” Whatever truth may be in this, he was executed, by beheading, on Tower-hill, Aug. 22, 1651. He
was accompanied at his death by the three eminent nonconformists, Simeon Ashe, Edmund Calamy, and Dr. Manton. The latter preached a funeral sermon for him, in
which, while he avoids any particular notice of the cause
of his death, he considers him, as the whole of his party
did, in the light of a saint and martyr. The piety of his
life, indeed, ereated a sympathy in his favour which did
no little harm to the power of Cromwell. Thousands began to see that the tyranny of the republic would equal all
they had been taught to hate in the mo larchv. The government, we are told, expressed some displeasure at Dr.
Manton’s intention of preaching a funeral sermon, and their
creatures among the soldiers threatened violence, but he
persisted in his resolution, and not only preached, but
printed the sermon. The loyalists, on the other hand,
considered Love’s death as an instance of retributive justice. Clarendon says that he “was guilty of as much treason as the pulpit could contain;
” and his biographers have
so weakly defended the violence of his conduct during the
early period of the rebellion, as to leave this fact almost
indisputable. His works consist of sermons and pious
tracts, on various subjects, mostly printed after his death,
and included in three volumes, 8vo. They were all accompanied by prefaces from his brethren, of high commendation.
without taking any degree. About that time a severe poetical satire against sir Robert Waipole, then minister, appeared under the title of “Are these things so?” which, though
, an actor and dramatic writer, assumed
this name (from his wife’s, De L'Amour) when he first attached himself to the stage. He was one of the sons of
Mr. Dance the city surveyor, whose memory will be transmitted to posterity on account of the clumsy edifice which
he erected for the residence of the city’s chief magistrate.
Our author received, it is said, his education at Westminster school, whence he removed to Cambridge, which,
it is believed, he lett without taking any degree. About
that time a severe poetical satire against sir Robert Waipole, then minister, appeared under the title of “Are
these things so?
” which, though written by Mr. Miller,
was ascribed to Pope. To this Mr Love immediately
wrote a reply called “Yes, they are, what then?
” which
proved so satisfactory to Walpole that he made him a
handsome present, and gave him expectations of preferment. Elated with this distinction, with the vanity of a
young author, and the credulity of a young man, he considered his fortune as established, and, neglecting every
other pursuit, became an attendant at the minister’s levees,
where he contracted habits of indolence and expence,
without obtaining any advantage. The stage now offered
itself as an asylum from the difficulties he had involved
himself in, and, therefore, changing his name to Love, he
made!is first essays ID strolling companies. He afterwards
performed both at Dublin and Edinburgh, and at the latter place resided some years as manager. At length he
received, in 1762, an invitation to Drury-lane theatre,
where he continued during the remainder of his life. In
1765, with the assistance of his brother, he erected a new
theatre at Richmond, and obtained a licence for performing in it; but did not receive any benefit from it, as the
success by no means answered his expectations. He
died about the beginning of 1774. He neither as an actor
or author attained any great degree of excellence. His
performance of Falstaff was by much the best, but the
little reputation which he acquired by it was entirely
eclipsed by the superiority of gen;iis which his successor,
Mr. Henderson, di-splayed in the representation of the
same character As an author, he has given the world
“Pamela, a Comedy,
” Biographia Dramatica.
”
In 1774- he was ordained minister of Birsay and Haray, a parish in Pomona, or main-land of Orkney,
In 1774- he was ordained minister of Birsay and Haray,
a parish in Pomona, or main-land of Orkney, and from
this time devoted himself to the duties of his charge, which
he continued to fulfil for the remainder of his lite. He
employed his leisure chiefly in the study of nature, and his
success was highly creditable, considering the many disadvantage-; of a remote situation. Sir Joseph Banks, with
his accrstouied zeal for the promotion of science, introduced him to Mr. Pennant, by whose advice he engaged
to un n nake a “Fauna Orcadensis,
” and a “Flora Orcadensi.s,
” ti.e Hrst of which was published in Flora
” iias not been discovered. A tour through the islands of Orkney and Shetland,
Containing hints relating to their ancient, modern, and
natural history, was also prepared by Mr. Low for the
press, and previous to his decease, he made a translation
of Torfeus’s “-History of Orkney.
” The Mss. of the
“Fauna,
” the tour and the translation just mentioned,
with his zoological collections, came into the possession of
Mr. George Paton, an eminent antiquary of Edinburgh,
after whose decease they were purchased by different persons. Mr. Low died in 1795. His “Fauna
” forms a very
interesting and valuable addition to the natural history of
the British islands.
amily, related to the house of Sobieski, and born at Racow in that kingdom, in 1612—3. His father, a minister, bred him up with great care under his own eye; and, even while
, in Latin Lubieniecius, a celebrated Socinian divine, was descended from a very noble family, related to the house of Sobieski, and born at Racow in that kingdom, in 1612—3. His father, a minister, bred him up with great care under his own eye; and, even while he was a school-boy, brought him into the diet of Poland, in order to introduce him to the acquaintance of the grandees, and instruct him in knowledge suitable to his birth, fn 1644 he sent him to Thorn in Saxony, where, young as he was, he joined the two Socinian deputies at the conference then held in that city, for the re-union of different religions among the reformed, drew up a diary of the conference, and then attended a young nobleman as travelling tutor through Holland and France, where he acquired the esteem of several learned men, with whom he conferred on subjects of religion, and on the death of his father, in 1648, he returned to Poland.
1652 he married the daughter of a zealous Socinian, and was appointed ro:idjntor to John Ciachovuis, minister of Siedlieski; and the synod of Czarcow having admitted him
In 1652 he married the daughter of a zealous Socinian, and was appointed ro:idjntor to John Ciachovuis, minister of Siedlieski; and the synod of Czarcow having admitted him into the ministry, he was appointed pastor of that tliurch; but, on the Swedish invasion in 1655, he retired to Cracow with his family, where he employed himself in offices of devotion with the Hungarian Unitarians, who were come thither with prince Ragotski. At the same time he insinuated himself much into the king of Sweden’s favour; and the city reverting again to the dominion of Poland in 1657, he followed the Swedish garrison, with a view to obtain of that prinpe, that the Unitarians, who had put themselves under his protection, might be comprehended in the general amnesty, by the treaty of peace with Poland. On his arrival at Wolgast in October this year, he was well received by the Swedish monarch, and conversed intimately upon his religion with some Swedish lords; but when the peace was concluded at Oliva, he was disappointed in his object, and the Unitarians were excepted out of the general amnesty granted to all other dissenters from popery.
hat be would turn Socinian, in case Lubienietski could by his prayers prevent the taking of it. This minister, animated by the private interest of his family, and by the
The Socinians, who look upon him as a saint, if not a
martyr, pretend that he was favoured with a very remarkable
revelation during the siege of Stetin; and the following
story is told in his life: “Two powerful reasons ei aged
Lubienietski to pray that God would be pleased to cause
this siege to be raised: his wife and children were in the
town; and there was a Swedish count, who promised that
be would turn Socinian, in case Lubienietski could by his
prayers prevent the taking of it. This minister, animated
by the private interest of his family, and by the hopes of
gaining an illustrious proselyte to his religion, continued
three weeks fasting and praying; after which he went to
meet the count, and assured him that the town would not
be taken. The count, and the persons about him, treated
this as the effect of a delirium; and were the more confirmed in that opinion, as Lubienietski fell sick the moment he left them. But they were all extremely surprised,
when, at the end of six days, there came news that the
siege was raised; since it was impossible that any person
should have acquainted Lubienietski with that good news,
when he first told it. However, when the count was called
upon to perform his promise, he answered, That he had
applied to God in order to know whether he should do well
to embrace that minister’s religion, and that God had confirmed him in the Augsburg confession.'
”
e, was born at Westersted, in the county of Oldenburg, March 24, 1556, of which place his father was minister, who sent him first to Leipsic, where he prosecuted his studies
, one of the most learned protestants
of his time, was born at Westersted, in the county of Oldenburg, March 24, 1556, of which place his father was
minister, who sent him first to Leipsic, where he prosecuted his studies with great success, and for further improvement went thence to Cologne. After this he visited
the several universities of Helmstadt, Strasburg, Jena,
Marpurg, and, last of all, Rostock, where he was made
professor of poetry in 1595. Having there read lectures
with great applause for ten years, he was advanced to the
divinity chair in the same university, in 1605. In 1620
he was seized with a tertian ague, under which he laboured
for ten months before it put a period to his life in June
162 1. He has the character of having been a good Greek
scholar, and was well skilled in the Latin language, in
which he made good verses, and he had much reputation
as an orator, a mathematician, and a divine. He published
several books, namely, 1. “Antiquarius, sive priscorum
et minus usitatorum vocabulorum brevis et dilucida interpretatio.
” 2. “Clavis Graecae linguae.
” 3. “Anacreon,
Juvenal, and Persius, with notes.
” 4. “Horace and Juvenal, with a paraphrase.
” 5. “The Anthologia, with a
Latin version,
” Epistolae veterum Grsecorum, Greece et Latine, cum methodo conscribendarum
epistolarum.
” 7. “Commentaiies upon some of the Epistles
of St. Paul.
” 8. “Monotessaion,sive historia evangelica,
”
&c. &c. i. e. a harmony of the four Evangelists. 9. “Nonni Dionysiaca,
” in Greek and Latin, at Francfort, Latin Poems,
” inserted in the third volume of
“Deliciae ^oetarum Germanorum.
”
om we mentioned as escaping from tue nunnery in 1523. Luther had a design to marry her to Glacius, a minister of Ortamuncien; but she did not like Glacius, and Luther married
In October 1524, Luther threw off the monastic habit;
which, though not premeditated and designed, was yet a
very proper preparative to a step he took the year after;
we mean, his marriage with Catherine de Bore. Catherine cie Bore was a gentleman’s daughter, who had been a
nun, and was one of those whom we mentioned as escaping
from tue nunnery in 1523. Luther had a design to marry
her to Glacius, a minister of Ortamuncien; but she did not
like Glacius, and Luther married her himself, June 13,
1525. This conduct of his was blamed not only by the
catholics, but, as Melancthon says, by those of his own
party. He was even for some time ashamed of it himself;
aud owns, “that his marriage had made him so despicable,
that he hoped his humiliation would rejoice the angels,
and vex the devils.
” Melancthon found him so afflicted
with what he had done, that he wrote some letters of consolation to him: he adds, however, that “this accident
may possibly not be without its use, as it tends to humble
him a little: for it is dangerous,
” says he, “not only for a
priest, but for any man, to be too much elated and puffed
up; great success giving occasion to the sin of a high
mind, not only, as the orator says, in fools, but sometimes
even in wise men.
” It was not so much the marriage, as
the circumstances of the time, and the precipitation with
which it was done, that occasioned the censures passed
upon Luther. He married very suddenly, and at a time
when Germany was groaning under the miseries of war,
which was said at least to be owing to Lutheranism. It
was thought also an indecent thing in a man of forty-two
years of age, who was then, as he declared, restoring the
gospel and reforming mankind, to involve himself in marriage with a woman of six and twenty, upon any pretext.
But Luther, as soon as he had recovered himself a little
from this abashment, assumed his former air of intrepidity,
and boldly supported what he had done with reasons. “I
took a wife,
” says he, “in obedience to my father’s commands, and hastened the consummation, in or 1 r to prevent impediments, and stop the tongues of slanderers.
” It
appears from his own confessions, that,this reformer was
very fond of Mrs. de Bore, and used to call her his Catherine; which occasioned some slanderous reflections and
therefore, says he, “I married of a sudden, not only that J
might not be obliged to hear the clamours which I knew
would be raised against me, but to stop the mouths of those
who reproached me with Catherine de Bore.
” Luther
also gives us to understand, that he did it partly as concurring with his grand scheme of opposing the catholics.
“See,
” says he, “because they are thus mad, I have so
prepared myself, that, before I die, I may be found by
God in the state in which I was created, and, if possible,
retain nothing of my former popish life. Therefore let
them rave yet more, and this will be their last farewell;
for my mind presages, that I shall soon be called by God
unto his grace: therefore, at my father’s commands, I have
taken a xtife.
” In another letter he speaks thus: “1 hope
I shall live a little longer, and I would not deny this last
obedience to my father, who required it in hopes of issue,
and also to confirm the doctrines I have taught.
”
to have been much involved in intrigues of gallantry. He had some powerful enemies, particularly the minister Louvois, who once had him confined very unjustly in the Bastille.
, a very
celebrated general and mareschal of
France, was a posthumous son of the famous Bouteville,
who was beheaded under Louis XIII. for fighting a duel.
He was born in 1628, and in 1643 was present at the battle
of Rocroi, under the great Conde, whose pupil he was,
and whom he followed in all his fortunes. He also resembled that great man in many of his eminent qualities,
in acuteness of perception, thirst for knowledge, promptness in action, and ardour of genius. These qualities he
displayed in the conquest of Franche-Comte in 1668, where
he served as lieutenant-general. He served also in the
Dutch campaign of 1672, took many towns, and gained
some trophies in the field. He closed this expedition by a
retreat more famous than his victories, which he accomplished with an awny of 20,000 men, against the opposition,
of 70,000. After distinguishing himself in another expedition in Franche-Comte, he was advanced in 1675, to
the dignity of mareschal of France. He fought, during
the remainder of that war, with various success. In the
second war of Louis XIV. against the allied powers in
1690, he gained the battle of Fleurus, and it was generally allowed that he prevailed in it chiefly by the superiority of his genius to that of his antagonist the prince of
Waldeck. In the ensuing year, 1691,“he gained the
battles of Leufen and Steinkirk; and, continuing to be opposed to king William of England, he was again successful, in the bloody battle of Nerwinde, where there fell on
the two sides near 20,000 men. It was said in France
that on this occasion they should not sing Te Deum, but
De profundis, the mass for the dead. The duke of Luxembourg is said to have had an ordinary countenance and a
deformed figure, in consequence of which William III.
whose constant antagonist he was, is reported to have said
once with some impatience,
” What! shall I never beat
this hump-backed fellow?“This speech being repeated to
the duke,
” How should he know,“said he,
” the shape
of my back? I am sure he never saw me turn it to him.“The last great action of the duke’s life was a second famous
retreat, in the presence of superior forces, through a considerable extent of country, to Tournay. This was in
1694, and he died the following year, Jan. 4, at the age
of sixty-seven. Notwithstanding the disadvantages of his
person, Luxembourg is said to have been much involved
in intrigues of gallantry. He had some powerful enemies,
particularly the minister Louvois, who once had him confined very unjustly in the Bastille. Among other frivolous
calumnies on which he was then interrogated, he was asked
whether he had not made a league with the devil, to marry
His son to the daughter of the marquis de Louvois. His
answer was replete with the high spirit of French nobility.
” When Matthew of Montmorenci,“said he,
” married a
queen of France, he addressed himself, not to the devil,
but to the states-general; and the declaration of the states
was, that in order to gain the support of the house of
Montmorenci for the young king in his minority, it would
be right to conclude that marriage." Idle as the accusations against him were, they cost him a confinement of
fourteen months, and he had no subsequent redress.
e refuge in Switzerland, on account of their religion. His father, Benjamin Lyonet, was a protestant minister at Heufdon. In his early years he displayed uncommon activity
, an eminent naturalist, was born at
Maestricht July 22, 1707. He was of a French family,
originally of Lorraine, whence they were obliged to take
refuge in Switzerland, on account of their religion. His
father, Benjamin Lyonet, was a protestant minister at Heufdon. In his early years he displayed uncommon activity
both of body and mind, with a memory so prompt, that he
acquired an exact knowledge of nine languages, ancient
and modern, and in the farther pursuit of his academical
studies at Leyden, made great progress in logic, philosophy, geometry, and algebra. It was his father’s wish that
he should study divinity, with a view to the church, and it
appears that he might have passed by an easy transition to
any of the learned professions. The law, however, was his
ultimate destination; and he applied himself to this with
so much zeal, that he was promoted the first year, when
he delivered a thesis “on the use of the torture,
” which
was published, and gained him considerable reputation.
At what time he settled at the Hague we are not told, but
there he was made decypherer, translator of the Latin and
French languages, and patent-master to the States General.
It was now that he turned his attention to natural history,
especially entomology, and undertook an historical description of such insects as are found about the Hague; and as,
among his other accomplishments, he understood drawing,
he enriched his work with a great number of plates, which
were much admired by the connoisseurs. In 1741 a French
translation of Lesser’s “Theology of Insects
” was printed
at the Hague, which induced Mr. Lyonet to defer the
publication of his own work, and make some observations
on Lesser’s, to which he added two beautiful plates designed by himself. His observations were thought of so
much importance that Reaumur caused the above translation to be reprinted at Paris, merely on account of them.
Lyonet afterwards executed drawings of the fresh water
polypes for Mr. Trembley’s beautiful work, in 1744. Wandelaar had engraved the first five plates of this work, and
being rather dilatory in producing the rest, Lyonet took a
single lesson in engraving, and executed the others himself in a manner which astonished not only amateurs, but
experienced artists. In 1748 his reputation procured him
the honour of being elected a member of the royal society
of London, as he xvas afterwards of other learned societies
in Europe. In 1764- appeared his magnificent work on.
the caterpillar, “Traite anatomique de la Chenille qui
ronge le bois de Saule.
” In order to enable such as might
be desirous of following him in his intricate and astonishing
discoveries respecting the structure of this animal, he published, in the Transactions of the Dutch society of sciences,
at Haerlem, a description and plate of the instrument and
tools he had invented for the purpose of dissection, and
likewise of the method he used to ascertain the degree of
strength of his magnifying glasses. Mr. Lyonet died at the
Hague, Jan. 10, 1789, leaving some other works on entomology unfinished, one of the most extensive collections of
shells in Europe, and a very fine cabinet of pictures. In
his early years, Mr. Lyonet practised sculpture and portrait-painting. Of the former, his Apollo and the Muses,
a basso relievo cut in palm wood, is mentioned by Van
Gool, in his “Review of the Dutch Painters,
” as a masterpiece. To these many accomplishments Mr. Lyonet added
a personal character which rendered him admired during
his long life, and deeply regretted when his friends and
his country were deprived of his services.
g, in the year 1552. He was educated at Tubingen, at the expence of the duke of Saxony, and became a minister of the church of Wittemberg in 1577. He was one of the first
, a learned Protestant theologian,
was born at Winendeen in the territory of Wittemberg, in
the year 1552. He was educated at Tubingen, at the expence of the duke of Saxony, and became a minister of
the church of Wittemberg in 1577. He was one of the
first to sign the “Concord,
” and was deputed, with James
Andreas, to procure the signature of the divines and ministers in the electorate of Saxony. He died at Dresden,
where he was then minister, February 14, 1601, aged 50,
leaving a great number of works, both in German and Latin. The principal are, 1. “Explanations of Genesis,
” in
six parts, or six volumes, 4to, each of which bears the
name of the patriarch whose history it explains. 2.
“Comraentaries on the two first chapters of Daniel,
” 2 vols. 4to.
3. “A Paraphrase on the History of the Passion,
” 4to, or
12mo. 4. “Explanation of Psalm CI,
” 8vo. 5. “Commentaries on the Minor Prophets,
” 4to, published at Leipsic, Commentaries on the Epistle to the
Hebrews.
” 7. “Centuria qutestionum de articulis libri
Christiana; Concordia?,
” 4to. 8. “Christianismus, Papismus, Calvinismus,
” 8vo. 9. “Harmonia Calvinianorum et
Photinianorum in Doctrina de Sacra Cena,
” 4to. 10. “Vindiciae Lyserianse, an sincretismus in rebus fidei cum Calvinianis coli prodest,
” 4to. II. “Disputationes IX. Anti Steiniance quibus examinatur defensio concionis Irenicse
Pauli Steinii,
” 4to. 12. “Harmonia Evangelistarum continuata ad Christianam Harmoniam et ejusdem Epitome,
”
8vo. 13. “Disput. de Deo patre Creatore coeli et terrae,
”
4to. 14. “De seternitate Filii Dei,
” 4to. 15. “De sacramentis decades duae,
” 4to. He published also the
“History of the Jesuits,
” written by Elias Hasenmuller,
who having quitted that society, and turned Lutheran, retired to Wittemberg, and died there before his work was
printed. Father Gretser attacked this history, and Lyserus
answered him by “Strena ad Gretserum pro honorario
ejus,
” 8vo.
ygamy, the most considerable of which is entitled “Polygamia triumphatrix,” 1682, 4to. Brunsmanus, a minister of Copenhagen, has refuted this in a book entitled “Polygamia
, another learned protestant, of the
same family as the preceding, but of opposite character,
may be introduced here as the precursor of the celebrated
Martin Madan, in supporting the doctrine of polygamy.
Lyserus is said to have been so infatuated with the ambition of founding a sect of polygamists, that he sacrificed
his life and fortune to prove that polygamy is not only
permitted, but even commanded in certain cases; and travelled about Europe, endeavouring to find some countries
that would adopt his opinion. At length, after many fruitless journeys, Lyserus took the singular resolution of visiting France, with a view to repair his fortune by chess, a
game he was perfectly master of, and accordingly settled
at Versailles. Here, however, he likewise failed, and
having, when sick, set out to walk from Versailles to Paris,
he encreased his disorder so much, that he died at a house
on the road, in 1684. He left numerous pieces, under
fictitious names, in favour of polygamy, the most considerable of which is entitled “Polygamia triumphatrix,
” Polygamia triumphata,
” Monogamia victrix,
”
ss and alacrity than he would in executing even the confidential mandates of the greatest monarch or minister in Christendom.
“To such as were honoured with his friendship and his intimacy, his kindness was beyond example he shared at once his affections and his interests among his friends, and towards the latter part of his life, when his ability to serve them ceased, he felt only for those who depended on him for their future advancement in life. The unbounded authority he possessed over them was established in parental dominion, not in the cold, haughty, supercilious superiority of a mere patron. Among this latter description, the author of the present rude outline is proud of ranking himself, and is happy in recollecting, that he obeyed, or rather anticipated, the wishes of his noble friend, as far as lay in his power, with more chearfulness and alacrity than he would in executing even the confidential mandates of the greatest monarch or minister in Christendom.
, in which M. Colbert employed him to examine some ancient titles relating to the royal family. That minister received all the satisfaction he could desire; and, being fully
In 1682 he took a journey into Burgundy, in which M.
Colbert employed him to examine some ancient titles relating to the royal family. That minister received all the
satisfaction he could desire; and, being fully convinced
of Mabillon’s experience and abilities in these points, sent
him the year following into Germany, in order to search
there, among the archives and libraries of the ancient
abbeys for materials to illustrate the history of the church
in general, and that of France in particular. He spent five
months in this journey, and published an account of it.
He took another journey into Italy in 1685, by order of
the king of France; and returned the year following with
a very noble collection of above three thousand volumes of
rare books, both printed and manuscript, which he added
to the king’s library; and, in 1687, composed two volumes
of the pieces he had discovered in that country, under the
title of “Museum Italicum.
” After this he employed
himself in publishing other works, which are strong
evidences of his vast abilities and application. In 1698 he
published a Latin letter concerning the worship of the unknown saints, which he called “Eusehii Romani ad Theophilum Gallum epistola.
” The history of this piece does
credit to his love of truth, and freedom from traditional
prejudices. While at Rome he had endeavoured to inform himself particularly of those rules and precautions,
wh:ch were necessary to be observed with regard to the
bodies of saints taken out of the catacombs, in order to be
exposed to the veneration of the public. He had himself
visited those places, and consulted all persons who could
give him light upon the subject; but five or six years
elapsed after his return to France, without his having ever
thought of making use of these observations. In 1692,
however, he drew up the treatise above-mentioned; in
which he gave it as his opinion, that the bodies found in
the catacombs were too hastily, and without sufficient
foundation, concluded to be the bodies of martyrs. Still,
aware this was a subject of a very delicate nature, and thai
such an opinion might possibly give offence, he kept it by
him five years, without communicating it to above one
person; and then sent it, under the seal of secresy, to
cardinal Colloredo at Rome, whose opinion was, that it
should not be published in the form it was then in. Nevertheless, in 1698 it was published; and, as might easily be
foreseen, very ill received at Rome; and after many complaints, murmurs, and criticisms, it was in 1701 brought
before the Congregation of the Index, and Mabillon fou.id
it necessary to employ all his interest to prevent the censure of that body. Nor, perhaps, could he have averted
this misfortune if he had not agreed to publish a new
edition of it; in which, by softening some passages, and
throwing upon inferior officers whatever abuses might be
committed with regard to the bodies taken out of the catacombs, he easily satisfied his judges; who, to do them
justice, had a great esteem for his learning and virtues,
and were not very desirous of condemning him.
anged his destination, and the circumstance does credit to his liberality. The cardinal was not only minister of state, but archbishop of Lyons, when the question was agitated
His success in these affairs had nearly fixed him in political life, when a dispute with the cardinal changed his
destination, and the circumstance does credit to his liberality. The cardinal was not only minister of state, but
archbishop of Lyons, when the question was agitated respecting the marriages of protestants. The abbe wished
him to view this question with the eyes of a statesman
only, but the cardinal would consider it only as a prince of
the Romish church, and as he persisted in this opinion,
the abbe saw him no more. From this time he gave himself up to study, without making any advances to fortune,
or to literary men. He always said he was more anxious
to merit general esteem than to obtain it. He lived a long
time on a small income of a thousand crowns, and an annuity; which last, on the death of his brother, he gave up
to his relations. The court, however, struck with this disinterested act, gave him a pension of 2800 Jivres, without
the solicitation or knowledge of any of his friends. Mably
not only inveighed against luxury and riches, but showed
by his example that he was sincere; and to these moderate
desires, he joined an ardent love of independence, which
he took every opportunity to evince. One day when a
friend brought him an invitation to dine with a minister of
state, he could not prevail on him to accept it, but at
length the abbe said he would visit the gentleman with
pleasure as soon as he heard that he was “out of office.
”
He had an equal repugnance to become a member of any
of the learned societies. The marshal Richelieu pressed
him much to become a candidate for the academy, and
with such arguments that he could not refuse to accept the
offer; but he had fio sooner quitted the marshal than he
ran to his brother the abbe Condillac, and begged he would
get him released, cost what it would. “Why all this
obstinacy?
” said his brother. “Why!
” rejoined the abbe“Mably,
” because, if I accept it 1 shall be obliged to praise
the cardinal de Uichelieu, which is contrary to my principles, or, it I do not praise him, as I owe every thing to
his nephew, I shall be accused of ingratitude.“In the
same spirit, he acquired a bluntness of manner that was not
very agreeable in the higher circles, where he never tailed
to take the part of men of genius who were poor, against
the insults of the rich and proud. His works, by which
the booksellers acquired large sums of money, contributed
very little to his own finances, for he demanded no return
but a lew copies to give as presents to his friends. He appeared always dissatisfied with the state of public affairs,
and had the credit of predicting the French revolution.
