His manners and behaviour were easy, affable, and courteous. He was accessible and communicative, much a friend to the younger clergy,
His manners and behaviour were easy, affable, and courteous. He was accessible and communicative, much a friend to the younger clergy, recollecting how greatly he had himself been indebted to the kindness of early patrons and was always ready to assist them in their studies and, according to their merit, to promote them in the church. He was also liberal to the poor, and generous to his relations.
, younger brother of the preceding, was born Oct. 21, 1674, at Postling in Kent, the vicarage of his
, younger brother of the preceding,
was born Oct. 21, 1674, at Postling in Kent, the vicarage
of his father, who bred this son also to the church. He
was sent to Corpus Christ! college, Oxford, in 1690, where
he soon distinguished himself by his uncommon abilities,
and extraordinary advances in classical literature. He took
the degree of M. A. in 1696, and commenced author the
same year, by the publication of his “Romas Antiquae
Notitia, or, The Antiquities of Rome; in two parts; 1. A
short History of the Rise, Progress, and Decay of the
Commonwealth. 2. A Description of the City an Account
of the Religion, Civil Government, and Art of War with
the remarkable Customs and Ceremonies, public and private with Copper Cuts of the principal Buildings, &c.
To which are prefixed, Two Essays, concerning the Roman
Learning, and the Roman Education,
” in 8vo. The dedication is addressed to his royal highness William duke of
Gloucester; and the work must have been written for his
use particularly, if any credit may be given to a report,
then at Oxford, that Mr. Ken net was to be appointed subpreceptor to that darling of the nation. This book being
very well received by the public, he was encouraged to go
on with his design of facilitating the study of classical
learning; and with this view published, in 1697, “The
Lives and Characters of the ancient Grecian Poets,
” in
8vo, which he also dedicated to the duke of Gloucester.
This, however, did not succeed so well as the “Roman
Antiquities,
” which is scarcely yet superseded in common
use. The same year he was admitted fellow of his college,
and became a tutor. About this time he entered into
orders; and, some years after, gave proofs of the progress
he had made in the study of divinity. In 1705 he published “An Exposition of the Apostles Creed, according
to bishop Pearson, in a new Method, by way of Paraphrase
and Annotations,
” in 8vo, which was followed by “An
Essay towards a Paraphrase on the Psalms, in Verse; with
a Paraphrase on the third Chapter of the Revelations,
”
The same year he was, by the interest of his brother, appointed chaplain to the English
The same year he was, by the interest of his brother,
appointed chaplain to the English factory at Leghorn;
where he no sooner arrived than he met with great opposition from the papists, and was in great danger of the
inquisition. This establishment of a church-of-England
chaplain was a new thing; and the Italians were so jealous
of the Northern heresy, that, to give as little offence as
possible, he performed the duties of his office with the
utmost privacy and caution. But, notwithstanding this,
great offence was taken at it; and complaints were immediately sent to Florence and Rome. Upon this, the pope,
and the court of inquisition at Home, declared their resolution to expel heresy, and the public teacher of it, from
the confines of the holy see; and therefore secret orders
were given to apprehend Mr. Kennet at Leghorn, and to
hurry him away to Pisa, and thence to some other religious
prison, to bury him alive, or otherwise dispose of him in
the severest manner. Upon notice of this design, Dr.
Newton, the English envoy at Florence, interposed his
offices at that court; where he could obtain no other
answer, but that “he might send for the English preacher,
and keep him in his own family as his domestic chaplain;
otherwise, if he presumed to continue at Leghorn, he must
take the consequences of it; for, in those matters of religion, the court of inquisition was superior to all civil
powers.
” The envoy communicated this answer of the
great duke to the earl of Sunderland, then secretary of
state, who sent a menacing letter by her majesty’s order;
and then the chaplain continued to officiate in safety,
though he was with much difficulty preserved from their
intended fury till that letter arrived.
of his health obliged him to think of returning to his native air. He arrived at Oxford in 1714: he was also admitted D. D. the same year. But he lived to enjoy these
He continued at Leghorn, and persevered with great
steadiness in his duty, till the bad state of his health
obliged him to think of returning to his native air. He
arrived at Oxford in 1714: he was also admitted D. D. the
same year. But he lived to enjoy these new honours a
very short time; for, his health having been much impaired
in Italy, he died of a slow fever, Jan. 1714-15. A little
before his death, he finished the preface to a volume, which
came out under the title of “Sermons on several occasions, preached before the Society of British Merchants in
foreign Parts.
” Lond.
, a very learned divine, the son of Benjamin Kennicott, parish clerk of Totnes in Devonshire, was born April 4, 1718, at that place. From his early age he manifested
, a very learned divine, the
son of Benjamin Kennicott, parish clerk of Totnes in
Devonshire, was born April 4, 1718, at that place. From
his early age he manifested a strong inclination for books,
which his father encouraged by every means within the
compass of his ability; for he had from the scanty pittance
of a parish clerk , and the profits of a small school, saved
money to purchase a very good library. Dr. Kennicott
was placed as a foundation boy under the care of Mr. Row,
then master of the grammar-school at Totnes, where he
distinguished himself by industry and regularity of conduct. At this school he continued about seven years, with
a constant wish and expectation of one day being sent to
the university. After he left Mr. Row, he became master
of the charity-school in Totnes, and occasionally added to
the small emoluments of his school by writing for the
attornies. A short poem which he wrote, entitled “Bidwell,
” recommended him to the attention of the neighbouring gentlemen; and before he was thirty, he published
a poem on the recovery of Mrs. Courtenay of Painsford.
This strongly entitled him to her favour, and subscriptions
were solicited for his support, at Oxford, to the success of
which scheme he now bent all his efforts but every exertion, on the first attempt, failed and a mind less firm than,
his, would, perhaps, have sunk under the disappointment.
Soon after, however, another subscription was set on foot,
under the auspices of the benevolent Mr. Allen of Bath,
in consequence of which, in 1744, he was entered of Wadham college, where he soon proved that he was deserving
of the patronage conferred upon him. In 1747 he produced his first performance, entitled “Two Dissertations:
the first, On the Tree of Life in Paradise, with some observations on the Creation and Fall of Man: the second,
On the Oblations of Cain and Abel,
” 8vo, printed at the
university press. To this work he prefixed a dedication,
addressed to a numerous list of benefactors, to whom h
had been indebted for his education, which speaks strongly
the language of an humble and grateful heart; and of this,
indeed, he exhibited many proofs in the course of his life.
The approbation bestowed on this performance was not
without some mixture of opposition, and some answers
appeared against it. It procured him, however, so much
reputation at Oxford, that a vacancy for a fellowship of
Exeter college occurring before he could qualify himself
to be a candidate by taking his first degree, the university,
as a mark of favour, conferred his bachelor’s degree on
him before the statutable period, and without fees. Soon,
after, he was elected fellow of Exeter college, and on the
4th of May 1750, took the degree of M. A.
At this period the university of Oxford was much tainted with disaffection to the reigning family on the
At this period the university of Oxford was much tainted
with disaffection to the reigning family on the throne, and
Tory, if not Jacobite principles, were very prevalent there,
and met with much encouragement. In the rage of party
it was not likely that any active member should escape the
disorders of the times. Mr. Kennicott adhered to the side
of government, and in consequence much of the abuse
then liberally distributed amongst the friends of what was
called the new interest, or Whig party, fell to his share,
He defended himself however with spirit and acuteness in
his “Letter to Dr. King, occasioned by his late Apology
” *,
ion; qualified by uncharactcr), behold a man born to no common reading to judge of his ow and, as it was supposed, in a newspaper then published, entitled “The Evening
right hand (I am now drawing a real of her communion; qualified by uncharactcr), behold a man born to no common reading to judge of his ow
and, as it was supposed, in a newspaper then published,
entitled “The Evening Advertiser.
” About this time he
was appointed one of the preachers at Whitehall. In January 1757, he preached before the university of Oxford
a sermon, which, being misrepresented, occasioned its
publication under the title of “Christian Fortitude.
” Between this period and
ss. It appears, when he began the study of the Hebrew language, and for several years afterwards, he was strongly prejudiced in favour of the integrity of the Hebrew
He had now employed himself for several years in
searching out and collating Hebrew Mss. It appears,
when he began the study of the Hebrew language, and
for several years afterwards, he was strongly prejudiced in
favour of the integrity of the Hebrew text; taking it for
granted that if the printed copies of the Hebrew Bible at
all differed from the originals of Moses and the prophets,
the variations were very few and quite inconsiderable. In
1748 he was convinced of his mistake, and satisfied that
there were such corruptions in the sacred volume as to
affect the sense greatly in many instances. The particular
chapter which extorted from him this conviction, was recommended to his perusal by the rev. Dr. Lowth, afterwards bishop of London. It was the 23d chapter of the
2d book of Samuel. Being thus convinced of his mistake,
he thought it his duty to endeavour to convince others;
and accordingly in 1753 published the work already mentioned. In 1758 the delegates of the press at Oxford were
recommended by the Hebrew professor to encourage,
amongst various other particulars, a collation of all those
Hebrew Mss. of the Old Testament, which were preserved in the Bodleian library; and archbishop Seeker
strongly pressed our author to undertake the task, as the
person best qualified to carry it into execution. In 176O
he was prevailed upon to give up the remainder of his life
to the arduous work, and early in that year published
“The State of the printed Hebrew text considered, Dissertation the Second,
” 8vi, in which he further enforced
of the collation he had so strenuously recommended. In the same year he published his proposals, and was immediately encouraged by a liberal subscription from the universities
himself, will cause deep distress among p. 41. the necessity of the collation he had so strenuously recommended. In the same year he published his proposals, and was immediately encouraged by a liberal subscription from the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, and Dublin; the archbishops of Canterbury, York, and Dublin many of the bishops some noblemen the principal of the dissenting ministers and various clergymen, as well as other encouragers of literature. The time he proposed to be employed in the work was ten years, and he set about to fulfil his engagement with alacrity; determining to exert the utmost of his endeavours to serve the public, and not at all doubting the generosity of the public for the reward of his labours. On the 6th of December 1761, he took the degree of B. D. and on the 10th of the same month that of D. D. In that year his majesty’s name was added to the list of annual subscribers for the sum of 200l.; and about this time he was presented to his majesty at court.
ces injudicious and inaccurate. With a postscript, occasioned by his advertizing, before this Letter was printed, that he had an Answer to it in the press,” 1761, 8vo.
The importance of the work being generally acknowledged, numberless articles of information were received
from various parts of Europe, and the learned in everyquarter seemed willing to promote the success of a plan so
apparently beneficial to the interests of revelation. Some,
however, doubted the necessity, and some the usefulness
of the undertaking; and objections soon were started by
different persons, some with a friendly view, and some
with a petulant one. Amongst others, the professor of
divinity at Cambridge, Dr. Rutherforth, published, “A
Letter to the Rev. Mr. Kennicott, in which his Defence
of the Samaritan Pentateuch is examined, and his Second
Dissertation on the State of the printed Hebrew Text of
the Old Testament is shewn to be in many instances injudicious and inaccurate. With a postscript, occasioned by
his advertizing, before this Letter was printed, that he
had an Answer to it in the press,
” An Answer to a Letter from the Rev. T. Rutherforth, D. D. F. R. S.
” &c.
This resolution he was unable to persevere in. An antagonist of superior order, whose
This resolution he was unable to persevere in. An antagonist of superior order, whose influence was too mighty
to be treated with neglect, made his appearance. This
was Dr. Warburton, bishop of Gloucester, then possessed
of all his powers, and exercising authority in the world of
letters almost without controul. This learned writer, finding an explanation of a passage in the Proverbs different
from his own sentiments, attacked the Collation of the
Hebrew Mss. in the Preface to his Doctrine of Grace,
1764, in a style not unusual with him, and calculated to
make an unfavourable impression on the public mind. To
repel the attack, Dr. Kennicott published “A Sermon
preached before the university of Oxford at St. Mary’s
church, on Sunday May 19, 1765,
” 8vo, in the notes to
which he defended himself with great spirit, and even assailed his opponent, whose reflections, he observed, with
regard to his work, were a mere fortuitous concourse of
words, of heterogeneous and incompatible meanings, which
were incapable of forming any regular system of opposition, and had therefore the benevolent faculty of destroying
One another.
In the summer of 1766 he visited Paris for the purpose of examining the Mss. in that place, and was received with the honours due to him on account of his learning
In the summer of 1766 he visited Paris for the purpose
of examining the Mss. in that place, and was received
with the honours due to him on account of his learning and
diligence, and of the utility of his undertaking. In November 1767 he was appointed by the archbishop of Canterbury, and the other electors, to the office of Radcliffe
librarian. In 1768 he published “Observations on the
First Book of Samuel, chap. vi. verse 19,
” 8vo. These
were dedicated to Dr. Lowth, the earliest and most steady
encourager of the work. They were the fruit of his visit
to Paris, and were soon after translated into French.
At length, in 1769, the important work was concluded within the period of ten years, originally promised.
At length, in 1769, the important work was concluded
within the period of ten years, originally promised. On
this occasion he published the ten annual accounts of the
progress of this laborious undertaking, by which it appeared that the whole money received from the subscribers
amounted to the sum of 9117l. 7s. 6cl. on the recital of
which Dr. Kennicott exclaims, “Reader! What a sum is
here! Let foreign nations rea,d with astonishment this story
of Britons and their king, joined by one foreign prince
and one foreign academy, voluntarily contributing for ten
years their several bounties, with a degree of public spirit
beyond all example, for the accomplishment of a work
purely subservient to the honour of revelation; a work sacred to the glory of God, and the good of mankind! And,
under the powerful influence of this view of my work, it js
impossible for me to be sufficiently thankful, either to
those xvho have honoured with their patronage me, as the
humble instrument in beginning and completing it, or to
Divine Providence for granting me life to finish it, as well
as resolution to undertake it.
” He then states, that after
deducting his income to live on during these ten years,
the money spent in collations abroad, and assistants at
home, there remained only 500l. all which was likely to
be swallowed up in further expences, which he had engaged to pay. His industry had been unremitted; his
general rule being to devote to it ten or twelve hours in a
day, and frequently fourteen; at least, he says, “This
was my practice, till such severe application became no
longer possible, through the injuries done to my constitution.
” In this final statement, he also, with proper indignation, notices some insinuations which had been thrown on
him during the progress of the work. He had declared at the
outset of his undertaking, that he had no doubt of receiving
from the public the reward of his labours. Accordingly,
on the death of Dr. Ballard, in June 1770, he was appointed a prebendary of Westminster, which in October
he exchanged for a canonry of Christ-church Oxford.
His circumstances being thus rendered easy, he entered
into the marriage state Jan. 3, 1771, with Miss Ann Chamberlayne, sister to Mr. Chamberlayne, one of the solicitors
of the treasury, a lady of learned accomplishments, who
still survives him.
ask, by the publication of the first volume of the Hebrew Bible, with the various readings; and this was followed in 1780 by the second volume, with a general dissertation,
In 1776 he gave the public the first fruits of his long and
laborious task, by the publication of the first volume of the
Hebrew Bible, with the various readings; and this was
followed in 1780 by the second volume, with a general
dissertation, which completed the work. He had enjoyed
an extraordinary share of good health until near the conclusion of his labours, when the infirmities of age impaired
his exertions, and terminated his life Aug. Is, 1783. He
was buried in Christ-church cathedral. His last employment was to prepare for the press, “Remarks on select
passages in the Old Testament; to which are added, eight
sermons;
” part was printed in his life-time, and the whole
published in 1787. In the introduction he professes himself a zealous advocate for an authorized revisal of the
English version of the Old Testament, and the great object of his work seems to be, to demonstrate the necessity
and facilitate the execution of this project; but the propriety or necessity of such an interposition of authority
has not yet appeared sufficiently obvious, and indeed the
objections to it have been generally thought insuperable,
Dr. Geddes’s attempt on the Old Testament, and a more
recent Socinian translation of the New, are unfortunate
examples of what may be done without authority. Referring to the works quoted in the note for further information on the controversies in which Dr. Kennicott’s labours
involved him, we shall add, in the words of a judicious
biographer, that if in brilliancy of genius, or elegance of
taste, he had many superiors; if in the study of Oriental
languages in general he was comparatively deficient; and
if in critical acumen, and felicity of conjecture, he stood
not in the very first rank; yet in a profound knowledge of
Hebrew, and in the persevering industry with which he
applied it to the illustration of the sacred page, he had
few equals. His collation of the Hebrew Mss. was a work
which added splendour to a great nation and an enlightened age. To the Hebrew scholar it unlocked the richest
stores of sacred philology; while, by establishing the general purity of the Hebrew text, so far as the essentials of
religion are concerned, it has confirmed the faith and hopes
f every pious Christian.
We have yet to add an anecdote very honourable to his memory. He was for many years possessed of Mynhenyote, a very valuable living
We have yet to add an anecdote very honourable to his memory. He was for many years possessed of Mynhenyote, a very valuable living in Cornwall, in the gift of the dean and chapter of Exeter, and obtained for him by his steady friend bishop Lowth. It had been his avowed intention, as soon as his great work should be finished, to reside there, at least occasionally; but when that period arrived, he was in such a state of health, that the measure was altogether unadvisable. He, therefore, with the consent of the friends of his wife, and of herself, freely and voluntarily resigned the living about a year or more before his death. Dr. Kennicott never seems to have forgotten the humble station from which the liberality of his friends first raised him; and all his future preferments seem to have exceeded his wishes. Contentment, gratitude, and sincerity, were the leading features of his character.
that of mathematical instrument maker, or, as others have reported, that of scale-maker. Whatever it was, he seems to have early abandoned it, and devoted his talents
, the son of a stay-maker at or near Watford in Hertfordshire, is said to have been brought up to some mechanical employment in London, most probably that of mathematical instrument maker, or, as others have reported, that of scale-maker. Whatever it was, he seems to have early abandoned it, and devoted his talents to the cultivation of literature, by which he supported himself during the remainder of a life which, from his unhappy temper, and irritable vanity, may be said to have passed in a state of warfare, as he was seldom without an enemy to attack or defend himself from. One account informs us that he was for some time a student at Leyden, and there received a degree of LL. D.: it was, however, more generally current that he had been indebted for this honour to some of the Scotch universities. In either case, it was not unworthily bestowed, for Dr. Kenrick was really a man of talents, and deficient only in the knowledge of making a proper use of them; it was his misfortune likewise to settle upon no regular plan of study, and to fancy himself equal to any task which his necessities imposed upon him.
The first appearance he made as an author, as far as we can trace him, was in a pamphlet, entitled “The grand question debated, or an Essay
The first appearance he made as an author, as far as we
can trace him, was in a pamphlet, entitled “The grand
question debated, or an Essay to prove that the soul of
man is not, neither can it be, immortal,
” Reply to the grand question
debated, fully proving that the soul of man is, and must
be, immortal.
” Both are superficial enough, and seem intended as a trial of that author-craft which he afterwards
so often practised, in attacking or defending himself, under
anonymous signatures, when he found no one else disposed
to do either. About the same time he published a poem
entitled“” Kapelion, or the poetical ordinary;“which was
followed in 1753, by the first of those attacks on his brethren which kept him in perpetual warfare. It was. entitled
” The Pasquinade, with notes variorum, book the first,“4to, and intended as an imitation of the Dunciad. Dr.
(afterwards sir John) Hill and Christopher Smart were the
chief heroes. This was immediately followed by another
imitation, equally unsuccessful, of Dodsley’s
” (Economy of Human Life“(which then passed for lord Chesterfield’s),
entitled
” The whole Duty of a Woman," 12mo.
ay be reckoned among the best specimens of his poetry, which is not without ease and elegance. As it was rather severely handled in the Critical Review, he defended
His “Epistles, Philosophical and Moral,
” or “Epistle
to Lorenzo,
” appeared in A Scrutiny, or the
Critics criticised.
” It was not easy for him, however, in any
shape, to vindicate what was too plainly a defence of infidelity, nor was it much excuse that it was written while under
confinement for debt. About this time he probably obtained an engagement as a writer in the Monthly Review,
which ceased in 1766, silently on the part of the proprietors of that work; but Dr. Kenrick thought the rupture of
too much consequence to be concealed, and therefore announced, in the newspapers, in 1766, “that he declined
to write any more in the Monthly Review; that he had
been author of the Appendix to that work, consisting of a
review of foreign publications, for the volumes 28 to 33
inclusive; and that he had formed connexions with several
gentlemen of the first rank in the world of letters, for establishing a literary review on a new, liberal, and independent plan,
”
6, he immediately published “A Defence of Mr. Kenrick’s Review,” under the name of “A Friend,” which was a very proper assumption, as he seldom had another. In this
This last threat he did not carry into eJFect for some
years; but, as a specimen of his “liberal and independent
” style, he published about this time (1765) “A Review of Dr. Johnson’s new edition of Shakspeare,
” which
being answered by a young man of Oxford, of the name of
Barclay, in a pamphlet called “An Examination of Mr.
Kenrick’s Review,
” A
Defence of Mr. Kenrick’s Review,
” under the name of “A
Friend,
” which was a very proper assumption, as he seldom had another. In this last year he produced his “Falstaff’s Wedding,
” a comedy, in imitation of Shakspeare,
and, as far as the language of Falstaff and his companions
are concerned, not an unpleasant one, although rather
approaching to the extravagant. It went through two
editions, but was acted only once, for a benefit. This
was followed by another comedy, “The Widowed Wife.