Political sagacity, indeed, was that on which he chiefly
rested his fame, andhaving formed his theory from certain
systems which he thought might be traced to the Greeks
and Romans, and even the ancient Gauls, he went as far
as must of his contemporaries in undervaluing the prerogatives of the crown, and introducing a representative government. In his latter works his own mind appears to
have undergone a revolution, and he pro\ed that if he was
before sincere in his notions of freedom, he was now
equally illiberal. After enjoying considerable reputation,
and bein^ considered as one of the most popular French
writers on the subjects of politics, morals, and history, he
died at Paris, April 23, 1785. The abbe Barruel ranks
him among the class of philosophers, who wished to be
styled the Moderates, but whom Rousseau calls the Inconsistents. He adds, that
” without being impious like a
Voltaire or a Condorcet, even though averse to their impiety, his own tenets were extremely equivocal. At times
his morality was so very disgusting, that it was necessary
to suppose his language was ambiguous, and that he had
been misunderstood, lest one should be obliged to throw
off all esteem for his character." Such at least was the
defence which Barruel heard him make, to justify himself
from the censures of the Sorbonne.
ch, was called to officiate at Belfast to a congregation of Presbyterians, and his father became the minister of Ballymony, where David was born. Having received the first
, a distinguished physician, was
born at Ballymony, co. Antrim, on the 26th of April,
1726. He was descended from an ancient family of his
name in the shire of Galloway, in Scotland; but his grandfather, who was bred to the church, was called to officiate
at Belfast to a congregation of Presbyterians, and his
father became the minister of Ballymony, where David
was born. Having received the first elements of his education at the public school of this place, and served his
apprenticeship to a surgeon, he went into the navy, first
in the capacity of mate to an hospital-ship, and subsequently in the rank of surgeon, in which station he remained for some years preceding the peace of Aix-laChapelle. At this period he was led from the frequent
opportunities of witnessing the attacks of scurvy which a
sea-faring life afforded him, to investigate the best method
of cure for that disease, upon which he afterwards published a treatise. After the peace of Aix, Mr. Macbride
went to Edinburgh and London, where he studied anatomy
under those celebrated teachers doctors Monro and Hunter,
and midwifery under Smellie. About the end of 1749, he
settled in Dublin as a surgeon and accoucheur; but his
youth and remarkable bashfulness occasioned him to remain a number of years in obscurity, little employed; although he was endeared to a small circle of friends by his
great abilities, amiable dispositions, and his general knowledge in all the branches of polite literature and the arts.
In 1764, he published his “Experimental Essays,
” which
were received with great applause, and were soon translated into different languages; and the singular merit of
this performance induced the university of Glasgow to
confer the degree of doctor of physic on its author. The
improvement introduced by Dr. Macbride in the art of
tanning, by substituting lime-water for common water in
preparing ooze, procured him the honour of a silver medal
from the Dublin Society, in 1768, and of a gold medal of
considerable value from the society of arts and commerce
in London.
, an ingenious young writer, was the son of the rev. Mr. Macdiarmid, minister of Weem in the northern part of Perthshire, and was bern in
, an ingenious young writer, was
the son of the rev. Mr. Macdiarmid, minister of Weem in
the northern part of Perthshire, and was bern in 1779.
He studied at the universities of Edinburgh and St. Andrews, and was for some years tutor in a gentleman’s
family. Such a situation is generally desired in Scotland
with the view of provision in the church, but as this was
not Mr. Macdiarmid’s object, he became desirous of visiting the metropolis, and trying his fortune in the career of
literary competition. He accordingly came to London in
1801, and was soon in the receipt of a competent income
from periodical writing. His principal occupations of this
kind were, as editor of the St. James’s Chronicle (a paper in which some of the first scholars and wits of the last half century have employed their pens), and as a reviewer in a
critical publication. On the commencement or rather the
renewal of the late war in 1802-3, his attention was directed to our military establishment, and he relinquished
his periodical engagements to become the author of a very
elaborate work, entitled “An Inquiry into the System of
Military Defence of Great Britain,
” Inquiry into the Nature of Civil and Military Subordination,
” Lives of British
Statesmen,
” 4to, beginning with the life of sir Thomas
More. This work has strong claims on public attention.
The style is perspicuous and unaffected; authorities are
quoted for every statement of consequence, and a variety
of curious information is extracted from voluminous records,
and brought for the first time before the public view. His
political speculations were always temperate and liberal.
He was indeed in all respects qualified for a work of this
description, by great powers of research and equal impartiality. But unfortunately he was destined to enjoy, for a
short time only, the approbation with which his work was
received. His health, at all times delicate, received in
November 1807, an irreparable blow by a paralytic stroke;
and in February 1808 a second attack proved fatal, April 7.
Mr. D'Israeli has paid a just and pathetic tribute to his
memory and talents in the work referred to below.
lectures at Leyden. After his return he was admitted into the church, and in May 1753, was ordained minister of Maybole, on which living he continued during sixteen years.
, a learned Scotch clergyman,
was born at Irvine, in Argyleshire, in 1721, educated at
the university of Glasgow, and afterwards, as was the custom at that time, heard a course of lectures at Leyden.
After his return he was admitted into the church, and in
May 1753, was ordained minister of Maybole, on which
living he continued during sixteen years. Here he composed his two celebrated works, the “Harmony of the Gospels,
” and his “New Translation of the Epistles,
” both
which were very favourably received, and greatly advanced
his reputation in the theological world. In 1763 he published a second edition of the “Harmony,
” with the addition of six discourses on Jewish antiquities; and a third
appeared in 1804, in 2 vols. 8vo. In 1763 also he published another work of great merit, entitled “The Truth
of the Gospel History.
” On account of these publications,
the university of Edinburgh conferred upon him the degree of D. D. In 1769 he was translated to the living of
Jedburgh, and after three years, became one of the ministers of Edinburgh, which situation he retained during
the remainder of his useful life. He was particularly active and zealous in promoting charitable institutions, especially the fund established by act of parliament, for a
provision to the widows and fatherless children of ministers
in the church of Scotland. As an author, Dr. Mackhight
occupied a considerable portion of his time in the execution of his last and greatest work on the apostolical epistles.
This was the result of an almost unremitting labour during
thirty years: he is said to have studied eleven hours in
each day, and before the work was sent to the press, the
whole ms. had been written five times with his own hand.
A specimen was published in 1787, containing his version
of the epistles to the Thessalonians; and in 1795 the whole
appeared in four vols. 4to, under the title of “A New Literal Translation from the original Greek of all the Apostolical Epistles; with a commentary, and notes, philosophical, critical, explanatory, and practical,
” with essays on
several important subjects, and a life of the apostle Paul,
which includes a compendium of the apostolical history.
Having finished this great work, he was desirous of enjoying the remainder of his days free from laborious pursuits,
and refused, though earnestly solicited, to undertake a
similar work with regard to the Acts of the apostles. In a
very short time after, the decline of his faculties became
manifest, and about the close of 1799 he caught a violent
cold, the forerunner of other complaints that put an end
to his life in January 1800. Having early acquired a taste
for classical literature, he studied the writers of antiquity
with critical skill, and was well acquainted with metaphysical, moral, and mathematical science. As a preacher,
without possessing the graces of elocution, he was much
admired for his earnestness of manner, which rendered his
discourses highly interesting and useful.
, a pious and learned clergyman, and for fifty years minister of the English church at the Hague, was born at Monachan in
, a pious and learned clergyman, and for fifty years minister of the English church at the Hague, was born at Monachan in Ireland, in 1722, and educated at Glasgow under the celebrated Mr. Hutcheson, for the presbyterian ministry. His youth was spent in Belfast, where he was long remembered with delight by a numerous circle of friends, now nearly extinct. About the time of the rebellion in 1745, when in his twentysecond year, he was invited to Holland, and succeeded his venerable uncle Dr. Milling, as pastor of the English church at the Hague, and remained in that situation until the invasion of the country by the French, in 1794, compelled him to take refuge in England. He had not been here long when an only sister, whom he had not seen for fifty years, joined him in consequence of the rebellion in Ireland. During his residence at the Hague he was known and highly respected by all English travellers, and not unfrequently consulted, on account of his extensive erudition and knowledge of political history, by official men of the highest rank. On his arrival in England he fixed his residence at Bath, as affording the best opportunities of union with many of those numerous friends he had known on the continent, and here he died, Nov. 25, 1804, aged eighty-two.
haved himself well as a soldier in these and other battles, yet his principal province was that of a minister and counsellor. He was the adviser, the manager, the negotiator,
A. U. C. 710, the year that Cicero was killed, and Ovid born, Mæcenas distinguished himself by his courage and military skill at the battle of Modena, where the consuls Hirtius and Pansa were killed in fighting against Antony; as he did afterwards at Philippi. After this last battle, began the memorable friendship between him and Horace. Horace, as Suetonius relates, was a tribune in the army of Brutus and Cassius, and, upon the defeat of those generals, made a prisoner of war. Mæcenas, finding him an accomplished man, became immediately his friend and protector, and afterwards recommended him to Augustus, who restored him to his estate, with no small additions. In the mean time, though Mæcenas behaved himself well as a soldier in these and other battles, yet his principal province was that of a minister and counsellor. He was the adviser, the manager, the negotiator, in every thing that related to civil affairs. When the league was made at Brundusium betwen Antony and Augustus, he was sent to act on the part of Augustus, and afterwards, when this league was about to be broken, through the suspicions of each party, he was sent to Antony to ratify it anew.
nd of his life, but not uninterruptedly. Augustus had an intrigue with Mæcenas’s wife and though the minister bore this liberty of his master’s very patiently, yet there
Mæcenas continued in Augustus’s favour to the end of his life, but not uninterruptedly. Augustus had an intrigue with Mæcenas’s wife and though the minister bore this liberty of his master’s very patiently, yet there was once a coldness on the part of Augustus, although not of long continuance. Mæcenas died in the year 745, as is supposed, at an advanced age. He must have been older than Augustus, because he was a kind of tutor to him in his youth. Horace did not probably long survive him, as there is no elegy of his upon Mæcenas extant, nor any account of one having ever been written, which would probably have been the case, had Horace survived him any time. Sanadon, the French editor of Horace, insists that ths poet died before his patron and that the recomme,ndation of him to Augustus was found only in Mæcenas’s will, which had not been altered.
which made her incapable of conferring benefits, made her also incapable of doing injuries. When the minister Louvois threw himself at the feet of Louis XIV. to hinder his
In the mean time, her elevation was to her only a retreat.
Shut up in her apartment, which was on the same floor
with the king’s, she confined herself to the society of two
or three ladies, as retired as herself; and even these she
saw but seldom. The king came to her apartment every
day after dinner, before and after supper, and continued
there till midnight. Here he did business with his ministers, while madam de Maintenon employed herself in
reading or needle-work, never shewing any eagerness to
talk of state affairs, often seeming wholly ignorant of them,
and carefully avoiding whatever had the least appearance
of cahal and intrigue. She studied more to please him
who governed, than to govern; and preserved her credit,
by employing it with the utmost circumspection. She did
not make use of her power, to give the greatest dignities
and employments among her own relations Her brother
count d'Aubigne, a lieutenant-general of long standing,
was not even made a marshal of France; a blue ribbon,
and some appropriations in the farms of the revenue, were
all his fortune: which made him once say to the marshal
de Vivone, the brother of madam de Montespan, that
“he had received the staff of marshal in ready money.
” It
was rather high fortune for the daughter of this count, to
marry the duke de Noailles, than an advantage to the
duke. Two more nieces of madam de Maintenon, the
one married to the marquis de Caylus, the other to the
marquis de Villette, had scarcely any thing. A moderate
pension, which Louis XIV. gave to madam de Caylus,
was almost all her fortune; and madam de Villette had
nothing but expectations. This lady, who was afterwards
married to the celebrated lord Bolingbroke, often reproached her aunt for doing so little for her family; and
once told her in some anger, that “she took a pleasure in
her moderation, and in seeing her family the victim of it.
”
This Voltaire relates as a fact, which he had from M. de
Villette herself. It is certain, that M. de Maintenon submitted every thing to her fears of doing what might be
contrary to the king’s sentiments. She did not even dare
to support her relation the cardinal de Noailles, against
father le Tellier. She had a great friendship for the poet
Kacine, yet did not venture to protect him against a slight
resentment of the king’s. One day, moved with the eloquence with which he had described to her the people’s
miseries in 1698, she engaged him to draw up a memorial,
which might at once shew the evil and the remedy. The
king read it; and, upon his expressing some displeasure at
it, she had the weakness to tell the author, and not the
courage to defend him. Racine, still weaker, says Voltaire, was so hurt, that it was supposed to have occasioned
his xleath. The same natural disposition, which made her
incapable of conferring benefits, made her also incapable
of doing injuries. When the minister Louvois threw himself at the feet of Louis XIV. to hinder his marriage with
the widow Scarron, she not only forgave him, but frequently pacified the king, whom the rough temper of this
minister as frequently angered.
liberty, after being confined two years and a half. When this work was presented to the king and his minister, le Maistre desired no other reward than that of being allowed
, more known under the
name of Sacy (Isaac inverted), was brother of the former,
and was born at Paris, in 1613, where he was also educated. After pursuing his studies with the greatest success
under Du Verger, the abbé of St. Cyran, and other eminent teachers, he was admitted to the priesthood in 1648.
His reputation gained him the office of confessor to the
society of Port Royal; but that house being accused of
Jansenism, he was involved in the persecution; was obliged
to conceal himself in 1661; and in 1666 was confined in
the Bastille. In that prison he composed some important
works, particularly a translation of the whole Bible, which
was finished on the eve of All-saints, 1668; and on the
same day he obtained his liberty, after being confined two
years and a half. When this work was presented to the
king and his minister, le Maistre desired no other reward
than that of being allowed frequently to visit the Bastille,
to inspect the state of the prisoners. Some writers assert
that during his confinement, he composed a history of the
Old and New Testament, in one volume, under the name
of Royaumont, a work known in this, country by a translation in 4to, published about the beginning of the last century, with nearly 300 plates but others ascribe it to
Nicholas Fontaine. Le Maistre remained at Paris till 1675,
when he retired to Port-Royal but was obliged in 1679
to quit it, and retired to Pompona, where he died, at the
age of seventy-one, in 1684. His works are, 1. His
translation of the Bible, with explanations of the literal
and spiritual sense taken from the fathers; in which part
he was assisted by du Fosse, Hure“, and le Tourneaux.
This work was published at Paris, in 1682, and several
subsequent years, in 32 vols. 8vo. Several other editions
have been printed, but this is on the whole esteemed the
best. 2. A translation of the Psalms, from the Hebrew
and the Vulgate together. 3. A translation of the Homilies of St. Chrysostom on St. Matthew, in 3 vols. 8vo.
4. A translation of Kempis on the Imitation of Christ, under the name of de Beuil, prior of S. Val, Paris, 1663,
8vo. 5. A translation of Phaedrus, under the name of St.
Aubin, 12mo. 6. Three comedies of Terence, 12mo. 7.
The Letters of Bongars, published under the rj^me of
Brianville. 8. The poem of St. Prosper, on ingratitude,
rendered in verse and prose. 9.
” Les enluminures de
l'Almanach des Jesuites,“1654, 12mo; an attack upon
the Jesuits, which was so far relished as to be reprinted in
1733. 10.
” Heures de Port-Royal,“called by the Jesuits
Hours of Jansenism, 12mo. 11.
” Letters of Piety," in
2 vols. 8vo, published at Paris in 1690. The merits of
this author are fully displayed in the memoirs of PortRoyal, written by Nicholas Fontaine, and published at
Cologne, in 1738, in 2 vols. 12mo.
majesty was so well pleased with him, and with the freedom of his sentiments, that he appointed him minister of state in June 1775, an office which gave Malesherbes an opportunity
In 1771, when the government had dissolved the whole
legal constitution, and banished the parliaments, Malesherbes was banished to his country-seat by a “lettre de
cachet,
” and the duke de Richelieu, at the head of an
armed force, abolished the court of aids. During his retirement, Malesherbes’s time was occupied with his family
and his books, and the cultivation of his grounds. His
expenditure in public objects was large: he drained
marshes, cut canals, constructed roads, built bridges,
planted walks, and carried his attention to the comfort of
the lower classes so far as to raise sheds on the sides of the
river for the shelter of the women at their domestic labours.
He was thus benevolently and usefully employed when
the accession of Lewis XVI. recalled him to a public station, and in 1774 Malesherbes received an order to resume
the presidentship of the court of aids, on which occasion
he pronounced a very affecting and patriotic harangue,
and afterwards addressed the king in an eloquent speech of
thanks. His majesty was so well pleased with him, and
with the freedom of his sentiments, that he appointed him
minister of state in June 1775, an office which gave Malesherbes an opportunity of extending his sphere of usefulness. One of his first concerns was to visit the prisons,
and restore to liberty the innocent victims of former tyranny, and his praises were carried throughout France by persons of all descriptions returning to the bosoms of their
families from the gloom of dungeons. Although he failed
in his attempt to abolish the arbitrary power of issuing
lettres de cachet, he procured the appointment of a commission, composed of upright and enlightened magistrates,
to which every application for such letters should be submitted, and whose unanimous decision should be requisite
for their validity. Malesherbes was also a great encourager of commerce and agriculture, in which he bad the cordial co-operation of the illustrious Turgot, at that period
the comptroller of the revenue; but, owing to the rejection
of some important measures which his zeal for the public
good led him to propose, Malesberbes resigned in the
month of May 1776. To obtain an accurate view of the
manners and policy of other countries and foreign states,
he set out on his travels, and visited Switzerland and Holland, and in the course of his journey he noted down every
occurrence worthy of observation, and that might, hereafter, possibly be useful to himself, and promote the melioration of his country. On his return, at the end of a
few years, he found his native country so much advanced
in what he thought philosophical principles, that he was
encouraged to present to the king two elaborate memoirs, one on the condition of the protestants, the other
in favour of the principles of civil liberty, an4
toleration in general. Difficulties, however, were now accumulating in the management of the government, and
the king, in 1786, called Malesherbes to his councils, but
without appointing him to any particular post in the administration. He soon found it impossible to act with the
men already possessed of the powers of government, and
expressed his opinion in two energetic memoirs “On
the Calamities of France, and the means of repairing
them;
” but it does not appear that these ever reached
his majesty, nor could Malesherbes obtain a private interview; he therefore took his final leave of the court, and
retreated to his country residence, determined to consult
the best means of serving his country by agricultural pursuits, in 1790 he published “An Essay on the means of
accelerating the progress of Rural Economy in France,
” in
which he proposed an establishment to facilitate the national improvement in this important point. In this tranquil state he was passing the evening of his days when the
horrors of the revolution brought him again to Paris.
During the whole of its progress, he had his eyes constantly fixed on his unhappy sovereign; and, subduing his
natural fondness for retirement, went regularly to court
every Sunday, to give him proofs of his respect and attachment. He imposed it as a duty on himself to give the
ministers regular information of the designs of the regicide
faction; and when it was determined to bring the king to
trial, he voluntarily offered to be the defender of his master,
in his memorable letter of Dec. 11, 1792, that eternal
monument of his loyalty and affection. Three counsel
had already been appointed, but one having from prudential motives, declined the office, the king, who wept at
this proof of attachment from his old servant, immediately
nominated Malesherbes in his stead. Their interview was
extremely affecting, and his majesty, during the short interval before his death, shewed every mark of affection
for, and confidence in, his generous advocate. Malesherbes was the person who announced to him his cruel
doom, and was one of the last who took leave of him previously to his execution. After that catastrophe he again
withdrew to his retreat, and with a deeply-wounded heart,
refused to hear any thing of what was acting among the
blood-thirsty Parisians. As he was one morning working
in his garden, he observed four savage-looking wretches
directing their course to his house, and hastening home,
he found them to be officers from the revolutionary tribunal come to arrest his daughter and her husband, who had
formerly been president of the parliament of Paris. The
separation of these persons from his family was deeply afflicting to his heart, and it is probable that his own arrest
shortly after was a relief to his feelings. He had long been
esteemed as father of the village in which he lived, and
the rustic inhabitants crowded round to take leave of their
ancient benefactor with tears and benedictions. Four of
the municipality accompanied him to Paris, that he might
not be escorted by soldiers like a criminal. He was shut
tip in prison with his unfortunate family and in a lew days
the guillotine separated his son-in-law Lepelletier from his
wife and the accusation of Malesherbes with his daughter
and grand-daughter, “for a conspiracy against the liberties
of the people,
” was followed, as a matter of course, by a
sentence of death. The real crime, as it was basely denominated, of this excellent man and worthy patriot, and
which the convention never pardoned, was his defence of
the king, an act in which he gloried to the latest hour of
his existence. He probably thought it an honour to die
by the same ruffian hands that had spilt the blood of his
master. The condemnation of the females almost overcame the manly fortitude which he displayed in every personal suffering; his courage, however, returned at the
prison, and they prepared for the death which was the last
and only important event that they had to encounter. His
daughter had exhibited the noble spirit with which she was
inspired, for upon taking leave of mademoiselle Sombreuil,
who had saved her father’s life on the second of September, she said to her, “You have had the happiness to preserve your father, I shall have the consolation of dying
with mine
” On the fatal day Malesherbes left the prison
with a serene countenance, and happening to stumble
against a stone, he said with much pleasantry, “a Roman
would have thought this an unlucky omen, and walked back
again.
” Thus perished the venerable Malesherbes in April
1794, when he had attained to the age of seventy-two years
four months and fifteen days. His character may be in
part deduced from the preceding narrative, but is more
fully displayed in his life translated by Mr. Mangin. The
subsequent government has since made some reparation for
the injustice done him, by ordering his bust to be placed
among those of the great men who have reflected honour
upon their country.
ead of taking more than ordinary pains, as he should have done, to celebrate the glory of that great minister, he had only patched together old scraps, which he had found
Malherbe was born at Caen, about 1555, of an ancient
and illustrious family, who had formerly borne arms in,
England, under Robert duke of Normandy. He lived to
be old; and, about 1601, he became known to Henry the
Great, from a very advantageous mention of him to that
prince by cardinal du Perron. The king asked the cardinal one day, “if he had made any more verses?
” To
which the cardinal replied, that “he had totally laid aside
all such amusements since his majesty had done him the
honour to take him into his service; and added, that every
body must now throw away their pens for ever, since a
gentleman of Normandy, named Malherbe, had carried
the French poetry to such a height, as none could hope to
reach.
” About four years after, he was called to court, and
enrolled among the pensioners of that monarch. After
the death of Henry, queen Mary of Medicis became his
patroness, and settled upon him a very handsome pension.
This he enjoyed to the time of his death, which happened
at Paris in 1628. It was the misfortune of this poet, that
he had no great share in the affection of cardinal Richelieu.
It was discovered, that, instead of taking more than ordinary pains, as he should have done, to celebrate the
glory of that great minister, he had only patched together
old scraps, which he had found among his papers. This
was not the way to please a person of so haughty a spirit;
and therefore he received this homage from Malherbe very
coldly, and not without disgust. “I learned from M. Racan,
” says Menage, “that Malherbe wrote those two
stanzas above thirty years before Richelieu, to whom he
addressed them, was made a cardinal; and that he changed
only the four first verses of the first stanza, to accommodate them to his subject. I learned also from the same
Racan, that cardinal Richelieu knew that these verses had
not been made for him.
” His apparent indolence upon such
an occasion was probably owing to that extreme difficulty
with which he always wrote. All writers speak of the time
and labour it cost Malherbe to produce his poems.
onora” had been excluded the stage, because the licenser discovered in it a formidable attack on the minister, yet Mallet’s “Mustapha,” which was thought, and was no doubt
While in this employment, he published in 1739, “Mustapha,
” a tragedy, dedicated to his royal patron. Thomson’s “Edward and Eleonora
” had been excluded the
stage, because the licenser discovered in it a formidable
attack on the minister, yet Mallet’s “Mustapha,
” which
was thought, and was no doubt intended, to glance both
at the king and sir Robert Walpole, in the characters of
Solyman the Magnificent, and Rustan his visier, was allowed to be acted, and was acted with great applause.
The language of this tragedy is more easy and natural than
that of “Eurydice,
” but its success was much owing to
its political allusions. On the first night of its exhibition,
the heads of the opposition were all assembled, and many
speeches were applied by the audience to the supposed
grievances of the times, and to persons and characters.
In the following year, Thomson and Mallet were commanded by the prince of Wales to write the masque of
“Alfred,
” in honour of the birth-day of lady Augusta, his
eldest daughter (the late duchess of Brunswick), which was
twice acted in the gardens of Clifden by some of the London performers. After the death of Thomson in 1748,
Mallet re-wrote the Masque of Alfred, under the influence
and by the encouragement of lord Bolingbroke; and with
the assistance of music and gorgeous scenery; it was acted
with some, but no great success.
ons of the society, and in the annual speeches on the solemn distribution of its premiums. The first minister of state, marquis of Felin, a man of great discernment and sagacity,
In 1749, and the thirty-fifth year of his age, Manara was called to town by his sovereign, and the place to which he was appointed, the first he had filled at court, was admirably adapted to his temper. No sooner had the highspirited Infant Don Philip become the pacific possessor of that principality, than he thought of reviving the languid progress of scientific and literary pursuits; and instituted that famous academy of arts, which, except those of Rome and Bologna, was soon accounted the best in Italy. He himself was appointed academician and counsellor, invested with a vote; and he greatly distinguished himself, as might be expected, in the sessions of the society, and in the annual speeches on the solemn distribution of its premiums. The first minister of state, marquis of Felin, a man of great discernment and sagacity, was not long in perceiving that Manara, by his uncommon abilities, was entitled to higher honours and employments at court. Accordingly, in 1760 he appointed him a chamberlain of the royal house, and soon after, superintendant of the newly-projected high road, through that lofty branch of the Apennines which connects the Ligurian with the Parmesan dominions; and from that time he was gradually promoted to more conspicuous and important places. He succeeded the abbe" de Condillac in the education of the young Infant (his late royal highness) Ferdinand, and acquitted himself of this task to the complete satisfaction of his friends and countrymen. The amiable prince himself was so duly sensible of his services in this respect that he rewarded him with an extraordinary pension for life^ and with the eminent dignity of first chamberlain of his royal family.
r, suffered to remain long in this employment, being before the expiration of three years, appointed minister of state, to which he acceded with great reluctance, and at
It reflects no small honour on him, that during these numerous occupations in the court and in the state, from 1749 to 1773, he wrote his masterly translation of the Georgics of his favourite Latin poet. The great success of his former essays on the Bucolics, inspired him with the design of some farther similar exertions of his powers; but he had no sooner written the first two books, than he was trusted with a charge utterly incompatible with his literary avocations, as it deprived him of any tolerable degree of leisure; being in 1779 appointed tutor to the infant hereditary prince, don Luigi, the late king of Etruria. He was not, however, suffered to remain long in this employment, being before the expiration of three years, appointed minister of state, to which he acceded with great reluctance, and at length his age being too much advanced to suffer him to continue, he solicited, and obtained from his sovereign permission to retire. His retreat was attended by the warmest mark of good-will from the court, by all the honours suitable to his station, and by an additional pension.
to France, and thence to England, and died at London in 1697. He wrote “A Letter to a Nonconformist minister,” Lond. 1677, 4to. 2. “A brief and practical Discourse on Abstinence
, a Roman catholic writer, was the son
of lieutenant-colonel Manby, and after being educated at
the university of Dublin, became chaplain to Dr. Michael
Boyle, archbishop of -Dublin, and at length dean of Derry.