”
This, by Garrick’s assistance, ran through its nine nights
with some difficulty, which the author, with a degree of
gratitude peculiar to himself, attributed to the very person
to whom he had been most indebted. In 1768 he published “An Epistle to George Colman,
” “Poems, ludicrous, satirical and moral;
” and “An Epistle to James
Boswell, esq. occasioned by his having transmitted the moral writings of Dr. Johnson to Pascal Paoli.
” By all these
he acquired little reputation, and no enemies; for Colman, Johnson, and Boswell, disdained to notice him. In
1770 and 1771 he published two pieces connected with
his discovery, or pretended discovery, of the perpetual
motion the one, “An account of the Automaton, or Perpetual Motion of Orffyreus, with additional remarks, &c.
the other
” A Lecture on the Perpetual Motion,“which
he had delivered at a tavern. In all this, Dr. Kenrick was
harmlessly, if not successfully employed, and certainly
evinced a considerable knowledge of the science of mechanics. About the same time he published a translation
of the abbe Milot’s
” Elements of the History of England,“and advertised a translation of
” De Lolme on the Constitution," which we presume he did not execute.
property in new discoveries and inventions. Fancying that he had discovered the perpetual motion, he was at this time alarmed by the literary property bill; but we hear
In 1773 he collected the works of Lloyd, 2 vols. 8vo,
with a life of that unfortunate poet, remarkable for being
written without any dates. In the same year, he produced
“The Duellist,
” a comedy, acted only one night; and
published a “Dictionary
” of the English language, 4to, in
the preliminary parts of which are many shrewd and useful discussions and remarks. The little credit he had with
the world at this time must, we think, have impeded the
success of this work, in which he shews himself a philologer of no mean talents. In 1774, we find him giving lectures at the Devil tavern, which he called “A School of
Shakspeare;
” and about the same time addressed the artists and manufacturers of Great Britain respecting an
application to parliament for ascertaining the right of property in new discoveries and inventions. Fancying that
he had discovered the perpetual motion, he was at this time
alarmed by the literary property bill; but we hear no more
afterwards of his discovery.
to be published in numbers, and in 1778 a translation of Voltaire’s works. His last dramatic attempt was “The Lady of the Manor,” a comic opera, taken from Johnson’s
In January 1775, he commenced his “London Review,
”
and along with his own name, placed in the title those of
H. Reimarus, J. U. D. R. Williams, M D. E. Warner,
A. M. and the rev. S. T. Maty. Except Reimarus, we
believe it will be difficult to find these names in any list of
“gentlemen of the first rank in the world of letters.
”
Review, however, went on for some years, and contains,
from the pen of its chief author, repeated attacks upon his
brethren in every profession. It continued a few months
after his death, and then sunk into oblivion. In the same
year 1775, he began a translation of Buffon, to be published in numbers, and in 1778 a translation of Voltaire’s
works. His last dramatic attempt was “The Lady of the
Manor,
” a comic opera, taken from Johnson’s “Country
Lasses;
” and his last original publications, both of some
degree of merit, were “Observations on the marriage
contract;
” and “Observations on Jenyns’s View of the
Internal Evidence, &c.
” This last had formed an article in
his Review, whence other articles of equal ability might
be selected, were they not all contaminated by a style vituperative and malignant. In his latter days, his constitution was so much injured by inebriety, that he generally
wrote with a bottle of brandy at his elbow, which at length
terminated his career June 10, 1779, less lamented than
perhaps any person known in the literary world, yet possessed of talents which, under a steady and virtuous direction, might have procured him an honourable place among
the authors of his time.
, an ingenious artist, was born in Yorkshire, in 1685, and put apprentice to a coach-painter,
, an ingenious artist, was born in Yorkshire, in 1685, and put apprentice to a coach-painter, but, feeling the superiority of his talents, he left his master, and came up to London, where he soon proved himself worthy of encouragement and patronage. In 1710 he was sent, by the munificence of some gentlemen of his own country, to Rome, whither he accompanied Mr. Tallman. There he studied under Cavalier Luti, and in the academy gained the second prize of the second class. He also became acquainted with lord Burlington, whose sagacity discovered the rich vein of genius that had been hid even from himself; and, on their return to England in 1719, lodged him in his own house, and shewed for him all the marks of the most disinterested friendship. By his interest he was employed in various works, both as a painter in history and portrait; and yet there appear but very faint traces of that creative talent he displayed in a sister art. His portraits did not resemble the persons that sat for them. His colouring was worse than that of the most errant journeyman to the profession; and his drawing was defective, witness the hall at Wanstead, and his picture at St. Clement’s. Fie designed some of the drawings of Gay’s Fables, the prints for Spenser’s Fairy Queen, and the vignettes to the large edition of Pope’s works. In architecture, however, of the ornamental kind, he was deservedly admired he executed the temple of Venus at Stowe the earl of Leicester’s house at Holkham in Norfolk; the great hall at Mr. Pelham’s, Arlington-street; and the stair-case at lady Isabella Finch’s in Berkeley-square. Mr. Walpole considers him likewise as the inventor of modern gardening, in which it is certain that he excelled, and every thing in that branch has been since his time more natural, graceful, and pleasing. By the patronage of the dukes of Grafton and Newcastle, Mr. Pelham, and the earl of Burlington, he was made master-carpenter, architect, keeper of the pictures, and, after the death of Jervas, principal painter to the crown; the whole, including a pension of 100l. a year, which was given him for his works at Kensington, produced 600l. a year. In 1743 he was disordered in his eyes, but recovered, and in March 1748 an inflammation in his bowels put an end to his life at Burlington-house, April 12, 1748, aged sixty-three years. He was buried in lord Burlington’s vault at Chiswick.
, lord chief justice of the King’s Bench, was born at Gredington, in Flintshire, 1733 and was the eldest surviving
, lord chief justice of the
King’s Bench, was born at Gredington, in Flintshire,
1733 and was the eldest surviving son of Lloyd Kenyon,
esq. originally of Bryno in the same county, and one of
the younger sons of the ancient family of Kenyon of
Peele in Lancashire. He received the elementary part of
his education at Ruthen in Denbighshire, whence he was
taken, at an early age, and articled to Mr. W. J. Tomlinson, an eminent attorney at Nantwich, in Cheshire. On
the expiration of his articles, Mr. Kenyon determined to
enter into a line which afforded a more ample scope to his
industry and talents, and, accordingly, became a member
of the Society of Lincoln’s Inn, in Trinity Term 1754, and
after a sedulous application to the requisite studies, was
called to the bar in Hilary Term 1761. In the early part
of his professional career, his advancement was but slow;
he was unassisted by those means which powerful connexion and interest afford. The branch of his profession to
which he chiefly applied himself, that of conveyancing,
was not calculated to bring him forward into public notice;
but the sterling merit of genuine abilities and persevering
industry were not to be overlooked. He rose gradually
into practice; few opinions at the bar, at the time, carried
more weight and authority, and he was frequently recurred to as an advocate. In 1773, he formed a matrimonial
connexion with his relative, Mary, the third daughter of
George Kenyon, of Peele and, not long after, contracted
an intimacy with Mr. afterwards lord Thurlow and chancellor. About this period too, and for some years after,
his practice in the Courtof Chancery was very extensive
and of the most lucrative kind, by which, as well as in the
other branches of his profession, he acquired a very considerable property. In 1780, a circumstance occurred
which not a little contributed to establish his reputation as
an advocate and a public speaker, his being employed as
leading counsel for the defence of the late lord George
Gordon, on a charge of high treason; on this interesting
occasion his second was Mr. now lord Erskine, who on
that day distinguished himself in such a manner as in a great
degree laid the foundation of his future fame. In April
1782, soon after the accession of the Rockingham party to
ministerial power, Mr. Kenyon was, without serving the intermediate office of solfcitor, appointed to the important
situation of attorney-general, and, at the same time, chief
justice of Chester; in the former office he succeeded the
late James Wallis, esq. The circumstance of his direct
promotion to the office of attorney-general was regarded
as a singular instance; this however is erroneous, similar
promotions have before occurred, and the case of sir Edward Law (the late attorney-general, now lord Ellenborough, his successor as lord chief justice), is a recent
instance. In parliament Mr. Kenyon took a decided part
in politics, warmly attaching himself to the party of Mr.
Pitt; and distinguishing himself not a little by his speeches
on the noted affair of the coalition, Mr. Fox’s India-bill,
&c. In March 1784 he was appointed master of the rolls,
an office of high judicial dignity, and generally leading to
still higher legal honours; yet its emoluments fell very
short of those which he necessarily relinquished by discontinuing his professional pursuits as a counsel. About this
time he was created a baronet. In this situation sir Lloyd
Kenyon continued till the latter end of May 1788, when,
on the resignation of the venerable earl of Mansfield, who,
for the long interval of thirty-two years, had held the honourable and very important office of chief justice of the
court of KingVbench, he was appointed to succeed him,
and at the same time was elevated to the peerage, by the
title of lord Kenyon, baron of Gredington in the county
of Flint. He was now fixed in a situation, which, though
not nominally the highest, is perhaps the most important
office in the administration of the law of this country; and
lord Kenyon furnished an instance nearly as striking as
that of the illustrious Hardwicke, that the profession of the
law is that which, of all others, affords the fairest opportunies for the exertion of genuine talents and persevering
industry; whether the object be the gratification of ambition in the attainment of the highest honours in the state,
or the possession of abundant wealth. His conduct in
those arduous and important situations attracted and
fixed the applauses and gratitude of his countrymen. He
was distinguished for his laudable, firm, and persevering
exertions to keep the channels of the law clear and unpolluted by low and sordid practices, which were particularly
exemplified in the vigilant and salutary exercise of his authority over the attorneys of his own court, the utility of
which has been experienced in a very considerable degree.
Nor was he less distinguished for his zeal in the cause of
morality and virtue, which most conspicuously appeared in
his conduct with respect to cases of adultery and seduction. On these occasions neither rank, wealth, nor station, could shield deliquency from the well-merited censure
and rebuke of offended justice and morality. Though
much, unhappily, remains to be done, yet his lordship’s
exertions, combined with those of some of the most virtuous and exalted characters of the upper House of Parliament, have contributed greatly, notwithstanding the acknowledged inadequacy and imperfection of the law in these
respects, to restrain the fashionable and prevailing vices
alluded to. What likewise redounded to the honour of his
lordship’s magisterial character, was the strictness, not to
say severity, with which he administered the justice of the
law against the pernicious tribe of gamblers of every description, who have for some years infested the metropolis.
On these occasions, as well as in those above mentioned,
the conduct of this truly virtuous judge was such as incontrovertibly shewed that “the law is no respecter of
persons;
” and his persevering exertions to restrain the destructive vice of gaming have been attended with no inconsiderable degree of success. Nor should we omit to mention the very laudable spirit and firmness, which on all occasions he evinced in maintaining due order and decorum
in his court. It was justly said of him, that though he
might not equal in talents or eloquence the pre-eminent
character whom he succeeded on the bench of justice; nevertheless, he possessed qualities mor*e appropriate to, and
knowledge more connected with, the important office which
he held. Profound in legal erudition, patient in judicial
discrimination, and of the most determined integrity, he
added no common lustre to his exalted station. He did
not sacrifice his official to his parliamentary character; the
sphere of his particular duty was the great scene of his
activity, as of his honour; and though, as a lord of parliament, he never lessened his character, it was as a judge
that he aggrandized it. In private life, the character of
lord Kenyon was amiable and praise- worthy in the highest
degree no man could excel him in the relations of husband and father in the former he may be considered as a
pattern of conjugal virtue. In his mode of living he was
remarkably temperate and regular; while the gratuitous
assistance in his professional capacity, which it was well
known he had often afforded to necessitous and injured individuals, is a proof that a fondness for money was not a
prevailing trait in his character. He died at Bath, April
2, 1802, supposed to be worth 300,000l. all acquired by
his own professional exertions, and a rigid spirit of economy. Lord Kenyon had issue by his lady, three sons;
Lloyd, born in 1775, whom his father appointed to the
office of filazer of the Court of King’s-bench; but who
died in 1800. The manner in which his lordship was affected by this melancholy event, is supposed, in some degree, to have accelerated his own dissolution. Secondly,
George, the present lord Kenyon, born in 1776. His lordship was appointed by his late father to the very lucrative
situation of joint chief clerk of the Court of King’s-bench,
on the demise of the late earl of Mansfield, better known
as lord viscount Stormont, and joined in the patent with
the late John Waye, esq. And, thirdly, the hon. Thomas
Kenyon, born in 1780,
, the greatest astronomer perhaps that any age has produced, was born at Wiel in the dutchy of Wirtemberg, Dec. 27, 1571. His
, the greatest astronomer perhaps that
any age has produced, was born at Wiel in the dutchy of
Wirtemberg, Dec. 27, 1571. His father, Henry Kepler,
was descended from a family which had raised themselves
under the emperors by their military services, and was
himself an officer of rank in the army; but afterwards, experiencing ill fortune, was obliged to sell all he had, and
support himself and his family by keeping a public-house.
He died in 1590, and' left his son John without provision.
His education had be^n therefore neglected, but, by the
favour of his prince, he was enabled to enter upon his
studies in philosophy at Tubingen, immediately upon his
father’s death, and, two years after, pursued the mathematics in the same university, under the famous Michael
Maestlinus, an astronomer of eminence, and of the Copernican school, but at this time Kepler informs us he had. no
particular predilection for astronomy. His passion was rather for studies more fluttering to the ambition of a youthful mind; and when his prince selected him, in 1591, to
fill the vacant astronomical chair, it was purely from deference to his authority, and the persuasions of Masstlinu,
who had high expectations from his talents, that he reluctantly accepted of the office. He appears to have thought
it unsuitable to his pretensions; and the state of astronomy
was besides so low, uncertain, and in many respects visionary, that he had no hope of attaining to eminence in it.
But what he undertook with reluctance, and as a temporary provision conferred on a dependant by his prince,
soon engaged his ardour, and engrossed almost his whole
attention. The first fruit? of his application to astronomical studies appeared in his “Mysterium Cosmographicum,
”
published about two years after his settlement in Gratz;
and hasty and juvenile as this production was, it displayed
so many marks of genius, and such indefatigable patience
in the toil of calculation, that on presenting it to Tycho
Brahe, it procured him the esteem of that illustrious astronomer, and even excited his anxiety for the proper direction of talents go uncommon. Accordingly, not contented
with exhorting Kepler to prefer the road of observation to
the more uncertain one of theory, Tycho added an invitation to live with him at Uraniburg, where his whole observations should be open to Kepler’s perusal, and those advantages provided for making others, which his situation
at Gratz denied. This after some time was accepted.
In 1597, Kepler entered into the married state, which
at first created him great uneasiness, from a dispute which
arose about his wife’s fortune; and, the year after, he was
banished from Gratz on account of his religion, but afterwards recalled, and restored to his former dignity. However, the growing troubles and confusions of that place
inclined him to think of a residence elsewhere; and he
now determined to accept T. Brahe’s invitation, and accordingly left the university of Gratz, and removed into
Bohemia with his family in 1600. In his journey he was
seized with a quartan ague, which continued seven or eight
months; and prevented his profiting by Tycho’s kindness,
and, what was worse, some petty differences interrupted
their connection. Kepler was offended at Tycho, for refusing some services to his family, which he had occasion
for: he was also dissatisfied with his reserved ness; for,
Tycho did not communicate to him all that he knew; and,
as he died in 1601, he did not give Kepler time to be very
useful to him, or to receive any considerable advantages
from him. Before his death, however, he introduced him
to the emperor Rodolphus at Prague (for, it was upon this condition that Kepler had consented to leave Gratz),
who received him very kindly, and made him his mathematician, upon condition that he should serve Tycho as an
arithmetician. From that time Kepler enjoyed the title of
mathematician to the emperor all his life, and gained more
and more reputation every year by his works. Rodolphus
ordered him to finish the tables begun by Tycho, which
were to be called the “Rodolphine Tables
” and he applied himself very vigorously to this work but such difficulties arose in a short time, partly from the nature
of it, and partly from the delay of the treasurers, that
the tables were not finished and published till 1627.
He complained, that, from 1602 and 1603, he. was looked
upon by the treasurers with a very invidious eye; and
when, in 1609, he had published a noble specimen o/
the work, and the emperor had given orders that, besides
the expence of the edition, he should immediately be
paid the arrears of his pension, which, he said, amounted
to 2000 crowns, and likewise 2000 more; yet, that it was
not till two years after, that the generous orders of Rodolphus, in his favour, were put in execution. He met with
no less discouragement from the financiers under the emperoc Matthias, than under Rodolphus; and therefore,
after struggling with poverty for ten years at Prague, began to think of quitting his quarters again. He was then
fixed at Lints by the emperor Matthias, who appointed
him a salary from the states of Upper Austria, which was
paid for sixteen years. In 1613 he went to the assembly
at Ratisbon, to assist in the reformation of the calendar;
but returned to Lints, where he continued to 1626. In
November of that year, he went to Ulm, in order to publish the “Rodolphine Tables;
” and afterwards, in Ephemerides;
” fot
the first had been published at Lints in
Why the dimensions of their orbits were such as Copernicus had described from observations? And what was the analogy or law of their revolutions? He sought for the reasons
Kepler had a particular passion for finding analogies
and harmonies in nature, after the manner of the Pythagoreans and Platonists; and to this disposition we owe such
valuable discoveries, as are more than sufficient to excuse
his conceits. Three things, he tells us, he anxiously
sought to find out the reason of, from his early youth viz.
Why the planets were six in number? Why the dimensions of their orbits were such as Copernicus had described
from observations? And what was the analogy or law of
their revolutions? He sought for the reasons of the two
first of these, in the properties of numbers and plane
figures, without success. But at length reflecting, that
while the plane regular figures may be infinite in number,
the regular solids are only five, as Euclid had long ago
demonstrated: he imagined, that certain mysteries in nature might correspond with this remarkable limitation inherent in the essences of things; and the rather, as he
found that the Pythagoreans had made great use of those
five regular solids in their philosophy. He therefore endeavoured to find some relation between the dimensions of
these solids and the intervals of the planetary spheres >
thus, imagining that a cube, inscribed in the sphere of
Saturn, would touch by its six planes the sphere of Jupiter; and that the other four regular solids in like manner
fitted the intervals that are between the spheres of the
other planets: he became persuaded that this was the true
reason why the primary planets were precisely six in number, and that the author of the world had determined their
distances from the sun, the centre of the system, from a
regard to this analogy. Being thus possessed, as ha
thought, of the grand secret of the Pythagoreans, and
greatly pleased with his discovery, he published it, as we
have already observed, under the title of “Mysterium
Cosmographicum;
” and was for some time so charmed with
it, that he said he would not give up the honour of having
invented what was contained in that book, for the electorate of Saxony. Tycho Brahe, however, gave him advice
on the subject, which altered his opinion, and to which we
are indebted for the more solid discoveries of Kepler.
This great man, soon after the death of Tycho, found that
astronomers had erred from the first rise of the science, in
ascribing always circular orbits and uniform motions to the
planets and he discovered that each of them moves in an
ellipsis, which has one of its foci in the centre of the sun
that the motion of each is really unequable, and varies in
such a manner, that “a ray supposed to be always drawn
from the planet to the sun describes equal areas in equal
times.
” It was some years later before he discovered the
analogy that there is between the distances of the several
planets from the sun, and the periods in which they complete their revolutions. He has, however, left it upon
record, that on the 15th of May, 1618, he found that “the
squares of the periodic times are always in the same proportion as the cubes of the mean distances from the sun.
”
When Kepler saw, according to better observations, that
his disposition of the five regular solids among the planetary spheres was not agreeable to the intervals between their
orbits, he endeavoured to discover other schemes of harmony. For this purpose, he compared the motions of the
same planet at its greatest and least distances, and of the
different planets in their different orbits, as they would appear viewed from the sun; and here he fancied that he had
found a similitude to the divisions of the octave in music.
Of these notions, which are wholly unfounded in nature,
he was so fond, that hearing of the discovery of the four
satellites of Jupiter by Galileo, he owns that his first reflections were from a concern how he could save his favourite scheme, which was threatened by this addition to
the number of the planets. The same attachment led him
into a wrong judgment concerning the sphere of the fixed
stars: for being obliged, by his doctrine, to allow a vast
superiority to the sun in the universe, he restrains the fixed
stars within very narrow limits; nor did he consider them
as suns placed in the centres of their several systems, having planets revolving round them.
his preface to the Commentaries concerning the planet Mars, he speaks of gravity as of a power that was mutual between bodies, and tells us, that the earth and moon
Kepler’s great sagacity, and continual meditations en the planetary motions, suggested to him some views of the true principles from which these motions flow. In his preface to the Commentaries concerning the planet Mars, he speaks of gravity as of a power that was mutual between bodies, and tells us, that the earth and moon tend towards each other, and would meet in a point, so many times nearer to the earth than to the moon, as the earth is greater than the moon, if their motions did nqt hinder it. He adds, that the tides arise from the gravity of the waters towards the moon. But not having notions sufficiently just of the laws of motion, it seems he was not able to make the best use of these thoughts; nor does it appear that he adhered to thorn steadily, since in his Epitome of Astronomy, published many years after, he* proposes a physical account of the planetary motions, derived, from different principles.
supposed to begin at the perihelion, would cause it to ascend in a figure convex towards the sun. It was shown afterwards, from sir Isaac Newton, how an attraction or
But, now that the laws of motion are better known than
in Kepler’s time, it is easy to shew the fallacy of every
part of this account of the planetary motions. The planet
does not endeavour to stop in consequence of its inertia,
but to persevere in its motion in a right line. An attractive force makes it descend from the aphelion to the perihelion in a curve concave towards the sun: but the repelling force, which he supposed to begin at the perihelion,
would cause it to ascend in a figure convex towards
the sun. It was shown afterwards, from sir Isaac Newton, how an attraction or gravitation towards the sun,
alone produces the effects, which, according to Kepler, required both an attractive and repelling force; and
that the virtue which he ascribed to the sun’s image, propagated into the planetary regions, is unnecessary, as it
could be of no use for this effect, though it were admitted.