During the reign of James II. in 1686, being disappointed
of a bishopric, which he had hopes of obtaining by means
of the lord primate, he attempted to rise by popish interest,
and publicly embraced that religion, in vindication of
which he wrote several books. But the revolution preventing the accomplishment of his wishes, he removed to
France, and thence to England, and died at London in
1697. He wrote “A Letter to a Nonconformist minister,
”
Lond. A brief and practical Discourse on
Abstinence in Lent,
” Dublin, Of Confession to a lawful Priest,
” &c. Lond. The
Considerations which obliged Peter Manby, Dean of Derry,
to embrace the Catholic religion. Dedicated to the Lord
Primate of Ireland,
” Dublin, A reformed Catechism in two Dialogues,
”
the first only of which appeared in
tarded the bull which was necessary to establish him in the archbishopric of Toulouse. He was made a minister of state in 1658, and went to Toulouse in 1659. In the following
In 1644, de Marca was sent into Catalonia, to perform
the office of visitor-general, and counsellor of the viceroy,
which he executed to the year 1651, and so gained the
affections of the Catalonians, that in 1647, when he was
dangerously ill, they put up public prayers, and vows for
his recovery. The city of Barcelona, in particular, made a
vow to our lady of Montserrat, and sent thither in their name
twelve capuchins and twelve nuns, who performed their
journey with their hair hanging loose, and bare-footed.
De Marca was persuaded, or rather seemed to be persuaded, that his recovery was entirely owing to so many
vows and prayers; and would not leave Catalonia without
going to pay his devotions at Montserrat, in the beginning
of 1651, and there wrote a small treatise, “De origine &
progressu cultûs beatæ Mariæ Virginis in Monteserato,
”
which he left in the archives of the monastery; so little
did he really possess of that liberality and firmness of mind
which is above vulgar prejudice and superstition. In August of the same year, he went to take possession of his
bishopric; and the year after was nominated to the archbishopric of Toulouse, but did not take possession till
1655. In 1656 he assisted at the general assembly of the
French clergy, and appeared in opposition to the Jansenists, that he might wipe off all suspicion of his not being
an adherent of the court of Rome, for he knew that his
being suspected of Jansenism had for a long time retarded
the bull which was necessary to establish him in the archbishopric of Toulouse. He was made a minister of state
in 1658, and went to Toulouse in 1659. In the following
year he went to Roussillon, there to determine the marches
with the commissaries of the king of Spain. In these conferences he had occasion to display his learning, as they
involved points of criticism respecting the language of Pomponius Mela and Strabo. It was said in the Pyrenean
treaty, that the limits of France and Spain were the same
with those which anciently separated the Gauls from Spain.
This obliged them to examine whereabouts, according to
the ancient geographers, the Gauls terminated here; and
de Marca’s knowledge was of great use at this juncture.
He took a journey to Paris the same year, and obtained
the appoiutment of archbishop of Paris; but died there
June 29, 1662, the very day that the bulls for his
promotion arrived. His sudden death, at this time, occasioned
the following jocular epitaph:
s and parties in search of him, which the least noise or motion of a leaf put her in terror for. The minister’s house was near the church; the first night she went, his dogs
When a near relation, very dear to sir Patrick, was again
imprisoned, he thought it adviseable to keep himself
concealed. The following account of his concealment is taken,
from the ms. preserved in the family by his grand-daughter.
“After persecution began afresh, and my grandfather
Baillie again in prison, sir Patrick thought it necessary to
keep concealed; and soon found he had too good reason for
so doing, parties being continually sent out in search of
him, and often to his own house, to the terror of all in it,
though not from any fear for his safety, whom they imagined
at a great distance from home, for no soul knew where he
was but my grandmother, and my mother, except one man,
a carpenter, called Jamie Winter, who used to work in the
house, and lived a mile off, on whose fidelity they thought
they could depend; and were not deceived. The frequent
examinations and oaths put to servants in order to make discoveries were so strict, they durst not run the risk of trusting
any of them. By the assistance of this man they got a bed
and bed-clothes carried in the night to the burying-place, a
vault under ground at Polwarth church, a mile from the
house, where he was concealed a month; and had only for
light an open slit at the one end, through which nobody
could see what was below; she (his daughter) went every
night by herself at midnight, to carry him victuals and
drink, and staid with him as long as she could to get home
before day. In all this time my grandfather shewed the
same constant composure and cheerfulness of mind that he
continued to possess to his death, which was at the age of
eighty -four; all which good qualities she inherited from,
him in a high degree; often did they laugh heartily in
that doleful habitation, at different accidents that happened. She at that time had a terror for a church-yard,
especially in the dark, as it is not uncommon at her age,
by idle nursery stories; but when engaged by concern for
her father, she stumbled over the graves every night alone,
without fear of any kind entering her thoughts, but for
soldiers and parties in search of him, which the least noise
or motion of a leaf put her in terror for. The minister’s
house was near the church; the first night she went, his
dogs kept such a barking as put her in the utmost fear of a
discovery; my grandmother sent for the minister next day,
and upon pretence of a mad dog, got him to hang all his
dogs. There was also difficulty of getting victuals to
carry him without the servants suspecting; the only way it
was done, was by stealing it off her plate at dinner into
her lap many a diverting story she has told about
and other things of a like nature. Her father liked sheep’s
head, and while the children were eating their broth, she
had conveyed most of one into her lap; when her brother
Sandy (the second lord Marchmont) had done, he looked
up with astonishment, and said,
” Mother, will ye look at
Grizzel; while we have been eating our broth, she has eat
up the whole sheep’s head.“This occasioned so much
mirth among them, that her father at night was greatly entertained by it; and desired Sandy might have a share in
the next. I need not multiply stories of this kind, of
which I know many. His great comfort and constant entertainment (for he had no light to read by) was repeating
Buchanan’s Psalms, which he had by heart from beginning
to end; and retained them to his dying-day two years
before he died, which was in 1724, I was witness to his
desiring my mother to take up that work, which, amongst
others, always lay upon his table, and bid her try if he had
forgot his psalms, by naming any one she would have him
repeat; and by casting her eye over it she would know if
he was right, though she did not understand it; and he
missed not a word in any place she named to him, and said
they had been the great comfort of his life, by night and
day, on all occasions. As the gloomy habitation my father
was in, was not to be long endured but from necessity,
they were contriving other places of safety for him;
amongst others, particularly one under a bed which drew
out, on a ground Moor, in a room of which my mother kept
the key; she and the same man worked in the night, making a hole in the earth after lifting the boards, which they
did by scratching it up with their hands not to make any
noise, till she left not a nail upon her fingers, she helping
the man to carry the earth as they dug it, in a sheet, on
his back, out at the window into the garden; he then made
a box at his own house, large enough for her father to lie
in, with bed and bed-clothes, and bored holes in the boards
for air; when all this was finished, for it was long about,
she thought herself the most secure happy creature alive.
When it had stood the trial for a month of no water coming
into it, which was feared from being so low, and every
day examined by my mother, and the holes for air made
clear, and kept clean-picked, her father ventured home,
having that to trust to. After being at home a week or
two, the bed daily examined as usual, one day in lifting
the boards, the bed bounced to the top, the box being
full of water: in her life she was never so struck, and had
near dropped down, it being at that time their only refuge;
her father, with great composure, said to his wife and her,
he saw they must tempt Providence no longer, and that it
was now fit and necessary for him to go off, and leave
them; in which he was confirmed hy the carrier telling
for news he had brought from Edinburgh, that the day
before, Mr. Baillie of Jerviswoode had his life taken from
him at the Cross, and that every body was sorry, though
they durst not shew it; as all intercourse by letters was
dangerous, it was the first notice they bad of it; and the
more shocking, that it was not expected. They immediately set about preparing for my grandfather’s going
away. My mother worked night and day in making some
alterations in his clothes for disguise; they were then
obliged to trust John Allen, their grieve, who fainted away
when he was told his master was in the house, and that he
was to set out with him on horseback before day, and pretend to the rest of the servants that he had orders to sell
some horses at Morpeth fair. Accordingly, my grandfather getting out at a window in the stables, they set out in
the dark; though with good reason it was a sorrowful
parting, yet after he was fairly gone they rejoiced, and
thought themselves happy that he was in a way of being
safe, though they were deprived of him, and little knew
what was to be either his fate or their own.
”
disadvantage of this project; for which he was put into prison, and kept there about a year by that minister. But what made more noise still, was his tract De rege & regis
, a Spanish historian, was born at
Talavera, in Castille, in 1537; and entered into the order
of Jesuits when he was seventeen. He was one of the
most learned men of his age, an able divine, a considerable master of polite literature, admirably skilled in sacred
and profane history, and a good linguist. In 1561 he was
sent by his superiors to Rome, where he taught divinity,
and received the order of priesthood; and at the end of
four years weut to Sicily, where he continued the same
profession two years more. He came to Paris in 1569,
and read lectures publicly upon Thomas Aquinas for five
years; then returned into Spain, and passed the remainder
of his life at Toledo. He wrote many books in Latin.
His piece “De rnonetse mutatione,
” gave great offence to
the court of Spurn; for Philip III. having altered and emr
based the coin by the advice of the duke of Lerma,
Mariana shewed, with great freedom, the injustice and disadvantage of this project; for which he was put into prison,
and kept there about a year by that minister. But what
made more noise still, was his tract De rege & regis
institutione,“consisting of three books, which he published
to justify James Clement, a young monk, for assassinating
Henry III. of France. In this he argues against passive
obedience and non-resistance; asserts the lawfulness of
resisting
” the powers that be,“where the administration
is tyrannical; and founds his whole argument upon this
principle,
” that the authority of the people is superior to
that of kings." This book of Mariana, though it passed
without censure in Spain and Italy, was burnt at Paris, by
an arret of parliament.
f his task. About two years after, however, he resumed his studies, with the intention of becoming a minister: and soon after, he was admitted a student of philosophy at
, a late eminent anatomist and
physician, was born in Fifeshire, in 1742, at Park-hill, a
large farm on the side of the Tay, near Newburgh, held
by his father, Mr. John Marshal, of the earl of Rothes.
His lather had received a classical education himself; and
being desirous that his son should enjoy a similar advantage, sent him first to the grammar-school at Newburgh,
and afterwards tothat of Abernethy, then the most celebrated place of education among the Seceders, of which
religious sect he was a most zealous member. Here he
was regarded as a quick and apt scholar. From his childhood he had taken great delight in rural scenery. One
day, while under the influence of feelings of this kind,
being then about fourteen years old, he told his father that
he wished to leave school, and be a farmer, but he soon
shewed that it had not arisen from any fondness for ordinary country labours. In the following harvest-time, for
instance, having been appointed to follow the reapers, and
bind up the cut corn into sheaves, he would frequently lay
himself down in some shady part of the field, and taking
a book from his pocket, begin to read, -utterly forgetful of
his task. About two years after, however, he resumed his
studies, with the intention of becoming a minister: and
soon after, he was admitted a student of philosophy at
Abernethy; and next became a student of divinity. In
his nineteenth year he went to Glasgow, and divided his time between teaching a school, and attending lectures in
the university. The branches of learning which he chiefly
cultivated were Greek and morals. At the end of two
years passed in this way, he became (through the interest of the celebrated Dr. Reid, to whom his talents and diligence had recommended him), tutor in a gentleman’s family, of the name of Campbell, in the Island of Islay.
He remained here four years, and removed to the university of Edinburgh, with Mr. -Campbell’s son, whom the
following year he carried back to his father. Having
surrendered his charge, he returned to Edinburgh, where
he subsisted himself by reading Greek and Latin privately
with students of the university; in the mean time taking
no recreation, but giving up all his leisure to the acquisition of knowledge. He still considered himself a student
of divinity, in which capacity he delivered two discourses
in the divinity-hall; and from motives of curiosity began in
1769 to attend lectures on medicine. While thus employed, he was chosen1 member of the Speculative society,
where, in the beginning of 1772, he became acquainted
with lord Balgonie, who was so much pleased with the
display which he made of genius and learning in that society,
that he requested they“should read together; and in the
autumn of the following year made a proposal for their
going to the Continent, which was readily accepted.
They travelled slowly through Flanders to Paris, where
they stayed a month, and then proceeded to Tours, where
they resided eight months, in the house of a man of letters,
under whose tuition they strove to acquire a correct knowledge of the French language and government. They became acquainted here with several persons of rank, among
whom were a prince of Rohan, and the dukes of Clioiseul
and Aguilon, at whose seats in the neighbourhood they
were sometimes received as gnests. An acquaintance with
such people would make Marshal feel pain on account of
his want of external accomplishments; and this, probably,
was the reason of his labouring
” to learn to dance and to
fence while he was at Tours, though he was then more
than thirty years old. He returned to England in the
summer of 1774; and proceeded soon after to Edinburgh,
where he resumed the employment of reading Latin and
Greek with young men. Hitherto he seems to have formed
no settled plan of life, but to have bounded his views
almost entirely to the acquisition of knowledge, and a present subsistence. His friends, however, had been induced
to hope that he would at some time be advanced to a professor’s cl; ir and it is possible that he entertained the same
hope himself. In the spring of 1775, this hope appeared
to be strengthened by his being requested by Mr. Stewart,
the professor of humanity at Edinburgh, to officiate for
him, as he was then unwell: Marshal complied, but soon
after appears to have given up all hopes of a professorship,
and studied medicine with a determination to practise it.
In the spring of 1777, he was enabled by the assistance of
a friend, Mr. John Campbell of Edinburgh, to come to
London for professional improvement; and studied anatomy under Dr. W. Hunter, and surgery under Mr. J,
Hunter. After he had been here a twelvemonth, he was
appointed surgeon to the S3rd, or Glasgow regiment,
through the interest of the earl of Leverv, the father of his
late pupil, lord Balgonie. The first year after was passed
with his regiment, in Scotland. In the following he accompanied it to Jersey, where he remained with it almost
constantly till the conclusion of the war in the beginning
of 1783, when it was disbanded. In this situation he
enjoyed, almost for the first time, the pleasures best suited
to a man of independent mind. His income was more than
sufficient for his support; his industry and knowledge rendered him useful; and his character for integrity and honour procured him general esteem. From Jersey he came
to London, seeking for a settlement, and was advised by
Dr. D. Pitcairn (with whom he had formed a friendship while a student at Glasgow) to practise surgery here,
though he had taken the degree of doctor of physic the
preceding year at Edinburgh; and to teach anatomy at St.
Bartholomew’s hospital, it being at the same time proposed, that the physicians to that hospital (of whom Dr. Pitcairn was one) should lecture on other branches of medical learning. He took a house, in consequence, in the
neighbourhood of the hospital; and proceeded to prepare
for the execution of his part of the scheme. This proving
abortive, he began to teach anatomy, the following year,
at his own house; and at length succeeded in procuring
annually a considerable number of pupils, attracted to him
solely by the reputation of his being a most diligent and
able teacher. In 1788 he quitted the practice of surgery,
and commenced that of medicine, having previously become a member of the London college oF physicians. In
the ensuing year a dispute arose between John Hunter
and him, which it is proper to relate, as it had influence
on his after-life. When Marshal returned to London, he
renewed his acquaintance with Mr. Hunter, who thought
so well of him, that he requested his attendance at a committee of his friends, to whose correction he submitted his
work on the venereal disease, before it was published. He
became also a member of a small society, instituted by Dr.
Fordyce and Mr. Hunter, for the improvement of medical
and surgical knowledge. Having mentioned at a meeting
of this society, that, in the dissection of those who had
died insane, he had always found marks of disease in the
head, Mr. Hunter denied the truth of this in very coarse
language. The other members interfering, Mr. Hunter
agreed to say, that his expressions did not refer to Dr.
Marshal’s veracity, but to the accuracy of his observation.
Marshal, not being satisfied with this declaration, at the
next meeting of the society demanded a.i ample apology;
but Mr. Hunter, instead of making one, repeated the offensive expressions; on which Marshal poured some water
over his head out of a bottle which had stood near them.
A scuffle ensued, which was immediately stopped by the
other members, and no father personal contention between
them ever occurred. But Marshal, conceiving that their
common friends in the society had, from the superior rank
of Mr. Hunter, favoured him more in this matter than justice permitted, soon after estranged himself from them.
He continued the teaching of anatomy till 1800, in which
year, during a tedious illness, the favourable termination
of which appeared doubtful to him, he resolved, rather
suddenly, to give it up. While he taught anatomy, almost
the whole of the fore-part of the day, during eight months
in the year, was spent by him in his dissecting and lecture
rooms. He had, therefore, but little time for seeing sick
persons, except at hours frequently inconvenient to them;
and was by this means prevented from enjoying much medical practice; but as soon as he had recovered his health,
after ceasing to lecture, his practice began to increase.
The following year it was so far increased as to render it
proper that he should keep a carriage. From this time to
within a few months of his death, an interval of twelve
years, his life flowed on in nearly an equable stream. He
had business enough in the way he conducted it to give
him employment during the greater part of the day; and
his professional profits were sufficient to enable him to live
in the manner he chose, and provide for the wants of sickness and old age. After having appeared somewhat feeble
for two or three years, he made known, for the first time,
in the beginning of last November, that he laboured under
a disease of his bladder, though he must then have been
several years affected with it. His ailment was incurable,
and scarcely admitted of palliation. For several months he
was almost constantly in great pain, which he bore manfully. At length, exhausted by his sufferings, he died on
the 2nd of April, 1813, at his house in Bartlett’s buildings,
Holborn, being then in the seventy-first year of his age.
Agreeably to his own desire, his body was interred in the
church-yard of the parish of St. Pancras. His fortune,
amounting to about bOOO/. was, for the most part, bequeathed to sisters and nephews.
him his secretary, with a salary of twelve hundred crowns. The marquis de Beretti Landi, the Spanish minister at the Hague, had a high regard for Martiniere, and advised
, a French author of considerable celebrity about the beginning of the last century, was born in 1684 at Dieppe. He
studied at Paris, partly under the instruction of his learned
grand-uncle Richard Simon, who then resided in the college of Fortet. In 1709, he went to the court of Mecklenburgh, and began his researches into the history and
geography of that state; but, on the death of the duke, and
the troubles which followed, and interrupted his labours,
he removed elsewhere, probably to Parma, as we find him,
in 1722, publishing, by order of the duke Philip Farnese,
whom he calls his most serene master, an historical dissertation, “Dissertation historique sur les duchés de Parme
et de Plaisance,
” 4to. It appears also that the Sicilian
monarch appointed him his secretary, with a salary of
twelve hundred crowns. The marquis de Beretti Landi,
the Spanish minister at the Hague, had a high regard for
Martiniere, and advised him to dedicate his geographical
dictionary to the king of Spain, and procured for him,
from his catholic majesty, the title of royal geographer.
Martiniere passed several years at the Hague, where all
the foreign ministers paid him much attention, receiving
him often at their tables. He died here June 19, 1749.
Moreri makes him eighty-three years of age; but this is
inconsistent with a date which he gives on the authority of
Martiniere himself, viz. that in 1709 he was twenty-five
years old. His personal character is represented in a very
favourable light by M. Bruys, who lived a long time with
him at the Hague, and objects nothing to him but a want
of oeconomy in his domestic matters: he was a man of extensive reading and memory, excelled in conversation,
which abounded in striking and original remarks, and was
generous, liberal, and candid. His favourite studies were
history and geography, which at length produced his wellknown dictionary, “Dictionnaire Geographique, Historique,
et Critique,
” Hague, Introduction to History;
” a work on which he appears to have bestowed more pains than will perhaps be approved, as his
zeal for the Roman catholic religion induced him to omit
Puffendorff’s remarks on the temporal power of the popes.
His other works were, 1. “Essais sur l'origine et les progres de la Geographic,
” with remarks on the principal
Greek and Latin geographers. These two essays were
addressed to the academy of history at Lisbon, and that
of belles lettres at Paris, and are printed in Camusat’s
“Memoires Historiques,
” Amst. Traites geographiques et historiques pour faciliter l‘intelligence de
l’Ecriture Sainte, par divers auteurs celebres, M. M. Huet
et Le Grand, D. Calmet, &c. &c.
” Hague, Entretiens des ombres aux Champs Elyseés,
”
taken from a German work under that title, 2 vols. 4.
“Essai d‘une traduction d’Horace,
” in verse, with some
poetical pieces of his own. 5. “Nouveau recueil des Epigrammatistes Francois anciens et modernes,
” Amst. Introduction generate a l'etude des
Sciences et des Belles Lettres, en faveur des pefsonnes qui
ne savent que le Frangois,
” Hague, Lettres choisies de M. Simon,
” a new edition, with the life of
the author, Amst. 1730, 4 vols. 12mo. 8. “Nouvelles
politiques et litteraires,
” a literary journal which did not
last long. 9. “Vie de Moliere,
” said to be more correct
and ample than that by Grimarest. 9. “Continuation de
VHistoire de France sous la regne de Louis XIV. commencée par M. de Larrey.
” Some other works have been
improperly attributed to Martiniere, as “Lettres serieuses
et badines,
” which was by M. Bruys, and “Relation
d'une assemble tenue au bas du Parnasse,
” a production,
of the abbé D'Artigny. After his death, his name was put
to a species of Ana, entitled, “Nouveau portefeuille historique et litteraire,
” an amusing collection; but probabljr
not of his forming.
at Paderborn, under the celebrated Piscator. In his twenty-third year he was called to officiate as minister in the courts of the counts of Nassau Dillembourg; the following
, a learned German divine of
the Protestant persuasion, was born in 1572, and studied
at Paderborn, under the celebrated Piscator. In his twenty-third year he was called to officiate as minister in the
courts of the counts of Nassau Dillembourg; the following
year was appointed professor in the college of Paderborn,
and in 1592 was appointed regent of the schools. He was
afterwards called to be rector of the school at Bremen,
and, in 1618, was deputed by the magistrates of Bremen
to the synod of Dort, where he maintained the opinions
of Cameron, Amyraut, Dai lie, and others; but signed
all the acts of the synod. He died in 1630, leaving behind
him many theological treatises, now forgotten, and a “Lexicon philologicum, in quo Latinae et a Latinis auctoribus
usurpatae turn purae, turn barbaroe voces ex originibus declarantur, &c.: accedit Cadmus Graeco-Phoanix etGlossarium Isidori,
” Utrecht,
, a very ingenious and witty English writer, was the son of Mr. Andrew Marvel!, minister and schoolmaster of Kingston upon -Hull, in Yorkshire, and was
, a very ingenious and witty
English writer, was the son of Mr. Andrew Marvel!, minister and schoolmaster of Kingston upon -Hull, in Yorkshire,
and was born in that town in 1620, His abilities being
very great, his progress in letters was proportionable; so
that, at thirteen, he was admitted of Trinity-college in
Cambridge. But he had not been long there, when he
fell into the hands of the Jesuits; for those busy agents of
the Romish church, under the connivance of this, as well
as the preceding reign, spared no pains to make proselytes; for which purpose several of them were planted in
or near the universities, in order to make conquests among
the young scholars. Marvell fell into their snares, as ChilJingworth had fallen before him, and was inveigled up to
London; but his father being apprised of it soon after,
pursued him, and finding him in a bookseller’s shop, prevailed with him to return to college. He afterwards applied to his studies with great assiduity, and took a bachelor of arts degree in 1639. About this time he lost his
father, who was unfortunately drowned in crossing the
Humber, as he was attending the daughter of aa intimate
female friend; who by this event becoming childless, sent
for young Marvell, and, by way of making all the return
in her power, added considerably to his fortune. Upon
this the plan of his education was enlarged, and he travelled through most of the polite parts of Europe. It appears that he had been at Rome, from his poem entitled
“Flecknoe,
” an English priest at Rome in which he has
described with great humour that wretched poetaster, Mr.
Richard Flecknoe, from whom Dryden gave the name of
Mac- Flecknoe to his satire against Shadwell. During his
travels, another occasion happened for the exercise of
his wit. In France, he found much talk of Lancelot Joseph de Maniban, an abbot; who pretended to understand
the characters of those he had never seen, and to prognosticate their good or bad fortune, from an inspection of their
band-writing. This artist was handsomely lashed by our
author, in a poem written upon the spot, and addressed to
him. We know no more of Marvell for several years,
only that he spent some time at Constantinople, where he
resided as secretary to the English embassy at that court.
f money to erect a monument over him, and procured an epitaph to be written by an able hand: but the minister of the parish forbid both the inscription and monument to be
Marvell died in 1678, in his fifty-eighth year, not without the strongest suspicions of being poisoned; for he was
always very temperate, and of an healthful and strong constitution to the last. He was interred in the church of St.
Giles’s in the Fields; and ten years after (in 1688), the
town of Kingston upon Hull, to testify her grateful remembrance of his honest services to her, collected a sum
of money to erect a monument over him, and procured an
epitaph to be written by an able hand: but the minister
of the parish forbid both the inscription and monument to
be placed in that church. Wood tells us, that Marvell in
his conversation was very modest, and of few words; and
Cooke, the writer of his life, observes, that he was very
reserved among those he did not well know, but a most
delightful and improving companion among his friends.
After his death were published, “Miscellaneous Poems,
”
in
n April 1573. He was a master of the ancient and oriental languages to such a degree, that Sebastian Minister said he seemed to have been brought up in ancient Rome, or ancient
, or Dumas, born in 1516, at Linnich, near Brussels, was one of the most learned men of
the sixteenth century. He was secretary to John de Weze,
bishop of Constance, after whose death he was sent as an
agent to Rome. He married at Cleves in 1558, and was
appointed counsellor to William duke of Cleves. He died
in April 1573. He was a master of the ancient and oriental
languages to such a degree, that Sebastian Minister said
he seemed to have been brought up in ancient Rome, or
ancient Jerusalem. He produced, 1. “A Collection of
various pieces, ancient and modern, translated from the
Syriac,
” Antwerp, Syrorum Peculium,
” Grammatica Linguae
Syricae,
” A Commentary on the Book of
Joshua,
” Antwerp, Critical Disquisition
” on this work in Disputatio de Ccena
Domini,
” Antwerp,
nation. My easy and independent circumstances make such a suspicion sit mighty easy upon me; and the minister, nay the whole ministry, are free to think what they please
“To say more on this trivial subject would betray a solicitude on my part very foreign from my present feelings
or inclination. My easy and independent circumstances
make such a suspicion sit mighty easy upon me; and the
minister, nay the whole ministry, are free to think what
they please of a man, who neither aims to solicit, nor wishes
to accept, any favour from them.
”
, a reformed minister, who died in Holland about 1750, was originally of France, but
, a reformed minister, who died in
Holland about 1750, was originally of France, but fled
into England to enjoy that liberty in religion which his
country refused him, and was employed as tutor in bishop
Burnet’s family. In 1710 he travelled with his pupils,
through Holland, and thence to France and Italy, according to Saxius, though we doubt whether the bishop had at
that time any sons so young as to be only beginning their
education. Be this as it may, he soon became known in.
the literary world, and we should suppose must have often
resided in Holland, as most of his publications were printed
there. The first we can trace with certainty is his “Jani
templum Christo nascente reseratum, seu Tractatus Chronologico-historicus vulgarem refellens opinionem existimantium, pacem toto terrarum orbe sub tempus Servatoris
natale stabilitam fuisse,
” &c. Rotterdam, Histoire critique de
la Republique des Lettres, from 1712 to 17 17,
” in 15 vols.
12mo. 2. “Vitae Horatii, Oviciii, et Plinii junioris,
” 3 vols.
small 8vo, and printed abroad, though dedicated to Englishmen of rank: the first at Leyden, 1708, to lord
Harvey; the second at Amsterdam, 1708, to sir Justinian Isham; the third at Amsterdam, 1709, to the bishop
of Worcester. These lives are drawn up in a
chronological order, very learnedly and very critically; and serve to
illustrate the history, not only of these particular persons,
but of the times also in which they lived. In the “Life
of Horace,
” Masson found occasion to interfere with M.