For now his own prophecy, with which he concludes his
book, is verified; where he tells us, that “the discovery
of such things was reserved for the succeeding ages, when
the author of nature would be pleased to reveal these
mysteries.
”
, a celebrated English admiral, the second son of William earl of Albemarle, was born April 2, 1725. He entered the sea-service while he was
, a celebrated English admiral,
the second son of William earl of Albemarle, was born
April 2, 1725. He entered the sea-service while he was
young, accompanied commodore Anson round the world,
and by the zeal which he manifested in his profession, was
raised to the first honours which it had to bestow. The
most important occurrence in his life took place in 1778,
when he had the command of the channel fleet, to which
he had been appointed at the personal and urgent solicitation of the king, and which he readily accepted, though he
could not help observing, that “his forty years’ services
were not marked by any favour from the crown, except
that of its confidence in the time of danger.
” On the 12th
of July he fell in with the French fleet, under count d'Orvilliers, off Ushant: an engagement ensued, which, though
partial, was very warm while it lasted. It was necessary
to take a short time to repair the damages: which being
done, the admiral made proper signals for the van and
rear division to take their respective stations. This order
was obeyed with great alacrity by sir Robert Harland of
the van, but admiral sir Hugh Palliser of the rear took no
notice of the signal, and refused to join his commander,
till night prevented a renewal of the battle. The French,
taking advantage of the darkness, escaped to their own.
coast. Admiral Keppel, willing to excuse sir Hugh Palliser, at least to screen him from public resentment, wrote
home such a letter as seemed even to imply great impropriety of behaviour in the commander himself. The conduct, however, of the rear-admiral was attacked in the
public papers: he demanded of his commander a formal
disavowal of the charges brought against him, which Keppel indignantly refused. He immediately exhibited articles of accusation against the commander-in-chief, for misconduct and neglect of duty, although he had a second
time sailed with him, and had never uttered a syllable to
his prejudice. The lords of the admiralty instantly fixed
a day for the trial of admiral Keppel, who was most
honourfcbly acquitted, and received the thanks of both houses of
parliament for his services. Palliser was next tried, and
escaped with a censure only, but the resentment of the
public was so great, that he was obliged to resign several
offices which he held under government, and to vacate his
seat in parliament. The acquittal of Keppel was celebrated with the most magnificent illuminations, and other
marks of rejoicing which had never been known at that
time in this country; and the houses of lord Sandwich,
first lord of the admiralty, and sir Hugh Palliser, were
with difficulty saved from destruction; the windows and
much of the furniture being demolished by the fury of the
populace. In 1782, admiral Keppel was raised to a peerage, with the titles of viscount Keppel baron Elden: he
was afterwards, at two different periods, appointed first
lord of the admiralty. He died Oct. 3, 1786, unmarried,
and of course his titles became extinct He was a thorough
seaman, and a man of great integrity and humanity.
, a learned professor of the university of Louvain, was born in the neighbourhood of Maestricht, about the year 1673.
, a learned professor
of the university of Louvain, was born in the neighbourhood of Maestricht, about the year 1673. He pursued his
academical studies at Louvain, and distinguished himself
during several years for his accurate and comprehensive
knowledge of history and the belles-lettres. In 1708 he
was appointed historiographer to the emperor Joseph I.
and died in 1738. He was author of many works in general
history and theology, of which the principal are entitled,
“De Monarchia Romae Paganae secundum Concordiam
inter S S. Prophetas Danielem et Joannem,
” &c. and “Prodromus Danielicus, sive novi Conatus historici, critici, in
ceieberrimas difficultates Historiae Veteris Testamenti.
”
These pieces are distinguished by profound erudition and
great critical acumen, and are said to throw much light on
many obscure passages in the Scriptures relating to history,
chronology, and geography. He also published a Latin
grammar, and a number of Latin poems.
, an English divine, remarkable for piety and learning, was born at North-Allerton in Yorkshire, March 10, 1653. He was
, an English divine, remarkable
for piety and learning, was born at North-Allerton in Yorkshire, March 10, 1653. He was grounded in classical
learning in the free-school of that town, and sent to St.
Edmund Hall, Oxford, in 1670. Five years after, he
was chosen fellow of Lincoln college, through the interest
of Mr. George Hickes, who was fellow of the same, where
he became eminent as a tutor. He entered into orders as
soon as he was of sufficient age, and distinguished himself
early by an uncommon knowledge in divinity. He was
very young when he wrote his celebrated book, entitled
“Measures of Christian Obedience:
” he composed it in
Model of a fund of charity for the needy
suffering, that is, the nonjuring, clergy:
” but being naturally of a tender and delicate frame of body, and inclined
to a consumption, he fell into that distemper in his 42d
year, and died April 12, 1695, at his lodgings in Gray’s-inn
Jane. He was buried, three days after, in the same grave
where archbishop Laud was before interred, in the parish
church of Allhallows- Barking, where a neat marble monument is erected to his memory. Mr. Nelson, who must
needs have known him very well, has given this great and
noble character of him, in a preface to his “Five Discourses/' &c. a piece printed after his decease
” He was
learned without pride wise and judicious without cunning;
he served at the altar without either covetousness or ambition he was devout without affectation sincerely religious
without moroseness courteous and affable without flattery
or mean compliances just without rigour charitable
without vanity and heartily zealous for the interest of
religion without faction.“His works were collected and
printed in 1718, in two volumes, folio they are all upon
religious subjects, unless his
” Measures of Christian Obedience,“and some tracts upon
” New Oaths,“and the
” Duty of Allegiance," &c. should be rather considered as
of a political nature.
, a learned antiquary of Germany, and fellow of the royal society in London, was born in 1689, at Thournau, a town belonging to the counts of
, a learned antiquary of Germany, and fellow of the royal society in London, was born in 1689, at Thournau, a town belonging to the counts of Giech. His father, who was of the count’s council, took an extraordinary care of his education; and, after a suitable preparation, sent him to the university of Halle, where he applied himself chiefly to the civil law; not neglecting, in the mean time, the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew languages, history, antiquity, and the sciences. Soon after he left Halle, he was invited to be preceptor to Charles Maximilian and Christian Charles, counts of Giech-Buchau, with whom, in 1713, he returned thither, and afterwards attended them in their travels. The first place of note they visited was Utrecht, where he became acquainted with the learned Reland, who, discerning his uncommon capacity and particular turn, advised him to undertake an accurate history of the antiquities of his country. Keysler visited the chief cities of Germany, France, and the Netherlands, with his two young counts; and gained great reputation among the learned, by illustrating, as he went along, several monuments of antiquity, particularly some fragments of Celtic idols, then lately discovered in the cathedral of Paris.
ving 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
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.
tzerland, and Italy; and then returned to Vienna, where they spent three months. Their next progress was in Upper Hungary, Bohemia, and other parts of Germany. In 1731
After the two young barons Bernstorf had been ten years
under his care, he went with them to Tubingen, at which
university they remained a year and a half. Then they
set out on a grand tour, visiting the upper part of Germany, Switzerland, and Italy; and then returned to Vienna, where they spent three months. Their next progress was in Upper Hungary, Bohemia, and other parts
of Germany. In 1731 they passed through Lorrain into
France, thence crossed the channel into England, and made
Holland the last stage of their travels. From this tour proceeded a large and entertaining work, which has been
translated into English, in 4 vols. 4to and 8vo, and published
under the following title, “Travels through Germany,
Bohemia, Hungary, Switzerland, Italy, and Lorrain;
giving a true and just description of the present state of
those countries; their natural, literary, and political history, manners, laws, commerce, manufactures, painting,
sculpture, architecture, coins, antiquities, curiosities of
art and nature, &c. illustrated with copper- plates engraven
from drawings taken on the spot. By John George Keysler, F. R. S. Carefully translated from the second edition
of the German, Lend. 1756,
”
Keysler, after his return, spent the remainder of his
days under the patronage and protection of his noble pupils,
who committed to his care their fine library and museum,
and allowed him a very handsome income. He led a
happy tranquil life, declining all public employment,
keeping himself single that he might not be incumbered
with family affairs, and chiefly conversing with the illustrious dead, who were the companions of his retirement.
He died in his fifty-fourth year, June 20, 1743, of an
asthma, after viewing with intrepidity the gradual approach
of death.
, a very learned English bishop, was born, as Wood says, at Brighthelmstone in Sussex, but as others
, a very learned English bishop,
was born, as Wood says, at Brighthelmstone in Sussex, but
as others say, in Suffolk. In June 1649, he was admitted
sizar in Emanuel -college, Cambridge, where he took his degree of A. B. 1652, was elected fellow in 1655, and took his
degree of A. M. in 1656. He was presented by his college to the vicarage of Stanground, in Huntingdonshire;
from which he was ejected for nonconformity, in 1662, by
virtue of the Bartholomew act; but conforming soon after,
he was presented by Arthur earl of Essex to the rectory 01
Raine, in Essex, 1664. Here he continued till 1674,
when he was presented to the rectory of St. Martin’s Outwicb, London, by the Merchant-tailors company. In
September 1681, he was installed into a prebend of Norwich; and in 1689 made dean of Peterborough, in the
room of Simon Patrick, promoted to the see of Chichester.
On this occasion he took the degree of D. D. Upon the
deprivation of Ken, bishop of Bath and Wells, for not
taking the oaths to king William and queen Mary, and
Beveridge’s refusal of that see, Kidder was nominated in
June 1691, and consecrated the August following. In
1693 he preached the lecture founded by the honourable
Robert Boyle, being the second that preached it. His
sermons on that occasion are inserted in his “Demonstration of the Messias,
” in three parts; the first of which
was published in 1694, the second in 1699, and the third
in 1700, 8vo. It is levelled against the Jews, whom the
author was the better enabled to combat from his great
knowledge of the Hebrew and oriental languages, for
which he had long been celebrated. He wrote also, “A
Commentary on the Five Books of Moses; with a Disser
tation concerning the author or writer of the said books,
and a general argument to each of them.
” This commentary was published in 1694, in two volumes, 8vo; and the
reader in the preface is thus acquainted with the occasion
of it: “Many years are now passed since a considerable
number of the London clergy met together, and agreed
to publish some short notes upon the whole Bible, for the
use of families, and of all those well-disposed persons
that desired to read the Holy Scriptures to their greatest
advantage. At that meeting they agreed upon this worthy
design, and took their several shares, and assigued some
part to them who were absent. I was not present at that
meeting; but I was soon informed that they had assigned
to me the Pentateuch. The work was begun with common
consent; we did frequently meet; and what was done
was communicated from time to time to those that met together and were concerned. The methods of proceeding
had been adjusted and agreed to; a specimen was printed,
and an agreement was made when it should be put to the
press. I finished my part in order thereto; but so it fell
out, that soon after all this, the clouds began to gather
apace, and there was great ground to fear that the popish
party were attempting to ruin the church of England.
Hence it came to pass that the thoughts of pursuing this
design were laid aside; and those that were concerned in
it were now obliged to turn their studies and pens against
that dangerous enemy. During this time, also, some of
the persons concerned in this work were taken away by
death; and thus the work was hindered, that might else
have been finished long since. I, having drawn up my
notes upon this occasion, do now think myself obliged to
make them public,
” &c. To the first volume is prefixed
a dissertation, in which he sets down, and answers all the
objections made against Moses being the author of the
Pentateuch; and having considered, among the rest, one
objection drawn by Le Clerc, from Gen. xxxvi. 31, and
spoken in pretty severe terms of him, some letters passed
between them, which were printed by Le Clerc in his
“Bibliotheque Choisie.
” Dr. Kidder had likewise borne
a part in the popish controversy, during which he published the following tracts: 1 “A Second Dialogue between a new Catholic Convert and a Protestant; shewing
why he cannot believe the doctrine of Transubstantiation,
though he do firmly believe the doctrine of the Trinity.
”
2. “An Examination of Bellarmine’s Thirtieth note of the
Church, of the Confession of Adversaries.
” 3. “The
Texts which Papists cite out of the Bible for the proof of
their Doctrine, `of the Sacrifice of the Mass,' examined.
”
4. “Reflections on a French Testament, printed at Bourdeaux, 1686, pretended to be translated out of the Latin
by the divines of Louvain.
” He published also several
sermons and tracts of the devotional kind.
This prelate died Nov. 1703, in his palace at Wells, and was privately bur- ed in the cathedral. Through a most unhappy accident,
This prelate died Nov. 1703, in his palace at Wells, and was privately bur- ed in the cathedral. Through a most unhappy accident, in the night between the 26th and 27th of that month, he was killed in his bed, with his lady, by the fall of a stack of chimneys, occasioned by the great storm. It is reported that his heirs were sued for dilapidations! He was a very clear, elegant, learned writer; and one of the best divines of his time.
of the same family too. The first we meet with, is Catharine, the daughter of sir Anthony Cooke, who was born at Giddy-hall, in Essex, about 1530; and married to Henry
, an English name for many ingenious
persons of both sexes, and of the same family too. The
first we meet with, is Catharine, the daughter of sir Anthony Cooke, who was born at Giddy-hall, in Essex, about
1530; and married to Henry Killigrew, esq. a Cornish
gentleman of good abilities, who, for the service he did
his country in the quality of an ambassador, was knighted.
This lady having the advantages of an excellent education,
joined to an elegant natural genius, became, like many
other ladies her contemporaries, very learned. She understood the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin tongues, and was
famous for her skill in poetry; a small specimen of which
is preserved by sir John Harrington, in his notes to the
translation of “Ariosto;
” and by Fuller, in his “Worthies.
”
, descended from this family, was the eldest son of sir Robert Killigrew, knt. and born at Han
, descended from this family,
was the eldest son of sir Robert Killigrew, knt. and born at
Han worth in Middlesex, 1605. He became a gentlemancommoner of St. John’s college, Oxford, in 1622; where
continuing about three years, he travelled abroad, and,
after his return, was made governor of Pendennis castle,
and of Falmouth haven, in Cornwall. After this he was
called to attend Charles I. as one of the gentlemen-ushers
of his privy-chamber; in which employment he continued
till the breaking out of the civil wnrs, and then had the
command given him of one of the two great troops of horse
that guarded the king’s person. He was in attendance
upon the king when the court resided at Oxford, and was
created doctor of civil law in 1642; and, when the king’s
affairs were ruined, he suffered as the other cavaliers did,
and compounded with the republicans for his estate. Upon
the restoration of Charles II. he was made gentleman- usher
of the privy chamber again and, on that king’s marriage,
was created his first vice-chamberlain, in which station he
continued twenty-two years. He died in 1693, and was
buried in Westminster-abbey. He was the author of four
plays, which were printed at Oxford, 1666, in folio, and
have been applauded by men very eminent in poetry; particularly by Waller, who addresses a copy of verses to him
upon his altering “Pandora
” from a tragedy into a comedy,
because not approved on the stage. There is another play
ascribed to him, called “The Imperial Tragedy,
” The artless midnight Thoughts of a gentleman at court,
who for many years built on sand, which every blast of
cross fortune has defaced, but now has laid new foundations
on the rock of his salvation,
” Midnight and daily Thoughts,
in prose and verse,
”
, brother of the former, was born in 1611, and distinguished also by uncommon natural parts.
, brother of the former, was
born in 1611, and distinguished also by uncommon natural
parts. He was page of honour to Charles I, and groom of
the bed-chamber to Charles II, with whom he had suffered many years exile. During his abode beyond sea,
he took a view of France, Italy, and Spain; and was honoured by his majesty with the employment of resident at
the state of Venice, whither he was sent in Aug. 1651. In
this absence from his country he applied his leisure hours
to poetry, and the composition of several plays; of which
sir John Denham, in a jocular way, takes notice in his
poem on our author’s return from his embassy to Venice.
Though Deuham mentions but six, our author wrote nine
plays in his travels, and two at London; all which were
printed, with his picture before them, in one volume folio,
at London, 1664. There is, besides these plays of his,
“A Letter concerning the possessing and dispossessing of
several Nuns in the Nunnery at Tours, in France;
” dated
Orleans, Dec. the 7th, 1635, and printed in three sheets
folio. He died in 1682, and was buried in Westminsterabbey. He had been twice married. He was a man of an
uncommon vein of humour, with which he used to divert
Charles II.; who, on that account, was fonder of him than
of his best ministers, and would give him access to his
presence when he denied it to them. It was usually said
of him, that, when he attempted to write, he was nothing
compared to what he was in conversation; which was just
the reverse of Cowley, who shone but little in company,
though he excelled so much with his pen. Hence Denbam, who knew them both, has taken occasion thus to
characterize their respective excellencies and defects:
, brother of the former, was born in 1612, educated in grammar learning under the celebrated
, brother of the former, was born
in 1612, educated in grammar learning under the celebrated Farnaby, and sent to Christ Church, Oxford, in
1628. In 1638, having taken his degrees in arts, he went
into orders, and became a chaplain in the king’s army. In
1642 he was created doctor of divinity; and the same year
made chaplain to James duke of York, and prebendary of
Westminster. Afterwards he suffered as an adherent in
the king’s cause; but, at the restoration, was made almoner to the duke of York, superintendant to the affairs
of his chapel, rector of Wheathamstead, in Hertfordshire,
and master of the Savoy hospital in Westminster. He
wrote, when only seventeen years of age, a tragedy called
41 The Conspiracy,“which was admired by some wits of
those times; particularly by Ben Jonson, then living,
4t who gave a testimony of it (says Langbaine) even to be
envied,
” and by lord Falkland. An imperfect copy of this
appearing in 1638, he afterwards caused it to be republished in 1652, with the new title of “Pallantus and Eudora.
” He published a volum of sermons, which had
been preached at court in 1685, 4to; and also "two or
three occasional sermons. The year of his death does not
appear.
, “a Grace for beauty, and a Muse for wit,” as Wood says, was the daughter of Henry Killigrew, just recorded; and born in
, “a Grace for beauty, and a Muse
for wit,
” as Wood says, was the daughter of Henry Killigrew, just recorded; and born in London, a little before
the restoration. She gave the earliest discoveries of genius; which being improved by a polite education, she
became eminent in the arts of poetry and painting. Dry.
den seems quite lavish in her commendation; but Wood
assures us that he has not said any thing of her which she
was not equal, if not superior to. She was a great proficient in the art of painting, and painted a portrait of the
duke of York, afterwards James 11. and also of the duchess,
to whom she was a maid of honour; which pieces are
highly applauded by Dryden. She drew several historypieces, also some portraits for her diversion, and likewise
some pieces of still-life. Mr. Becket did her picture in
mezzotinto, after her own painting, which is prefixed to
her poems. To these accomplishments she joined an exemplary piety, and unblemished virtue. This amiable woman died of the small-pox, June 1685, when only in her
25th year; on which occasion Dryden wrote an ode to her
memory. The year after were printed and published her
“Poems,
” in a large thin quarto, which, besides the publisher’s preface, and Dryden’s ode, contains an hundred
pages. She was buried in the Savoy chapel, where is a
very neat monument fixed in the wall, with a Latin inscription on it, commemorating her beauty, accomplishments,
virtue, and piety.
, a dissenting divine, was born at Wantage in Berkshire, Dec. 1, 1692, and was educated
, a dissenting divine, was born at
Wantage in Berkshire, Dec. 1, 1692, and was educated at
a private grammar-school in Wantage, under the rev. Mr.
Sloper, an excellent scholar, who was also tutor to bishop
Butler. At this school, Mr. Kimber made considerable
progress in Greek and Latin, after which, turning his
thoughts to the ministry, he went to London to complete
his knowledge of the languages under professor Ward of
Gresham-college, and also to attend the dissenting academy under the rev. John Eames. For some, time after he
was admitted into the ministry, he had little encouragement; and having married, he found it necessary to employ his pen for a subsistence. One of his first productions was “The Life of Oliver Cromwell/' 8vo, and soon
after he was concerned with Messrs. Bailey, Hodges, and
Ridpath, in compiling a
” History of England,“4 vols.
8vo, the third and fourth volumes of which were entirely
his. A few years afterwards he wrote
” The Life of bishop
Beveridge,“prefixed to the folio edition of his works, of
which he was the editor. In 1724 he was called, in
conjunction with Mr. Samuel Acton, to the pastoral charge of
Namptwich in Cheshire, but, owing to differences of opinion with his hearers, he was obliged to leave them at
the latter end of 1727. On his return to London, he
officiated, as morning preacher, or assistant, to Dr. John
Kinch, in Old Artillery-lane, and occasionally, at Pinner’s
hall, for Dr. Hunt; and was also engaged as a corrector of
the press for Mr. John Darby, and others. About the
same time he compiled a periodical pamphlet called
” The
Morning Chronicle,“which subsisted from Jan. 1728 to
May 17-32, and was then dropped. In part of this period,
he was likewise concerned with Mr. Drew of the Union
fire-office, as his assistant, and supported these various
labours with a quiet and even temper, and a cheerful mind,
though visited with a heavy affliction in his wife’s being
deprived of her reason. During the remainder of his life,
he was chiefly supported by his firm friend Mr. Charles
Akers, an eminent printer in London; In 1740 he wrote
an account of the reign of George II. which is added to
HowelTs
” Medulla Hist. Angl.“and soon afterwards an
abridgment of the History of England, in 1 vol. 8vo, 1745.
He died in 1758, about which time a volume of his ce Sermons
” was printed, with an account of his life, from which
the preceding particulars are taken. He had a son Edward, who was a compiler of various works for the booksellers, and died in 1769. Among his compilations, are
the Peerages of Scotland and Ireland, the Baronetage of
England, in conjunction with R.Johnson, 3 vols; 8vo, a
History of England, 10 vols. 8vo, &c.
rabbi in the twelfth century, son of Joseph, and brother of Moses Kimchi. He lived at Narbonne 1190, was appointed, 1232, arbiter of the dispute between the Spanish
, a celebrated Spanish rabbi in the
twelfth century, son of Joseph, and brother of Moses Kimchi. He lived at Narbonne 1190, was appointed, 1232,
arbiter of the dispute between the Spanish and French
synagogues respecting the books of Maimonides; acquired
great fame by his learning and writings, and died, in a
very advanced age, about 1240. His Hebrew works are
numerous, and so much valued by the Jews, that they
consider no one as learned who has not studied them. The
principal are, an excellent Hebrew grammar, entitled
“Michlol, i.e. Perfection,
” Venice, 1545, 8vo; Leyden,
1631, 12mo. This work has served as a model to all Hebrew grammarians. A book of “Hebrew Roots,
” Dictionarium Thalmudicum,
”
Venice, Commentaries
” on the Psalms, Prophets, and most of the other books in the Old Testament.
Kiuichi keeps chiefly to the literal and grammatical sense,
and not unfrequently cites Jewish traditions. He discovers
much less aversion to the Christians than the other rabbins,
and his Commentaries are generally considered as the best
which have been written by the Jews. His style is pure,
clear, and energetic. Father Janvier translated his Comment on the Psalms into Latin, 1669, 4to, and his arguments against the Christians have been translated by Genebrard, 1566, 8vo.
, an excellent youth, whom we here mention rather with a view to gain than to give information, was a fellow of Christ’s-college, Cambridge, in 1632 and 1633. He
, an excellent youth, whom we here
mention rather with a view to gain than to give information,
was a fellow of Christ’s-college, Cambridge, in 1632 and
1633. He was unfortunately drowned August 10, 1637,
in his passage from Chester to the Irish seas; a circumstance which gave birth to the admirable “Lycidas
” of
Milton. How well
the hand of a master; and the whole of his performances prove him to be possessed of a genius which was by no means over-rated by the attention and the friendship of
may be see by the admirable specimens exhibited in the
“Collection
” which furnishes this brief memorial. It is
not easy to determine whether his hexameters, his Alcaic
odes, or his iambics, have the greatest share of merit.
Even his epigrams, allowing the method of them to be
truly epigrammatic, shew the hand of a master; and the
whole of his performances prove him to be possessed of a
genius which was by no means over-rated by the attention
and the friendship of Milton.
, a learned and philosophical antiquary, was a native of Norfolk, where he was born in 1735, and having inherited
, a learned and philosophical antiquary, was a native of Norfolk, where he was born in 1735, and having inherited from an uncle, Mr. Brown of Exeter, an ample fortune, was early enabled to pursue his inclinations, which led him chiefly to the study of antiquities. He was partly educated at Clare-hall, Cambridge, but afterwards entered of Lincoln’s-inn, and, we presume, studied the law, as he was afterwards chosen recorder of Lynn in Norfolk. He was elected F.R.S. in 1767, and F.S.A. in 1770; and to the Archecologia made various communications, which gave him such reputation with the society, that in 1784, on the demise of Dr. Milles, he was elected president, on which occasion he introduced a number of new regulations, and the appointment of two regular secretaries, and a draughtsman, to attend constantly. On St. George’s day following, however, he was obliged to resign the chair, in favour of George lord de Ferrars, afterwards earl of Leicester and marquis Townsend, a majority of nearly two to one having appeared against him. He afterwards printed a letter in vindication of himself, and reflecting upon the noble earl, and from that period ceased to make any communications to the society.
ool, or seminary for seamen, as a means of improving the plan of the Marine Society,” &c. His object was to fit up a man of war as a marine school. In 1788 he published
His first separate publication appeared in 1767, under
the title of “An Essay on the English Government;
” and
his second, after a long interval, in Hymns to the Supreme Being, in imitation of the
Eastern Songs.
” Of this pleasing publication two editions
were printed. In 1784 he circulated, also without his name,
“Proposals for establishing, at sea, a Marine School, or
seminary for seamen, as a means of improving the plan
of the Marine Society,
” &c. His object was to fit up a
man of war as a marine school. In 1788 he published a
large 4to volume, entitled “Morsels of Criticism, tending
to illustrate some few passages in the Holy Scriptures upon
philosophical principles and an enlarged view of things.
”
The fate of this work was somewhat singular. The author
received sixty copies for presents; and the greater part of the
remaining impression, being little called for, was converted
into waste paper. Some time after, however, the notice
taken of it in that popular poem, “The Pursuits of Literature,
” brought it again into notice; a second edition
appeared in 8vo, and a second volume of the 4to in 1801.
This works abounds in singular opinions: among others,
the author attempts to prove that John the Baptist was an
angel from heaven, and the same who formerly appeared
in the person of Elijah: that there will be a second appearance of Christ upon earth (something like this, however, is held by other writers): that this globe is a kind of comet,
which is continually tending towards the sun, and will at
length approach so near as to be ignited by the solar rays
upon the elementary fluid of fire: and that the place of
punishment allotted for wicked men is the centre of the
earth, which is the bottomless pit, &c, &c. It is unnecessary
to add, that these reveries did not procure Mr. King much
reputation as a philosophical commentator on the Scriptures.
His next publications indicated the variety of his meditations and pursuits. In 1793 he produced “An Imitation
of the Prayer of Abel,
” and “Considerations on the Utility of the National Debt.
” In Remarks concerning Stones said to
have fallen from the Clouds, both in these days and in
ancient times;
” the foundation of which was the surprizing
shower of stones said, on the testimony of several persons,
to have fallen in Tuscany, June 16, 1796, and investigated
in an extraordinary and full detail by the abbate Soldani,
professor of mathematics in the university of Sienna. This
subject has since employed other pens, but no decisive
conclusions have been agreed upon. Mr. King’s next
publication, however, belonged to the province in which
he was best able to put forth his powers of research
“Vestiges of Oxford Castle or, a small fragment of a
work intended to be published speedily, on the history of
ancient castles, and on the progress of architecture,
” Munimenta Antiqua,
” of which 3 vols. folio have appeared,
and part of a fourth. These volumes, although he maintains some theories which are not much approved, undoubtedly entitle him to the reputation of a learned, able, and
industrious antiquary. It was his misfortune, however, to
be perpetually deviating into speculations which he was less
qualified to establish, yet adhered to them with a pertinacity which involved him in angry controversies. In 1798
he published a pamphlet called “Remarks on the Signs of
the Times;
” about which other ingenious men were at
that time inquiring, and very desirous to trace the history
and progress of the French Revolution and war to the
records of sacred antiquity; but Mr. King ventured here
to assert the genuineness of the second book of Esdras in
the Apocrypha. Mr. Gough criticised this work with much
freedom and justice in the Gentleman’s Magazine, and
Mr. King thought himself insulted. On his adding “A
Supplement to his Remarks
” in Critical Disquisitions on Isaiah xviii, in a Letter to
Mr. King.
” While preparing a fourth volume of his
“Mummenta,
” Mr. King died, April 16, 1807, and wa
buried in the church -yard at Beckenham, where his country-seat was. Mr. King was a man of extensive reading,
and considerable learning, and prided himself particularly
on intense thinking, which, however, was not always
under the regulation of judgment.
, a heraldic and commercial writer, the son of a father of both his names, was born at Lichfield, Dec. 15, 1648, and was educated at the g
, a heraldic and commercial writer, the son of a father of both his names, was born at Lichfield, Dec. 15, 1648, and was educated at the grammarschool of that city, and at the age of fourteen had been taught Greek, Latin* and somewhat of Hebrew. At that age he was recommended by Dr. Hunter, of Lichfield, to sir William Dugdale, then Norroy, who took him into his service, which was very acceptable to his father, who had five other children to provide for; and Dr. Hacket, bishop of Lichfield, had intended to have sent him to the university, had not this opening taken place. He was at this time so small of his age, that when he became clerk to Dugdale, and for two years after, he was unable to mount a horse from the ground. Yet he accompanied that king of arms in his visitations, and tricked the arms of Staffordshire, which though not equal to what he afterwards did$ still remain in the college. He at that time applied himself to the French language, and painting of pedigrees > and within a year or two, painted several for Mr. Dugdale, particularly a large one of Claverin, of Northumberland, and some time after painting and engrossing the grants of arms filled up the greatest part of his time; but Dugdale gave him leave to take with him into the northern counties blank escocheons on vellum, upon which he depicted the arms of those who desired an attestation of them under Dugdale’s hand; and this he was enabled to do* instead of an arms painter, who had usually attended that officer of the college. He shewed uncommon attention to improvement during the time Dugdale visited his whole province, in 1662, and 1666, for he took prospects of the towns, castles, and other remarkable places in the counties through which he passed. In 1667 he passed into the service of lord Hatton, who was a great lover of antiquities, and the particular patron of Dugdale during the civil war; and now employed Mr. King until 1669, when he was dismissed with great promises of future kindness. He then went to Lichfield, where he found his father re-married; and here he supported himself for some time in the humble occupations of teaching writing and arithmetic, painting coaches, signs, and other kinds of work in oil colours, as hatchments, &c. and in instructing the registrar of the dean and chapter, and some other inquisitive persons, to read ancient records. At this time Mr. Chetwynd of Ingestry, invited him to peruse and transcribe his family muniments, which he did in a fair vellum book, tricking the most considerable seals.
h her ladyship’s father George Digby of Sandon, in Staffordshire, esq. until August, 1672. This task was somewhat arduous, for his predecessor, Mr. Chaunce, kept all
At the end of this year, 1669, he became the steward,
auditor, and secretary of the lady dowager Gerard, of Gerard’s Bromley, relict of Charles, and mother of Digby,
lord Gerard. He resided with her ladyship’s father George
Digby of Sandon, in Staffordshire, esq. until August,
1672. This task was somewhat arduous, for his predecessor, Mr. Chaunce, kept all his accounts, and other matters of moment, in characters which he had to decipher;
and besides he drew and painted many things for lady Gerard, whilst inher service. From Staffordshire he went
to London, where he renewed his acquaintance at the
Heralds’ -college, paying a suitable attention to his old
master, Dugdale. Here he became known to Hollar, the
celebrated engraver. He recommended him to Mr. Ogilvy, to manage his undertakings, who having his majesty’s
license to print whatever he composed or translated,
kept a press in his house, and at that time was printing
sir Peter Leicester’s “Antiquities of Chester.
” Mr. King
made his first attempt in etching some ancient seals in
that work. Giving satisfaction he was employed in etching
lome sculpts in Mr. Dugdale’s Esop (not the antiquary),
fvhich was reduced from the folio to 8vo size, and several of Ogilvy’s “History of Asia,
” vol. I. translated from
De Meurs’ impression at Amsterdam. He also assisted in
his new “Britannia,
” travelling into Essex with the surveyor,
Mr. Falgate, a native of that county. They in the middle
of the winter, 1672, a very inclement one, took the ichnography of Ipswich, in Suffolk, and Maiden, in Essex,
which were afterwards very curiously finished, and sent to
those two places. He assisted and superintended the map
of London, which Hollar engraved. He contrived and
managed a lottery of books, to repay Mr. Ogilvy’s great
expences in these concerns, and a lesser one of books for
Bristol fair, which turned to good advantage, Mr. King
attending there. He then engaged in Ogilvy’s “Book of
” Roads," superintending the whole, digesting the notes,
directing the engravings, three or four of which he
executed with his own hand, which was the first time he attempted handling the graver. Mr. Ogilvy was so sensible
of his merit and fidelity, that he treated him with peculiar;
attention on all occasions, and allowed him a music-master
to teach him to play upon the violin, and offered to renew
his place of cosmographer to the king, and put his name
in jointly, or in reversion; this he declined, but accepted
the offer to undertake, on his own account, the map of
Westminster, which he completed in 1675, on the scale
of 100 feet to an inch. He employed himself also in engraving the letter-work of various maps. He laid out
some of the principal streets of the metropolis, particularly
those of Soho; and most of the first building articles, or
leases, were drawn up by him. At length his connexions
with the heralds procured him to be created Rouge-dragon
in 1677, but the fees of this office being small, he found
it expedient to continue his employment of engraving and
herald-painting. He designed a map of Staffordshire; yet
through sir Henry St. George, Norroy, and his old master,
Dugdale, Garter, the duties of the office took a good part
of his time. Being very useful to these kings at arms,
they pressed him to remove to the college, which he did at
Lady-day, 1680, Diigdale accommodating him with a chamber, and some other conveniences, and St. George with a
kitchen. He assisted St. George in his visitations, as one of
his deputies, in 1681 and 1682 and, upon the death of the
duke of Norfolk, his successor nominated him registrar in
the room of Mr. Devenish, York; although opposed by
the college as without a precedent. He was also trusted
and consulted about the burial of Charles II. the proclaiming
and the coronation of his successor, and took a part in the
magnificent publication of the latter ceremony with Mr.
Sandford, Lancaster herald. The Revolution soon following,
he became extremely useful in the ceremonial of William
and Mary’s coronation. Mr. Sandford resigning his tajbard
to him^ he became, for three or four months, Lancaster
and Rouge-dragon, the patent not passing until-the following July.
From this time his merit was so well known, and so entirely acknowledged, that he bore a
From this time his merit was so well known, and so entirely acknowledged, that he bore a deserved sway in the college, such as perhaps no other herald of his standing ever did; for being skilled in the languages, especially the Latin and French, and being intimately conversant in whatever related to the order of the Garter, he was fixed upon to be deputy to sir Thomas St. George, Garter, totake the insignia to invest the elector of Brandenburgh: and was afterwards frequently employed in similar commissions and foreign installations.
nd secretary to the comptrollers of the army. In both he acquired the highest commendation. Mr. King was a man of great varied powers, and as an herald and genealogist,
Among his other literary labours were his composing a
pack of cards containing the arms of the English nobility,
in imitation of “Claud Oronce Fine Brianille;
” and “the
order of the installation of prince George of Denmark,
Charles duke of Somerset, and George duke of Northumberland, at Windsor, April 8, 1684,
” printed in London,
in Installation of Henry
duke of Norfolk, Henry earl of Peterborough, and Laurence earl of Rochester, Windsor, July 22, 1685,
” printed
in London in the same year, Natural and political
observations and conclusions upon the State and Condition
of England.
” Dying August 29, 1712, aged 63, he was
buried in the chancel of St. Bennet’s church, Paul’s Wharf,
where is a handsome mural monument of marble. He was
twice married, but left no issue.
, a learned English bishop, was great nephew of Robert King, the first bishop of Oxford, and
, a learned English bishop, was great
nephew of Robert King, the first bishop of Oxford, and
son of Philip King of Wormenhale or Wornall, near Brill
in Buckinghamshire, by Elizabeth, daughter of Edmund
Conquest of Houghton Conquest in Bedfordshire. He
was born at Wornall about 1559, educated in Westminster-school, and sent to Christ church, Oxford, in 1576; where
he took, in due time, his degrees in arts. He was afterwards chaplain to queen Elizabeth; archdeacon of Nottingham in 1590; doctor of divinity in 1601; dean of
Christ church in 1605; and bishop of London in 1611.
Besides his “Lectures upon Jonah,
” printed in the king of preachers;
” and lord chief justice Coke often
declared, that “he was the best speaker in the star-chamber in his time,
” He was so constant in preaching, after
he was a bishop, that he never missed a Sunday, when his
health permitted. He died March 30, 1621, and was interred in St. Paul’s cathedral. Soon after, the papists reported, that he died a member of their church, in a
pamphlet entitled “The Bishop of London his Legacy;
”
but the falsity of this story was sufficiently exposed by his
son Henry, in a sermon at St. Paul’s cross, Nov. 25, 1621,
and by bishop Godwin, in the appendix to his “Commentarius de Prsesulibus Angliae.
”
, bishop of Chichester in the seventeenth century, was eldest son of the preceding, by Jane, daughter of Mr. Henry
, bishop of Chichester in the seventeenth
century, was eldest son of the preceding, by Jane, daughter of Mr. Henry Freeman of Staffordshire, and was born
at Wornall in Buckinghamshire in January 1591, and educated in grammar learning partly in the free-school at
Thame in Oxfordshire, and partly at Westminster-school,
from which he was elected a student of Christ church in
1608. On June the 19th, 1611, he took the degree of
bachelor of arts and July the 7th, 1614, that of master.
He then entered into holy orders, and became an eminent
preacher, and chaplain to king James I. He was afterwards made archdeacon of Colchester; residentiary of St.
Paul’s, and canon of Christ church. On May the 19th,
1625, he took the degree of doctor of divinity. He was
afterwards chaplain to king Charles I. and February the
6th, 1638, was installed in the deanery of Rochester. In
1641 he was advanced to the see of Chichester, to which
he was consecrated December 19th of that year. But
though he was always esteemed a puritan, and had been
promoted to that see in order to please that party; yet
upon the breaking out of the civil wars, and the dissolution of episcopacy, he was treated by them with great severity; “nor was he suffered to live quietly at his friend’s
house (for some time, at least), when they could discover
him.
” He lived for the most part with sir Richard Hobart,
who had married his sister, at Langley in Buckinghamshire,
by whom he was supported. At the restoration he recovered his bishopric. Wood tells us, that “he was esteemed by many persons of his neighbourhood and diocese,
the epitome of all honours, virtues, and generous
nobleness, and a person never to be forgotten by his tenants and
by the poor.
” He died October the 1st, 1669, and was
interred on the south side of the choir belonging to his
cathedral of Chichester, where a monument was erected
to him, with an inscription, in which it is said, that he
was “antiqua, eaque regia Saxon urn apud Dan monies in
Agro Devoniensi prosapia oriundus,
” and that he was
“natalium splendore illustris, pietate, doctrina & virtutibus illustrior,
” &c. He married Anne, daughter of sir
William Russel of Strensham in Worcestershire, bart. who
after the bishop’s decease married sir Thomas Millington
the physician.
pears by our authorities. He had a brother, John, who became a student of Christ church in 160$, and was afterwards public orator of the university, canon of Christ
He published several works, viz. 1. “Sermons,
” printed
at different times. 2. “Exposition of the Lord’s Prayer,
”
The Psalms of David, from the
new translation of the Bible, turned into Metre, &c.
” A deep Groan fetched at the Funeral of the
incomparable and glorious monarch king Charles J.
” Poems, Elegies, Paradoxes, Sonnets,
”
Life of Hooker.
” The merit of his poems,
with extracts, has been ably discussed by Headley, Ellis,
and Park, as appears by our authorities. He had a brother,
John, who became a student of Christ church in 160$,
and was afterwards public orator of the university, canon
of Christ church in 1624, and the year following doctor of
divinity and canon of Windsor, and about that time prebendary of St. Paul’s, and rector of Remenham in Berkshire. He died January 2, 1638-9, and was interred at
Christ church in Oxford. He published a single sermon,
and one or two Latin orations.
, rector of Chelsea, was born at St. Columb in Cornwall, May 1, 1652. He was educated
, rector of Chelsea, was born at St. Columb in Cornwall, May 1, 1652. He was educated at Exeter college, Oxford, but took the degree of D. D. at Catherine-hall, Cambridge, where his friend sir William
Dawes was master. When first in orders, he had the curacy of Bray, in Berkshire. By his second wife he acquired the patronage of Pertenhall, in Bedfordshire, and
was instituted to that rectory in June 1690; but in 1694,
exchanged it for Chelsea, the value of which he considerably advanced by letting out the glebe on lives for building.
In 1731 he was collated to the prebend of Wighton in
York cathedral^ by sir William Dawes, archbishop. He
died May 30, 1732, and was buried at Pertenhall. Besides
two occasional sermons, he published, 1 “Animadversions
on a pamphlet entitled A Letter of advice to the churches
of the Nonconformists of the English nation; endeavouring their satisfaction in that point, Who are the true church
of England?
” 2d edit. 1702, 4to. 2. “The case of John
Atherton, bishop of Waterford in Ireland, fairly represented against a partial edition of Dr. Barnard’s relation
and sermon at his funeral, &c.
” Tolando-Pseudologo-mastix, or a currycomb for a lying coxcomb. Being an answer to a late
piece of Mr. Toland’s called Hypatia,
” Lond.
Dr. King’s eldest son, John, was born Aug. 5, 1696, and from Eton school was sent to King’s college,
Dr. King’s eldest son, John, was born Aug. 5, 1696,
and from Eton school was sent to King’s college, Cambridge, of which he became fellow, and took the degree of
M. A. He afterwards settled at Stamford in Lincolnshire,
and practised physic there with great reputation, but was
cutoff by a fever, Oct. 12, 1728. He published “Epistola ad virum ornatis. Joannem Freind, &c. in qua D. W.