Dacier; who, however, defended his own opinions, and
prefixed his defence to the second edition of his Horace.
3. “Histoire de Pierre Bayle & de ses ouvrages,
” Amsterdam,
ached his first sermon at Toxteth, having been ordained by Dr. Morton, bishop of Chester, and chosen minister of that place. Here he officiated until 1633, when he was suspended
, the first of a family of nonconformist divines, of considerable reputation both in the new
and old world, was born at Lowton, in the parish of Winwick, in Lancashire, in 1596. After some education at
Winwick-school, he was, in 1611, at the early age of fifteen, appointed master of a public school at Toxteth-park,
near Liverpool, where, as Wood says, “he was converted
to godliness.
” In 1618, however, he was admitted a student of Brazenose college Oxford, where his stay must
have been short, as the same year we are told he preached
his first sermon at Toxteth, having been ordained by Dr.
Morton, bishop of Chester, and chosen minister of that
place. Here he officiated until 1633, when he was suspended for nonconformity; and although this suspension
was soon taken off, his prejudices against the church establishment became so strong, that he was again suspended,
and then determined to seek the kind of church-government which he fancied the most pure, in New England.
The year after his arrival there, in 1635, he was chosen
minister of a congregation newly formed at Dorchester,
where he remained until his death April 22, 1669, in the
seventy-third year of his age. He was the author of one
or two pious treatises, but of more respecting church government. He had four sons, Samuel, Nathanael,
Eleazer, and Increase, who all imbibed their father’s principles, and became sufferers for nonconformity. Of these,
the eldest and youngest seem entitled to some notice.
finding the climate unfavourable to his health, returned to England, and officiated for some time as minister, in the place of Mr. Howe, at Great Torrington, in Devonshire.
, youngest son of the preceding,
was born at Dorchester, in NewEngland, in 1635, and
studied at Harvard college, where he took his degree of
B. A. in 1656. In the following year he arrived in England,
and thence went to Ireland, and joined his brother. He
then entered himself of Trinity college, in which he pro-'
ceeded M. A. in 1658, having performed the necessary
exercises with great applause, and was offered a fellowship
in that institution; but, finding the climate unfavourable to
his health, returned to England, and officiated for some
time as minister, in the place of Mr. Howe, at Great Torrington, in Devonshire. In 1659, he became chaplain to
colonel Bingham, governor of the island of Guernsey, and
preached every Sunday, as well before the garrison, as in
the town of Peter-le Port. After the restoration, as he
could not conform, he sailed for New England, where he
was chosen minister to the New church at Boston. Shortly
after this, he married the daughter of Mr. John Cotton,
once a gentleman of considerable eminence in England,
but then an exile on account of his non-conformity, and
minister at Boston. In 1664, Mr. Mather was ordained to
the pastoral office, the duties of which he performed
through life with credit to himself, and highly esteemed by
his people. In 1683, when king Charles II. required the
inhabitants of New England to surrender their charter, Mr.
Mather attended at a meeting of the freemen of Boston,
and by his zealous persuasions determined them to reject a
motion for that purpose unanimously; and this spirited measure had considerable influence in prevailing on the country
in general to imitate the example set by the Bostonians.
Upon the publication of king James’s second declaration
for liberty of conscience, some of the ministers of New
England, and their churches, drew up addresses of thanks
to him for the benefits which they enjoyed in consequence
of it, and Mr. Mather embarked for England April 7, 1688,
for the purpose of presenting them. He was favourably
received at court, and laid before the king the state of the
country. While he continued in England, the revolution
took place, and he was consulted by the new administration on many political topics, particularly on an attempt to
obtain the re-settlement of the Massachusetts colony, upon
their chartered foundation, by an act of parliament, which
was frustrated by its dissolution. He at length obtained
from his majesty a new charter, containing the whole of
the old one, with the addition of new and more ample privileges. Having rendered this important service to his
fellow citizens, he set sail for America in 1692, and on
his return he received the public thanks of the house of
^representatives for his faithful and zealous endeavours to
benefit his country. He now returned to his labours in the
church, and at Harvard college, of which he was chosen
president in 1684, and also created doctor of divinity. He
died in 1723, at the age of 84. He was author of many
theological tracts, of which his biographer gives a list of
above eighty among which are, “A brief History of the
war with the Indians in New England
” of “An Essay
for the recording of illustrious Providences, wherein an
account is given of many remarkable and memorable events
which have happened in this last age, especially in New
England
” of “A Discourse on Comets;
” “A Discourse
concerning Earthquakes,
” &c.
iment, he returned to the study of divinity. He began to preach in 1680, and in May 1684, became the minister of Boston- in the diligent discharge of which office, and in
, son to the preceding Increase Mather, and the most eminent of the family, was born Feb. 12, 1663, at Boston, where he was educated at school till he was twelve years old. By this time he had made an uncommon progress in the Greek and Latin languages, and even entered on the Hebrew; so that he was then, young as he was, admitted into Harvard-college, where he took his first degree at sixteen, and his second at nineteen. When about seventeen years old, he undertook the tuition of several young gentlemen, composed for their use catechetical systems of the several sciences, and continued this employment for seven years with great success. He had from infancy an impediment in his speech, which seeming incurable, he laid aside all thoughts of the ministry, and applied himself to the study of medicine; but having at length, by persevering in a deliberate mode of speaking, got rid of the impediment, he returned to the study of divinity. He began to preach in 1680, and in May 1684, became the minister of Boston- in the diligent discharge of which office, and in writing books, he spent his life. As an instance of his piety and diligence, his biographer informs us that in one year he composed and published fourteen books, and kept sixty fasts and twenty-two vigils. He applied himself also to the study of modern languages, the French and Spanish particularly; and, in his forty-fifth year, made himself so far master of the Iroquois Indian tongue, that he wrote and published treatises in it. In short he became so considerable a person in Boston, that he was several times consulted by the magistrates upon affairs of state; and more than once quelled riots, merely by the force of his persuasions. For the public good, he there planned and promoted several excellent societies, particularly a society for suppressing disorders; a society for reforming manners; and a society of peace-makers, whose professed business it was to compose differences, and prevent law-suits. He published also a proposal for an evangelical treasury, in order to build churches, distribute books of piety, relieve poor ministers, &c. His fame was not confined to his own country; for, in 1710, the university of Glasgow in Scotland sent him a diploma for the degree of doctor in divinity; and, in 1714, the royal society of London chose him one of their fellows. He was farther honoured by an epistolary correspondence with several persons of eminent character for piety and learning; and, among others, the lord-chancellor King. After a laborious and well-spent life, he died on the 13th of Feb. 1728, being the day after he had completed his 65th year.
nal Alberoni,” one of those fictions that were very common in France and Holland on the death of any minister of state of great eminence. Of this kind were the Testaments
The first publication that made him noticed, was his
“Testament politiquedu Cardinal Alberoni,
” one of those
fictions that were very common in France and Holland on
the death of any minister of state of great eminence. Of
this kind were the Testaments of Richelieu, Mazarin, Colbert, Louvois, &c. vehicles for political sentiment, but of
no authority as to the parties whose names are assumed.
The reputation he acquired by this work, which was well
enough written to deceive Voltaire into the opinion that it
was the production of one long acquainted with the courts
and politics of Europe, encouraged Maubert to publish
“Histoire politique de siecle,
” Historical and Political
Mercury,
” two numbers of which were translated and published in English in 1760, and to his other political pamphlets, “Testament politique de Walpole;
” “Ephruimjustifie,
” &c. As to the conclusion of his life, there are many
reports, but they all agree that he died at Altona in 1767.
Disserta.tion on the Gout,” 12mo, 1689. Father Mauduit was candid as a scholar, and exemplary as a minister.
, a divine of some eminence in
France, was born at Vire in Normandy, in 1634. He at
first taught the learned languages in the society to which
he belonged, and afterwards was employed entirely in
preaching, and in missions. He produced also several
useful works, and died at Paris, Jan. 19, 1709. His principal productions are, 1. “A Treatise on Religion, against
the Atheists, the Deists, and the new Pyrrhonians,
” written
in French; the best edition is that of A translation of the Psalms, in French verse,
” of no great excellence. 3. “Miscellanies,
” among which is some poetry,
of various merit. 4. Excellent analyses of most of the
tooks of the New Testament, in 8 vols. 12mo. These
still maintain their character. 5. “Meditations for an ecclesiastical retreat of ten days,
” 12mo. 6. “A Disserta.tion on the Gout,
” 12mo,
elebrity in his time, as a writer of political pamphlets, was the son of Isaac Mauduit, a dissenting minister at Bermondsey, and was horn there in 1708, and was himself educated
, a person of some celebrity in his
time, as a writer of political pamphlets, was the son of
Isaac Mauduit, a dissenting minister at Bermondsey, and
was horn there in 1708, and was himself educated for the
ministry among the diss.enters. After some time, however, he quitted his clerical employment, and became a
partner with his brother Jasper Mauduit, as a merchant;
and, when that brother died, carried on the business with
equal credit and advantage. His first appearance as aw
author was in 1760, when he published anonymously a
pamphlet entitled “Considerations on the present German war.
” It was intended to shew the impropriety of
involving this nation in continental wars, and obtained
some attention from the public; which the author supported by publishing soon after, “Occasional thoughts oo
the present German War.
” When Mr. Wilkes published
in Observations on the Spanish Paper,
” the credit
of Mr. Mauduit was so far established by the former pamphlets, that many persons ascribed this also to him. In 1763
he was appointed customer of Southampton, and some time
after agent for the province of Massachuset’s, which led
him to take an active part in the disputes between the
American colonies and the mother country. In consequence of this he published, in 1769, his “Short view of
the History of the New- England Colonies.
” In The Case of the Dissenting Ministers;
addressed to the lords spiritual and temporal.
” In the
same year he published “Letters of governor Hutchinson,
”
&c. In Remarks upon
general Howe’s Account of his Proceedings on Long
Island,
” &c. Also “Strictures on the Philadelphia Mischianza,
” &c. And, “Observations upon the conduct of
sir William Howe at the White Plains,
” &c. In Three Letters addressed to lieut-gen. sir William Howe,
” &c. and “Three
Letters to lord viscount Howe.
” In May 1787, he
appointed governor of the society among the dissenters for
propagating the gospel in foreign parts, but died on the
14th of the ensuing month, at the age of seventy-nine, in
Clement’s-lane, Lombard-street, a bachelor, and possessed
of an ample fortune. He is said by some to have been the
author of a letter to lord Blakeney, on the defence of
Minorca in 1757; and some other tracts on political and
temporary subjects, which, whatever effect they might
have produced at the time, are now sinking fast into
oblivion. The historian of Surrey says ofhim, that “his
love of liberty, civil <fnd religious, was tempered with that
moderation which Christianity inculcates in every branch
of conduct. His acquaintance with mankind taught him
that impartiality was the best rule of conduct. In the
contests for civil liberty he distinguished the intemperate
zeal of the Americans, and soon saw the propriety of withdrawing from such as had separated themselves from their
allegiance to Great Britain a fund for propagating the
gospel among the subjects of this crown, in which he was
supported by the opinions of no less lawyers than Scott
and Hill. In like manner he tempered the application of
his brethren in England for toleration.
”
emoiselle de Borck, a lady of great beauty and merit, and nearly related to M.de Borck, at that time minister of state. This determined him to settle at Berlin, as he was
He went soon after to Berlin; but as the reform of the academy which the king of Prussia then meditated was not yet mature, he repaired to Paris, where his affairs called him, and was chosen in 1742 director of the academy of sciences. In 1743 he was received into the French academy; which was the first instance of the same person, being a member of both the academies at Paris at the same time. Maupertuis again assumed the soldier at the siege of Fribourg, and was pitched upon by marshal Coigny and the count d'Argenson to carry the news to the French king of the surrender of that citadel. Maupertuis returned to Berlin in 1744, when a marriage was negociated and brought about by the good offices of the queen mother, between our author and mademoiselle de Borck, a lady of great beauty and merit, and nearly related to M.de Borck, at that time minister of state. This determined him to settle at Berlin, as he was extremely attached to his new spouse, and regarded this alliance as the most fortunate circumstance of his life.
, grandson of the count de Pontchartrain, who was minister under Louis XIV. was born in 1701, anJ obtained an appointment
,
grandson of the count de Pontchartrain, who was minister
under Louis XIV. was born in 1701, anJ obtained an appointment of secretary at court so early as 1715. He was
superintendant of the king’s household in 1718, and of the
marine in 1723. In 1738 he was appointed minister of
state, and was in all situations full of genius, activity, and
sagacity. Being exiled to Bourges in 1749, by the intrigues of a lady very powerful at court, he made no secret
of the manner in which he felt that change. “The first
day,
” said he, “I was piqued, the second I was contented.
”
When he arrived at the place of his exile, he talked in a
lively manner of the dedications he should lose, and of the
disappointments of the authors who had wasted their fine
phrases upon him. He continued to amuse himself with
the pleasures of society, and enjoyed the invariable esteem
of many Valuable friends, and of the public. Being
recalled to the ministry in 1774, by Louis XVI. who treated
him with unbounded confidence, he disdained to revenge
any former neglect oy ill offices, and lived rather with the
ease of a rich private gentleman, than with the ostentation
of a minister. His views of objects were rapid, yet were
generally considered as profound; though in recommending the conduct which France pujsued with respect to
America, at the time of the revolt of that country, he certainly laid the foundation for the destruction of the French
monarchy. He was, however, a man of much public spirit,
and one who contributed not a little to the improvement of
the French marine. His correspondence was a model of
precision, expressing much meaning in very few words.
He died at the age of eighty, Nov. 21, 1781. He left
some curious “Memoirs,
” of which there are three editions,
published in
, cardinal, and first minister of state in France, was born at Piscina, in the province of
, cardinal, and first minister of state
in France, was born at Piscina, in the province of Abruzzo,
in Italy, on July 14, 1602. His abilities enabled him to
make a considerable figure, even in his early years, whilst
he was studying the belles lettres, in which he had the happiness of being instructed by the abbe Jerome of Colonna,
who afterwards became a cardinal. This illustrious person
went to reside in the university of Alcala in Spain, whither
he was followed by Mazarin, who applied himself to the
law, and at his return to Italy, took his doctor’s degree.
He went afterwards to the court of Rome, where he became
acquainted with cardinal Sacchetti, whom Urban VIII. sent
into Lombardy. It was through his means, that Mazarin
was instructed in every particular relating to the interest of
the difff rent princes who were then at war respecting Cassel and Montserrat. Soon after this, the cardinal Antonio
Barberini, nephew to the pope, came into the Milanese
and Piedmont, in the character of legate, to conclude a
peace. Mazarin embraced his cause so warmly, that he
was ordered to remain upon the spot with the nuncio James
Pancirole, and to assist him in his endeavours to conclude
this great affair. He here scrutinized closely the designs
of the French, the imperialists, the Spaniards, the duke
of Mantua, and the duke of Savoy; and took such measures as might best reconcile and strengthen their various
interests. When it happened that peace had been concluded at Ratisbon on the 3d of October, but the French
and Spaniards refused to accept it in Italy, Mazarin, who
perceived that By such an opposition his care would have
proved nugatory, sought for new expedients to render the
peace general, and to prevent these two armies from
coming to an engagement. The Spaniards, who were besieging Cassel, had made entrenchments for six miles
round, and were determined vigorously to defend themselves against the French, who approached extremely near,
with an intention to force their lines. On Oct. 26, 1630,
the Spaniards waited only for the signal to fire, and the
forlorn hope of the French army had been drawn out to
force their lines; when Mazarin, after offering an accommodation in many forms, quitted the Spanish trenches,
and, riding on a full gallop towards the French, waved his
hat to them, crying out, “Peace! peace!
” He then addressed himself to the commander in chief, the marshal
duke de Schomberg, and gave in such proposals as were
accepted by the generals, and followed by the peace concluded in the April following. The nuncio Pancirole and
Mazarin were joint agents for the pope; but all the credit
of the negociation was given to the latter.
pe added him to the number of cardinals in 1641. When Richelieu died, the same king made Mazarin his minister of state, and one of the executors to his will. In these departments,
The cardinal de Richelieu was induced from these services to conceive an esteem for him, while Barberini was
equally attached to him, and prevailed upon Urban VIII.
to make him keeper of the seals. He went in 1634 to Avignon, in quality of vice- legate, and to France in that of
nuncio extraordinary, where he acquired a profound knowledge of state affairs, and with much art cultivated at the
same time, the friendship of Richelieu, and the good-will
of Louis XIII. In compliment to the nomination of this
monarch, the pope added him to the number of cardinals
in 1641. When Richelieu died, the same king made Mazarin his minister of state, and one of the executors to his
will. In these departments, he took upon him the administration of affairs, during the minority of Louis XIV. and
the regency of the queen Anne of Austria. The dawnings
of his power were attended with the happiest success; and
the good fortune of the king’s armies was to our cardinal a
source of much national applause. But these advantages
were very soon succeeded by the murmurs of an oppressed
people, and the envious combination of the great nobles,
who were jealous of his high advancement. Hence arose
the civil wars in 1649, and the three following years; and
the dissatisfaction becoming more general, it was insisted
upon, that he should be dismissed from the royal presence.
Mazarin, who knew how necessary it was for him to retire,
demanded that he might take his leave; and immediately
departed from the kingdom. He was stili so conscious of
fortune’s always attending him, that he mentioned even
this event as one of the chief incidents contributing to
his greatness; and although decrees were issued out against
him, his fine library was sold, and a price was fixed upon
his head, he contrived to quell this fury with most astonishing dexterity. He even was enabled to return to court,
and with a double share of power; and so mutable is popular opinion, that many who once had been his bitterest
enemies, were now become his warmest friends. After this,
he continued to render the state many important services,
the chief of which was the obtaining of peace between
France and Spain: for this purpose, he went in person to
hold a conference with the Spanish minister, don Louis de
Haro, in 1659. The successful termination of this affair,
was followed by the king’s marriage, with the Infanta. The
continual application of Mazarin to business brought on a
very dangerous iUness: he was at that time at the Louvre,
but gave orders to be carried to Vincennes, where he died
March 9, 1661, aged 59. When sensible of his danger,
he began to feel scruples concerning the wealth which he
had heaped together, and his confessor plainly told him
that restitution was necessary for his salvation. He gave
the whole to the king, in the hope that, as was the case,
his majesty would restore it to him. His wealth is said to
have amounted to eight millions sterling, all collected in a
time of war, or national commotion. The king paid the
highest honours to his memory. His body was magnificently entombed in the college usually called after his
name, but sometimes by that of “the four nations,
” having been designed as a place of education for the youth of
the four conquered nations.
Pyrenean Peace, and the Conferences which he had on that subject with Don Louis de Haro, the Spanish minister; the whole enriched with historical Notes." The character of
Mazarin had a brother and two sisters. His letters have
been published; thirty-six of them made their appearance
at Paris in 1691; and, in 1693, a second volume came out,
containing seventy-seven more: the whole was reprinted
in two parts in 1694. These letters are not arranged in
the order of their dates; but this error was amended in a
later edition, published (as the title-page informs us) at
Amsterdam, by Zachary Chatelain, in 1745, in 2 vols. 12mo.
For this we are indebted to the care of the abbe“d'Alainval; but this edition is rendered more valuable than the
others, being augmented by more than fifty letters, which
had never before appeared, and which are all placed in
their just order. The title of this work is,
” Letters of
cardinal Mazarin, containing the Secrets of the Negociations concerning the Pyrenean Peace, and the Conferences which he had on that subject with Don Louis de
Haro, the Spanish minister; the whole enriched with historical Notes." The character of Mazarin has been compared with that of Richelieu, but unjustly. In Mazarin’s
there was nothing amiable or great, and his ambition was
too nearly allied to avarice to command respect.
: but by her leave he entered into the service of the duke of Montmorenci, great constable and chief minister of France, who earnestly desired him of her majesty, having
, a statesman and historian, was descended from an honourable family in Scotland, and born at Halhill in Fifeshire, in 1530. At fourteen, he was sent by the queen regent of Scotland, to be page to her daughter Mary, who was then married to the dauphin of France: but by her leave he entered into the service of the duke of Montmorenci, great constable and chief minister of France, who earnestly desired him of her majesty, having a high opinion of his promising talents. He was nine years employed by him, and had a pension settled on him by the king. Then, obtaining leave to travel, he went into Germany; where being detained by the elector palatine, he resided at his court three years, and was employed by him on several embassies. After this, prosecuting his intentions to travel, he visited Venice, Rome, and the most famous cities of Italy, and returned through Switzerland to the elector’s court; where, finding a summons from queen Mary, who had taken possession of the crown of Scotland, after the death of her husband Francis II. he set out to attend her. The queen-mother of France at the same time offered him a large pension to reside at her court; for she found it her interest, at that juncture, to keep up a good understanding with the protestant princes of Germany; and she knew sir James Melvil to be the properest person to negociate her affairs, being most acceptable to them all; but this he declined.
rances to cardinal Mazarin, that he had no share in the libels which had been dispersed against that minister and the court, during the troubles at Paris. This considerable
, called, from his great
learning, the Varro of his times, was born at Angers, Aug.
15, 1613. He was the son of William Menace, the king’s
advocate at Angers; and discovered so early an inclination to letters, that his father was determined to spare
no cost or pains in his education. He was accordingly
taught the belles lettres and philosophy, in which his progress fully answered the expectations of his father, who,
however, thought it necessary to divert him from too severe application, by giving him instructions in music and
dancing; but these were in a great measure thrown away,
and he had so littie genius for music, that he never could
learn a tune. He had more success in his first profession,
which was that of a barrister at law, and pleaded various
causes, with considerable eclat, both in the country, and
in the parliament of Paris. His father had always designed
him for his profession, the law, and now resigned his
place of king’s advocate in his favour, which Menage, as
soon as he became tired of the law, returned to him.
Considering the law as a drudgery, he adopted the vulgar
opinion that it was incompatible with an attention to polite
literature. He now declared his design of entering into
the church, as the best plan he could pursue for the gratification of his love of general literature, and of the company of literary men; and soon after he had interest to
procure some benefices, and among the rest the deanery
of St. Peter at Angers. In the mean time his father, displeased at him for deserting his profession, would not
supply him with the money which, in addition to what his
livings produced, was necessary to support him at Paris.
This obliged him to look out for some means of subsistence
there, independent of his family; and at the recommendation of Chapelain, a member of the French academy, he
was taken into the family of cardinal de Retz, who was then
only coadjutor to the archbishop of Paris. In this situation
he enjoyed the repose necessary to his studies, and had
every day new opportunities of displaying his abilities and
learning. He lived several years with the cardinal; but
having received an affront from some of his dependants, he
desired of the cardinal, either that reparation might be
made him, or that he might be suffered to depart. He
obtained the latter, and then hired an apartment in the
cloister of Notre Dame, where he held every Wednesday
an assembly, which he called his “Mercuriale.
” Here he
had the satisfaction of seeing a number of learned men,
French and foreigners; and upon other days he frequented
the study of Messieurs du Puy, and after their death that
of Thuanus. By his father’s death, which happened Jan.
18, 1648, he succeeded to an estate, which he converted
into an annuity, for the sake of being entirely at leisure
to pursue his studies. Soon after, he obtained, by a decree of the grand council, the priory of Montdidier; which
he resigned also to the abbe de la Vieuville, afterwards
bishop of Rennes, who procured far him, by way of amends,
a pension of 4000 livres upon two abbeys. The king’s
consent, which was necessary for the creation of this pension, was not obtained for Menage, till he had given assurances to cardinal Mazarin, that he had no share in the
libels which had been dispersed against that minister and
the court, during the troubles at Paris. This considerable
addition to his circumstances enabled him to prosecute his
studies with more success, and to publish la great many
works, which he generally did at his own expence. The
excessive freedom of his conversation, however, and his
total inability to suppress a witty thought, whatever hiight
be the consequence of uttering it, created him many enemies; and he had contests with several men of eminence,
who attacked him at different times, as the abbe d'Aubignac, Boileau, Cotin, Salo, Bohours, and Baillet. But all
these were not nearly so formidable to him, as the danger
which he incurred in 1660, by a Latin elegy addressed to
Mazarin; in which, among his compliments to his eminence, it was pretended, that he had satirized a deputation
which the parliament had sent to that minister. It was
carried to the grand chamber by the counsellors, who proposed to debate upon it; but the first president, Lamoignon, to whom Menage had protested that the piece had
been written three months before the deputation, and that
he could not intend the parliament in it, prevented any ill
consequences from the affair. Besides the reputation his
works gained him, they procured him a place in the academy della Crusca at Florence; and he might have been
a member of the French academy at its first institution, if
it had not been for his “Requete des dictionnaires.
” When
the memory of that piece, however, was effaced by time,
and most of the academicians, who were named in it, were
dead, he was proposed, in 1684, to fill a vacant place in
that academy, and was excluded only by the superior interest of his competitor, M. Bergeret: there not being one
member, of all those who gave their votes against Menage,
who did not own that he deserved the place. After this he
would not suffer his friends to propose him again, nor indeed was he any longer able to attend the academy, if he
had been chosen, on account of a fall, which had put his
thigh out of joint; after which he scarcely ever went out of
his chamber, but held daily a kind of an academy there.
In July 1692, he began to, be troubled with a rheum, which
was followed by a defluxion on the stomach, of which he
died on the 23d, aged seventy- nine.
ng promise of his future eminence. His ingenious pictures attracted the attention of M. Colbert, the minister of Louis XIV., who induced V. Meulen to settle in Paris; and
, an eminent artist, was born at Brussels in 1634. He was a disciple of Peter Snayers, a battle painter of considerable note, and his early progress gave strong promise of his future eminence. His ingenious pictures attracted the attention of M. Colbert, the minister of Louis XIV., who induced V. Meulen to settle in Paris; and soon afterwards introduced him to the king, who appointed him to attend and paint the scenes of his military campaigns, gave him a pension of '2000 livres, and paid him besides for his performances. He made sketches of almost all the most remarkable events that occurred in these expeditions of Louis; designing upon the spot the encampments, marches, sieges, &c. of the armies the huntings of the king; the assembling of the officers, &c.: from these he composed his pictures, which are skilfully arranged, with great bustle, animation, and spirit, and executed with a very agreeable, though not always a natural tone of colour, and with a sweet and delicate pencil. Some of his pictures exhibit uncommon skill and taste in composition. Frequently the scene he had to paint was flat and insipid, such as a marshy country before long extended walls; even these he contrived to render agreeable by his judicious management of the chiaroscuro, and the pleasing groups which he displayed with his figures, which, though dressed in the stiff uncouth frippery of the French court of that period, are handled with so much delicacy and corresponding taste, that they never fail ^o please. He was particularly skilful in pourtraying the actions of the horse, of which he has left behind him a number of excellent studies, drawn with great care from nature. His pictures frequently include a great extent of country, and an immense number of objects. His perfect knowledge of perspective enabled him to manage the objects and distances with the greatest ease and effect, so that the eye accompanies the figures without confusion, and assigns to each its due action and distance. He lived not beyond the age of 56, but left a great number of pictures, most of which are in France, but they are not very unfrequent in this country.
, a learned Dutchman, was born in 1579 at Losdun, a town near the Hague, where his father was minister. At six years of age his father began to teach him the elements
, a learned Dutchman, was born
in 1579 at Losdun, a town near the Hague, where his
father was minister. At six years of age his father began
to teach him the elements of the Latin language; and the
year after sent him to a school at the Hague, where he
continued four years. He was then removed to Leyden,
and made so great a progress in literature, that at twelve
he could write with fluency in Latin. He advanced with
no less rapidity in the Greek language, for which he conceived a particular fondness; insomuch that at thirteen he
made Greek verses, and at sixteen wrote a “Commentary
upon Lycophron,
” the most obscure of all the Greek
authors. When he had finished the course of his studies,
and gained the reputation of a person from whom much
might be expected, the famous John Barnevelt intrusted
him with the education of his children; and he attended
them ten years, at home and in their travels. This gave
him an opportunity of seeing almost all the courts in Europe, of visiting the learned in their several countries, and
of examining the best libraries. As he passed through
Orleans, in 1608, he was made doctor of law. Upon his
return to Holland, the curators of the academy of Leyden
appointed him, in 1610, professor of history, and afterward of Greek; and the year following, the States of
Holland chose him for their historiographer. In 1612 he
married a lady of an ancient and good family, by whom
he had a son, called after his own name, who died in the
flower of his age, yet not till he had given specimens of
his uncommon learning, by several publications.
f the history of France:” in which there being several bold passages, which displeased Colbert, that minister ordered Perrault, of the French academy, to tell Mezerai, in
By these satires Mezerai gained a considerable sum in
less than three years; and being now in easy circumstances,
applied himself, at the age of twenty-six, to compile an
“History of France.
” Cardinel Richelieu, hearing of his
character and circumstances, made him a present of two
hundred crowns, with a promise to remember him afterwards. He published the first volume of his history in
1643, which extends from Pharamond to Charles VI.; the
second in 1646, which contains what passed from Charles
VI. to Charles IX.; and the third in 1651, which comprehends the history from. Henry Hi. till the peace of Vervins, in 1598; all in folio. This history procured him a
pension from the king. It was received with extraordinary applause, as if there had been no history of France
before: and perhaps there was none more agreeable as to
Teracity. In 1668, he published, in 3 vols. 4to, an
“Abridgement of the history of France:
” in which there
being several bold passages, which displeased Colbert, that
minister ordered Perrault, of the French academy, to tell
Mezerai, in his name, that “the king had not given him
a pension of 4000 livres to write in so free a manner; that
his majesty had indeed too great a regard to truth, to require
his historiographers to disguise it, out of fear or hope; but
that he did not think they ought to take the liberty of reflecting, without any necessity, upon the conduct of his
ancestors, and upon a policy which had long been established, and confirmed by th.e suffrages of the whole nation.
” Upon this remonstrance, the author promised to
retouch the passages complained of, which he did in a
new edition, 1672, in 6 vols. 12mo. In this, however, he
was so unfortunate as neither to satisfy the public, who
were displeased to see the truth altered, nor the minister,
who retrenched half his pension. Mezerai was extremely
piqued at this, and complained of Colbert in such severe
terms, as induced that minister to deprive him of the remainder of his pension. Mezerai then declared that he
would write history no longer; and that the reason of his
silence might not be concealed, he put the last money
which he recieved as historiographer, into a box by itself
with this note “Here is the last money I have received of
the king he has ceased to pay me, and 1 to speak of him
either good or ill.
” * Mezerai had designed at first to revise
his great work; but some friends giving him to understand
that a correct abridgement would be more acceptable, he
followed their advice, as we have related, and spent ten
whole years in drawing it up. The first edition of it “met
with greater applause than even his larger work, and was
much sought after by foreigners as well as Frenchmen.
Learned men, and critics in historical matters, have remarked many errors in it; but he did not value himself at
all upon correctness; and used to tell his friends, who reproached him with the want of it, that
” very few persons
could perceive the difference between a history that is correct and one that is not so; and that the glory which he
might gain by greater accuracy was not worth the pains it
would cost."
slation of his “Mosaisches Recht,” or “Commentaries on the Laws of Moses,” by Alexander Smith, D. D. minister of the Chapel of Garioch, Aberdeenshire, 1814, 4 vols. 8vo.
Of those with which the English scholar has been
brought acquainted, one of the principal is the “Introduction to the New Testament,
” translated into English from
the first edition, and published in 1761, in a quarto volume.
In 1788, the fourth edition was published in two volumes
quarto. The object of this work, which is purely critical
and historical, is to explain the Greek Testament, with
the same impartiality, and the same unbiassed love of
truth, with which a critic in profane literature would examine the writings of Homer, Virgil, &c. The first volume
contains an examination of the authenticity, inspiration,
and language of the New Testament. The second volume
contains a particular introduction to each individual book
of the New Testament. An English translation of it has
been published by the rev. Herbert Marsh, in six volumes,
royal 8vo. To this we may add another very important
translation of his “Mosaisches Recht,
” or “Commentaries
on the Laws of Moses,
” by Alexander Smith, D. D. minister
of the Chapel of Garioch, Aberdeenshire, 1814, 4 vols. 8vo.
This, says the learned translator, has always been esteemed
the chef d* cewvre of Michaelis, but although a work of very
great importance, demands the application of somewhat of
that precautionary chastening, which Dr. Marsh has so judiciously applied in the “Introduction to the New Testament.
” From Dr. Smith, also, the public have reason to
expect a memoir of the life and writings of Michaelis,
more ample than has yet appeared in this country.
, a poetical writer of no very honourable reputation, was the son of a nonconformist minister, of both his names, a native of Loughborough in Leicestershire,
, a poetical writer of no very
honourable reputation, was the son of a nonconformist
minister, of both his names, a native of Loughborough in
Leicestershire, who was ejected from the living of Wroxhal in Warwickshire. He died in 1667. Of his son, little
seems to be known unless that he was educated at Pembroke hall, Cambridge, where he is said to have taken his
master’s degree, but we do not find him in the list of graduates of either university. Mr. Malone thinks he was
beneficed at Yarmouth, from whence he dates his correspondence about 1690. We are more certain that he was
instituted to the living of St. Ethelburga within Bishopsgate, London, in 1704, and long before that, in 1688, was
chosen lecturer of Shoreditch. Dryden, whom he was
weak enough to think he rivalled, says in the preface to
his “Fables,
” that Milbourne was turned out of his benefice for writing libels on his parishioners. This must have
been his Yarmouth benefice, if he had one, for he retained
the rectory of St. Ethelburga, and the lectureship of Shoreditch, to his death, which happened April 15, 1720. As
an author he was known by a “Poetical Translation of
Psalms,
” Notes on Dryden’s
Virgil,
” Tom of Bedlam’s Answer to Hoadly,
”
&c. He is frequently coupled with Blackmore, by Dryden, in his poems, and by Pope in “The Art of Criticism;
”
and is mentioned in “The Dunciad.
” He published thirtyone single “Sermons,
” between A Vindication
of the Church of England,
” Lacrymse Cantabrigienses, 1670,
” on the death of
Henrietta duchess of Orleans. Dr. Johnson, in the Life of
Dryden, speaking of that poet’s translation of Virgil, says,
“Milbourne, indeed, a clergyman, attacked it (Dryden’s Virgil), but his outrages seem to be the ebullitions of a
mind agitated by stronger resentment than bad poetry can
excite, and previously resolved not to be pleased. His
criticism extends only to the preface, pasturals, and georgtcks; and, as he professes to give this antagonist an opportunity of reprisal, he has added his own version of the
first and fourth pastorals, and the first georgic.
” Malone
conjectures that Melbourne’s enmity to Dryden originally
arose from Dryden’s having taken his work out of his
hands as he once projected a translation of Virgil, and
published a version of the first Æneid. As he had Dryden
and his friends, and Pope and his friends against him, we
cannot expect a very favourable account either of his
talents or morals. Once only we find him respectfully
mentioned, by Dr. Walker, who thanks him for several
valuable communications relative to the sequestered divines.
the embarrassed manner of his delivery, obliged him to relinquish that duty. The marquis of Felino, minister of the duke of Parma, founded a professorship of history, and
, a late French historian, was born at Besanc,on, in March 1726, and belonged, for some time, to the order of Jesuits. He was one of
those who were appointed to preach, and continued so to
do after he had quitted that society. But the weakness of
his voice, his timidity, and the embarrassed manner of his
delivery, obliged him to relinquish that duty. The marquis of Felino, minister of the duke of Parma, founded a
professorship of history, and Millot, through the interest
ef the duke of Nivernois, was appointed to it. A revolt
having arisen among the people of Parma, while he was
there, in consequence of some innovations of the minister,
Millot very honourably refused to quit him. It was represented that by so doing he risked his place. “My
place,
” he replied, “is to attend a virtuous man who is
my benefactor, and that office I am determined not to
lose.
” After having held this professorship, with great
reputation for some time, he returned into France, and
was appointed preceptor to the duke D‘Enghien. He was
still employed in this duty in 1785, when he was removed
by death, at the age of fifty-nine. Millot was not a man
who shone in conversation; his manner was dry and reserved, but his remarks were generally able and judicious.
D’Alembert said of him, that he never knew a man of so
few prejudices, and so few pretensions. His works are
carefully drawn up, in a pure, natural, and elegant style.
They are these: 1. “Elements of the History of France,
from Clovis to Louis XV.
” 3 vols. 12mo; an abridgment
made with remarkable judgment in the selection of facts,
and great clearness in the divisions and order. 2. “Elements of the History of England, from the time of the Romans to George II.
” This work has the same characteristic merits as the former. 3. “Elements of Universal History,
” 9 vols. 12mo. It has been unjustly said, that this is
pirated from the general history of Voltaire. The accusation is without foundation; the ancient part is perfectly
original, and the modern is equally remarkable for the selection of facts, and the judicious and impartial manner in
which they are related. 4. “History of the Troubadours,
”
3 vols. 12mo. This work was drawn up from a vast collection of materials made by M. de St. Palaye, and, notwithstanding the talents of the selector, has still been considered
as uninteresting. 5. “Political and military Memoirs towards the History of Louis XIV. and XV. composed of
original documents collected by Adrian Maurice, duke of
Noailles, mareschal of France,
” 6 vols. 12mo There are
extant also, by Millot, “Discourses on Academical Subjects,
” and, “Translations of some select ancient Orations,
from the Latin Historians.
” All these are written in French.
Notwithstanding a few objections that have been made to
him, as being occasionally declamatory, there is no doubt
that Millot is a valuable historian, and his elements of
French and English history have been well received in this
country in their translations.
the curacy of Beeston, in his parish. In 1662 he took the degree of B. D, and the same year was made minister of St. John’s in Leeds. He was elected vicar of Leeds in 1673,
, a learned English divine, the second
son of John Milner of Skircoat, near Halifax in Yorkshire,
was born probably in Feb. 1627-8, as he was baptised on
the 10th of that month. After being educated at the
grammar-school of Halifax, he was sent at fourteen years
of age to Christ’s college, Cambridge, where he took the
degrees of B. A. and M. A. at the regular periods. He was
first curate of Midleton in Lancashire, but was forced
thence, on sir George Booth’s unsuccessful attempt to restore king Charles II. a little before the fight at Worcester. After this he retired to the place of his nativity,
where he lived till 1661, when Dr. Lake, then vicar of
Leeds, and his brother-in-law, gave him the curacy of
Beeston, in his parish. In 1662 he took the degree of
B. D, and the same year was made minister of St. John’s
in Leeds. He was elected vicar of Leeds in 1673, and in
1681 was chosen prebendary of Ripon. In 1688, not being
satisfied about the revolution, he removed from his vicarage, and was deprived of all his preferments; on which he
retired to St. John’s college, Cambridge, where he spent
the remainder of his days, continuing a nonjuror till his
death, which happened in St. John’s college, Feb. 16, 1702,
in his seventy- fifth year. He left an only son, Thomas
Milner, M. A. vicar of Bexhili in Sussex, who proved a
great benefactor to Magdalen college, Cambridge. Dr.
Gower, lady Margaret’s professor at Cambridge, gave the
following character of Mr. John Milner to Mr. Thoresby
“Great learning and piety made him really a great man
he was eminent in both, and nothing but his humility and
modesty kept him from being more noted for being so. I
had the happiness of much of his conversation, but still
desired more. He was a blessing to the whole society, by
the example he gave in every thing good. He died beloved, and much lamented here, and his memory is honourable and precious among us, and will long continue so.
”
ible stories of his memory, that the rev. Mr. Murgatroyd, a very respectable clergyman, at that time minister of St. John’s church in Leeds, expressed some suspicion of
, a pious and learned divine and ecclesiastical historian, was born in the neighbourhood of
Leeds in Yorkshire, Jan. 2, 1744, and was educated at the
grammar school of his native place, where he made great
proficiency in Greek and Latin, in which he was assisted
by a memory of such uncommon powers, that his biographer, the present dean of Carlisle, says that he never saw
his equal, among the numerous persons of science and literature with whom he has been acquainted. This faculty
which Mr. Milner possessed, without any visible decay,
during the whole of his life, gained him no little reputation at school, where his master, the rev. Mr. Moore, often
availed himself of his memory in cases of history and mythology, and used to say, “Milner is more easily consulted than the Dictionaries or the Pantheon, and he is
quite as much to be relied on.
” Moore, indeed, told so
many and almost incredible stories of his memory, that the
rev. Mr. Murgatroyd, a very respectable clergyman, at
that time minister of St. John’s church in Leeds, expressed some suspicion of exaggeration. Mr. Moore was a man
of the strictest veracity, but of a warm temper. He instantly offered to give satisfactory proof of his assertions.
“Milner,
” said he, “shall go to church next Sunday, and
without taking a single note at the time, shall write down
your sermon afterward. Will you permit us to compare
what he writes with what you preach
” Mr. Murgatroyd
accepted the proposal with pleasure, and was often heard
to express his astonishment at the event of this trial of
memory. The lad,“said he,
” has not omitted a single
thought or sentiment in the whole sermon; and frequently
he has got the very words for a long way together."
headachs. Some part of his early education was committed to the care of Mr. Thomas Young, a puritan minister; and he was also placed for some time at St. Paul’s school,
John Miltcrti was born at his father’s house in Breadstreet, Cheapside, Dec. 9, 1608. From his earliest years his father appears to have discerned and with great anxiety cultivated his talents. He tells us himself that his father destined him when he was yet a child to the study of polite literature, and so eagerly did he apply, that from his twelfth year, he seldom quitted his studies till the middle of the night; this, however, he adds, proved the first cause of the ruin of his eyes, in addition to the natural weakness of which, he was afflicted with frequent headachs. Some part of his early education was committed to the care of Mr. Thomas Young, a puritan minister; and he was also placed for some time at St. Paul’s school, thea under the direction of Mr. Alexander Gill, with whose son, Alexander, Milton seems to have contracted a warm and lasting friendship. In February 1625, when in his seventeenth year, he was entered a pensioner at Christ’s-college, Cambridge, where he had for his tutor Mr. William Chappel, afterwards bishop of Cork and Ross. Of his conduct and the treatment which he experienced in his college, much has been made the subject of dispute. The most serious charge brought against him is, that he wasexpelledy for which there seems no reasonable foundation whatever. The register of the college proves that he regularly kept his terms, and as regularly took both his degrees. A charge of less consequence, that he had once received corporal punishment, seems scarcely worth the pains that have been bestowed in refuting it, if, according to the latest of his zealous apologists, no injury to his reputation would be the necessary result of its admission. It is allowed, however, to be probable that he might offend the governors of his college by the dislike, early instilled into his mind by his tutor Young, of the discipline of the church, or the plan of education then observed. Whateyer may be in this, he passed -seven years at the university, and after taking his master’s degree, retired to his father’s house, at Horton in Buckinghamshire.
soon after began, his political career, as secretary to the marquis of Tweedale, who Wc-s appointed minister for the affuirs of Scotland in 1741. He became also acquainted
, knight of the bath, and a distinguished ambassador at the court of Berlin, was the only child of the rev. William Mitchell, formerly of Aberdeen, but then one of the ministers of St. Giles’s, commonly called the high church of Edinburgh. The time of his birth is not specified, but he is said to have been married in 1715, when very young, to a lady who died four years after in child-birth, and whose loss he felt with so much acuteness, as to be obliged to discontinue the study of the law, for which his father had designed him, and divert his grief by travelling, amusements, &c. This mode of life is said to have been the original cause of an extensive acquaintance with the principal noblemen and gentlemen in North Britain, by whom he was esteemed for sense, spirit, and intelligent conversation. Though his progress in the sciences was but small, yet no person had a greater regard for men of learning, and he particularly cultivated the acquaintance of the clergy, and professors of the university of Edinburgh. About 1736 he appears to have paid considerable attention to mathematics under the direction of the celebrated Maclaurin; and soon after began, his political career, as secretary to the marquis of Tweedale, who Wc-s appointed minister for the affuirs of Scotland in 1741. He became also acquainted with the earl of Stair, and it was owing to his application to that nobleman that Dr. (afterwards sir John) Pringle, was in 1742 appointed physician to the British ambassador at the Hague.
fits of ill-humour was known to exercise his wit even at the expence of his allies; and the English minister at home expressed to sir Andrew Mitchell a wish that he would
From a very recent writer, we have some account of his
mode of living and general conduct while at Berlin, which
was highly honourable to his sense and spirit. When he
first arrived at Berlin, he had occasioned some perplexity to
those who invited him to their houses, for he played no
game of chance, so that his hosts constantly said to each
other, “What shall we do with this Englishman, who
never plays at cards
” In a short time, however, the
contest was, who should leave the card -table to enjoy the
conversation of sir Andrew Mitchell, whose understanding,
they discovered, was no less admirable than the virtues of
his character. His bon-mots came into circulation, and
were long retailed. Thiebault has recorded a few which,
as he says, explain rather his principles than his understanding. On one occasion that three English mails were
due, the king said to him, at the levee, “Have you not
the spleen, Mr. Mitchell, when the mail is thus delayed r
”
“No, Sire, not when it is delayed, but often enough when
it arrives duly.
” This alludes to his being frequently dissatisfied with his own court. During the seven years’ war,
in which, as we have already noticed, he constantly served
immediately under Frederic, the English government had
promised Frederic to send a fleet to the Baltic, for the
protection of commerce, and to keep off the Swedes and
Russians; but as this fleet never made its appearance, the
Swedes were enabled to transport their army without
interruption to Pomerania, together with all the necessaries
for its support, and the Russians conveyed provisions for
their troops by sea, and laid siege to Colberg, &c. All
this could not fail to give umbrage to Frederic, and he incessantly complained to sir Andrew, who found himself
embarrassed what reply to make. At length the ambassador, who had before been daily invited to dine with the
king, received no longer this mark of attention; the generals, meeting him about the king’s hour of dinner, said to
him, < It is dinner-time, M. Mitchell.“” Ah gentlemen,“replied he,
” no fleet, no dinner“This was repeated to Frederic, and the invitations were renewed.
Frederic in his fits of ill-humour was known to exercise his
wit even at the expence of his allies; and the English
minister at home expressed to sir Andrew Mitchell a wish
that he would include some of these splenetic effusions in
his official dispatches. Sir Andrew, however, in reply,
stated the distinction between such kind of intelligence,
and that which properly belonged to his office; and the
application was not repeated, by which he was saved from
the disgrace, for such he considered it, of descending to
the littlenesses of a mere gossip and tale-bearer. We shall
only add one more repartee of sir Andrew Mitchell, because, if we mistake not, it has been repeated as the property of other wits. After the affair of Port Mahon, the
king of Prussia said to him,
” You have made a bad beginning, M. Mitchell. What! your fleet beaten, and Port
Mahon taken in your first campaign The trial in which
you are proceeding against your admiral Byng is a bad
plaister for the malady. You have made a pitiful campaign of it; this is certain.“” Sire, we hope, with God’s
assistance, to make a better next year.“” With GocVs
assistance, say you, Sir I did not know you had such an
ally.“” We rely much upon him, though he costs us less
than our other allies."
, a very learned French minister of the Protestant religion, was born at Caen in 1624. He became
, a very learned French minister
of the Protestant religion, was born at Caen in 1624. He
became extremely skilled in the Greek, Latin, and Oriental tongues, and professed divinity with high reputation at
Leyden, in which city he died in 1689. Several dissertations of his are printed together, and entitled “Varia sacra,
”
in 2 vols. 4to; besides which, he wrote other works.
ions to Cadiz and the isle of Rhee. He was not employed in these actions, because he objected to the minister’s measures; but, in 1635, it being found necessary to equip
Notwithstanding his long and faithful services, he had
the misfortune to fall into disgrace; and, through the resentment of some powerful courtiers, was imprisoned in
the Tower in 1616: but, after having been examined by
the chief justice Coke and secretary Winwood, he was discharged. He wrote a vindication of his conduct, entitled
“Concerning the insolences of the Dutch, and a Justification of sir William Monson
” and directed it to the lord
chancellor Ellesmere, and sir Francis Bacon, attorneygeneral and counsellor. His zeal against the Dutch, and
his promoting an inquiry into the state of the navy, contrary to the inclination of the earl of Nottingham, then lord
high admiral, seems to have been the occasion of his troubles. He had also the misfortune to bring upon himself a
general and popular odium, in retaking lady Arabella
Steuart, after her escape out of England in June 1611,
though it was acting agreeably to his orders and duty. This
lady was confined to the Tower for her marriage with William Seymour, esq. as was pretended; but the true cause
of her confinement was, her being too high allied, and
having a title or claim to the crown of England. Sir William, however, soon recovered his credit at court: for, in
1617, he was called before the privy council, to give his
opinion, how the pirates of Algiers might be suppressed,
and the town attacked. He shewed the impossibility of
taking Algiers, and was against the expedition; notwithstanding which, it was rashly undertaken by Villiers duke
of Buckingham. He was also against two other undertakings, as ill-managed, in 1625 and 162$, namely, the expeditions to Cadiz and the isle of Rhee. He was not employed in these actions, because he objected to the minister’s measures; but, in 1635, it being found necessary to
equip a large fleet, in order to break a confederacy that
was forming between the French and the Dutch, he was
appointed vice-admiral in that armament, and performed
liis duty with great honour and bravery. After that he
was employed no more, but spent the remainder of his
days in peace and privacy, at ins seat at Kinnersley in
Surrey, where he digested and finished his “Naval Tracts,
”
published in Churchill’s “Collection of Voyages.
” He
died there, Feb.
s concurring in their motions for papers, which his adversaries imagined would prove him a negligent minister; in others resisting their object, by shewing the inexpediency
“The earl of Sandwich,
” says his biographer, “was
rather to be considered as an able and intelligent speaker,
then a brilliant and eloquent orator. In his early parliamentary career, he displayed uncommon knowledge of the
sort of composition adapted to make an impression on a
popular assembly; and from a happy choice of words, and
a judicious arrangement of his argument, he seldom spoke
without producing a sensible effect on the mind of every
impartial auditor. In the latter part of his political life,
and especially during the American war, his harangues
were less remarkable for their grace and ornament, than
for sound sense, and the valuable and appropriate information which they communicated. His speeches, therefore,
were regarded as the lessons of experience and wisdom.
He was never ambitious of obtruding himself upon the
house. He had a peculiar delicacy of forbearance, arising
from a sense of propriety; which, if more generally practised, would tend very much to expedite the public business by compressing the debates, now usually drawn out
to an immeasurable and tiresome length, within more reasonable bounds. If, after having prepared himself on any
important question, when he rose in the house any other
lord first caught the chancellor’s eye, he sat down with the
most accommodating patience; and, if the lord, who spoke
before him, anticipated the sentiments which he meant to
offer, he either did not speak at all, or only spoke to such
points as had not been adverted to by the preceding
speaker. Whenever, therefore, he rose, the House was
assured that he had something material to communicate:
he was accordingly listened to with attention, and seldom
sat down without furnishing their lordships with facts at
once important and interesting; of which no other peer
was so perfectly master as himself. During the period of
the American war he was frequently attacked in both
houses for his official conduct or imputed malversation.
When any such attempts were made in the House of Peers,
he heard his accusers with patience, and with equal temper as firmness refuted their allegations, exposing their
fallacy or their falsehood. On all such occasions, he met
his opponents fairly and openly, in some instances concurring in their motions for papers, which his adversaries
imagined would prove him a negligent minister; in others
resisting their object, by shewing the inexpediency or the
impolicy of complying with their requests. In the parliamentary contest, to which the unfortunate events of the
American war gave rise, he is to be found more than once
rising in reply to the late earl of Chatham; whose extraordinary powers of eloquence inspired sufficient awe to
silence and intimidate even lords of acknowledged ability.
Lord Sandwich never in such cases suffered himself to he
dazzled by the splendor of oratorical talents; or ever spoke
without affording proof that his reply was necessary and
adequate. In fact, his lordship never rose without first
satisfying himself, that the speaker he meant to reply to
was in error; and that a plain statement of the facts in
question would dissipate the delusion, and afford conviction to the house. By this judicious conduct his lordship
secured the respect of those whom he addressed, and commanded at all times an attentive hearing.
”
ith so strong a voice. His memoir was thought of so much importance, that the institute wrote to the minister of marine, who sent orders to Brest for the adoption of the
, senior member
of the academy of sciences of France, was born July 16,
1714, at Angouleme. His family had been a long time rendered illustrious in arms by An. re* De Montalembert, count
d'Esse“, lieutenant-general to the king, commander of his
armies in Scotland, governor of Terouane near St. Omers,
and who died on the breach, the 12th of June 1553. In
1732 the young Montalembert entered into the army, and
distinguished himself at the sieges of Kehl and Philipsburg
in 1736. He was afterwards captain of the guards to the
prince of Conti. In peace he studied the mathematics and
natural philosophy: he read a memoir to the academy of
sciences, upon the evaporation of the water in the salt
works at Turcheim, in the palatinate, which he had examined, and was made a member in 1747. There are in
the volumes in the academy some memoirs from him upon
the rotation of bullets, upon the substitution of stoves for
fire-places, and upon a pool, in which were found pike
purblind, and others wholly without sight. From 1750 to
1755 he established the forges at Angoumoisand Perigord.
and there founded cannon for the navy. In 1777 three
volumes were printed of the correspondence which he held
with the generals and ministers, whilst he was employed
by his country in the Swedish and Russian armies during
the campaigns of 1757 and 1761, and afterwards in Britanny and the isle of Oleron, when fortifying it. He fortified also Stralsund, in Pomerania, against the Prussian
troops, and gave an account to his court of the military
operations in which it was concerned; and this in a manner which renders it an interesting part of the History of
the Seven-years War. In 1776 he printed the first volume
of an immense work upon Perpendicular Fortification, and
the art of Defence; demonstrating the inconveniences of
the old system, for which he substitutes that of casemates,
which admit of such a kind of firing, that a place fortified
after his manner appears to be impregnable. His system
has been, however, uot always approved or adopted. His
treatise was extended to ten volumes in quarto, with a
great number of plates; the last volume was published
in 1792, and will doubtless carry his name to posterity
as an author as well as a general. He married, in 1770,
Marie de Comarieu, who was an actress, and the owner of
a theatre, for whom the general sometimes composed a
dramatic piece. In 1784 and 1786 he printed three operatical pieces, set to music by Cambini and Tomeoni: they
were,
” La Statue,“” La Bergere qualite,“and
” La
Bohemienne." Alarmed at the progress of the revolution,
he repaired to England in 1789 or 1790, and leaving his
wife there, procured a divorce, and afterwards married Rosalie Louise Cadet, to whom he was under great obligation during the Robespierrian terror, and by whom he had a
daughter born in July 1796. In his memoir published in
1790, it may be seen that he had been arbitrarily dispossessed of his iron forges, and that having a claim for
six millions of livres clue to him, he was reduced to a pension, but ill paid, and was at last obliged to sell his estate
at Maumer, in Angoumois, for which he was paid in assignats, and which were insufficient to take him out of
that distress which accompanied him throughout his life.