Trilleri, Phil, et M. D. epistolam medico-criticam super
primo et tertio epidemiorum, a viro ornatissimo editis, ad
examen revocavit J. King,
” Cambridge, Euripidis Hecuba,
Orestes, & Phcenissæ,
” ibid.
, a learned English writer and antiquary, was born in the county of Norfolk in 1731. He was educated at Caius
, a learned English writer and antiquary, was born in the county of Norfolk in 1731. He
was educated at Caius college, Cambridge, where he took
his degrees of B. A. and M. A. in 1752 and 1763, and at
subsequent periods he was admitted to the degree of D. D.
and received a member of the royal society, and of the
society of antiquaries. lu 1764, he obtained the appointment of chaplain to the English factory at Petersburgh. In
this situation he was led to inquire into the ceremonies of
the Russian church, which he continually saw practised,
and determined to give a faithful description of the same
in his own language. He accordingly published, in 1772,
in a handsome quarto, illustrated with engravings, a work,
entitled “The Kites and Ceremonies of the Greek Church
in Russia; containing an account of its doctrine, worship,
and discipline.
” In Observations on the
Barberini Vase,
” which are printed in the eighth volume
of the Transactions of the Antiquarian Society.
ncellor of England, and famous for his ecclesiastical learning, as well as his knowledge in the law, was born in 1669 at Exeter, Devonshire, where his father, an eminent
, chancellor of England, and famous for his ecclesiastical learning, as well as his knowledge in the law, was born in 1669 at Exeter, Devonshire, where his father, an eminent grocer and salter in that city, though a man of considerable substance, and descended from a good family, determined to bring up his son to his own trade. With this view, he took him into his business and kept him at his shop for some years however, the son’s inclination being strongly bent to learning, he took all opportunities of gratifying his passion, laying out all the money he could spare in books, and devoting every moment of his leisure hours to study; so that he became a scholar of very great accomplishments, which were hid under the appearance of an attention to the business of the shop. This, however, was discovered by the celebrated Locke, who was his uncle by his mother’s side, and who, after some discourse, being greatly surprised and pleased with the prodigious advances his nephew had made in literature, advised him to commence a regular course of study at Leyden: and it is said to have been by his advice, that Mr. King afterwards entered himself a student at the Inner-Temple, and applied himself to the law; in which profession his talents and industry soon rendered him celebrated.
nal studies, but which occupied no small portion of the time which he could spare from them. When he was in his twenty-second year, he published the first part of a
In the mean time, he attracted the notice of the learned
world, by a publication on a subject somewhat foreign
from those which were connected with his professional
studies, but which occupied no small portion of the time
which he could spare from them. When he was in his
twenty-second year, he published the first part of a work
entitled, “An Inquiry into the Constitution, Discipline,
Unity, and Worship, of the Primitive Church, that flourished within the fi*st three hundred years after Christ,
faithfully collected out of the extant writings of those ages,
”
Inquiry into the Constitution, &c.
” and having solicited, in a modest and unaffected way to be shewn, either publicly or privately, any
mistakes he might have made, that request was first complied with by Mr. Edmund Elys; between whom and our
author several letters were exchanged upon the subject
in 1692, which were published by Mr. Elys in 1694, 8vo.
under the title of “Letters on several subjects.
” But the
most formal and elaborate answer to the “Inquiry
”' appeared afterwards in a work entitled “Original draught of
the Primitive Church,
” by a Mr. Sclater, which is said to
have made a convert of Mr. King himself.
e of Commons, as representative for the borough of Beer- Alston, in. Devonshire; and the same honour was continued to him, not only in the ensuing and last parliament
Mr. King had not been many years at the Temple, when
he had acquired as high a reputation for his knowledge in
law, as he had before for his knowledge in divinity; and,
in 1699, obtained a seat in the House of Commons, as representative for the borough of Beer- Alston, in.
Devonshire; and the same honour was continued to him, not
only in the ensuing and last parliament of king William,
but in the five succeeding parliaments of queen Anne. In
the mean time he published his inquiries into church
history, and the history of early opinions, and having completed some collections he had already made, and digested
them into proper order, he published, in 1702, “The History of the Apostles’ Creed, with critical Observations on its
several articles,
” 8vo; a treatise written with judgment and
learning. Peter de Coste, who sent an abstract of it in
French to Bernard, to be published in his “Nouvelles de
la Republique de Lettres
” for November and December,
Exposition of the Creed,
” who seemed
to have exhausted the subject, began to read it with this
disadvantageous prepossession; but was quickly convinced
of his mistake, and surprized to find so many curious
things, not to be met with in Pearson, and to observe so
little borrowed from that writer’s “Exposition.
”
ess which his abilities as a lawyer brought into his hands; and in a fevr years his merit in the law was distinguished by the highest honours. July 1708, he was chosen
From this time, however, our author found himself under a necessity of relinquishing pursuits of this kind, on account of the increasing and urgent business which his abilities as a lawyer brought into his hands; and in a fevr years his merit in the law was distinguished by the highest honours. July 1708, he was chosen recorder of London; and knighted by queen Anne September following. In 1709, he was appointed one of the managers of the House of Commons, at the trial of Sacheverell. Upon the accession of George I. he was appointed lord chief-justice of the court of common-pleas, and soon after sworn of the privy-council. He was created a peer May the 25th, 1725, by the title of lord King, baron of Ockharn, in Surrey; and the great seal being taken from lord Macclesfield, was delivered to him the 1st of June following. He did not, however, make that figure as chancellor, which was expected from the character that raised him to it; and it is said that more of his decrees were repealed by the House of Lords than of any other chancellor in the same space of time. Yet it is allowed that he took extraordinary pains in the discharge of his office, which, impairing his constitution by degrees, brought on atan a paralytic disorder and his distemper increasing, he resigned the seals the 26th Nov. 1733, and died July the 22d following, at his seat at Ockham, leaving behind him two sons and two daughters, and a widow, the daughter of Richard Seys, of Boverton, in Glamorganshire, esq. Lord King was a man of great integrity, knowledge, and diligence, although not of transcendant abilities. He was interred in Ockham church, Surrey, where a monument was erected to his memory.
, a learned archbishop of Dublin, was descended of an ancient family, and born at Antrim, in Ireland,
, a learned archbishop of Dublin,
was descended of an ancient family, and born at Antrim,
in Ireland, May the 1st, 1650. At twelve years of age,
he was sent to the grammar-school at Dungannon, in thu
county of Tyrone; and at seventeen, to Trinity-college,
near Dublin, where he took the degrees in arts, when he
became of proper standing. In 1674 he was admitted into
priest’s orders by abp. Parker of Tuam, who, taking him
for his chaplain in 1676, presented him the same year to a
prebend, and afterwards to the precentorship, of Tuam.
In 1679, he was promoted by his patron, then archbishop
of Dublin, to the chancellorship of St. Patrick, and to the
parish of St. Warburgh in Dublin. He had the reputation
of uncommon abilities and learning; and a season was
now approaching which gave him a fair opportunity of displaying them. Accordingly, in the reign of James II.
when popery began to raise her head, he, following the
example of his English brethren, boldly undertook the defence of the Protestant cause in Ireland, against Peter
Manby, the dean of Londonderry, who had lately gone
over to the Catholic faith. In 1687, Manby having published a pamphlet in vindication of his conduct, entitled
“Considerations which obliged him to embrace the Catholic religion,
” our author drew up “An Answer,
” and
printed it at Dublin the same year in quarto. Manby, encouraged by the court, and assisted by the most learned
champions of the church of Rome, published a reply,
called “A reformed Catechism, &c.
” and our author
soon after rejoined, in “A Vindication of the Answer to
the Considerations, 1688,
” 4to. Manby dropped the controversy, but dispersed a sheet of paper, artfully written,
with this title, “A Letter to a Friend, shewing the vanity
of this opinion, that every man’s sense and reason are to
guide him in matters of faith;
” but our author did not
suffer this to pass without confuting it, in “A Vindication of
the Christian Religion and Reformation, against the attempts of a late letter, &c. 1681,
” 4to.
The deanery of St. Patrick’s becoming vacant at this time, Dr. King was elected to it; and appeared so active in supporting the Revolution,
The deanery of St. Patrick’s becoming vacant at this
time, Dr. King was elected to it; and appeared so active
in supporting the Revolution, which had now taken place,
that, after the landing of king James in Ireland in 1689,
he was twice confined in Dublin-castle. He was attacked,
not long after, in a weekly “paper called
” The Abhorrence,“with an intent to render him more obnoxious;
and was also assaulted in the street, where a musket with
a lighted match was levelled at him. He was likewise
disturbed in the performance of divine service at his church
several times, particularly on Candlemas-day; when seven
officers who were there swore aloud that they would cut
his throat. All this did not discourage him; but he still
persisted, and took his doctor’s degree this same year, 1689.
Upon king James’s retreat to France, after the battle of
the Boyne in 1690, he preached a thanksgiving-sermon on
that occasion in November; and, January following, was
promoted to the bishopric of Derry. In 169 1 he published
at London in 4to,
” The State of the Protestants in Ireland, under the late King James’s Government; in which
their carriage towards him is justified; and the absolute
necessity of their endeavouring to be freed from his government, and of submitting to their present majesties, is
demonstrated.“The third edition, with additions, was
printed at London the year after, in 8vo. Burnet speaks
of this book in the following terms:
” This copious history
is so well received, and so universally acknowledged to be
as truly as it is finely written, that I refer my readers to
the account of those matters, which is fully and faithfully
given by that learned and zealous prelate.“It was attacked, however, the same year, by Mr. Charles Lesley;
who asserted, that
” there is not one single fact he has inquired into, but he found it false in whole or in part,
aggravated or misrepresented, so as to alter the whole face
of the story, and give it perfectly another air and turn;
insomuch that, though many things he says were true, yet
he has hardly spoke a true word, that is, told truly and
nakedly, without a warp." Though few 7 as we imagine,
will form their judgment of King’s book from this account
of it by Lesley yet all may allow, that there is a kind
of colouring peculiar to, and characteristic of, each party
and that the very same facts, when related by an historian
of different political principles, shall have a very different
appearance, and also make a very different impression upon
a reader.
th as much zeal as the Papists. As he had therefore employed his pen against the Papists when danger was apprehended from them, so now he took it up against the Presbyterians,
The public tranquillity being now perfectly restored, the
bishop applied himself more particularly to the duties of his
pastoral care; and, reviewing the state of his diocese, pre*sently discovered, that, by the great number of colonies
lately transported from Scotland, many of his people were
dissenters from the established church, which they opposed
with as much zeal as the Papists. As he had therefore
employed his pen against the Papists when danger was
apprehended from them, so now he took it up against the
Presbyterians, whom he endeavoured to persuade to conformity, in a piece entitled “A Discourse concerning the
Inventions of Men in the Worship of God,
” Dublin, Remarks,
” &c. in which, however, he allows, that the
bishop’s discourse was written with an air of seriousness
and gravity, becoming the weight of the subject, as well
as the dignity of his character. Upon this, the bishop
returned an answer, under the title of “An Admonition to
the Dissenting Inhabitants of the Diocese of Derry, concerning a book lately published by Mr. J. B. entitled
Remarks, &c.
” A Second Admonition to the Dissenting Inhabitants, &c.
” published the same year at
Dublin, in 4to; and thus the controversy ended.
In 1702 he published at Dublin, in 4to, his celebrated treatise “De Origine Mali,” which was republishecl the same year at London in 8vo; in which he endeavours
In 1702 he published at Dublin, in 4to, his celebrated
treatise “De Origine Mali,
” which was republishecl the
same year at London in 8vo; in which he endeavours to
shew how all the several kinds of evil with which the world
abounds, are consistent with the goodness of God, and may
be accounted for without the supposition of an evil principle. We do not find that any exceptions were made at
first to this work at home; but it fell under the cognizance
of some very eminent foreigners. Mr. Bernard having
given an abridgment of it in his “Nouvelles de la Republique des Lettres
” for May and June Acta Eruditorum Lipsiae,
” which had been
omitted by Bernard. Bayle was blamed for this by Bernard, and not without reason, as he had manifestly mistaken the prelate’s meaning in many particulars, and attacked him upon principles which he would have denied
but the dispute did not end so Bayle afterwards replied
to Bernard and, having procured the bishop’s book, made
several new observations upon it, which were published in
the fifth tome of his “Reponse,
” &c. Leibnitz also wrote
“Remarks
” on this work, which, however, he styles “a
work full of elegance and learning.
” These remarks,
which are in French, were published by DeMaizeaux, in
the third volume of the “Recueil de diverses Pieces sur la
Philosophic, &c. par Mess. Leibnitz, Clarke, Newton, &c.
”
at Amsterdam, An Essay on the Origin of Evil, by Dr. William
King, late lord archbishop of Dublin: translated from the
Latin, with Notes, and a Dissertation concerning the
Principle and Criterion of Virtue, and the Origin of the
Passions. The second edition. Corrected and enlarged
from the author’s manuscripts. To which are added, two
Sermons by the same author the former concerning
Divine Prescience the latter on the Fall of Man.
” Lond.
The same year also that he published his book “D Origine Mali,” viz. 1702, he was translated to the archbishoprjc of Dublin. He was appointed
The same year also that he published his book “D
Origine Mali,
” viz. Concerning Divine Prescience,
” which was printed by Mr.
Law, was preached and published in 1709, with this title:
“Divine Predestination and Fore-knowledge consistent
with the Freedom of Man’s Will
” and as the bishop, in
this discourse, had started a doctrine concerning the moral
attributes of the Deity, as if different from the moral
qualities of the same name in man, he was attacked upon
this head by writers of very unlike complexions; by Dr.
John Edwards, in a piece called “The Divine Perfections
vindicated,
” &c. and by Anthony Collins, esq. in a pamphlet entitled “A Vindication of the Divine Attributes,
”
&c. both in
, an ingenious and humourous English writer, was born in London, 1663, the son of Ezekiel King, a gentleman.
, an ingenious and humourous English writer, was born in London, 1663, the son of Ezekiel King, a gentleman. He was allied to the noble families of Clarendon and Rochester. From Westminster school, where he was a scholar on the foundation under the care of Dr. Busby, he was at eighteen elected to Christ-church, Oxford, and admitted a student there in Michaelmas term, 1631.
ing a Letter to the Author.” In August 1694, Mr. Molesworth publishing his “Account of Denmark as it was in the year 1692,” in which he treata the Danes and their monarch
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.
dispute concerning the authenticity of Phalaris’s Epistles. His first appearance in that controversy was owing to his being accidentally present at a conversation between
In 1697 he took a share with his fellow-collegians at
Christ-church, in the memorable dispute concerning the
authenticity of Phalaris’s Epistles. His first appearance
in that controversy was owing to his being accidentally
present at a conversation between Dr. Bentley and Mr.
Bennet the bookseller, concerning the ms. of Phalaris in
the King’s library. Mr. Boyle, when answering Bentley’s
Dissertation, applied to our author for the particulars of
what passed on that occasion; which he received in the
short but expressive letter which Boyle has printed in his
book, in 1698, with the testimonies of Mr. Bennet and
Mr. Gibson (who had been employed as the collator).
Stung by these stubborn facts, Dr. Bentley, in the enlarged edition of his Dissertation, 1699, endeavoured to
invalidate their force, by an attempt to weaken the credibility of the witnesses. On Dr. King, in particular, he
has condescended to bestow near eight pages of his preface, a short specimen of which is annexed to the Letter
we have last referred to. In a second letter to Mr. Boyle,
our author with great modesty refutes the groundless calumny, and proves that Dr. Bentley himself has confirmed
his testimony in every particular, except having omitted
the great critic’s beautiful similitude of “a squeezed
orange.
”
of the Dead,” written (as he says) “in self-defence,” and replete with that species of banter which was his peculiar talent, and which must have greatly mortified his
In the progress of the controversy, Dr. King published
his “Dialogues of the Dead,
” written (as he says) “in
self-defence,
” and replete with that species of banter
which was his peculiar talent, and which must have greatly
mortified his adversary. How much Dr. King had this
controversy at heart, may be seen by the various memoranda concerning it which are scattered up and down in
his works. At the end of 1698, or early in 1699, came
out “A Journey to London in the year 1698, after the
ingenious method of that made by Dr. Martin Lister the
same year;
” which he designed as a vindication of his
country. This was an excellent specimen of that particular humour in which he excelled. Dr. King thought it
better than any of his former works, as he frequently wrote
afterwards under the name of “The Author of the Journey
to London.
”
ndure his business as an advocate, made an excellent judge in the court of delegates, as often as he was called to that bench. The fatigue, however, of a civilian’s
It has been generally allowed that Dr. King, though he
could not endure his business as an advocate, made an excellent judge in the court of delegates, as often as he was
called to that bench. The fatigue, however, of a civilian’s
duty was too great for his natural indolence; and he retired to his student’s place at Christ-church, to indulge
his predominant attachment at better leisure. From this
time, giving way to that fuga negotii so incident to the
poetical race, he passed his days in the pursuit of the
same ravishing images, which, being aptly moulded, came
abroad in manuscript, in the form of pleasant tales and
other pieces in verse, at various times, as they happened to
be finished. Many of these he afterwards collected, and
published, with other pieces, in his “Miscellanies.
” In
The Transactioneer, with some of his philosophical fancies, in two
dialogues.
” The irony in this tract is admirable; and it
must be acknowledged, notwithstanding the deservedly
high character of sir Hans as a physician and a naturalist,
that our author has in many places discovered the vulnerable heel of Achilles, and that his satirical observations are
io general well-founded.
Early in 1701, Dr. King was recalled to the busy scenes of life. His friend James the third
Early in 1701, Dr. King was recalled to the busy scenes of life. His friend James the third earl of Anglesea (who had succeeded to that title April 1, 1690), married Oct. 28, 1699, the lady Catharine Darnley, natural daughter to king James II. by Catharine countess of Dorchester, and had by her one daughter. After living together little more than a year, a dispute arose between them, which ended in a separation. Lord Anglesea solicited the assistance of Dr. King; and the force of friendship prevailed over his natural aversion to the wrangling of the bar. He complied with the request took abundant pains for his old friend, more than he was ever known to do and distinguished himself so in the earl’s defence, as shewed him to have had abilities in his profession equal to any occasion that might call for them, and effectually established his reputation in the character of a civilian, as he had already done in that of a polite writer.
ch he led, that he gladly accepted the offer of preferment in Ireland; a sure sign that his practice was then not very considerable, as he is perhaps the only civilian
Notwithstanding the reputation acquired by Dr. King in
this cause, he never afterwards attained any striking eminence in a profession where constant assiduity and a long
course of years are requisites for the acquisition of fame.
Captivated by the rnuses, he neglected business, and by
degrees, as is natural to such tempers, began to dread and
abhor it. Heedless of those necessary supplies which a
due attention would actually have brought to his finances,
they were so much impaired by his neglect, and by the
gay course of life which he led, that he gladly accepted
the offer of preferment in Ireland; a sure sign that his
practice was then not very considerable, as he is perhaps
the only civilian that ever went to reside in Ireland after
once having experienced the emoluments of a settlement
in Doctors Commons. The exact period of his quitting this
kingdom cannot now be ascertained. It has been generally
supposed that he went with the earl of Pembroke, who
was appointed lord lieutenant in April 1707. But he was
certainly in Ireland much earlier, as we have a correct copy
of “Mully of Mountown,
” in
On Nov. 25, 1708, the earl of Wharton was appointed lord lieutenant. His secretary, Mr. Addison, immediately
On Nov. 25, 1708, the earl of Wharton was appointed
lord lieutenant. His secretary, Mr. Addison, immediately
on his arrival in Ireland, was made keeper of the records;
and Dr. King returned to London, where he almost immediately gave the world those admirable instances of the
humour so peculiarly his own, by publishing “Useful
transactions in philosophy and other sorts of Learning.
”
The last of these, containing “A Voyage to the Island of
Cajamai in America,
” is one of the severest and most humourous satires that ever was written in prose.
13, and ended by writing part of No. 45 when Mrs.Mauley took it up, and finished the first volume it was afterwards resumed by Mr. Oldisworth, who completed four volumes
On Aug. 3, 1710, appeared the first number of “The
Examiner,
” the ablest vindication of the measures of the
queen and her new ministry. Swift be^an with No. 13,
and ended by writing part of No. 45 when Mrs.Mauley
took it up, and finished the first volume it was afterwards
resumed by Mr. Oldisworth, who completed four volumes
more, and published nineteen numbers of a sixth volume,
when the queen’s death put an end to the work. The
original institntors of that paper seem to have employed
Dr. King as their publisher, or ostensible author, before
they prevailed on their great champion to undertake that
task. It is not clear which part of the first ten numbers
were Dr. King’s; but he appears pretty evidently the
writer of No. H, Oct. 12 No. 12, Oct. 19 and No. 13,
Oct. 26 and this agrees with the account given by the
publisher of his posthumous works, who says he undertook
that paper about the 10th of October. On the 26th of
October, no Examiner at all appeared; and the next number, which was published Nov. 2, was written by Dr. Swift.
Our author’s warm zeal for the church, and his contempt
for the whigs (“his eyes,
” says Dr. Johnson, “were open to all the operations of whiggism
”), carried him naturally
on the side of Sacheverell; and he had a hand, in his dry
sarcastic way, in many political essays of that period. He
published, with this view, “A friendly Letter from honest
Tom Boggy, to the Rev. Mr. Goddard, canon of Windsor,
occasioned by a sermon preached at St. George’s chapel,
dedicated to her grace the duchess of Marlborough,
” A second Letter to Mr. Goddard, occasioned by the
late Panegyric given him by the Review, Thursday, July
13, 1710.