He was sometimes almost disposed to put an end to his
existence, but had the courage to resume his former
studies, and engaged a person to assist him in compleating some new models. His last public appearance was in
the institute, where he read a new memoir upon the mountings (affect) of ship-guns. On this occasion he was received with veneration by the society, and attended to
with religious silence: a man of eighty-six years of age
had never been heard to read with so strong a voice. His
memoir was thought of so much importance, that the institute wrote to the minister of marine, who sent orders to
Brest for the adoption of the suggested change. He was
upon the list for a place in the institute, and was even proposed as the first member for the section of mechanics, but
learning that Bonaparte was spoken of for the institute, he
wrote a letter, in which he expressed his desire to see the
young conqueror of Italy honoured with this new crown.
His strength of mind he possessed to the last, for not above
a month before his death he wrote reflections upon the
siege of St. John d'Acre, which contained further proofs
of the solidity of his defensive system, but at last he fell ill
of a catarrh, which degenerated into a dropsy, and carried
him off March 22, 1802.
f his friends, and supported also by the voice of the public, offered himself for it. Upon this, the minister, cardinal Fleury, wrote a letter to the academy, informing them,
A place in the French academy becoming vacant by the
death of monsieur de Sacy, in 1728, Montesquieu, by the
advice of his friends, and supported also by the voice of
the public, offered himself for it. Upon this, the minister,
cardinal Fleury, wrote a letter to the academy, informing
them, that his majesty would never agree to the election of
the author of the “Persian Letters
” that he had not himself read the book but that persons in whom he placed
confidence, had informed him of its dangerous tendency.
Montesquieu, thinking it prudent immediately to encounter this opposition, waited on the minister, and declared
to him, that, for particular reasons, he had not owned the
“Persian Letters,
” but that he would be still farther from,
disowning a work, for which he believed he had no reason
to blush; and that he ought to be judged after a reading,
and not upon information. At last, the minister did what
he ought to have begun with; he read the book, loved the
author, and learned to place his confidence better. The
French academy, says D'Alembert, was not deprived of
one of its greatest ornaments, nor France of a subject, of
which superstition or calumny was ready to deprive her;
for Montesquieu, it seems, had frankly declared to the
government, that he could not think of continuing in
France after the affront they were about to offer, but should
seek among foreigners for that safety, repose, and honour,
which he might have hoped in his own country. He was
received into the academy, Jan. 24, 1728; and his discourse upon that occasion, which was reckoned a very fine
one, is printed among his works.
As before his admission into the academy, he had giveatip his civil employments, and devoted himself entirely to
his genius and taste, he resolved to travel, and went first,
in company with lord Waldegrave our ambassador, to
Vienna, where he often saw prince Eugene; in whom he
thought he could discover some remains of affection for his
native country. He left Vienna to visit Hungary; and,
passing thence through Venice, went to Rome. There he
applied himself chiefly to examine the works of Raphael,
of Titian, and of Michael Angelo, although he had not
made the fine arts a particular study. After having travelled over Italy, he came to Switzerland, and carefully
examined 1 those vast countries which are watered by the
Rhine. He stopped afterwards some time in the United
Provinces; and, at last, went to England, where he stayed
three years, and contracted intimate friendships with many
of the most distinguished characters of the day. He in
particular received many marks of attention from queen
Caroline. In the portrait of Montesquieu, written by himself, and published lately among some posthumous pieces,
he gives the following proof of his gallantry in reply
“Dining in England with the duke of Richmond, the
French envoy there La Boine, who was at table, and was
ill qualified for his situation, contended that England was
not larger than the province of Guienne. I opposed the
envoy. In the evening, the queen said to me, `I am
informed, sir, that you undertook our defence against M.
de la Boine.‘ `Madam,’ I replied, `I cannot persuade
myself that a country over which you reign, is not a great
kingdom.'
”
, a medical and miscellaneous writer, was the son of the rev. Charles Moore, a minister of the English church at Stirling, in Scotland, where this,
, a medical and miscellaneous writer,
was the son of the rev. Charles Moore, a minister of the
English church at Stirling, in Scotland, where this, his only
surviving son, was born in 1730. His lather dying in
1735, his mother, who was a native of Glasgow, and had
some property there, removed to that city, and carefully
superintended the early years of her son while at school
and college. Being destined for the profession of medicine, he was placed under Mr. Gordon, a practitioner of
pharmacy and surgery, and at the same time attended such
medical lectures as the college of Glasgow at that time
afforded, which were principally the anatomical lectures of
Dr. Hamilton, and those on the practice of physic by Dr.
Cullen, afterwards the great ornament of the medical
school of Edinburgh. Mr. Moore’s application to his studies must have been more than ordinarily successful, as we
find that in 1747, when only in his seventeenth year, he
went to the continent, under the protection of the duke of
Argyle, and was employed as a mate in one of the military
hospitals at Maestricht, in Brabant, and afterwards at
Flushing. Hence he was promoted to be assistant to the
surgeon of the Coldstream regiment of foot guards,
comman-ded by general Braddock, and after remaining during
the winter of 1748 with this regiment at Breda, came to
England at the conclusion of the peace. At London he
resumed his medical studies under Dr. Hunter, and soon
after set out for Paris, where he obtained the patronage of
the earl of Albemarle, whom he had known in Flanders,
and who was now English ambassador at the court of
France, and immediately appointed Mr. Moore surgeon to
his household. In this situation, although he had an opportunity of being with the ambassador, he preferred to
lodge nearer the hospitals, and other sources of instruction, xvith which a more distant part of the capital abounded,
and visited lord Albemarle’s family only when his assistance
was required. After residing two years in Paris, it was
proposed by Mr. Gordon, who was not insensible to the
assiduity and improvements of his former pupil, that he
should return to Glasgow, and enter into partnership with
him. Mr. Moore, by the advice of his friends, accepted
the invitation, but deemed it proper to take London in his
way, and while there, went through a course under Dr.
Smellie, then a celebrated accoucheur. On his return to
Glasgow, he practised there during the space of two years,
but when a diploma was granted by the university of that
city to his partner, now Dr. Gordon, who chose to prescribe as a physician alone, Mr. Moore still continued to act
as a surgeon; and, as a partner appeared to be necessary,
he chose Mr. Hamilton, professor of anatomy, as his associate. Mr. Moore remained for a considerable period at
Glasgow; but when he had attained his fortieth year, an
incident occurred that gave a new turn to his ideas, and
opeqed new pursuits and situations to a mind naturally
active and inquisitive. James George, duke of Hamilton,
a young nobleman of great promise, being affected with a
consumptive disorder, in 1769, he was attended by Mr.
Moore, who has always spoken of this youth in terms of
the highest admiration; but, as his malady baffled all the
efforts of medicine, he yielded to its pressure, after a lingering illness, in the fifteenth year of his age. This event,
which Mr. Moore recorded, together with the extraordinary
endowments of his patient, on his tomb in the buryingplace at Hamilton, led to a more intimate connection with
this noble family. The late duke of Hamilton, being, like
his brother, of a sickly constitution, his mother, the duchess
f Argyle, determined that he should travel in company
with some gentleman, who to a knowledge of medicine
added an acquaintance with the continent. Both these
qualities were united in the person of Dr. Moore, who by
this time had obtained the degree of M. D. from the university of Glasgow. They accordingly set out together,
and spent a period of no less than five years abroad,
during which they visited France, Italy, Switzerland, and
Germany. On their return, in 1778, Dr. Moore brought
his family from Glasgow to London; and in the course of
the next year appeared the fruits of his travels, in “A View
of Society and Manners in France', Switzerland, and Germany,
” in 2 vols. 8vo. Two years after, in 1781, he published a continuation of the same work, in two additional
volumes, entitled “A View of Society and Manners in
Italy.
” Having spent s6 large a portion of his time either
in Scotland or on the continent, he could not expect suddenly to attain an extensive practice in the capital; nor
indeed was he much consulted, unless by his particular
friends. With a view, however, to practice, he published
in 1785, his “Medical Sketches,
” a work which was favourably received, but made no great alteration in his engagements; and the next work he published was “Zeluco,
”
a novel, which abounds with many interesting events,
arising from uncontrouled passion on the part of a darling
son, and unconditional compliance on that of a fond mother. While enjoying the success of this novel, which was
very considerable, the French revolution began to occupy
the minds and writings of the literary world. Dr. Moore
happened to reside in France in 1792, and witnessed many
of the important scenes of that eventful year, but the massacres of September tending to render a residence in Paris
highly disagreeable, he returned to England; and soon
after his arrival, began to arrange his materials, and in
1795, published “A View of the Causes and Progress of
the French Revolution,
” in 2 vols. 8vo, dedicated to the
Duke of Devonshire. He begins with the reign of Henry
IV. and ends with the execution of the royal family. In
1796 appeared another novel, “Edward: various Views of
Human Nature, taken from Life and Manners chiefly in
England.
” In Mordaunt,
” being “Sketches of Life, Characters, and Manners
in various Countries including the Memoirs of a French
Lady of Quality,
” in 2 vols. 8vo. This chiefly consists of
a series of letters, written by “the honourable John
Mordaunt,
” while confined to his couch at Vevay, in Switzerland, giving an account of what he had seen in Italy, Germany, France, Portugal, &c. The work itself comes under no precise head, being neither a romance, nor a novel,
nor travels: the most proper title would perhaps be that
of “Recollections.
” Dr. Moore was one of the first to
notice the talents of his countryman the unfortunate Robert Burns, who, at his request, drew up an account of
his life, and submitted it to his inspection.
rs, he succeeded Spanheim, who was called away to Leyden, in the functions of divinity-professor and minister of Geneva. As he was a favourite preacher, and a man of great
, a preacher of some celebrity among the French protestants, was the son of a Scotchman, who was principal of the college at Castres in Languedoc, and born there in 1616. When he was about twenty, he was sent to Geneva to study divinity; and finding, upon his arrival, that the chair of the Greek professor was vacant, he became a candidate for it. and gained it against competitors greatly beyond himself in years. Having exercised this office for about three years, he succeeded Spanheim, who was called away to Leyden, in the functions of divinity-professor and minister of Geneva. As he was a favourite preacher, and a man of great learning, he appears to have excited the jealousy of a party which was formed against him at Geneva. He had, however, secured the good opinion of Salmasius, who procured him the divinity-professor’s place at Middlebourg, together with the parish-church, which occasioned him to depart from Geneva in 1649. The gentlemen of Amsterdam, at his arrival in Holland, offered him the professorship of history, which was become vacant by the death of Vossius; but, not being able to detach him from his engagements to the city of Middlebourg, they gave it to David Blondel, yet, upon a second offer, he accepted it about three years after. In 1654, he left his professorship of history for some time to take a journey into Italy; where it is said he was greatly noticed by the duke of Tuscany. During his stay in Italy, he wrote a beautiful poem upon the defeat of the Turkish fleet by the Venetians, and was honoured with a chain of gold by the republic of Venice. He returned to his charge; and, after some contests with the Walloon synods, went into France, to be ordained minister of the church of Paris. But here he met with many opponents, his character, as is said, being somewhat ambiguous both in regard to faith and morals. He succeeded, however, in being received minister of the church of Paris, although his reputation continued to be attacked by people of merit and consequence, who presented him again to the from whose censures he escaped with great difficulty, and had again to encounter in 1661. About this time he went to England, and on his return six months afterwards, the complaints against him were immediately renewed. He died at Paris, in the duchess of Rohan’s house, in September 1670.
s not very well paid, or for some private reason, of which we are ignorant, he was, by order of that minister, committed to the Bastile, where he lay for three years. He
Soon after this Essay appeared, Louis XIV. gave him a place in his cabinet of antiques; which, though it brought him great honour, and some profit for the present, yet cost him very dear in the end: for, whether he spoke too freely of Mr. de Louvois, on account of his salary, which, it seems, was not very well paid, or for some private reason, of which we are ignorant, he was, by order of that minister, committed to the Bastile, where he lay for three years. He was released at the death of Louvois, which happened in 1691, but not till the canton of Bern solicited in his favour. He then returned to Switzerland, and resumed his grand design; and afterwards, in 1694, went to Arnstad in Germany, upon an invitation from the count of Schwartzburg, with whom he lived in quality of his antiquary. The count had a fine collection of medals, and furnished him with every thing necessary for carrying on his great work. Spanheim, who returned from France to Berlin in 1689, had a desire to see him again, and gave him also all the assistance and encouragement he could; yet some unforeseen accidents prevented him from completing it. He died of an apoplexy at Arnstad, April 10, 1703.
nvited him to his house, in 1678. He might have expected great advantages from the patronage of that minister; but his intense application to his “Dictionary” injured his
The same year he was taken into the family of the bishop
of Apt, in Provence, whom he attended the year following
to Paris; and was soon introduced to the prelates, who
held their assembly in St. Germain en Laye, and to the
learned men in the metropolis. While he was engaged in
the second edition of his “Dictionary,
” his friends recommended him to M. de Pompone, secretary of state, who
invited him to his house, in 1678. He might have expected great advantages from the patronage of that minister; but his intense application to his “Dictionary
” injured his health in such a manner that he never recovered
it. M. de Pompone having resigned his post in 1679, Moreri took the opportunity of retiring to his own house, in
order to complete his work, but his health declining rapidly, he died July 10, 1680, aged 37. Besides the writings above mentioned, he put the “Lives of the Saints
”
into more elegant French, and added methodical tables for
the use of preachers, with chronological tables; and, in
1671, be published at Lyons the following book,
“Relations nouvelles du Levant, ou Traités de la Religion, du
Gouvernment, & des Coutumes, des Parses, des Anneniens, & des Gaures, composés par le P. G. D. C. C. (P. Gabriel du Chinon, Capuchin), & donnés au public par le
sieur L. M. P. D. E. T.
” (that is, Louis Moreri, Pretre, Docteur en Theologie.)
t proficiency in the Oriental languages under Golius. Returning to his country in 164-9, he became a minister of two churches in the neighbourhood of Caen, where he was much
, a learned French protestant, was the son of Isaac Morin, a merchant of Caen, and born in that city, Jan. 1, 1625. Losing his father at three years of age, his mother designed him for trade; but his taste for learning beginning to show itself very early, she determined to give him a liberal education. Accordingly he studied the classics and philosophy at Caeu, and then removed to Sedan, to study theology under Peter du Moulin, who conceived a great friendship for him. He afterwards pursued the same studies under Andrew Rivet, and made a great proficiency in the Oriental languages under Golius. Returning to his country in 164-9, he became a minister of two churches in the neighbourhood of Caen, where he was much distinguished by his uncommon parts and learning, and had several advantageous offers made him from other countries, but he preferred his own. In 1664, he was chosen minister of Caen; and his merits soon connected him in friendship with Huetius, Segrais, Bochart, and other learned townsmen. The revocation of the edict of Nantz, in 1685, obliging him to quit Caen, he retired with his wife and three children to Leyden, but soon after was called to Amsterdam, to be professor of the Oriental tongues in the university there; to which employment was joined, two years after, that of minister in ordinary. He died, after a long indisposition both of body and mind, May 5, 1700.
his return he went to Ireland in 1598, where his brother, sir Richard Moryson, was vicepresident of Minister, and was there made secretary to the lord deputy, sir Charles
, a native of Lincolnshire, was born
in 1566, and educated in the university of Cambridge, of
which he became a fellow, and studied civil law. Obtaining from the master and fellows of his house a licence to
travel, he set out, and spent about ten years abroad. He
had previously been incorporated M. A. in the university
of Oxford. Soon after his return he went to Ireland in
1598, where his brother, sir Richard Moryson, was vicepresident of Minister, and was there made secretary to the
lord deputy, sir Charles Blount, lord Mountjoy. He died
about 1614, and three years after, his travels appeared
under the title of “An Itineraty, containing ten years travels through the twelve dominions of Germany,
” &c.
Lond. An History of Ireland from 1599 to 1603;
with a short narration of the state of the kingdom from the
year 1169,
” 2 vok. 8vo. The only copy we have seen of
this work (to which Harris gives no date) is dated Dublin,
1735.
epartment for the exercise of that zeal which disposed him to be useful to society. Being ordained a minister in the Lutheran church, he soon distinguished himself as an
, an illustrious German
divine, was born at Lubeck, in 1695, of a noble family,
which might seem to open to his ambition a fair path to
civil promotion; but his zeal for the interests of religion,
his thirst after knowledge, and particularly his taste for
sacred literature, induced him to consecrate his talents to
the service of the church. Where he was educated we have
Dot learned; fcut he is said to have given early indications
of a promising capacity, and of a strong desire of mental
and literary improvement; and, when his parents proposed
to him the choice of a profession, the church suggested
itself to him as a proper department for the exercise of that
zeal which disposed him to be useful to society. Being
ordained a minister in the Lutheran church, he soon distinguished himself as an eloquent and useful preacher.
His reputation in this character, however, was local and
confined, but the fame of his literary ability diffused itself
among all the nations of Christendom. The German universities loaded him with literary honours the king of
Denmark invited him to settle at Copenhagen the duke
of Brunswick called him thence to Helmstadt, where he
filled the academical chair was honoured with the character of ecclesiastical counsellor to the court an,d presided over the seminaries of learning in the duchy of Wolfembuttle and the principality of Blakenburg. When a
design was formed of giving an uncommon degree of lustre
to the university of Gottingen, by filling it with men of
the first rank in letters, king George II. considered Dr.
Mosheim as worthy to appear at the head of it, in quality
of chancellor; and he discharged the duties of that station
with zeal and propriety, and his conduct gave general satisfaction. Here he died, universally lamented, in 1755.
In depth of judgment, in extent of learning, in purity of
taste, in the powers of eloquence, and in a laborious application to all the various branches of erudition and philosophy, he is said to have had very few superiors. His
Latin translation of Cud worth’s “Intellectual System,
”
enriched with large annotations, discovered a profound
acquaintance with ancient learning and philosophy. His
illustrations of the Scriptures, his labours in defence of
Christianity, and the light he cast upon religion and philosophy, appear in many volumes of sacred and prophane
literature. He wrote, in Latin, 1. “Observationes sacra?,
et historico- critic^,
” Amst. Vindicise antiquae Cnristianorum discipline, adv. J, Tolandi Nazarenum,
” Hamb. De aetate apologetici Tertulliani et initio persecutionis Christianorum sub Severo,
commentatio,
” Helm. Gallus glorias J.
Christi, Spiritusque Sancti obtrectator, publicae contemtioni expositus,
” Helm. Historia Tartarorum ecclesiastica,
” Helm. De rebus
Christianorum ante Constantinum Magnum commentarii,
”
ibid. 1753, 4to. 7. “Historia Mich. Served,
” &c. But
that by which he is best known in this country is his
church-history. This was at first a small work, which appeared under the title of “Institutiones Historic Christiana?,
” and passed through several editions. He was repeatedly urged by his learned friends to extend a work
which they represented as too meagre for the importance
of the subject. He acknowledged the objection, but alleged various avocations as an excuse for non-compliance.
At length, however, he acceded to the wish of the public,
and having employed two years in the augmentation and
improvement of his history, he published it in 1755, before the end of which year he died. This was soon after
translated into English by Dr. Maclaine, of whom we have
recently given some account, and is now a standard book
in our libraries. The best edition, as we have noticed in
Maclaine’s article, is that of which Dr. Charles Coote was
the editor and contimlator, in 1811, 6 vols. 8vo. This
edition is also enriched by a masterly dissertation from the
pen of Dr. Gteig, of Stirling, on the primitive form of the
church, calculated to obviate certain prejudices which
Mosheim had discovered in various parts of his otherwise
Valuable history.
find no account. Mr. Nichols, in his “Anecdotes,” says that he “appears to have been appointed to be minister of St. Peter’s, Paul’s Wharf, London, after the sequestration
, was a learned and pious Irish
prelate, of whose early history we find no account. Mr.
Nichols, in his “Anecdotes,
” says that he “appears to
have been appointed to be minister of St. Peter’s, Paul’s
Wharf, London, after the sequestration of Edward Merbury;
” but this is quite, inconsistent with bishop Kenn’s
account of him, in his funeral sermon on lady Margaret
Maynard. There he says that Dr. Mossom, during the
usurpation, was silenced, plundered, and persecuted. After the restoration we can trace him more exactly. He
was made, in 1660, dean of Christ Church, Dublin, and
in 1662, prebendary of Knaresborough in the cathedral of
York. From thence he was promoted to the see of Derry
in March 1666, with which he held his deanery of Christ
Church, but resigned his prebend. He died at Londonderry, Dec. 21, 1679, and was buried in the cathedral.
Harris mentions his book entitled “The Preacher’s Tripartite,
” Lond. Variae colloquendi Formulas, in usum condiscipulorum in palaestra
literaria sub paterno moderamine vires Minervales exercentium, parthn collects, partim composite a Roberto
Mossom,
” Lond. Narrative panegyrical
on the life, &c. of George Wild, bishop of Derry,
” Zion’s prospect in its first view, in a summary
of divine truths, viz. of God, Providence, decrees,
” &c.
om he lay under many other obligations; but in this case as well as the preceding, he found that the minister had made a prior promise of it to another, and he was obliged
, a dramatic and miscellaneous
writer, was the son of colonel Mottley, who was a great
favourite with king James II. and followed the fortunes of
that prince into France. James, not being able himself to
provide for him so well as he desired, procured for him,
by his interest, the command of a regiment in the service
of Louis XIV. at the head of which he lost his life in the
battle of Turin, in 1706. The colonel married a daughter
of John Guise, esq. of Abload’s Court, in Gloucestershire,
with whom, by the death of a brother, who left her his
whole estate, he had a very considerable fortune. The
family of the Guises, however, being of principles diametrically opposite to those of the colonel, and zealous friends
to the revolution, Mrs. Mottley, notwithstanding the tenderest affection for her husband, and repeated invitations
from the king and queen, then at St. Germains, preferred
living at home on the scanty remains of what he had left
behind. The colonel was sent over to England three or
four years after the revolution, on a secret commission
from king James; and during his stay our author was born,
in 1692. Mr. Mottley received the first rudiments of his
education at St. Martin’s library-school, founded by archbishop Tenison; but was placed in the excise-office at
sixteen years of age, under the comptroller, lord viscount
Howe, whose brother and sister were both related by marriage to his mother. This situation he retained till 1720,
when, in consequence of an unhappy contract he had
made, probably in pursuit of some of the bubbles of that
infatuated year, he was obliged to resign it. Soon after
the accession of George I. Mr. Mottley had been promised
by the lord Halifax, at that time first lord of the treasury,
the place of one of the commissioners of the wine-licence
office; but when the day came that his name should have
been inserted in the patent, a more powerful interest, to
his great surprize, had stepped in between him and the
preferment, of which he had so positive a promise. This,
however, was not the only disappointment of that kind
which this gentleman met with; for, at the period above
mentioned, when he parted with his place in the excise,
he had one in the exchequer absolutely given to him by
sir Robert Walpole, to whom he lay under many other
obligations; but in this case as well as the preceding, he
found that the minister had made a prior promise of it to
another, and he was obliged to relinquish it. Other domestic embarrassments induced him to employ his pen,
which had hitherto been only his amusement, for the
means of immediate support; and he wrote his first play,
“The Imperial Captives,
” which met witU tolerable success. From that time he depended chiefly on his literary
abilities for a maintenance, and wrote five dramatic pieces,
with various success. He had also a hand in the composition of that many-fathered piece, “The Devil to Pay.
”
He published in Life of the great Czar Peter,
”
3 vols. 8vo, by subscription, in which he met with the
I sanction of some of the royal family, and great numbers of
the nobility and gentry; and, on occasion of one of his
benefits, which happened Nov. 3, queen Caroline, on the
30th of the preceding month (being the prince of Wales’s birth-day), did the author the singular honour of disposing
of a great number of his tickets, with her own hand, in the
drawing-room, most of which were paid for in gold, into
the hands of colonel Schutz, his royal highness’s privypurse, from whom Mr. Mottley received it, with the addition of a very liberal present from the prince himself. Jn
1744 he published in 2 vols. 8vo, “The History of the
Life and Reign of the empress Catherine of Russia.
” Both
this and the preceding are compilations from the journals
and annals of the day, but are now valuable from the
scarcity of those authorities. He died Oct. 30, 1750. It
has been surmised, with some appearance of reason, that
Mr. Mottley was the compiler of the lives of the dramatic
writers, published at the end of Whincop’s “Scanderbeg.
”
It is certain that the life of Mr. Mottley, in that work, is
rendered one of the most important in it, and is particularized by such a number of various incidents, as it seems
improbable should be known by any but either himself or
some one nearly related to him. Among others he relates
the following humourous anecdote. When colonel Mottley, our author’s father, came over, as has been before
related, on a secret commission from the abdicated monarch, the government, who had by some means intelligence of it, were very diligent in their endeavours to have
him seized. The colonel, however, was happy enough to
elude their search; but several other persons were, at different times, seized through mistake for him. Among the
rest, it being very well known that he frequently supped
at the Blue Posts tavern, in the Hay-Market, with one
Mr. Tredenhatn, a Cornish gentleman, particular directions
were given for searching that house. Colonel Mottley,
however, happening not to be there, the messengers found
Mr. Tredenham alone, and with a heap of papers before
him, which being a suspicious circumstance, they immediately seized, and carried him before the earl of Nottingham, then secretary of state. His lordship, who, however,
could not avoid knowing him, as he was a member of the
House of Commons, and nephew to the famous sir Edward
Seymour, asked him what all those papers contained. Mr.
Tredenham made answer, that they were only the several
scenes of a play, which he had been scribbling for the
amusement of a few leisure-hours. Lord Nottingham then
only desired leave just to look over them, which having
done for some little time, he returned them again to the
author, assuring him that he was perfectly satisfied; “for,
upon my word,
” said he, “I can find no plot in them,
”
, a very celebrated French protestant minister, and of the same family with Charles da Moulin, was born at
, a very celebrated French protestant minister, and of the same family with Charles da
Moulin, was born at Vexin Oct. 18, 1568. He imbibed
the rudiments of literature at Sedan; and, when he arrived at twenty years of age, was sent to finish his education in England, where he became a member of Christ
college in Cambridge. After a residence of four years in
England, he went to Holland in the retinue of the duke
of Wirtemberg, but was shipwrecked in his passage, and
lost all his books and baggage. This occasioned his elegant poem entitled “Votiva Tabula,
” which did him great
credit, and procured him many friends. The French ambassador became one of his patrons (for Henry IV. at that time sent protestant ambassadors into protestant countries),
and recommended him to the queen- mother, by whose interest he obtained the professorship of philosophy at Leyden, then vacant. This he held for five or six years; and
among other disciples, who afterwards became celebrated,
be had Hugo Grotius. He read lectures upon Aristotle,
and disciplined his scholars in the art of disputing; of
which he made himself so great a master, that he was
enabled to enter with great spirit and success into the controversies with the catholics. Scaliger was very much his
patron; and when Du Moulin published his Logic at Ley.
den in 1596, said of the epistle prefatory, “haec epistola
non est hujus sevi.
” He taught Greek also in the divinity
schools, in which he was extremely well skilled, as appears
from his book entitled “Novitas Papismi,
” where he exposes cardinal Perron’s ignorance of that language.