” These were succeeded by “A Vindication
of the Rev. Dr. Henry Sacheverell, from the false, scandalous, and malicious aspersions, cast upon him in a late
infamous pamphlet entitled ‘The Modern Fanatic;’ intended chiefly to expose the iniquity of the faction in general, without taking any particular notice of their poor
mad fool, Bisset, in particular in a dialogue between
a tory and a whig.
” This masterly composition had
scarcely appeared in the world before it was followed by
“Mr. Bisset’s Recantation in a letter to the Rev. Dr.
Sacheverell
” a singular banter on that enthusiast, whom
our author once more thought proper to lash, in “An Answer to a second scandalous book that Mr. Bisset is now
writing, to be published as soon as possible.
” Dr. White
Kennel’s celebrated sermon on the death of the first duke
of Devonshire, occasioned, amongst many other publications, a jeu d'esprit of Dr. King-, under the title of “An
Answer to Clemens Alexandrinus’s Sermon upon * Quis
Dives salvetur?‘ ’ What rich man can be saved' proving
it easy for a camel to get through the eye of a needle.
” In
Historical
account of the Heathen Gods and Heroes, necessary for
the understanding of the ancient Poets;
” a work still in
great esteem, and of which there have been several editions. About the same time he translated “Political considerations upon Refined Politics, and the Master-strokes
of State, as practised by the Ancients and Moderns, written by Gabriel Naude, and inscribed to the cardinal Bagni.
” At the same period also he employed himself on
“Rufinus, or an historical essay on the Favourite Ministry
under Theodosius and his son Arcadius with a poem
annexed, called ' Rufinus, or the Favourite.
” These were
written early in I
have settled Dr. King,
” says that great writer, “in the
Gazette; it will be worth two hundred pounds a year to
him. To-morrow I am to carry him to dine with the secretary.
” And in another letter, he tells the archbishop
of Dublin, “I have got poor Dr. King, who was some time
in Ireland, to be gazetteer; which will be worth two hundred and fifty pounds per annum to him, if he be diligent
and sober, for which I am engaged. I mention this because I think he was under your grace’s protection in Ireland.
” From what Swift te,lls the archbishop, and a hint
which he has in another place dropped, it should seem,
that our author’s finances were in such a state as to render
the salary of gazetteer no contemptible object to him. The
office, however, was bestowed on Dr. King in a manner
the most agreeable to his natural temper; as he had not
even the labour of soliciting for it. On the last day of
December, 1711, Dr. Swift, Dr. Freind, Mr. Prior, and
some other of Mr. secretary St. John’s friends, came to
visit him; and brought with them the key of the
Gazetteer’s office, and another key for the use of the paper-office,
which had just before been made the receptacle of a curious
collection of mummery, far different from the other contents of that invaluable repository. On the first of January
our author had the honour of dining with the secretary;
and of thanking him for his remembrance of him at a time
when he had almost forgotten himself. He entered on his
office the same day; but the extraordinary trouble he met
with in discharging its duties proved greater than he could
long endure. Mr. Barber, who printed the gazette, obliged
him to attend till three or four o'clock, on the mornings
when that paper was published, to correct the errors of
the press; a confinement which his versatility would never
have brooked, if his health would have allowed it, which at
this time began gradually to decline. And this, joined to
his natural indisposition to the fatigue of any kind of business, furnished a sufficient pretence for resigning his office
about Midsummer 1712. On quitting his employment he
retired to the house of a friend, in the garden-grounds
between Lambeth and Vauxhall, where he enjoyed himself principally in his library; or, amidst select parties, in
a sometimes too liberal indulgence of the bottle. He still
continued, however, to visit his friends in the metropolis,
particularly his relation the earl of Clarendon, who resided
in Somerset-house.
o publications of Dr. King, in the course of this year, besides his “Rufinus” already mentioned. One was “Britain’s Palladium; or lord Bolingbroke’s Welcome from France.”
We have two publications of Dr. King, in the course of
this year, besides his “Rufinus
” already mentioned. One
was “Britain’s Palladium; or lord Bolingbroke’s Welcome
from France.
” This was published Sept. 13, 1712. The
other piece was, “Useful Miscellanies,
” Part I. Historical Account of the Heathen
Gods.
” In Remains,
” with an account of his
life and writings, were published. They were republished
in 1734, under the new title of “Posthumous Works,
”
and with the addition of the editor’s name, “Joseph
Brown, M. D.
” who purchased the original manuscripts
from Dr. King’s sister; and again, with a title to the same
purport, in 1739. They are incorporated by Mr. Nichols
in a complete edition of Dr. King’s “Original Works in
verse and prose,
” it will naturally be supposed his poems were rather the amusements of idleness,
than efforts of study that he endeavoured rather to divert
than astonish that his thoughts seldom aspire to sublimity,
and that, if his verse was easy and his images familiar, he
attained what he desired.
” His talent for humour, however, was his great excellence, and in that we know not
where to find his equal.
, son of the rev. Peregrine King, was born at Stepney, in Mfddlesex, in 1685; and, after a school-education
, son of the rev. Peregrine King,
was born at Stepney, in Mfddlesex, in 1685; and, after
a school-education at Salisbury, was entered of Baliol-college, Oxford, July 9, 1701. Proceeding on the law line,
he took his doctor’s degree in 1715; was secretary to the
duke of Ormond and the earl of Arran, when chancellors
of the university; and was made principal of St. Maryhall, in 1718. When he was candidate for the university,
in 1722, he resigned his office of secretary; but his other
preferment he enjoyed (and it was all he did enjoy) to the
time of his death. Dr. Clarke, who opposed him, carried
his election; and, after this disappointment, 1727, he went
over to Ireland. With what design he went thither is to
us unknown; but his enemies say, it was for the purposes
of intrigue, and to expose himself to sale. But he says
himself, and there are no facts alleged to disprove it, “At
no time of my life, either in England or Ireland, either
from the present or any former government, have I asked,
or endeavoured by any means to obtain, a place, pension,
or employment, of any kind. 1 could assign many reasons
for my conduct; but one answer I have always ready: I
inherited a patrimony, which I found sufficient to supply
all my wants, and to leave me at liberty to pursue those
liberal studies, which afforded me the most solid pleasures
in my youth, and are the delight and enjoyment of my old
age. Besides, I always conceived a secret horror of a state
of servility and dependence: and I never yet saw a placeman or a courtier, whether in a higher or lower class,
whether a priest or a layman, who was his own master.
”
During his stay in Ireland, he is said to have written an
epic poem, called “The Toast,
” bearing the name of
Scheffer, a Laplander, as its author, and of Peregrine
O' Donald, esq. as its translator; which was a political
satire, and was printed and given away to friends, but never
sold. Dr. Warton says that the countess of Newburgh was
aimed at in this satire.
he dedication of Radcliffe’s library, 1749, he spoke a Latin oration in the theatre at Oxford, which was received with the highest acclamations by a splendid auditory.
On the dedication of Radcliffe’s library, 1749, he spoke
a Latin oration in the theatre at Oxford, which was received with the highest acclamations by a splendid auditory.
Mr. Warton, in “The Triumphs of Isis,
” pays him a very
great compliment on that occasion. But this oration, which
was soon after printed, did not meet with such favourable
reception from the public; for he was attacked in several
pamphlets on account of it, in which he was charged with
writing barbarous Latin, with being disaffected to the government, and that he instigated the younger members of
the university to sedition and licentiousness; very heavy
accusations, if we may not candidly suppose them dictated
by the spirit of malevolence and party zeal. And again,
in 1755, when the memorable election contest happened
in Oxfordshire, his attachment to the old interest drew -on
him the resentment of the new. He was libelled in newspapers and in pamphlets, and charged with the following
particulars, viz. that he was an Irishman; that he had received subscriptions for books never published to the
amount of 1500l. of which sum he had defrauded his subscribers; that he had offered himself to sale both in England and Ireland, and was not found worth the purchase
that he was the writer of “The London Evening Post
”
the author of a book in queen Anne’s reign, entitled “Political Considerations,
” The
Dreamer,
” Apology
” in 4to, and plausibly vindicated himself from
the several matters charged on him, except only the last
article, of his being the author of “The Dreamer;
” and
warmly retaliated on his adversaries.
He was the author of 1. “Miltoni epistola ad Pollionem” (lord Polwarth).
He was the author of 1. “Miltoni epistola ad Pollionem
” (lord Polwarth). 2. << Sermo Pedestris.“3.
” Scamnum, ecloga.“4.
” Templum libertatis,“in three books.
5.
” Tres Oratiunculae.“6.
” Epistola objurgatoria.“7.
” Antoriietti ducis Corscorum epistola ad Corscos de rege
eligendo.“8.
” Eulogium Jacci Eionensis.“9.
” Aviti
epistola ad Perillam, virginem Scotam,“&c. 10.
” Oratiuncula habita in domo convocationis Oxon. cum epistola
dedicatoria,“1757, and
” Epitaphium Richardi Nash." Besides these, he published the first five volumes of Dr.
South’s sermons. He was known and esteemed by the
first men of his time for wit and learning; and must be
allowed to have been a polite scholar, an excellent orator,
and an elegant and easy writer, both in Latin and English.
He died Dec. 30, 1763, having sketched his own character in an elegant epitaph, in which, while he acknowledges
his failings, he claims the praise of benevolence, temperance, and fortitude. This epitaph was to be engraved
on a silver case, in which he directed his heart should be
pn^erved in some convenient part of St. Mary Hall. He
was buried in Ealing church, but the inscription is on a
marble tablet in the chapel of St. Mary-hall. There is a
striking likeness of Dr. King in Worlidge’s view of the
installation of lord Westmorland as chancellor of Oxford
in 1761.
, one of the earliest puritan divines, was born at Sidmanton, in Hampshire, in 1538, educated at Corpus
, one of the earliest puritan
divines, was born at Sidmanton, in Hampshire, in 1538,
educated at Corpus Christi college, Oxford, and elected
fellow of All-souls in 1558. He first studied civil law, and
had made very considerable proficiency in it, when a careful perusal of the Holy Scriptures led him to the profession of divinity. So much was he intent on the sacred
volume, and such his strength of memory, that he could
readily repeat by heart in Greek, the whole of the Epistles
to the Romans and Galatians, the first Epistle of John,
and other parts of the New Testament. Having taken
orders, he became very early an admired preacher at Oxford, at a time when preachers were so scarce, the Roman
catholic clergy having left the place, that Wood informs
us Dr. Humphrey, Dr. Sampson, and Mr. Kingsmill, were
all the university could boast. It appears, however, that
Mr. Kingsmill was dissatisfied with the habits or ceremonies, and went therefore to Geneva, where he found a
church more suited to his opinions on these points, and
where he was much admired for his learning and piety.
He removed afterwards to Lausanne, and died there in
September 1569, in his thirty-first year. Wood says he
was too good for this world, and left behind him a most
excellent pattern of piety, devotion, and every other
virtue. He published, 1. “A View of Man’s Estate,
wherein the great mercy of God in man’s free justification
is shewed,
” Lond. A Godly
Advice touching Marriage,
” ibid. Excellent and comfortable Treatise for such as are either
troubled in mind, or afflicted in body,
” ibid. Godly and learned Exhortation to bear patiently all afflictions for the Gospel of Christ,
” Conference between a learned godly Christian, and an
afflicted Conscience,
” ibid. Hist,
of the Reformation.
” Thomas Kingsmill, Hebrew professor at Oxford in 1569, was probably a near relation of this
author, as he was born at the same place. In 1579 he became disordered in his senses, and the celebrated Hooker
was his substitute as Hebrew professor for some years.
, an eminent dissenting divine and biographer, was born at Nottingham, March 28, 1725. His father, Mr. Robert Kippis,
, 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.
His literary abilities and attainments were acknowledged by all who knew him. It was, therefore, natural to imagine, that when a favourable opportunity
His literary abilities and attainments were acknowledged by all who knew him. It was, therefore, natural to imagine, that when a favourable opportunity offered, he would be employed in the department of public education. Accordingly, on the death of Dr. Jennings in 1763, one of the tutors of the academy supported in London by the funds of William Coward, esq. he was appointed classical and philological tutor to that institution. In 1767, he received the degree of doctor in divinity from the university of Edinburgh; an honour, in the unsolicited grant of which the principal and professors very cordially concurred. In March 1778, he was elected a fellow of the society of antiquaries; and in June 1779, a fellow of the royal society. He was a member of the council of the former society from 1782 to 1784, and of that of the latter from 1786 to 1787. In both these societies he was a regular attendant and useful member.
itted his connection with Mr. Coward’s academy, which, upon the resignation of the two other tutors, was discontinued, he cordially concurred with a body of dissenters,
Having, in 1784, quitted his connection with Mr. Coward’s academy, which, upon the resignation of the two other tutors, was discontinued, he cordially concurred with a body of dissenters, in 1786, in establishing a newinstitution in the neighbourhood of London, with a view of educating ministers and young gentlemen intended for civil life. Dr. Kippis was very assiduous and active in his endeavours to accomplish this design, from which great effects were expected; and though his other engagements rendered it very inconvenient for him to accept any official connection with it, he at length, though not without reluctance, acquiesced in the appointment to be one of the tutors of this new institution; but the distance of his residence from Hackney, where the college was fixed, and some other circumstances, induced him in a few years to withdraw from it, and, not long after, it was dissolved.
spirits and established health; and they were equally surprised and grieved when they heard that he was confined to his bed with a fever, which baffled the skill of
Dr. Kippis continued to prosecute his other useful labours without intermission; and till within a fortnight of his death, his friends had no reason to imagine that they were so near their close. In the course of the summer, a few weeks before his death, he took a long journey on public business, and returned, as his fellow-travellers apprehended, with recruited spirits and established health; and they were equally surprised and grieved when they heard that he was confined to his bed with a fever, which baffled the skill of the most eminent physicians, and was hastily advancing to the fatal crisis. His disorder was of such a nature, that he found himself both disinclined and unable to make any exertion, or to converse much even with his most constant attendants. There is reason, however, to believe, that in a very early stage of his disorder he was not without apprehensions of its terminating in his dissolution. The last public service he performed was on the 20th of September, 1795 and on Thursday evening, the 8th of October, he expired, in the seventy- first year of his age.
of general erudition. He also furnished a periodical publication, called the “Library,” of which he was the editor, with several valuable papers. He laid the foundation
As an author, Dr. Kippis commenced his career in
early life, as many other young men have done, by-contributing to the magazines of the time, particularly the
Gentleman’s Magazine. He afterwards became a more
constant writer in the Monthly Review. His articles were
chiefly historical and theological, with occasional strictures
on works of general erudition. He also furnished a periodical publication, called the “Library,
” of which he was
the editor, with several valuable papers. He laid the foundation of the “New Annual Register.
” “The History of
Ancient Literature,
” and the “Review of modern Books,
”
were, at its first commencement, written by him, and continued to the year 1784 inclusive. He was also the author
of the “Review of the Transactions of the present Reign,
”
prefixed to the Register for History
of Knowledge, Learning, and Taste, in Great Britain,
”
prefixed to the succeeding volumes, to the year A Vindication of the Protestant Dissenting Ministers, with regard to their late Application to Parliament,
” 8vo.
in that body, which produced a good effect. His intimate connection with sir John Pringle, bart. who was formerly president of the royal society, led Dr. Kippis, after
Soon after his admission into the Royal Society, he published a pamphlet, entitled “Observations on the late Contests in the Royal Society,
” Six Discourses, delivered at the assignment
of sir Godfrey Copley’s medal,
” to which he has prefixed
a valuable life of the author, 1783, 8vo. At the close of
the American war he published a political pamphlet, formed
from materials which were communicated to him by persons
in office, and designed to justify the peace, which was
entitled “Considerations on the Provisional Treaty with
America, and the Preliminary Articles of Peace with France
and Spain.
” He also published several single discourses,
which were delivered on particular occasions; some of
which are reprinted in his volume of sermons, 1794. His
sentiments as a divine were originally Calvinistic, but approached in his latter days to those of the modern Socinians, or Unitarians as they affect to be called. To these
works we may also add his account of the “Life and Voyages of captain Cook,
” Dr. Doddridge’s Lectures,
” with a great number of
additional references; his life of Doddridge, prefixed
to a new edition of his Exposition of the New Testament, 1792; his “Life of Dr. Lardner,
” prefixed to the
complete collection of his works, in 11 vols. 8vo, 1788;
“An Address delivered at the Interment of Richard Price,
D. D. F. R. S. &c.
” Ordination Charge,
”
A Collection of Hymns and Psalms, for public and private Worship,
” Biographia Britannica.
” “His indefatigable industry in collecting materials
for it, his access to the best sources of information, his
knowledge of men and books, his judgment in selecting
and marking every circumstance that could serve to distinguish talents and character, and the habit which he had
acquired', by long practice, of appreciating the value of
different works, qualified him in a very high degree, for
conducting this elaborate performance.
” He did not,
however, live to carry on this edition of the “Biographia
”
farther than to about a third part of the sixth volume,
which was destroyed in the fire at Mr. Nichols’s premises.
eminent characters. Whether from timidity, or a false notion of liberality of sentiment, Dr. Kippis was accustomed to yield too much to the influence of connexion and
Notwithstanding those qualifications for this great undertaking just mentioned by his biographer, and for which
we are as much disposed to give him credit as the most
zealous of his admirers, we have often taken occasion, as
our readers may perceive, to differ from him in his estimate of many eminent characters. Whether from timidity,
or a false notion of liberality of sentiment, Dr. Kippis was
accustomed to yield too much to the influence of connexion
and of private friendship; to give the pen out of his own
hand, and to suffer the relatives or interested admirers of
certain persons to write lives according to their own views,
in which opinions were advanced that we are certain could
not have his sincere concurrence. Nor do we discern that
judgment in the coriduct of this work for which he has
been so highly praised, and for want of which, had he
lived to so distant a period, it must necessarily have been
protracted to an immense extent, if written upon the same
plan. Instead of re-writing, or methodizing those lives
which were injudiciously or incorrectly given in the first
edition of the “Biographia,
” his practice was to give the
article verbatim as it stood in that edition, and then to
make his additions and corrections; thus giving the whole
the air of a tedious controversy between himself and the
preceding editors. Many of his additions, likewise, were
of that redundant nature, that no reasonable prospect
could be entertained of the termination of the work. Indexes to volumes of sermons, with the texts, extracts of
opinions from magazines and reviews (many of which he had himself written in these journals), and from every
author that had incidentally mentioned the object of his
narrative, threatened, what in fact took place, that this
work, with all the assistance he had, was little more than
begun after the lapse of twenty years from his advancing
age became more irksome as he proceeded and at last
was left in a state which forbids all hope of completion
upon his plan. Had it, however, been entrusted to him at
an earlier period of life and vigour, we are persuaded that
his many qualifications for the undertaking would have
been exerted in such a manner as to obviate some, at least,
of these objections, which we notice with reluctance in
the case of a man whom we knew personally and highly
respected. We can cordially, therefore, as far as respects
his personal character, acquiesce with his affectionate biographer, who states that “his mild and gentle temper, his
polished manners, his easy and graceful address, and a
variety of external accomplishments, prepossessed those
who first saw him in his favour, and could not fail to conciliate esteem and attachment on a more intimate acquaintance. These qualities contributed very much to recommend him to persons in the higher ranks of life, to several
of whom he had occasional access; and qualified him, in
a very eminent degree, for the situation in which he exercised his ministerial office. But he was no less condescending, courteous, and affable to his inferiors, than to those
who occupied superior stations. Dr. Kippis had nothing
of that austerity and reserve, of that haughtiness and
superciliousness, of that parade and self-importance, and
ostentatious affectation of dignity, which forbid access,
and which mar the freedom and the pleasure of all the
social intercourses of life.
”
his youth to early rising; and he thus secured to himself a certain portion of time, during which he was not liable to be interrupted by any foreign avocations. This
He had been accustomed from his youth to early rising; and he thus secured to himself a certain portion of time, during which he was not liable to be interrupted by any foreign avocations. This habit was no less conducive to his health than to the discharge of his various literary and professional obligations. The natural powers of his mind were cultivated with an assiduity and perseverance of application, in which he had few superiors, and not many equals. They had been habituated through life to regular and constant exercise, and had acquired strength and vigour from, use. He was never hurried and distracted by the variety of his literary pursuits; and though he had many engagements which required his attention, and which diverted his mind from the objects of study to which he was devoted, he never seemed to want time. Every kind of business was referred to its proper season. By a judicious arrangement of his studies as well as of his other occupations, the number and variety of which he never ostentatiously displayed, and by the punctuality of his attention to every kind of business in which he was employed, he avoided confusion; he retained on all occasions the possession of himself; and he found leisure for reading and writing, and for all his literary avocations, without encroaching on that time which he appropriated to his professional duties and social connexions.
three years, at the rate of sixteen hours a day; and one of the works which he read entirely through was the “General Dictionary,” in ten volumes folio. This, he added,
Perhaps few persons ever read so much, and with such
advantage to themselves and others, as Dr. Kippis. He
informed the present writer, that he once read, for three
years, at the rate of sixteen hours a day; and one of the
works which he read entirely through was the “General
Dictionary,
” in ten volumes folio. This, he added, laid
the foundation of his taste and skill in biographical composition.
studied the history of his own country, and the principles of the British constitution. To these he was zealously attached, and these he ably defended. Yet, as a protestant
The studies in which Dr. Kippis principally excelled, were those of the classics, the belles-lettres, and history; beside those which were immediately connected with his profession. He had diligently studied the history of his own country, and the principles of the British constitution. To these he was zealously attached, and these he ably defended. Yet, as a protestant dissenter, he did not entirely escape the suspicion, in which almost the whole body of protestant dissenters was involved, of being disaffected to the constitution, although in his case it was unjust. He was, indeed, a warm advocate of civil and religious liberty; and he lamented, in common with some of the best and wisest of men, the existence of certain acknowledged abuses; but he was no friend to that wild theory and indiscriminate innovation, which then threatened the desolation of Europe; and while he wished for a reformation of abuses in a peaceable, legal, and constitutional way, it was still his opinion, that the British constitution, with all its defects (and what contrivance of human wisdom can be perfect?), was admirably calculated to preserve rational liberty, and to continue productive of national 'prosperity. With these sentiments, when he apprehended that certain political societies, with which he had long associated, were going too far, he withdrew his name; but he never abandoned the principles upon which his first connection with them was founded.
, eminent for his talents in perspective, was the eldest son of Mr. John Kirby, who was originally a schoolmaster
, eminent for his talents in perspective, was the eldest son of Mr. John Kirby, who was
originally a schoolmaster at Orforcl, and who is known to
topographers by a map of Suffolk which he published, and
by “The Suffolk Traveller,
” 12mo, a new edition of which
was published in
the Acquisition of useful knowledge; but the study which rendered his name best known to the world, was that of perspective, on which he wrote a valuable treatise.
Being of a very serious and studious turn of mind, he,
in his early years, from his very childhood, employed every
leisure hour, and even abridged his natural rest, in the
Acquisition of useful knowledge; but the study which rendered his name best known to the world, was that of perspective, on which he wrote a valuable treatise. When he
had made a considerable progress in this, he happened to
meet with Dr. Brook Taylor’s book, which furnished him,
with additional hints, and rendered his system more perfect.
On the publication of this work in 1754, he was requested
by the society of arts to read lectures on the subject, for
which he received the unanimous thanks of its members.
But though his work was for the most part original, such was
his modesty and candour, that he only called it “Dr. Brook
Taylor’s Method of Perspective made easy.
”
e earl of Bute. This nobleman introduced him to his present majesty when prince of Wales, by whom he was ever after highly and deservedly honoured. He was made clerk
On being admitted to the friendship and intimacy of sir
Joshua Reynolds, Hogarth (who furnished the curious frontispiece to his perspective), and most of the other artists of
the kingdom, he removed from Ipswich to London, where
he obtained the patronage of the earl of Bute. This nobleman introduced him to his present majesty when prince
of Wales, by whom he was ever after highly and deservedly honoured. He was made clerk of the works at
Kew, and under his majesty’s patronage, who defrayed
the expence of the plates, he published in 1761 his very
splendid work, “The Perspective of Architecture,
” 2 vols.
folio. Tn this work Mr. Kirby wholly confined himself to
architectural representations; and gave a variety of designs, elegantly drawn and engraved, which he submitted
as “new principles for a complete system of the perspective of architecture, both as it relates to the true delineation of objects, and the doctrine of light and shadow.
”
Mr. Edwards, however, remarks, as a curious circumstance,
that the plates of this work contain no example of architectural features disposed obliquely to the picture; a circumstance from which he would infer that Mr. Kirby was
no great adept in architecture, and that his practice in perspective was not very comprehensive, especially as his first
work is equally deficient with the last in what relates to
mouldings, when inclined to the picture, which position, if
not the most abstruse in theory, is yet among the most
troublesome in operation, and therefore ought to have
been demonstrated.
he appearance of this work he wrote a pamphlet in vindication of the fame of Dr. Brook Taylor, which was indirectly struck at in the translation of a treatise on perspective
Before the appearance of this work he wrote a pamphlet
in vindication of the fame of Dr. Brook Taylor, which was
indirectly struck at in the translation of a treatise on perspective by a foreigner. This pamphlet (which has no date) was entitled “Dr. Brook Taylor’s Method of Perspective, compared with the examples lately published on
the subject, as Sirigatti'i,
” 4to. In
, the first of a family of astronomers, of considerable note, was born at Guben, in Lower Lusatia, in 1640, and educated at Leipsic,
, the first of a family of astronomers,
of considerable note, was born at Guben, in Lower Lusatia, in 1640, and educated at Leipsic, where he acquired
reputation by the almanacs which he published. In 1692
he married Mary Margaret Winckehnan, who rendered him
much useful assistance by making astronomical observations for the construction of his Ephemerides. In 1701,
on the establishment of the academy of sciences at Berlin
by Frederic I. king of Prussia, that prince appointed him
a member of the society, and astronomer in ordinary, with
an honourable pension for his support. He died at Berlin
in 1710, at the age of seventy-one years. He had been
in the habit of corresponding with all the learned societies
of Europe, and published a variety of astronomical treatises,
which are in considerable estimation. His wife, Mary
Margaret, the daughter of a Lutheran clergyman at Panitzsh, a village near Leipsic, where she was born in 1670,
was early noticed for her astronomical talents, and in 1702,
some years after her marriage, she first saw a comet, upon,
which M. Kirch published his observations. In 1707 she
discovered a peculiar aurora borealis, mentioned in the
Memoirs of the academy of sciences at Paris for 1716.
These exertions of her genius procured her the esteem of
the learned at Berlin, notwithstanding which she was in
very low circumstances when her husband died. She contrived to maintain herself and educate her children, by constructing almanacs; and, in 1711, she published a dissertation entitled “Preparations for observing the grand Conjunctions of Saturn, Jupiter, &c.
” Soon after this she found
a patron in the baron de Throsick, and on his death two
years afterwards, removed to Dantzic, when Peter the Great
wished to engage her to settle in his empire. She preferred
her native country, and, in 1716, accompanied her son to
Berlin, where she was appointed astronomer to the academy
of sciences in that city, and died there in 1720. Their
son Christian Fkederic, born at Guben in 1694, who also
discovered an early and very strong bias for scientific pursuits, commenced his studies at Berlin, and afterwards
continued them at Halle, whence he made excursions for
improvement to Nuremberg, Leipsic, and Prussia. He
was employed a considerable time in the observatory at
Dantzic, and during his residence here, the czar, Peter
the Great, offered him an establishment at Moscow; but
his attachment to his mother, who was averse from leaving
Germany, led him to decline it. In 1717 he was made
member of the academy of sciences at Berlin, and in 1723
he was chosen a corresponding member of the royal academy of sciences at Paris, and he shewed himself worthy
of that distinction by the frequent valuable contributions
which he transmitted to them during the remainder of his
life. He died in 1740, in the forty-sixth year of his age.
He published several works connected with astronomy,
which were in considerable reputation at the period in
which he flourished.
, a philosopher and mathematician of considerable learning, was born at Fulde, in Germany, 1601. He entered into the society
, a philosopher and mathematician of considerable learning, was born at Fulde, in Germany, 1601. He entered into the society of Jesuits 1618;
and after going through the regular course of studies, during which his talents and industry were equally conspicuous, he taught philosophy, mathematics, the Hebrew
and Syriac languages, in the university of Wirtzburg, in
Franconia. The war which Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden made in Germany, disturbing his repose here, he retired into France, and settled in the Jesuits college at Avignon, where he was in 1635. He was afterwards called to
Rome to teach mathematics in the Roman college; which
he did six years. He spent the remainder of his life in
that city; and for some time professed the Hebrew language. He died in 1680, after having published no less
than twenty-two volumes in folio, eleven in quarto, and
three in octavo, in all which, however, he discovers too
much of that species of learning which is of little use. He
was always credulous, inaccurate, and careless of what he
asserted. Some reckon as his principal work, his “Oedipus
Ægyptiacus: hoc est, universalis hieroglyphicae veterum
doctrinse temporum injuria abolitae, instauratio. Romas,
1652, &c.
” in 4 vols. folio. Kircher was more than ordinarily addicted to the study of hieroglyphical characters;
and could always find a plausible, if not a true meaning
for thm. As his rage for hieroglyphics was justly esteemed
ridiculous, some young scholars resolved to divert themselves a little at his expence. With this view they engraved some unmeaning fantastic characters, or figures,
upon a shapeless piece of stone, and had it buried in a
place which was shortly to be dug up. It was then carried
to Kircher, as a most singular curiosity; and he, enraptured
at the discovery, applied himself instantly to explain the
hieroglyphic, and made it, at length, in his opinion, very
intelligible. Among Kircher’s other works are, “Praelusiones Magnetic,
” Primitice Gnomonicae Catopticae,
” 4to “Ars magna lucis et umbrae,
” Romae, Musurgia Universalis,
” Harmonic Universelle.
”
“Obeliscus Pamphilius,
” Itinerarium extaticum,
” 4to; “Obeliscus Ægyptianus,
” fol.; “Mundus
subterraneus,
” 1678, 2 vols. fol. “China illustrata,
” Turris Babel,
” fol. “Area Noe,
” fol. “Latium,
”
Phonurgia nova,
” 16 73, fol.;
“Ars sciendi combinatorial,
” Polygraphia,
”
, a German Protestant divine, was settled at Augsburg, and wrote a very learned and laborious
, a German Protestant divine,
was settled at Augsburg, and wrote a very learned and laborious work, of considerable use in illustrating the genuine
sense of the Holy Scriptures, entitled “Concordantia veteris Testamenti Graecae, Ebrseis vocibus respondentes
srote/xfnrfw. Simul enim et Lexicon Efyraico-latinum,
” &c.
Francfort,
, a learned German, was born in 1575, at Lubeck, where his father was a merchant. He
, a learned German, was born in
1575, at Lubeck, where his father was a merchant. He
studied in his native place till he was eighteen years of
age, and then went to Francfort on the Oder, where he
continued four years, in a constant attendance upon lectures, and close application to his books. He afterwards
studied in the university of Jena, and then in that of
Strasburg; and some time after, a burgo-master of Luneburg, who had received a great character of him, chose
him to accompany his son as trasrelling tutor, into France
and Italy. He returned to Germany in 1602; and, stopping at Rostock, acquired so much reputation, that the
next year he was appointed professor of poetry. The
work which he published in 1604, “De funeribus Romanorum,
” added not a little to his fame. He afterwards
published another work, “De annulis,
” which was also
much esteemed, as a correct illustration of those antiquities. He was much employed in education, and a great
many scholars were sent to him from the other cities of
Germany. At length the magistrates of Lubeck, wanting
a new principal or rector for their college, desired him to
take that office upon him; and he was accordingly installed
into it in 1613. He performed the functions of it the remainder of his days with the greatest care, and it is unjustly that some have attributed the decline of the college,
which happened in his time, to his negligence. He died,
March 20, 1643; and the 4th of May, his funeral oration
was pronounced at Lubeck, by James Stolterfhot, who
had married his eldest daughter.
The two works already mentioned, are his principal performances, yet he was the author of other things; of treatises upon logic and rhetoric,
The two works already mentioned, are his principal performances, yet he was the author of other things; of treatises upon logic and rhetoric, and funeral orations. He
published also in Latin, “The horoscope of the first-born
son of the most illustrious prince, Adolphus Frederic, duke
of Mecklenburg,
”
, professor of physic at Upsal, and physician extraordinary to Christina queen of Sweden, was born Dec. 25, 1577, at Breslaw, in Silesia, where his father
, professor of physic at Upsal, and physician extraordinary to Christina queen of Sweden, was born Dec. 25, 1577, at Breslaw, in Silesia, where his father was a merchant. He lost his parents when he was very young; but his guardians, as they intended him for his father’s profession, had him well instructed in such knowledge as might prepare him for it. Kirsteuius, however, had a turn for general literature, in which they thought it proper to indulge him. He accordingly learned the Greek and Latin tongues, and even Hebrew and Syriac; and with a view to his intended object, cultivated natural philosophy, botany, and anatomy, with the greatest care, in his native place. Afterwards he spent four years at the universities of Leipsic, Wittemberg, and Jena; and having made a great progress under the ablest professors, he took a journey into the Low-Countries, and into France. He had been told that a man could not distinguish himself in the practice of physic, unless he understood Avicenna; and, knowing the translation of that physician’s works to be very bad, he had a strong inclination to learn Arabic. To this he was urged by Joseph Scaliger and Isaac Casaubon, who thought he might do great service to the public of letters in that pursuit; and he resolved to read not only Avicenna, but also Mesue, Rhasis, Abenzoar, Abukasis, and Averroes. This course, however, did not hinder him from gratifying the inclination he had to travel, in which he spent seven years. He took a doctor of physic’s degree at Basil, in 1601; and then visited Italy, Spain, England, and even Greece and Asia. Soon after his return into Silesia, he went to Jena, and married a wife, by whom he had eight children. In 1610 he was appointed by the magistrates of Breslaw, to the direction of their college and schools; but a fit of sickness inclined him to resign that difficult employment, and he now applied himself entirely to the study of Arahic, and to the practice of physic. He succeeded greatly in his application to the Arabic, and was so zealous to promote the knowledge of it, that he employed all the money he could spare in printing Arabic books. For some reasons not stated by his biographers, he removed into Prussia, where he had an opportunity of entering into the family of chancellor Oxenstiern, whom he accompanied into Sweden; and in 1636 he was appointed professor of physic in the university of Upsal, and physician to the queen. His constitution, however, being much broken, he did not enjoy these advantages above four years, dying April 8, 1640. He was one of those few who joined piety to the practice of physic. It is observed in his epitaph, inscribed by Schroer to his memory, that he understood twenty-six languages.
eidelr bergensi Arabico ad verbum translata,“&c. 1611, fol. and a” Latin Oration," delivered when he was installed rector of the college at Breslaw, in 1610.
He published several works, valuable to divines as well
as to those of his own faculty: 1. “Grammatica Arabica,
”
Tria specimina characternm Arabicorum,
” &c.
fol. 3. “Decas sacra Canticorum & Carminum Arabicorum ex aliquot Mss. cum Latina ad verbum interpretatione,
” 1609, 8vo. 4. “Vitae quatuor evangelistarum ex
antiquissimo codice ms. Arabico erutae,
” 1609, folio. 5.
“Liber secundus canonis Avicennae, typis Arabiois ex
Mss. editus, & ad verbum in Latinum translatus, notisque
textum concernentibus illustratus,
” 1610, fol. 6. “Liber
de vero usu & abusu medicinae,
” 1611, fol. 8.
” Epistola S. Judge ex ms. Heidelr
bergensi Arabico ad verbum translata,“&c. 1611, fol. and
a
” Latin Oration," delivered when he was installed rector
of the college at Breslaw, in 1610.
, a celebrated Irish preacher, descended from an ancient Roman catholic family, was born in Galway, about 1754. He was sent in early youth to the
, a celebrated Irish preacher,
descended from an ancient Roman catholic family, was
born in Galway, about 1754. He was sent in early youth
to the college of the English'Jesuits at St. Omer’s; and at
the age of seventeen embarked for the Danish island of
St. Croix, in the West Indies, under the protection of his
father’s cousin-german, who had large possessions there;
but after enduring for six years a climate pernicious to his
delicate constitution, and spectacles of oppression and
cruelty shocking to his feelings, he returned to Europe in
disgust. He then went to the university of Louvain, where
he received priest’s orders, and was soon after honoured
with the chair of natural and moral philosophy. In 177$
he was appointed chaplain to tfye Neapolitan ambassador
at the British court, and at this time attained some fame
as a preacher, and published some sermons, of which,
however, we find no notice in any literary journal, and as
his family could not discover any copies, we suspect his
biographer has been mistaken in this point. In 1787 he
resolved to conform to the established religion, for what
reason we are not told, unless “a conviction that he should
thus obtain more extensive opportunities of doing good.
”
He was accordingly introduced by the rev. Dr. Hastings,
archdeacon of Dublin, to his first protestant congregation,
in St. Peter’s church, where he preached on June 24th of
that year. His audience was impatient to hear the causes
of his conversion, but neither at this time, nor any other,
either in the pulpit, or in his most confidential communications, did he “breathe a syllable of contempt or reproach against any religious persuasion whatever.
”
ccasion rose four or five-fold above their usual amount. Before the expiration of his first year, he was wholly reserved for the task of preaching charity sermons; and
For some time after his conformity, he preached every
Sunday in St. Peter’s church; and the collections for the
poor on every occasion rose four or five-fold above their
usual amount. Before the expiration of his first year, he
was wholly reserved for the task of preaching charity sermons; and on Nov. 5, 1788, the governors of the general
daily schools of several parishes entered into a resolution,
“That from the effects which the discourses of the rev.
Walter Blake Kirwan, from the pulpit, have had, his officiating in this metropolis was considered a peculiar
national advantage, and that vestries should be called to
consider the most effectual method to secure to the city
an instrument, under Providence, of so much public benefit.
” In the same year he was preferred by the archbishop of Dublin, to the prebend of Howth, and in the
next year to the parish of St. Nicholas-Without, the joint
income of which amounted to about 400l. a year. He resigned the prebend, however, on being presented in 1800,
by the marquis Cornwall is, then lord-lieutenant, to the
deanery of Killala, worth about 400l. a year.
Wonders are told of his popularity. Whenever he preached, such multitudes assembled that it was necessary to defend the entrance of the church by guards and
Wonders are told of his popularity. Whenever he
preached, such multitudes assembled that it was necessary
to defend the entrance of the church by guards and palisadoes. He was presented with addresses and pieces of
plate from every parish, and the freedom of various corporations; his portrait was painted and engraved by the
most eminent artists, and the collections at his sermons
far exceeded any that ever were known. F.ven in times of
public calamity and distress, his irresistible powers of persuasion repeatedly produced contributions exceeding a
thousand or twelve hundred pounds at a sermon; and his
hearers, not content with emptying their purses into the
plate, sometimes threw in jewels or watches, as earnest of
further benefactions. He died, exhausted as we are told,
by the fatigues of his mission, Oct. 27, 1805, leaving a
widow with two sons and two daughters, to whom his majesty granted a pension of 30l. a year for the life of the
widow, with reversion to the daughters. In 1814, a volume of his “Sermons
” was printed for the benefit of his
sons, who are not included in the above provision. From
these it would be difficult to discover the causes of his extreme popularity. There are in them many animated and
brilliant passages addressed to the feelings and passions,
and these, we presume, were assisted by a manner suited
to his audience, of which we can form no opinion. His
talents, however, as directed to one point, that of recommending charity, were unquestionably successful beyond
all precedent, and his private character well corresponded
to his public sentiments. He was a man of acute reeling,
amiable, humane, and beneficent.
, a German poet, was born at Zoeblin, in Pornerania, in 1715, and educated partly
, a German poet, was
born at Zoeblin, in Pornerania, in 1715, and educated
partly at the Jesuits’ college in Upper Poland, and partly
at the academy of Dantzic, and the university of Konigsberg. At the age of twenty-one he entered the Danish
military service, and then into that of Prussia, where he
had a commission in the regiment of prince Henry, which
gave him an opportunity of forming an intimacy with all
the great characters at Potsdam. He was particularly noticed by the king, and advanced in the army. Having obtained leave to take an active part in the campaign of 1759,
he was killed at the battle of Kunnersdorff, in the fortyfourth year of his age. His principal work, as a poet, was
entitled “Spring,
” which was first published in Cissides,
” printed in
, a German poet of the greatest renown, was born at Quedlinburg, July 2, 1724. He was the eldest of eleven
, a German poet
of the greatest renown, was born at Quedlinburg, July 2,
1724. He was the eldest of eleven children, and distinguished himself in his youth among his companions in bodily and mental exercises. At the age of sixteen he went
to college, and being placed under Freitag, a very able
tutor, he made himself familiar with the languages, and
acquiring a taste for the beauties of the best classical authors, made attempts in composition both in prose and
verse. In the latter he wrote some pastorals, but not contented with these humbler efforts, he formed at this early
period the resolution of composing an epic poem, and fixed
upon the “Messiah
” as his subject. Such an effort was
not known in the German language and the high opinion
he had of Virgil, his favourite poet amongst the ancients
the honour of being the first who should offer the Cerman
public a work like the fiLneid; the warmth of patriotism
that early animated him to raise the fame of German literature in this particular to a level with that of other European countries; the indignation he felt in reading the book
of a Frenchman, who had denied the Germans every talent
for poetry; all combined with the consciousness of his
own superior powers, to spur him on to the execution of
his exalted purpose. In 1745 he went to the university of
Jena, where he commenced the study of theology; but in
the midst of his academical pursuits he was planning his
projected work, and sketched out his three first cantos,
first in prose, but afterwards in hexameters, and was so
pleased with having introduced a metre into German
poetry, as ever afterwards to defend this mode of versification. In 1746, he removed from Jena to Leipsic, and became a member of a society of young men who had formed
themselves into a literary club for mutual improvement.
About this time he exercised his genius in lyric compositions. Several of his odes, together with the three first
cantos of his Messiah, appeared in a periodical paper entitled “Bremen Contributions.
” At length the publication of ten books of his Messiah made his name known
throughout Germany, and raised his reputation very high.
It found friends and enemies, admirers and critics, every
where but its approbation was owing as much to the sacredness of the matter as the beauty of the poetry Christian readers loved it as a book that afforded them at length,
amidst the themes of orthodoxy, some scope for devout
feeling; young preachers quoted it in the pulpit, and
coupled the name of Klopstock with that of the prophets.
The stauncher class of divines, indeed, gave the poem the
appellation of presumptuous fiction, contaminating the
scripture-history with fables, and undermining the faith.