In 1599 he went to Paris, to be minister at Charenton, and chaplain to Catharine of Bourbon, the king’s
In 1599 he went to Paris, to be minister at Charenton, and chaplain to Catharine of Bourbon, the king’s sister, who was then married to Henry of Lorraine, duke of Bar, and continued a determined protestant in spite of all attempts to convert her. The pope applied to Henry IV. concerning the conversion of his sister, and Henry employed his divines to argue with her; but Du Moulin strengthened her sentiments against all their artifices. Perron and Cotton were the men chiefly employed, with whom Du Moulin had frequent conflicts; and when Henry begged her only to hear his chaplains preach, she consented to hear father Cotton, who was immediately ordered to preach before the king and his sister in the very place where Du Moulin had preached before. On this occasion, to secure herself the better against the wiles of this Jesuit, she contrived to have Du Moulin so placed that he might hear all that Cotton said.
bid. 1626, 4to. 4. Mr. John Yates, B. D. formerly fellow of Emanuel college in Cambridge, afterwards minister of St. Andrew’s in Norwich, in his book entitled “Ibis ad Caesarem,”
In this work many of the acknowledged doctrines of the
church of England are undoubtedly maintained with great
force of argument, but there are other points in which he
afforded just ground for the suspicions alleged against him;
and that this was the opinion of many divines of that period
appeared from the answers to his “Appeal
” published by,
It Dr. Matthew Sutcliffe, dean of Exeter. 2. Mr. Henry
Burton in his “Plea to an Appeale,
” Lond. Testis Veritatis,
” ibid. Ibis ad Caesarem,
” ibid. Pelagius Redivivus; or, Pelagius raked out of the ashes by Arminius and his scholars,
”
ibid. Examination of those
things, wherein the author of the late Appeale holdeth the
doctrines of the Pelagians and Arminians to be the doc-
”
trines of the church of England," ibid. 1626, 4to.
1753 on ship-board, in the river Canton in China. The third, the rev. Richard Mudge, was officiating minister of a chapel of ease at Birmingham, and had a small living presented
, an eminent mechanist, was born
at Exeter, September 1715. He was the second son of
the rev. Zachariah Mudge, prebendary of Exeter, and
vicar of St. Andrew’s, Plymouth, who died April 3, 1769,
and was honoured by Dr. Johnson with a very elegant
testimony of respect, which was inserted in the London
Chronicle at that time, and may be seen in Mr. Boswell’s
Life of the doctor. Mr. Z. Mudge had three other sons
besides the subject of this article. The eldest, Zachariah,
was a surgeon and apothecary at Taunton, and afterwards
surgeon on board an East Indiaman; he died in 1753 on
ship-board, in the river Canton in China. The third, the
rev. Richard Mudge, was officiating minister of a chapel
of ease at Birmingham, and had a small living presented
to him by the earl of Aylesford. He was not only greatly
distinguished by his learning, but by his genius for music.
He excelled as a composer for the harpsichord; and as a
performer on that instrument is said to have been highly
complimented by Handel himself. The fourth son, John,
was originally a surgeon and apothecary at Plymouth, but
during the latter part of his life practised as a physician
with great success. Like his brother Thomas, he had great
mechanical talents; and, until prevented by the enlargement of his practice, he found time to prosecute improvements in rectifying telescopes. In 1777 the Royal Society
adjudged to him Sir Godfrey Copley’s gold medal, for a
paper which he presented to that learned body on the best
methods of grinding the specula of reflecting telescopes.
He also considerably improved the inhaler, an ingenious
contrivance for the curing of coughs, by inhaling steam.
In 1777 he published “A Dissertation on the inoculated
Small-pox;
” which was followed, some years after, by
“A Treatise on the Catarrhous Cough and Vis Vitae.
” He
died in
nment cosmographer of the Indies, and filled this office with distinguished ability, until the prime minister Galvez, by order of the king, employed him on a history of America.
, a Spanish historian, was born
in 1745 at Museros, a village near Valentia, and studied
in the university of Madrid. From his earliest years he
discovered a taste superior to what was inculcated in the
usual course of academic studies, and made uncommon
progress in the sciences and in polite literature. At the
age of twenty-two, he wrote prefaces to the Rhetoric of
Louis of Grenada, and the Logic of Vernei, in both which
he displayed great erudition. He was afterwards, doubtless from having turned his thoughts to that branch, appointed by government cosmographer of the Indies, and
filled this office with distinguished ability, until the prime
minister Galvez, by order of the king, employed him on a
history of America. This undertaking he commenced in
1779, and obtained access, not only to all the papers and
documents preserved in the archives of the India department at Madrid, and in the Escurial, but likewise, on a
farther recommendation of his Catholic majesty, to all the
public and private libraries at Simancas, Seville, Salamanca, Valladolid, Grenada, &c. &c. and even in the
Torre di tombo at Lisbon, and other places to which preceding writers had not obtained access. This research
occupied above five years, in the course of which he collected a vast mass, in one hundred and thirty volumes, of
original and hitherto undescribed documents, letters of
Columbus, Pizarro, Ximenes, &c. from which he composed his “Historia del nuovo Mondo,
” published at Madrid, De recto philosophies recentis in theologia
'usu, dissertatio,
” Valent. De scriptorum gentilium lectione, et profanarum disciplinarum studiis ad
Christianaepietatisnormam exigendis,
” ibid. Institutiones philosophies,
” ibid. A Treatise on
the Philosophy of Aristotle,
” &c.
near twenty years before. This story was thought of sufficient importance to induce Mr. Pelham, then minister, to write down to Newcastle to Mr. Fawcett, the recorder, who
In 1753, a most injurious attack was made upon Mr.
Murray’s character on the following occasion: It had been
said, that Dr. Johnson, a person then thought of for considerable preferment, and afterwards bishop of Worcester,
a very intimate friend of Mr. Murray, was of Jacobitical
principles, and had even drank the pretender’s health in a
company near twenty years before. This story was thought
of sufficient importance to induce Mr. Pelham, then minister, to write down to Newcastle to Mr. Fawcett, the recorder, who was the author of the story, to learn the truth.
Mr. Fawcett answered this inquiry in an evasive manner;
but, in a subsequent conversation with lord Ravensworth,
added, that Mr. Murray and Mr. Stone had done the same
several times. Lord Ravensworth thought, that, Mr. Stone
holding an office about the prince, such a suggestion as to
his loyalty and principles ought not to be slighted; and he
made it so much a matter of conversation, that the ministry
advised the king to have the whole information examined;
and a proceeding was had in the council, and afterwards in,
the House of Lords, for that purpose. When Mr. Murray
heard of the committee being appointed to examine this
idle affair, he sent a message to the king, humbly to acquaint him, that, if he should be called before such a tribunal on so scandalous and injurious account, he would resign his office, and would refuse to answer. It came, however, before the House of Lords, on the motion of the
duke of Bedford, on Jan. 22, 1753, who divided the house
upon it, but the house was not told; and thus ended a
transaction, which, according to lord Melcombe, was “the
worst judged, the worst executed, and the worst supported
point, he ever saw of such expectation.
”
sustained at Paris for the space of five years, with great reputation. Mazarine, who then was prime minister there, had frequent conferences with him, and received some
, a noble Venetian, and proctor of St. Mark, was the son of John Nani, once possessed of the same post, and born Aug. 30, 1616. He studied polite learning under Peter Renzoli of Arezzo, a secular priest; and went through his course of philosophy among the Dominicans of St. Paul and St. John at Venice. His brother, Augustine Nani, being made commandant of Vicenza, he followed him to that city, and continued his studies there. Upon his return to his own country, in 1637, he was one of the thirty who are drawn every year by lot, to assist at the election of magistrates. His father, who was a person of good abilities, formed his son for business himself; and, in that view, carried him to Rome, where he went ambassador from the republic of Venice to Urban VI I L That pontiff, a man of discernment, predicted, that John Baptist Nani would make an extraordinary person: and his holiness’s prediction was verified. He was admitted into the college of senators in 1641; and not long after went ambassador to France, which character he sustained at Paris for the space of five years, with great reputation. Mazarine, who then was prime minister there, had frequent conferences with him, and received some excellent advice from him, upon the affairs discussed in the treaty of Munster, which was concluded in 1648; in which year Nani returned home, having obtained from France considerable succours both of men and money, for carrying on the war against the Turks in Candia. His merit raised him soon after to be a member of the grand council of the republic, in which he was appointed superintendant of the marine and the finances. In 1654 he was sent ambassador to the imperial court of Germany; did the republic considerable services; and made a second journey to that court^ upon the election of the emperor Leopold. While he was here, he received orders to go again to France, in 1660. He was there at the marriage of Lewis XIV. after the Pyrenean treaty, and obtained fresh succours for the war of Candia. The Venetian senate were greatly satisfied with his conduct, and appointed him proctor of St. Mark. Not long after, in 1663, the great council nominated him captain-general of the marine; but, the air of the sea not at all agreeing with his constitution, it was resolved not to expose a life so valuable, and even necessary to the republic, to such imminent danger; and the nomination was withdrawn.
recommended him much to people of fashion. He was well respected at court; and Mazarine, then prime minister, retained him as his designer and engraver, and honoured him
Carlo Dati, in the life of Zeuxis, speaking of our engraver’s works, says, “These words of Apollonius remind
us to contemplate the astonishing art of the prints of the
modern gravers in France, where every thing is represented so naturally, the quality of the drapery, the colour
of the flesh, the beard, the hair with the powder upon it,
and, what is most important, the age, the air, and the
lively resemblance of a person, though nothing is made
use of besides the black of the ink and the white of the
paper; which not only make the light and the shade, but
do the office of all the colours. Ail this is seen and admired above all others, in the excellent portraits of the
illustrious Nantueil.
” This artist was a man of pleasing
manners and address, had some share of learning and wit,
and his conversation recommended him much to people of
fashion. He was well respected at court; and Mazarine,
then prime minister, retained him as his designer and engraver, and honoured him with the title of Monsieur. But
he never was an œconomist; and of upwards of 500,000
crowns which he had gained, he left only 20,000 to his
heirs. The portraits by this excellent artist are well known,
and although Strutt has given a short list of the bejt,he
allows that it is not easy to say with any degree of precision, among so many beautiful ones, which are the best.
turn to London, in 1703, he began to officiate as a preacher, and in 1706 succeeded Dr. Singleton as minister to a congregation at Loriners’ Hall. Of this congregation, which,
, an eminent dissenting divine, and the historian of the Puritans, was born in London, Dec. 14, 1678, and educated at Merchant-Taylors’ school, of which he was head scholar in 1697. He appears to have then declined proceeding to St. John’s, Oxford, and determined to enter as a student in a dissenting academy, under the direction of the rev. Thomas Rowe. Three years after he removed, for the farther prosecution of his studies, to Holland, where he heard the lectures of Graevius and Burman, during two years, and afterwards passed a year at Leyden. Soon after his return to London, in 1703, he began to officiate as a preacher, and in 1706 succeeded Dr. Singleton as minister to a congregation at Loriners’ Hall. Of this congregation, which, for want of room, rmoved afterwards to a more commodious meeting in Jewinstreet, he remained pastor for thirty-six years, and was esteemed one of the most useful, laborious, and learned divines of his communion.
an; with a reply to the objections made against it from principles of conscience, in a letter from a minister at Boston. To which is now prefixed, an historical introduction.”
In 1722 he published a pamphlet, entitled “A Letter
to the Rev. Dr. Francis Hare, dean of Worcester, occasioned by his reflections on the Dissenters, in his late visitation Sermon and Postscript,
” 8vo. In the same year he
published a tract which excited considerable attention from
the novelty and importance of its subject, “A Narrative
of the method and success of inoculating the Small-pox, in
New-England, by Mr. Benjamin Colman; with a reply to
the objections made against it from principles of conscience, in a letter from a minister at Boston. To which
is now prefixed, an historical introduction.
” This procured him an interview with their royal highnesses the
prince and princess of Wales, afterwards George II. and
queen Caroline.
nistration was generally popular, but he had enemies at court, and alter having filled the office of minister of finance for five years, he resigned. Previously to this he
, a celebrated statesman and financier
of France, brother to the preceding Louis Necker, was
born at Geneva in 1732. After such an education as might
qualify him for business, he was in his fifteenth year sent
to Paris, where he was employed, first in the bankinghouse of Vernet, and then in that of Thelluson, of which
last he became first cashier, and afterwards a partner.
Upon the death of Thelluson he established a bank of his
own, in partnership with Girardot and Haller, in which,
we have just noticed, his brother had a concern. In 1776,
when the French finances were in a disordered state, he was
appointed director, and soon after comptroller-general of
that department. Besides his reputation for financial
knowledge and probity, which was now at its height, he
had in the reign of Louis XV. adjusted some differences
subsisting between the East India company and the crown
in such a manner as to obtain, what rarely occurs in such
cases, the approbation of both parties. His appointment
to the comptrollership of the finances was hailed as an
instance of enlargement of mind and liberality of
sentiment, and as honourable to the reign of Lewis XVI.;
Necker being the first protestant since the revocation of
the edict of Nantes, who had held any important place in
the French administration. Of the wisdom of his plans, in
this critical situation, various opinions have been entertained, which this is not the place to examine, but it seems
generally agreed that his intentions were pure, and his
conduct disinterested. He refused all emolument for his
services, and advanced a large sum to government from
his private property, which he never drew from the public
funds. His administration was generally popular, but he
had enemies at court, and alter having filled the office of
minister of finance for five years, he resigned. Previously
to this he had published his “Compte Rendu,
” in explanation of his financial system, which was followed by a
work entitled “De P Administration des Finances.
” This
was read and circulated with great avidity, and unhappily
scattered opinions on matters of government, by which
the people knew not how to profit. M. Calonne, who was
his successor, made an attack, before the assembly of
notables, upon the veracity of his statements. Necker
drew up a reply, which he transmitted to the king, who
intimated that if he would forbear making it public, he
should shortly be restored to his place. This he refused,
and appealed to the nation by publishing his defence,
which was so displeasing to the court, that he was exiled
to his country-seat at St. Ouen, at the distance of 120
miles from the capital. During his retreat he wrote his
work entitled “De l'Importance des Opinions R6ligieuses,
”
in which he speaks of religion like one who felt its power
operating on his own mind, and who was fully convinced of
its importance both to individuals and society. Calonne,
however, and Brienne, another minister, finding it impossible to lessen the deficiencies of the revenue, thev resigned in their turn; and in August 1788, Necker was
reinstated in his former post, to the apparent satisfaction
of the court, as well as to the joy of the people; but the
acclamations of the latter could not banish from his mind
the difficulties with which he had to struggle. He was
aware that de Calonne and the archbishop of Sens had both
sunk under the public distress, and the impracticability of
raising the necessary supplies; and he well knew that the
evil was not diminished, and unless some expedient could
be hit on to re-establish public credit, he foresaw his
own fate must be similar to that of his predecessors.
first intentions were to recal the banished members of the
parliament of Paris, and to restore that body to its functions; to replenish the treasury, which he found almost
empty; and to relieve the scarcity of corn under which the
kingdom, and the capital in particular, then laboured.
His next plan was the convocation of the states-general,
which had been already promised by the king, and which,
in fact, proved the immediate fore-runner of the revolution. Necker was particularly blamed for having consented
that the number of members of the tiers etat should be
equal to that of the nobles and clergy united, as the nobility and clergy would very naturally insist on voting by
orders, while the tiers etat would contend with equal
obstinacy for a plurality of voices. The consequences
were therefore exactly such as had been foreseen. When
the assembly of the states opened, Necker addressed them
in a studied speech that pleased no party; even the tiers
etat, already taught the sentiments of democracy, resented
his saying that the meeting was the effect of royal favour,
instead of a right. Nor was he more successful in the plan
of government which he drew up, and which the king was
to recommend in a speech, for this underwent so many
alterations that he absented himself when it was delivered.
At this time the prevalence of the democratic party was
such as to induce the king to assemble troops around Paris,
which measure Necker opposed, and on July 11, 1789,
was therefore ordered to quit the kingdom within twenty four hours. This he immediately obeyed, and went to
Brussels. As soon as his absence was known, the populace assembled, destroyed the Bastille, and proceeded to
such other outrages, that the king thought it necessary to
recal Necker to appease their fury. He accordingly returned in triumph, but his triumph was short. The populace was no longer to be flattered with declamations on their
rights, nor was Necker prepared to adopt the sentiments
of the democratic leaders, while it became now his duty to
propose financial expedients that were obnoxious to the
people. He that had just before been hailed as the friend
of the people, was now considered as an aristocrat, and his
personal safety was endangered. In this dilemma he desired to resign, offering to leave, as pledges for his integrity, the money which he had advanced to government,
viz. about 80,000l. sterling, and his house and furniture.
His resignation being accepted, he left Paris, and in his
retreat he was more than once insulted by the very people
whu, but a few months before, had considered him as their
saviour. Gibbon, who passed four days with him at this
period, says, “I could have wished to have exhibited him
as a warning to any aspiring youth possessed with the
demon of ambition. With all the means of private happiness in his power, he is the most miserable of human
beings; the past, the present, and the future, are equally
odious to him. When I suggested some domestic amusements, he answered, with a deep tone of despair, * in the
state in which I am, I can feel nothing but the blast which
has overthrown me.'
” Shortly after this, his mind was
diverted from public disappointment by the more poignant
grief of domestic calamity; his wife died, after a long illness, in which he had attended her with the most affectionate assiduity. He now had recourse to hia favourite
occupation of writing, and several works of different kinds
were the product of his solitary hours. His principal
pieces are entitled “Sur I' Administration de M. Necker,
par lui-meme;
” “Reflections,
” &c. which were intended
to benefit the king during his captivity and trial; “Du
Pouvoir Exécutif,
” being an essay that contained his own
ideas on the executive part of government; “Dernieres
Vue’s de Politiques, et de Finance,
” of which the chief
object was to discuss what was the best form of government
France was capable of receiving. Besides these, he published a “Course of Religious Morality,
” and a novel,
written at the suggestion of his daughter, entitled “The
fatal Consequences of a single Fault.
” Though deprived
of three- fourths of his fortune, he had sufficient for all his
wants, and also to indulge his benevolent disposition. He
had been placed on the list of emigrants, but the directory
unanimously erased his name, and when the French army
entered Swisserland, he was treated by the generals with
every mark of respect. His talents and conduct have been
alike the subject of dispute, and perhaps the time is not
yet come when the latter can. be fully understood. It is
well known that all who suffered by the revolution blamed
Necker as a principal cause of that event; but it may be
questioned whether any talents, guided by the utmost probity and wisdom, could have averted the evils that had
been prepared by so long a course of infatuation. Necker
passed the latter years of his life in the rational pursuits of
a philosopher and a man of sound judgment and true taste,
His only daughter, who married the baron de Stael, ambassador from Sweden to France, and who has made herself known to the literary world by several publications,
published some “Memoirs of the Character and Private
Life of her Father,
” written in a high style of panegyric.
received into lord Pelham’s family, to superintend the education of the late duke of Newcastle, the minister, and his brother Mr. Pelham, who ever retained a most affectionate
, D. D. founder of Hertford college, Oxford, was descended from a family that had long been of considerable repute, and of good fortune, but much injured during the civil wars. His father enjoyed a moderate estate at Lavendon Grange, in Bucks, (which is now in the family,) and lived in a house of lord Northampton’s in Yardlv-chase, where Dr. Newton is said to have been born about 1676. He was educated at Westminsterschool, and elected from that foundation in 1694 to a studentship of Christ-church, Oxford, where he executed the office of tutor very much to his own and the college’s honour and benefit. Here he became M. A. April 12, 1701; and B. D. March 18, 1707. He was inducted principal of Hart-hall, by Dr. Aldrich, in 1710, and took the degree of D. D. Dec. 7, that year. He was received into lord Pelham’s family, to superintend the education of the late duke of Newcastle, the minister, and his brother Mr. Pelham, who ever retained a most affectionate regard for him. Of this, however, he was long without any substantial proofs. Being a man of too independent and liberal principles ever to solicit a favour for himself, he was overlooked by these statesmen, till, in 1752, a short time before his death, when he was promoted to a canonry of Christ-church, which he held with his principalship of Hertford-college. He was honoured with the esteem of the late lord Granville, than whom none at that timfe a better judge of merit and men of learning. He was aU lowed to be as polite a scholar and as ingenious a writer as any of the age. In closeness of argument, and perspicuity and elegance of language, he had not his equal. Never was any private person employed in more trusts, or discharged them with greater integrity. He was a true friend to religion, the university, and the clergy; a man of exemplary piety, and extensive charity. No one man was called forth so often to preach, in the latter end of queen Anne’s time, and in the beginning of king George I. as Dr. Newton.
nd paper, for each, and the use of his library, which was near those apartments, &c. When Pelham was minister, that station corrupted the man, and made him like other ministers;
“He died at Lavendon Grange, extremely lamented by
all the poor of that neighbourhood, to whom he was a kind
benefactor, and by all his friends and acquaintance throughout the kingdom. Upon his death-bed, he ordered all his
writings to be destroyed, as his worthy widow informed
me; and she was a conscientious person. His friend, Dr t
Hunt, advised her to be cautious, and to be sure she did
not mistake his meaning, especially with regard to some
articles. I also, to whom she paid a favourable regard,
presumed to suggest the same caution. How far that
good lady proceeded in the proposed destruction of the
worthy doctor’s papers, I am not able to say; but do hitherto suppose she reduced them to ashes. Upon a
vacancy of the public orator’s place at Oxford, Newton
offered himself a candidate; but Digby Cotes, then fellow
of All Souls-college, and afterwards principal of Magdalenhall, carried the point against him. Newton’s friends
thought him to be by far the more qualified person for that
eminent post; though orator Digby was also, I think, a
man of worth as well as reputation. Newton survived him.
Dr. Newton was well skilled in the modern foreign languages, as well as in the ancient ones of Greece and Rome.
A well-polished gentleman, and, at the same time, a sincere Christian. He carried dignity in his aspect, but
sweetened with great modesty, humility, and freedom of
conversation. This I know, having carefully observed
bim, and having always found him even and uniform, both
in his temper and in his conduct. One thing comes novr
into my mind. Being a guest for a night or two at his
house at Lavendon, in the summer-1749, and in my way
to Oxford and London, &c. I had much familiar and free
discourse with him, and particularly upon the subject of a
reasonable reform in some particulars relating to our ecclesiastical establishment a reform, to which he was a hearty
welt- wisher. One evening, there being present his worthy vice-principal Mr. Saunders, and an ingenious young
gentleman of fortune, a pupil of Saunders, the doctor
was pleased to propose to us this question: What share are
ifce to allow to Common Sense and Reason in matters of lieKgion? Those two gentlemen and myself being silent, he
addressed himself particularly to me, who was, in pqiuT-qf
age, superior to them both. I freely answered, that, in
my poor opinion, the due exercise of common sense and
reason^ and private judgment in all matters of religion,
ought to be allowed to all Christians. He said, he was of
the same mind. He read prayers in his family at Lavendon, morning and evening, being select parts of the public liturgy. On Wednesdays and Fridays the litany only.
He appointed to his studious guests several separate apartments (being parlours) for private study, with pen, ink,
and paper, for each, and the use of his library, which was
near those apartments, &c. When Pelham was minister,
that station corrupted the man, and made him like other
ministers; for when he was asked why he did not place, in
proper station, the able and meritorious Dr. Newton, he
said, `How could I do it? he never asked me' forgetting
his tutor. Mr. Pelham more than once employed Dr.
Newton to furnish king’s speeches.
”
His foundation of Hertford-college, for which chiefly he
is now remembered, was an unfortunate speculation, ft
was preceded by some publications calculated to make
known his opinions on academic education. The first of
these, which appeared in 1720, was entitled “A Scheme of
Discipline, with Statutes intended to be established by a
royal charter for the education of youth in Hert-hall;
” and
in University Education,
” which chiefly relates
to the removal of students from one college to another,
without the leave of their respective governors, or of the
chancellor. This appears to have involved him in some
unpleasant altercations with his brethren. His application,
for a charter to take Hert-hall from under the jurisdiction
of Exeter- college, and erect it into an independent college,
occasioned a controversy between him and Dr. Conybeare,
then rector of Exeter, and afterwards bishop of Bristol and
dean of Christ church. In August 1740, however, he obtained the charter for raising Hert-hall into a perpetual
college, for the usual studies; the society to consist of a
principal, four senior fellows or tutors, eight junior fellows
or assistants, eight probationary students, twenty-four actual students, and four scholars. He contributed an annuity of 55l. 6s. Sd. issuing out of his house at Lavendon,
and other lands in that parish, to be an endowment for the
four senior fellows at the rate of 13l. 6s. Sd. each yearly.
He then purchased some houses in the neighbourhood of
Hert-hall for its enlargement, and expended about 1500l.
on building the chapel and part of an intended new quadrangle. Very few benefactors afterwards appeared to
complete the establishment, which, by the aid of independent members subsisted for some years, but has of late
gradually fallen off, and it is but within these few months
that a successor could be found to the late principal Dr.
Bernard Hodgson, who died in 1805. Dr. Newton’s radical error in drawing up the statutes, was his fixing the
price of every thing at a maximum, and thus injudiciously
overlooking the progress of the markets, as well as the
state of society. He seems indeed to have been more intent on establishing a school upon rigid and ceconomical
principles, than a college which, with equal advantages in
point of education, should keep pace with the growing
liberality and refinement of the age.
Besides some single sermons, Dr. Newton published in
answer to the learned Wharton on pluralities, a volume
entitled “Pluralities indefensible,
” Proposals for printing by subscription 4000 copies
of the Characters of Theophrastus, for the benefit of Hertford-college;
” but this did not appear until a year after
his death, when it was published by his successor Dr. William Sharp, in an 8vo volume. The produce to the college
is said to have amounted to 1000l., which we much doubt,
as the price was only six shillings each copy. In 1784, a
volume of his “Sermons
” was published by his grandson,
S.Adams, LL. B. 8vo.
r is the best remedy in Fevers, and even in the Plague; translated from the English of John Hancock, minister of St. Margaret’s, London, in 12mo.” This treatise made its
, one of the most useful French
biographers, was born at Paris, March 11, 1685. He was
of an ancient and noble family, who were in very high
repute about 1540. He studied with success in the Mazarine college at Paris, and afterwards at the college Du
Plessis. He appears to have been of a serious turn of
mind, and of great modesty, and from a dread of the
snares to which he might be exposed in the world, de
termined to quit it for a religious life. On this subject he
consulted one of his uncles, who belonged to the order of
Barnabite Jesuits. This uncle examined him; and, not
diffident of his election, introduced him as a probationer
to that society at Paris. He was received there in 1702,
took the habit in 1703, and made his vows in 1704, at the
age of nineteen. After he had professed himself, he was
sent to Montargis, to study philosophy and theology, a
course of both which he went through with credit, although
he confesses that he never could relish the scholastic system
then in vogue. His superiors then, satisfied with his proficiency and talents, sent him to Loches, in Touraine, to
teach the classics and rhetoric. Here his devout behaviour
and excellent conduct as a teacher, made him be thought
worthy of the priesthood, which he received at Poitiers in
1708, and as he was not arrived at the age to assume this
orders a dispensation, which his uncommon piety had merited, was obtained in his favour. The college of Montargis having recalled him, he was their professor of
rhetoric during two years, and philosophy during four.
In spite of all these avocations, he was humanely attentive
to every call and work of charity, and to the instruction of
his fellow-creatures, many of whom heard his excellent
sermons, pure and unadorned in style, but valuable in
matter, which he delivered not only from the pulpits of
most of the churches within the province, but even from
those of Paris. In 1716 his superiors invited him to that
city, that he might have an opportunity of following, with
the more convenience, those studies for which he always
had expressed the greatest inclination. He not only understood the ancient, but almost all the modern languages;
a circumstance of infinite advantage in the composition of
those works which he has given to the public, and which
he carried on with great assiduity to the time of his death,
which happened after a short illness, July 8, 1738, at the
age of fifty-three. His works are, 1. “Le Grand Fébrifuge; or, a dissertation to prove that common Water is
the best remedy in Fevers, and even in the Plague; translated from the English of John Hancock, minister of St.
Margaret’s, London, in 12mo.
” This treatise made its
appearance, amongst other pieces relating to this subject,
in 1720; and was attended with a success which carried it
through three editions; the last came out in 1730, in 2
vols. 12mo, entitled “A Treatise on common Water;
”
Paris, printed by Cavelier. 2. “The Voyages of John
Ouvington to Surat, and divers parts of Asia and Africa;
containing the History of the Revolution in the kingdom of
Golconda, and some observations upon Silk- Worms,
” Paris, The Conversion of England to Christianity, compared with its pretended Reformtion;
” a work translated from the English, and written by
an English catholic, Paris, 1729, 8vo. 4. “The Natural
History of the Earth, translated from the English of Mr.
Woodward, by Mons. Nogues, doctor in physic with an
answer to the objections of doctor Camerarius containing,
also, several letters written on the same subject, and a
methodical distribution of Fossils, translated from the English, by Niceron,
” Paris, 1735, 4to. 5. “Memoirs of Men
illustrious in the republic of letters, with a critical Account
of their Works. Paris,
” 12uio. The first volume of this
great work appeared in 1727; the others were given to the
public in succession, as far as the thirty-ninth, which appeared in 1738. The fortieth volume was published after
the death of the author, in 1739. Since that event three
others were added, but in these are many articles of which
Niceron was not the author. It is not easy to answer all
the objections which may be offered to a work of this kind.
The author himself, in one of his prefaces, informs us that
some of his contemporaries wished for a chronological
order; some for the order of the alphabet; some for classing the authors according to the sciences or their professions, and some according to the countries in which they
were born. As his work, however, appeared periodically,
he thought himself justified in giving the lives without any
particular order, according as he was able to procure materials. That the French critics should dwell upon the unavoidable mistakes in a work of this magnitude, is rather
surprizing, for they have produced no such collection
since, and indeed Niceron has been the foundation, as far
as he goes, of all the subsequent accounts of the same
authors. Chaufepie only treats him with respect while
he occasionally points out any error in point of date or fact.
hematician, was born Aug. 10, 1654, at Westgraafdyk in North Holland, of which place his father vvas minister. He discovered a turn for learning in his first infancy, and
, an eminent Dutch philosopher and mathematician, was born Aug. 10, 1654, at
Westgraafdyk in North Holland, of which place his father
vvas minister. He discovered a turn for learning in his
first infancy, and his father designed him for the ministry;
but when he found him averse from this study, he suffered
him to gratify his own taste. He then applied himself to
logic, and the art of reasoning justly; in which he grounded
himself upon the principles of Des Cartes, with whose
philosophy he was greatly delighted. Thence he proceeded to the mathematics, where he made a great proficiency; and added so much to his stock of various knowledge, that he was accounted a good philosopher, a great
mathematician, a celebrated physician, and an able and
just magistrate. Although naturally of a grave and serious
disposition, yet his engaging manner in conversation made
him be equally admired as a companion and friend, and
frequently drew over to his opinion those who, at first,
differed very widely from him. Thus accomplished, he
acquired great esteem and credit in the council of the
town of Purmerende, where he resided; as he did also in
the states of that province, who respected him the more,
as he never interfered in any cabals or factions. His disposition inclined him to cultivate the sciences, rather than
to obtain the honours of the government and he therefore
contented himself with being counsellor and burgomaster
of the town, without wishing for more bustling preferments,
which might interfere with his studies, and draw him too
much out of his library. He died May 30, 1718, in the
sixty-third year of his age. His works are, 1. “Considerationes circa Analyseos ad Quantitates infinite parvas applicator principia,
” &c. Amst. Analysis
infinitorum seu curvilineorum Proprietates ex Polygpnorum
natura deductse,
” ibid. Considerationes
secundoe circa differentialis Principia r & Responsio ad Yirum nobilissimum G. G. Leibnitium,
” ibid. A Treatise upon
a New Use of the Tables of Sines and Tangents.
” 5. “Le
veritable Usage de la Contemplation de TUnivers, pour la
conviction des Athees & des Incredules,
” in Dutch. This
is his most esteemed work; and went through four editions
in three or four years. It was translated into English by
Mr. John Chamberlaine, and printed three or four times
under the title of the “Religious Philosopher,
” &c. 3 vols.
8vo. This was, until within these forty years, a very popular book in this country. We have also, by our author,
one letter to Bothnia of Burmania, upon the 27th article
of his meteors, and a refutation of Spinosa, 1720, 4to, in
the Dutch language.
he definitive treaty of peace at London, where he was highly respected, as a prudent and enlightened minister, who united amenity of manners with the dignity of his station.
, was
born at Paris, Dec. 16, 1716. After he had served in the
army some time, he was appointed ambassador to Rome,
then to Berlin, and lastly, in 1763, was entrusted with
the important negociation of the definitive treaty of peace
at London, where he was highly respected, as a prudent
and enlightened minister, who united amenity of manners
with the dignity of his station. After his return to Paris,
he devoted himself entirely to letters, and by some
publications he obtained an admission into the French academy,
and that of inscriptions. This worthy and excellent man
lived to be a sufferer from the revolution, and was committed to prison during the tyranny of Robespierre, in
which he was forced to remain till 1796. He died Feb.
25, 1798, at the age of eighty-two. Of his works, his
“Fables
” have not been thought to preserve the reputation
they had originally, when handed about in private. Many
of them, however, equal any of the French productions of
that class. An English translation, very ably executed,
was published in 1799. The duke’s reflections on the genius of Horace, Boileau, and Rousseau, are highly esteemed; and his “Dialogues of the Dead,
” “Moral Letters,
” “Lives of the Troubadours,
” &c. are distinguished
proofs of an acute and well-cultivated mind. He was
very conversant in English literature, and translated Pope’s
“Essay on Man,
” and Horace Walpole’s “Modern Gardening,
” of which, in imitation of Walpole, he printed only
a few copies for friends. Didot, while the author was
alive, printed a fine edition of his works, in 1796, 8 vols.
8vo, the demand for which, according to Brunet, is not
great.
Copenhagen, probably by the interest of this nobleman. Noldius, entering into holy orders, was made minister, and obtained the professor’s chair of divinity at Copenhagen,
, an eminent Danish divine, was
born June 22, 1626, at Hoybia, in Scania; and, after acquiring some grammatical and classical knowledge at Lunden, was removed to the university of Copenhagen in
1644, and continued there till 1650; when he was made
rector of the college at Landscroon. He took the degree
of master of arts the following year; and, in 1654, for
farther improvement, made the tour of Germany, visited
several universities there, and became acquainted with the
most learned persons of that time. From Germany he
continued his route to Holland, England, and France, and
returned to Denmark in 1657. Hence, after a residence
of only three months, he went to pursue his studies at Leyden and Franeker. In 1660, the lord of Gerstorff, master
of the palace of Denmark, appointed him tutor to his
children; and, in 1644, he obtained the chair of professor
of divinity at Copenhagen, probably by the interest of this
nobleman. Noldius, entering into holy orders, was made
minister, and obtained the professor’s chair of divinity at
Copenhagen, in which city he died, Aug. 22, 1683. He
wrote several books, as “Concordantiae particularum Hebraeo-Chaldaicarum Veteris Testament!,
” an excellent
work, the best edition of which is that of Jena, 1734, 4to.
“Historia Iduinsea, seu de Vita et gestis Herodum Diatribse.
” “Sacrarum Historiarum et Antiquitatum Synopsis.
”
“Leges distinguendi seu de Virtute et Vitio distinctiones.
”
“Logica,
” &c.
n 1657, at Collingborne-Kingston, in Wiltshire, of which place his father, Mr. John Norris, was then minister. After being educated in grammar, &c, at Winchester school,
, a learned English divine and Platonic
philosopher, was born in 1657, at Collingborne-Kingston,
in Wiltshire, of which place his father, Mr. John Norris,
was then minister. After being educated in grammar, &c,
at Winchester school, he was entered of Exeter college in
Oxford in 1676; but was elected fellow of All Souls in
1680, soon after he had taken his degree of bachelor of
arts. From his first application to philosophy, Plato became his favourite author; by degrees he grew deeply
enamoured with beauties in that divine writer, as he
thought him, and took an early occasion to communicate
his ideal happiness to the public, by printing an English
translation of a rhapsody entitled “Effigies Arnoris,
” but
which he called “The Picture of Love unveiled,
” in
icar of the two Chilterns, in Wiltshire. His second son, Thomas, was also a clergyman, and some time minister of Stroud, in Gloucestershire. They have both long been dead,
In much of this panegyric we cordially agree, but doubt whether the revival of Mr. Norris’s works would be benerjcial either to religion or philosophy. It cannot, however, be denied, that men of a similar cast of mind may be greatly benefited by some of his works; and we know that some of our most eminent divines have formed their theological studies upon them. Mr. Norris left a widow, two sons and a daughter. His eldest son was rector of Little Langford, and vicar of the two Chilterns, in Wiltshire. His second son, Thomas, was also a clergyman, and some time minister of Stroud, in Gloucestershire. They have both long been dead, as well as their mother, who died at the house of Mr. Bowyer, vicar of Martock, in Somersetshire, who married her daughter.
opportunity to mix something national with the petty concerns of John Wilkes. On the other hand, no minister had ever to contend with so many difficulties; a question of
Some facts, however, may be added, which are admitted on all sides, and on which future information can
throw very little new light. It may be added that lord
North entered upon the war with America upon a principle
recognized not only by the most decided majorities in parliament, but by the voice of the nation. To this last there
was no exception but in the proceedings of a party in the
metropolis, whose dissatisfaction arose from other causes,
and who embraced this favourable opportunity to mix
something national with the petty concerns of John Wilkes.
On the other hand, no minister had ever to contend with
so many difficulties; a question of right, which many disputed; the disaffection of the colonies, which was applauded and encouraged within his hearing in the house of
commons; an army which, even if it had appeared at once
in the field of battle, had to encounter physical difficulties;
but which was sent out with hesitation, and in such divisions
that the portion to be assisted was generally defeated before
that which was to assist had arrived; a navy likewise incapable of coping with the numerous European enemies
that combined against Great Britain, and as yet in the infancy only of that glory to which we have seen it arrive.
Added to these, lord North had to contend in parliament
with an opposition more ample in talents and personal consequence than perhaps ever appeared at one time, and
with the uninterrupted hostility of the corporation of London to all his measures, and to the court itself. For such
a force of opposition lord North was not in all respects
qualified. Even Burke, whose irritating language during
tfye American war seemed beyond all endurance, could
allow, that “lord North wanted something of the vigilance
and spirit of command that the time required.
” Yet with
all these discouragements, it was only the actual failure of
the measures of subjugation that lessened his majorities,
and turned the tide of popular sentiment. It was not
conviction, but disappointment, which made the war obnoxious; and the “right of taxation,
” the “ingratitude
of the colonies,
” “unconditional submission,
” ana even
the epithet “rebellion,
” applied to their resistance, never
ceased to be urged until repeated failures prescribed a different language, and made thousands question the principle as well as the policy of the war, who at its commencement did not entertain a doubt on the subject. It was
now that the ministry of lord North was charged with misconduct and incapacity; and such misconduct and incapacity being but too obvious in the blunders of those who
had to execute his orders, it was not wonderful that the
supporters of the war should gradually desert the ministerial
standard, and that ministers should sink under the accumulated weight of parliamentary and popular odium. After
a few faint efforts, therefore, to which he seemed rather
impelled than inclined, lord North gave in his resignation
in March 1732. That he had lately acted under the influence to which we formerly alluded, seemed to he about
this time more generally believed, for some of the last
endeavours of the opposition to procure his dismissal, had
the “influence of the crown
” for their avowed object; and
as they approached nearer the accomplishment of their
wishes, their threats to bring this guilty minister to his
trial became louder. When, however, he made way for
his successors, they not only granted him fu-ll indemnity
for the past, but at no great distance of time, associated
with him in a new administration, a measure to which the
public could never be reconciled. The coalition which
placed lord North and Mr. Fox in the same cabinet was
more repugnant to general feeling than any one, or perhaps the aggregate, of lord North’s measures, when in the
plenitude of his power. When the voice of the nation,
and the spirit of its sovereign, had dismissed this administration, lord North returned no more to power, and took
110 very active part in politics, except on two occasions,
when he maintained the consistency of his former political
life, by opposing the repeal of the test act, and a scheme
for the reform of parliament. In 1790 he succeeded his
father in the earldom, but survived him only two years,
during which he had the misfortune to lose his sight. He
passed his last days in the calmness and endearments of
domestic privacy, to which his cheerful and benign temper m
was peculiarly adapted. His lordship died August 5, 1792.
He was at this time, ranger and warden of Busby Park;
chancellor of the university of Oxford; a knight of the
garter; lord lieutenant and custos rotulorum of the county
of Somerset; recorder of Gloucester and Taunton, one of
the elder brethren of the Trinity-house; president of the
Foundling-hospital and the Asylum, and governor of the
Turkey company and Charter-house.
f several persons fit to supply the place, with this remark, “that if the queen would have a married minister, none comparable to Mr. Nowell.” The bishop of London also seconded
He now became a frequent preacher at St. Paul’s cross,
and on one occasion, a passage of his sermon was much
talked of, and grossly misrepresented by the papists, as
savouring of an uncharitable and persecuting spirit. He
had little difficulty, however, in repelling this charge,
which at least shews that his words were considered as of
no small importance, and were carefully watched. One of
his sermons at St. Paul’s cross was preached the Sunday
following a very melancholy event, the burning of St. Paul’s
cathedral by lightning, June 4, 1561. Such was. his reputation now, that in September of this year, when archbishop
Parker visited Eton college, and ejected the provost,
Richard Bruerne, for nonconformity, he recommended to
secretary Cecil the choice of several persons fit to supply
the place, with this remark, “that if the queen would have
a married minister, none comparable to Mr. Nowell.
” The
bishop of London also seconded this recommendation; but
the queen’s prejudice against the married clergy inclined
her to give the place to Mr. Day, afterwards bishop of
Winchester, who was a bachelor, and in all respects worthy
of the promotion.
In the course of the ensuing year, 1562, No well was
frequently in the pulpit on public occasions, before large
auditories; but his labours in one respect commenced a
little inauspiciously. On the new-year’s day, before the
festival of the circumcision, he preached at St. Paul’s,
whither the queen resorted. Here, says Strype, a remarkable passage happened, as it is recorded in a great
man’s memorials (sir H. Sidney), who lived in those times.
The dean having met with several fine engravings, representing the stories and passions of the saints and martyrs,
had placed them against the epistles and gospels of their
respective festivals, in a Common Prayer-book; which he
caused to be richly bound, and laid on the cushion for the
queen’s use, in the place where she commonly sat; intending it for a new-year’s gift to her majesty, and thinking
to have pleased her fancy therewith. But it had a quite
contrary effect. For she considered how this varied from
her late injunctions and proclamations against the superstitious use of images in churches, and for the taking away
all such reliques of popery. When she came to her place,
and had opened the book, and saw the pictures, she frowned
and blushed; and then shutting the book (of which several took notice) she called for the verger, and bade him bring
her the old book, wherein she was formerly wont to read.
After sermon, whereas she used to get immediately on
horseback, or into her chariot, she went straight to the
vestry, and applying herself to the dean, thus she spoke
to him: “Mr. Dean, how came it to pas’s, that a new service-book was placed on my cushion r
” To which the dean
answered, “May it please your majesty, I caused it to be
placed there.
” Then said the queen, “Wherefore did
you so
” “To present your majesty with a new year?s
gift.
” “You could never present me with a worse.
” “Why
so, madam?
” “You know I have an aversion to idolatry,
to images, and pictures of this kind.
” “Wherein is the
idolatry, may it please your majesty?
” “In the cuts resembling angels and saints; nay, grosser absurdities, pictures resembling the blessed Trinity.
” “I meant nq
harm; nor did I think it would offend your majesty, when
I intended it for a new-year’s gift.
” *“You must needs
be ignorant then. Have you forgot our proclamation
against images, pictures, and Romish reliques, in the
churches? Was it not read in your deanery?
” “It was
read. But be your majesty assured I meant no harm when
I caused the cuts to be bound with the service-book.
” “You
must needs be very ignorant to do this after our prohibition
of them.
” “It being my ignorance, your majesty may the
better pardon me.
” “I am sorry for it; yet glad to hear
it was your ignorance rather than your opinion.
” “Be
your majesty assured it was my ignorance.
” “If so, Mr.
dean, God grant you his spirit, and more wisdom for the
future.
” “Amen, I pray God.
” “I pray, Mr. Dean,
how came you by these pictures who engraved them
”
“I know not who engraved them I bought them.
” “From
whom bought you them
” “From a German.
” “It is
well it was from a stranger. Had it been any of our subjects, we should have questioned the matter. Pray let no
more of these mistakes, or of this kind, be committed
within the churches of our realm for the future.
” “There
shall not.
” Strype adds to this curious dialogue, that it
caused all the clergy in and about London, and the churchwardens of each parish, to search their churches and
chapels; and to wash out of the walls all paintings that
seemed to be Romish and idolatrous; in lieu whereof,
suitable texts of Holy Scripture were written.
y’s reign, proposed that some other long garment should be used instead of the surplice, or that the minister should, in time of divine service, use the surplice only; that
Towards the close of 1562, his patron Grindall, bishop of London, collated him to the valuable rectory of Great Hadham, in Hertfordshire, where the ample tithe-bara which he built still remains. Nowell was one of those eminent men mentioned by Isaac Walton, who were fond of angling; and to enable him more commodiously to indulge in this amusement, Dr. Sandys, the succeeding bishop of London, conferred on him a grant of the custody of the river, within the manor of Hadham, with leave to take fish, and to cut down timber, to make pits and dams, free of all expence whatsoever. When the memorable convocation, in which the Articles of Religion were revised and subscribed, met in 1563, Nowell was chosen prolocutor of the lower house. Among other more important matters, rites and ceremonies were warmly agitated in this house. On this occasion, Nowell, with about thirty others, chiefly such as had been exiles during queeu Mary’s reign, proposed that some other long garment should be used instead of the surplice, or that the minister should, in time of divine service, use the surplice only; that the sign of the cross should be omitted in baptism, and that kneeling at the holy communion should be left to the discretion of the ordinary; that saints’ days should be abrogated, and organs removed. But the majority would allow of no alterations in the liturgy or rules of Edward the Sixth’s service-book (knowing the wisdom, deliberation, and piety, with which it had been framed) as it was already received and enforced by the authority of parliament, in the first year of the queen. During the plague, the ravages of which this year were very extensive, he was appointed to draw up a homily suitable to the occasion, and a form of prayer for general use, both of which were set forth by the queen’s special commandment, July 10, 1563.
cying that his services would not only be useful but safe, he returned home, and was soon after made minister of Kimbolton, in Huntingdonshire, by Edward earl of Manchester.
, an English nonconformist, was a native of Sussex, descended of a genteel family there, and born about 1596. After a proper foundation at the grammarschool, he was sent to Oxford, and entered a commoner of Brazen-nose college in 1615; whence he removed in a little time to Magdalen-hall, for the sake of a puritanical tutor to whom he was greatly attached. He took the degrees in arts in 1619 and 1622; about which time he entered into holy orders, and was, some time in 1620, admitted to officiate, it does not appear in what capacity, in St. Michael’s church, Cornhill, London. Here having disclosed some of those opinions which were hostile to the constitution of the Church of England, he became obnoxious to the censures of the episcopal court; to avoid which, he went, with others of his persuasion, to Holland, in 1633. He continued for the most part at Arnheim in Guelderland, till 1640; when, his party gaining the ascendancy, and he fancying that his services would not only be useful but safe, he returned home, and was soon after made minister of Kimbolton, in Huntingdonshire, by Edward earl of Manchester.
thers “The venerable preceptor;” “The singular doctor;” and “The unparalleled doctor.” He was chosen minister provincial of the friars minors of England, and afterwards diffinitor
He was styled by the pope “The invincible doctor;
” by
others “The venerable preceptor;
” “The singular doctor;
”
and “The unparalleled doctor.
” He was chosen minister
provincial of the friars minors of England, and afterwards
diffinitor of the whole order of St. Francis, and in that capacity was present at the general chapter held at Perusium
in Tuscany in 1322, where the fathers declared their adherence to the decree of pope Nicholas III. maintaining
the poverty of Christ and his apostles, and that they had
“nihii propria.
” This doctrine gave rise to that pleasant
question called the bread of the Cordeliers; which consisted in determining, whether the dominion of things consumed in the using, such as bread and wine, belonged to
them, or only the simple use of them, without the dominion? Their rule not permitting them to have any thing
as property, pope Nicholas III. who had been of their
order, devised a method to enrich them, without breaking
their rule. To this end he made an ordinance, that they
should have only the usufruct of the estates which should
be given to them, and that the soil and fund of all such
donations should belong to the church of Rome. By this
means he put them into possession of an infinite number
of estates in the name of the church of Rome: but, for
that reason, pope Nicholas’s bull was revoked by John XXII.
who condemned the use without the dominion, by his
“Extravaganta ad Conditorem.
” He also condemned, by
another “Extravaganta cum inter,
” the doctrine concerning the possession of estates by Christ and his apostles,
Occam, however, persisted in defending his opinions, and
so greatly offended the pope that he was obliged to fly
from Avignon, in 1328, to Lewis of Bavaria, who assumed
the title of emperor, and refusing the pope’s order to
return, was excommunicated in 1329. Lewis, his protector, was under the same circumstance, aud Occam is
reported to have said to him, “Oh emperor, defend me
with your sword, and I will defend you with my pen.
” He
at last, it is said, returned to his duty, and was absolved.
He died at Munich, the capital of Bavaria, and was buried
in the convent of his order, as appears by the following
inscription on his tomb in the choir, on the right hand of
the altar; viz. “Anno Domini 1347, 7mo Aprilis obijt eximius Doctor Sacrae Theologise Fr. Gulielmus dictus Occham de Anglia.
” He wrote a Commentary upon the Predicables of Porphyry, and the Categories of Aristotle, and
many treatises in scholastic theology and ecclesiastical
law; which, if they be admired for their ingenuity, must
at the same time be censured for their extreme subtlety
and obscurity. But whatever may be thought of these, he
deserves praise for the courage with which he opposed the
tyranny of the papal over the civil power, in his book “De
Potestate Ecclesiastica et Seculare.
” Of this, or a part of
it, “A dialogue between a knight and a clerke, concerning
the Power Spiritual and Temporal,
” the reader will find an
account in Oldys’s “Librarian,
” p. 5. It was printed by
Berthelet, with Henry VIII.'s privilege. Fox, in his Martyrology, says that Occam was “of a right sincere judgment, as the times would then either give or suffer.
” He
was the only schoolman whom Luther studied, or kept in
his library.
ared contumacious. From Strasburg he went to Basil, and was called thence, in 1555, to Zurich, to be minister of an Italian church which was forming there. This church consisted
In 1547 he was invited, together with Peter Martyr, into
England by abp. Cranmer, to have their joint assistance in
carrying on the reformation. They arrived in December
that year; and, repairing to Lambeth, were kindly received by Cranmer. They were entertained there for
some time along with Bucer, Fagius, and others; and
Ochinus, as well as Martyr, was made a prebendary of
Canterbury. He laboured heartily in the business of the
Reformation; and his dialogue, upon the unjust usurped
primacy of the bishop of Rome, was translated into Latin
by Ponet, bishop of Winchester, and published in 1549.
But, upon the death of Edward VI. being forced, as well
as Martyr, to leave England, he retired to Strasburg with
that friend, where they arrived in 1553. In his absence
he was, among other persons who had preferments in Canterbury, declared contumacious. From Strasburg he went
to Basil, and was called thence, in 1555, to Zurich, to be
minister of an Italian church which was forming there.
This church consisted of some refugees from Locarno, one
of the four bailiwics which the Switzers possess in Italy,
who were hindered from the public exercise of the reformed religion by the opposition of the popish cantons.
Ochinus made no difficulty to subscribe the articles of faith
agreed upon by the church of Zurich, and governed this
Italian church till 1563; when he was banished thence by
the magistrates of the town, on account of some dialogues
he published, in which he maintained the doctrine of polygamy. He is said to have been prompted to this by the
infidelity of his wife. From Zurich, he went to Basil;
but, not being suffered to stay there, he fled in great distress into Moravia, where he fell in with the Socinians,
and joined them. Stanislaus Lubienietski, the great patron of this sect, gives the following account of his last
days, in his “Hist. Reformat. Polori.
” Ochinus, says he,
retired into Moravia, and into Poland, and even there he
was not out of the reach of Calvin’s letters. He returned
into Moravia, after king Sigismund’s edict; who, in!564,
punished with banishment all those that were called Tritheists, Atheists, &c. Some gentlemen endeavoured to
keep him in Poland; but he answered, that men must
obey the magistrates, and that he would obey them, even
were he to die among the wolves in the woods. During
his travels, he fell sick of the plague at Pincksow, and received there all possible offices of kindness from one of the
brethren, named Philippovius. His daughter and two sons,
whom he carried along with him, died of the plague; but
he had buried his wife before he had left Zurich. As for
himself, he continued his journey to Moravia, and within
three weeks died at Slakow, in 1564, aged 77.
His character is variously represented by different authors, and certainly appears not to have been very consistent. Bayle observes, that the confession he made publicly, on the change of his religion, is remarkable. He
acknowledged, in a preface, that, if he could have continued, without danger of his life, to preach the truth,
after the manner he had preached it for some years, he
would never have laid down the habit of his order; but, as
he did not find within himself that courage which is requisite to undergo martyrdom, he took sanctuary in England,
where he probably might have remained in reputation, had
not the reformation been disturbed on the accession of
Mary. Abroad, after he had given offence to the Catvinists, the Socinians afforded him some protection for a
while, but even to them he became obnoxious, and at last
sunk into a species of heresy which the boasted charity of
Socinianism itself could not tolerate. They class him,
however, among their writers, as appears by Sandius’s
“Bibl. Anti-trinitariorum.
” His writings are rather numerous than bulky. Besides the “Dialogues,
” there are
“Italian Sermons,
” in 4 vols. printed 1543; an “Italian.
Letter to the Lords of Sienna, containing an Account of
his Faith and Doctrine;
” another, “Letter to Mutio of
Justinopolis, containing the reason of his departure from
Italy;
” “Sermons upon St. Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians,
” in Italian; “An Exposition of St. Paul’s Epistle
to the Romans,
” in Italian; “Apologues against the
abuses, errors, &c. of the Papal Synagogue, their Priests,
Monks, &c.
” in Italian, and translated into Latin by Castalio as were his “Dialogues,
” &c. &c. which last, it
may be mentioned, were answered by Beza.