The partisans of the German grammarian Gottsched raised
the greatest clamour against the work, on the ground of the
language, and sought by poor arguments and sorry wit to
depreciate its merits. The Swiss critics, as opponents to
the Saxons, on the other hand, extolled and defended it
with all their might. Bodmer, in particular, the admirer
and translator of Milton, embraced the cause of the German epic bard with enthusiastic ardour, and contributed
very greatly, by his warm euloaium, to accelerate the
universal celebrity of his poem. Klopstock heard and profited by the public disquisitions, but never engaged in any
of the disputes.
o Switzerland in 1750, to pay a visit to Bodmer of Zurich, in consequence of an invitation, where he was received with every token of respect. The sublime scenery of
Klopstock travelled into Switzerland in 1750, to pay a
visit to Bodmer of Zurich, in consequence of an invitation,
where he was received with every token of respect. The
sublime scenery of that country, the simplicity of the inhabitants, and the freedom they enjoyed, were much suited
to his taste. Here he intended to have spent the remainder
of his life, but baron Bernstorff caused an invitation to be
sent to him to reside at Copenhagen, with assurances of
such a pension as would make him independent. Klopstock acceded to the proposal, and set out in 1751, by the
way of Brunswick and Hamburgh, at which latter place he
became acquainted with Miss Muller, a lady perfectly
adapted to his own mind, whom he soon after married.
They seemed destined to be one of the happiest couples,
but he was soon deprived of her, for she died in childbed:
her memory, however, was sacred to Kiopstock to the last
moment of his existence. He lived chiefly at Copenhagen,
till 1771, after which he resided at Hamburgh as Danish
legate, and counsellor of the margrave of Baden, who gave
him a pension. The latter part of his life was little varied
by incidents, and after he had brought the Messiah to a
conclusion, he continued to employ himself in composition,
and in the correction and revision of his works. He died
at Hamburgh, March 14, 1803, being seventy-nine years
of age, and was interred with the greatest solemnity, not
unmixed with superstitious and fanciful circumstances. By
those who were intimate with him he is represented as a
truly amiable man, happiest in a small circle of private
friends, and particularly fond of the society of young persons. The character of Kiopstock, as a poet, is that of
exuberance of imagination and sentiment. His sublimity
is great, but he is apt to lose himself in mystical abstraction, and his excess of feeling sometimes betrays him into
rant and extravagance. His odes and lyric poems have
likewise been much admired by his countrymen, and his
dramas display great force and dignity, but they are better
adapted to the closet than the stage. The great merit of
his works is in the diction; he enchants by his noble and
energetic style, but their beauties cannot be preserved in
a translation, and it is in Germany alone that they can be
sufficiently appreciated. As an excellent specimen of his
talents as a prose writer, we may notice his “Grammatical
Dialogues,
” which abound with judicious remarks.
, an eminent German critic, was born in 1738, at Bischofswerden, near Dresden, where his father
, an eminent German
critic, was born in 1738, at Bischofswerden, near
Dresden, where his father was a clergyman. As to his first
years, he used to tell Harles that he could not remember
how they were spent, except that he was seven years old
before his parents could by any means prevail on him to
learn any thing. Soon after that, however, he was suddenly seized with such an attachment to letters, that his
parents spared no expence to gratify his taste, and to enable him to cultivate his talents to the best advantage. He
employed his leisure hours in composing and, reciting German verses, 'and profited very much under Foerstelius, who
was his private preceptor, and afterwards at Misna, under
Weiss and Cleman.nus. He studied afterwards at Gorlitz,
under Baumeister, who taught him the classics, and lodged
him in his house. Here Klotz used to say he spent more
happy days than he was persuaded he should ever see
again. During his stay here, which lasted two years, he
gave a specimen of his powers in versification, by a poem
composed on the “Destruction of Zittau,
” which was laid
waste in Acta Eruditorum,
” and some separate pieces. In
Opuscula Poetica,
” containing
twenty-three odes, three satires, and as many elegies. From
Leipsic he repaired to Jena, where he opened a school,
which was well attended. Having accepted of an invitation
to a professorship at the university of Gottingen in 1762,
he set off for that place, and almost immediately after his
arrival he was attacked by a severe illness, from which,
however, he recovered, and immediately published a treatise “De Verecundia Virgilii,
” to which were added three
dissertations relative to the eclogues of the poet. He also
published “Miscellanea Critica,
” and applied himself to
the study of ancient gems and paintings, with which he
became well acquainted. His celebrity had now increased
so much, that he received two offers in the same day, one
from the prince of Hesse Darmstadt, to be professor of the
Oriental languages at Giessen, and the other from his
Prussian majesty, to be professor of eloquence at Halle.
While he was deliberating respecting the choice he should
make, he was nominated by his Britannic majesty to be
professor of philosophy at Gottingen, with an increased
salary, which induced him to remain in that city, till some
attempts were made to ruin his reputation. He then quitted
Gottingen, and accepted an offer made him by his
Prussian majesty, of being professor of philosophy and eloquence at Halle, with the rank and title of aulic counsellor.
While preparing for his departure, he published “Historia
Nummorum Contumeliosonini et Satyricorum,
” containing
a history of these coins; and on his removal to Halle he
gave the public another work of the same kind, and at the
same time he effected, what had been often attempted
before without success, the institution of a new society,
called the “Literary Society of Halle.
” Here also the
king conferred upon him the rank of privy-counsellor, and
accompanied this mark of honour with a considerable addition to his salary. He died in 1771, and just before his
death, revised every thing which he had written on coins,
and published “Opuscula, nummaria quibus Juris Antiqui
Historiceque nonnnila capita explicantur.
” His other works,
not already noticed, were, 1. “Pro M. T. Cicerone adversus Dionem Cassium et Plutarchum dissertatio,
” Gorlitz,
Ad virum doct. I. C. Reichelium epistola,
qua de quibusdam ad Homerum pertinentibus disputatur,
”
Leipsic, Carminum liber unus,
” ibid. Mores Eruditorum,
” Altenburgh, Genius Sxculi,
” ibid. Opuscula Poetica,
”
ibid. Oratio pro Lipsii latinitate,
” Jena,
Libellus de minutiarum studio et rixandi
libidine grammaticorum quorundam,
” ibid. Animadversiones in Theophrasti characteres Ethiros,
”
jbid. 8vo. 10.“Dissertatio de felici audacia Horatii,
” I Elegiae,
” ibid. 8vo. 12. “Funus Petri Burmanni secundi,
” Altenburgh, 8vo. This is a very complete account of the life, &c. of Burman. 13. “Uidicula
Litteraria,
” ibid. 8vo, a satirical work on useless studies
and pursuits. 14. “Vindiciie Horatianae,
” against Hardouin, Bremen, Stratonis epigrammata,
uunc primum edita,
” Altenburgh, Epistolae Homericae,
” ibid.
, an eminent portrait painter, was born at Lubec about 1648. His father was surveyor-general of
, an eminent portrait painter, was born at Lubec about 1648. His father was surveyor-general of the mines, and inspector of count Mansfeldt’s revenues. At first Godfrey was destined for a military life, and was sent to Leyden, where he applied to mathematics and fortification; but the predominance of nature determining him to painting, his father acquiesced, and placed him under Bol, at Amsterdam, and he had also some instructions from Rembrandt. He visited Italy in 1672, and remained some time at Venice, where he painted some of the first families, and amongst them the cardinal Bassadonna. It is probable that he here learned that free, loose style of execution in which he delighted, but by no means excelled; with him it fell to negligence and clumsiness, particularly in his draperies, whilst sometimes his heads exhibit a perfect master of the pencil.
to the duke of Monmouth, saw them, and sat to Kneller; and persuaded the duke also to sit. His grace was delighted, and engaged the king his father to have his picture
Kneller did not stay long in Italy, as in 1674 became to England with his brother, John Zachary, who assisted him in painting, without intending to reside here; but being recommended to Mr. Banks, a Hamburgh merchant, he painted him and his family. Mr. Vernon, secretary to the duke of Monmouth, saw them, and sat to Kneller; and persuaded the duke also to sit. His grace was delighted, and engaged the king his father to have his picture by the new artist, at a time when the duke of York had been promised the king’s picture by Lely. Charles, unwilling to have double trouble, proposed that both artists should paint him at the same time. Lely, as the established artist, chose his light and station: Kneller took the next best he could, and performed his task with so much expedition and skill, that he had nearly finished his piece when Lely’s was only dead-coloured. The circumstance gained Kneller great credit; and Lely obtained no less honour, for he had the candour to acknowledge and admire the abilities of his rival. This success fixed Kneller here; and the immense number of portraits he executed, prove the continuance of his reputation.
He was equally encouraged by Charles, James, and William; and had the
He was equally encouraged by Charles, James, and William; and had the honour of painting the portraits of ten/ sovereigns (viz. Charles II. James II. and his queen, William and Mary, Anne, George I. Louis XIV. the czar Peter the Great, and the emperor Charles VI.), which is more than can be said of any other painter. His best friend was William, for whom he painted the beauties of Hampton Court; and by whom he was knighted in 1692, and presented with a gold medal and chain worth 300l. In his reign he also painted several of the admirals for Hampton, Court, and the Kit-Cat club. He lived to paint George I, and was -made a baronet by him. In 1722, sir Godfrey was seized with a violent fever, from tjie immediate danger of which he was rescued by Dr. Mead. He languished, however, some time, and died in October 1723. His body lay in state, and was buried at his country seat called Wilton; but a monument was erected to him in Westminster abbey, for which he left 300l. and gave particular instructions for the execution of it to Rysbrach.
Windsor, he is said to be most proud of, as justly he might be. It exhibits that he really knew what was good, and could produce it if he chose. According to his own
During the latter part of his time, that is, after the death
of Lely, in 1680, Kneller stood at the head of the professors of his art in this country, and that most conspicuously.
It is not therefore surprising that he experienced the encouragement he did. He has left some few good pictures
behind him as proofs of the natural powers he possessed;
but his most sincere admirers, who are judges, must
acknowledge that the far greater portion of those he allowed to pass into the world under his name, are a disgrace
to him and his patrons. His picture of the converted
Chinese, at Windsor, he is said to be most proud of, as
justly he might be. It exhibits that he really knew what
was good, and could produce it if he chose. According
to his own doctrine, he did as much and no more than was
accessary to pass current among his employers. “History
painters,
” he said, “make the dead live, and don't begin
to live till they are dead. I paint the living, and they
make me live.
”
on; and a most fortunate ignorance of the art among the best informed even of the public, by whom he was employed, aided his progress. Not but that he was equal to the
A rapid pencil, and a ready talent of taking likenesses,
were the foundation of his reputation; and a most fortunate ignorance of the art among the best informed even of
the public, by whom he was employed, aided his progress.
Not but that he was equal to the production of good works
if he had been more carefully trained, and had lived
amongst those who knew how to value works of art upon
just principles; but he was amongst the most vain of mankind, and had no regard whatsoever for that posthumous
fame which leads men to sacrifice present enjoyments to
future glory. His motto was, “to live whilst he lived,
”
and, consequently, to make money was a matter of greater
moment with him than to make good pictures; and he
succeeded fully; for although he lost 20,000l. by the South
Sea speculation, he left, at his death, an estate of 2000l.
a year. His prices, whilst he painted here, were 15 guineas
for a head; 20 if with one hand; 30 for a half, and 60 for
a whole length.
Sir Godfrey was a man of wit, riot unmixed with profaneness, of which lord Orford
Sir Godfrey was a man of wit, riot unmixed with profaneness, of which lord Orford has given some instances
that might as well have been suppressed. The following
is of another stamp. In Great Queen-street, Lincoln’sinn-fields, he lived next door to Dr. Ratcliffe. Kneller
was fond of flowers, and had a fine collection. As there
was great intimacy between him and the physician, he permitted the latter to have a door into his garden; but, Ratcliffe’s servants gathering and destroying the flowers,
Kneller sent him word he must shut up the door. RatclifFe replied, peevishly, “Tell him he may do any thing
with it but paint it.
” “And I,
” answered sir Godfrey,
“can take any thing from him but physic.
”
, an English antiquary and biographer, was a native of London (where his father was freje of the Mercers’
, an English antiquary and biographer, was a native of London (where his father was freje of the Mercers’ company), and received the early part of his education at St. Paul’s school. He was thence admitted of Trinity college, Cambridge, where, having: taken his degree of B. A. in 1702, and of M. A. in 1706 he became chaplain to Edward earl of Orford, who presented him to the vicarage of Chippenham, and also to the rectory of Borough- green in Cambridgeshire, to which last he was instituted Nov. 3, 1707. He afterwards was collated by bishop Moore to a prebendal stall in the church of Ely, June 8, 1714 and presented by him to the rectory of Bluntesham in Huntingdonshire, June 22, 1717. He was made chaplain to George II. in Feb. 1730-1, and promoted by bishop Sherlock to the archdeaconry of Berks, 1735. He died December 10, 1746, in the 72d year of his age, and was buried in the chancel of Bluntesham church, where a neat monument of white marble is erected to his memory, with an inscription written by his friend Mr. Castle, dean of Hereford. His only son, Samuel, was fellow of Trinity college, Cambridge, and rector of Fulham, in Middlesex. With the ample fortune which his father left him, he purchased the manor of Milton near Cambridge, and died Jan. 1790.
. Knight, whose attention appears to have been much directed to literary and ecclesiastical history, was an useful assistant to many authors of his time, and his assistance
Dr. Knight, whose attention appears to have been much
directed to literary and ecclesiastical history, was an useful assistant to many authors of his time, and his assistance was acknowledged by Peck, Grey, Ward, and others.
He had made collections for the lives of bishops Grosseteste,
Overal, and Patrick. Whiston had the latter, which is
probably in the hands of his grandson, Samuel Knight, esq.
His own publications were the “Life of Erasmus,
” Dean Colet,
”
ished at the close of the 14th century, under Richard II. is celebrated as an ancient chronicler. He was a canon-regular of Leicesterabbey, and wrote a history of English
, who flourished at the close of the 14th century, under Richard II. is celebrated as an ancient chronicler. He was a canon-regular of Leicesterabbey, and wrote a history of English affairs in five books, from the Conquest to the year 1395. He wrote likewise an account of the deposition of Richard II. His works are printed with the ten English historians published by Selden.
, author of an excellent History of the Turks, was born in Northamptonshire, and educated at Oxford, where he was
, author of an excellent History
of the Turks, was born in Northamptonshire, and educated
at Oxford, where he was admitted about 1560; but we are
not told of what college, though it is said he was, after
taking his degrees, chosen fellow of Lincoln college. When
he had continued there some time, Sir Peter Manwood, of
St. Stephen’s near Canterbury, “minding to be a favourer
of his studies,
” says Wood, “called him from the university, and preferred him to be master of the free-school at
Sandwich in Kent,
” where he applied himself with diligence, and produced many good scholars for the universities. For their use he composed “Grammaticae Latinae,
Graccae, & Hebraicse, compendium, cum radicibus,
” Lond.
History of the
Turks,
” which was first printed in The general History of the Turks, from the first beginning of that Nation, to the rising of the Ottoman Family,
”
&c. Some have suggested, that Knolles was not the sole
author of this history, because there appear in it several
translations from Arabic histories, which language they
affirmed him not to have known: but such conjectures are
not sufficient to deprive him of the credit which justly
attends the work. It has been continued, since Knolles’s
death, by several hands. One continuation was made,
from the year 1628 to the end of 1637, collected out of the
dispatches of sir Peter Wyche, knight, ambassador at
Constantinople. But the best continuation of the Turkish
history is made by Paul Ricaut, esq. consul of Smyrna,
from 1623 to 1677, printed at London, 1680, in folio.
Hicaut began his “History of the Turkish Empire,
” from
a period earlier than Knolles had left off; for he tells us,
in his preface to the reader, that “the reign of sultan
Amurat, being imperfectly written in Knolles’s history,
consisting, for the most part, of abrupt collections, he had
thought fit, for the better completing the reign of the
sultan, and the whole body of our Turkish history, to deliver all the particular transactions thereof with his own
pen.
”
lles wrote also “The Lives and Conquests of the Ottoman Kings and Emperors, to the year 1610,” which was not printed till after his death, in 1621, to which time it
Knolles wrote also “The Lives and Conquests of the
Ottoman Kings and Emperors, to the year 1610,
” which
was not printed till after his death, in A brief Discourse
of the Greatness of the Turkish Empire, and wherein the
greatest Strength thereof consisteth,
” &c. He also translated Bodin’s “Six Bookes of a Common-wealthe,
”
Knorr à Rosenroth (Christian), a learned German orientalist, was born in 1636. He pursued his studies at various colleges, and
Knorr à Rosenroth (Christian), a learned German orientalist, was born in 1636. He pursued his
studies at various colleges, and then travelled for improvement into France, England, and Holland, but bestowed too
much attention on chemistry and the cabalistic art, which
vitiated the greater part of his works, althongh it obtained
him the esteem and friendship of Lightfoot, More, and Van
Helmont. By the count palatine of Sulzbach, he was, in
1688, nominated one of his privy council, and afterwards
chancellor. His reputation is chiefly founded on his
“Kabbala Denudata, seu Doctrina Hebræorum transcendentalis, et metaphysica, atque theologica,
” &c. 3 vols.
4to; a farrago of wild reveries, fanciful chimeras, and
mystical absurdities, with occasionally some learned notices
of the philosophy of the Hebrews.
, a learned Jesuit and controversial writer, whose true name was Matthias Wilson, and who, in some of his works, takes the name
, a learned Jesuit and controversial
writer, whose true name was Matthias Wilson, and who,
in some of his works, takes the name of Nicholas Smith,
was born at Pegsworth near Morpeth in Northumberland,
1580. He was entered among the Jesuits in 1606, being
already in priest’s orders; and is represented in the “Bibliotheca Patrurn societatis Jesu,
” as a man of low stature,
but of great abilities: “vir magnis animi dotibus bumili in
corpore praeditus.
” He taught divinity a long time in the
English college at Rome, and was a rigid observer of that
discipline himself which he has as rigidly exacted from
others. He was then appointed sub-provincial of the province of England; and, after he had exercised that employment out of the kingdom, he was sent thither to perform the functions of provincial. He was twice honoured
with that employment. He was present, as provincial, at
the general assembly of the orders of the Jesuits, held at
Rome in 1646, and was elected one of the definitors. He
died at London, January 4, 1655-6, and was buried in the
church of St. Pancras, near that city.
This Jesuit was the author of several works, in all which he has shewn great
This Jesuit was the author of several works, in all which
he has shewn great acuteness and learning. In 1630, 'he
published a small volume, called “Charity mistaken, with
the want whereof Catholics are unjustly charged, for affirming, as they do with grief, that Protestancy, unrepented,
destroys salvation.
” This involved him in a controversy,
first with Dr. Potter, provost of Queeu’s-college, Oxford,
who, in 1633, wrote “Want of Charity justly charged Oh
all such Romanists, as dare, without truth or modesty, affirm, that Protestancy destroyeth salvation;
” and afterwards with Chillingworth, who, in answer to this Jesuit,
wrote his “Religion of Protestants;
” of which, as well as
of his controversy with Knott, we have already given an
account in his life (vol. IX.) It only remains to be added
here, that Chillingworth’s latitude of principles afforded
Knott many advantages, which, at that time, would be
more apparent than now. Knott’s larger answer to Chillingworth did not appear until 1652, when it was printed
at Ghent, under the title of “Infidelity unmasked; or,
the confutation of a book published by W. Chillingworth,
&c.
” Knott was also the author of “Monita utilissima
pro patribus missionariis Anglicanis,
” or useful advice for
the fathers of the English mission; but this work was never
printed.
, was a native of Ely, where he was born in 1723, and received his
, was a native of Ely, where he was born in 1723, and received his education at the grammar-school of that place, from whence he was removed to Pembroke-hall, Cambridge, where he commenced B. A. in 1743, M. A. in 174-7, and was also chosen fellow of that society. He was afterwards lecturer of St. Mary’s, in Bury St. Edmund’s, upwards of thirty years, prebendary of Ely, rector of Ickworth and Chedburgh, and vicar of Winston, all in the county of Suffolk. He died October 6, 1802.
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 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.
, the chief instrument and promoter of the reformation in Scotland, was descended of an ancient and honourable family, and born 1505,
, the chief instrument and promoter of
the reformation in Scotland, was descended of an ancient
and honourable family, and born 1505, at Gifford, in the
county of East Lothian, Scotland. His parents gave him
a liberal education, which in that age was far from being
common. He was first placed at the grammar-school of
Haddington, and after acquiring the principles of the
Latin tongue, was sent to the university of St. Andrew’s
under professor John Major, the same who was Buchanan’s
tutor, a very acute schoolman, and deep in theology.
Knox, however, examining the works of Jerom and Austin,
began to dis-relish this subtilizing method, altered his taste,
and applied himself to plain and solid divinity. At his
entrance upon this new course of study, he attended the
preaching of Thomas Guillaume, or Williams, a friar of
eminence, whose sermons were of extraordinary service to
him; and he acquired still more knowledge of the truth
from the martyr, George Wishart, so much celebrated in,
the history of this time, who came from England in 1554,
with commissioners from king Henry VIII. Knox, being
of an inquisitive nature, learned from him the principles
of the reformation; with which he was so well pleased,
that he renounced the Romish religion, and having now
relinquished all thoughts of officiating in that church,
which had invested him with clerical orders, he entered as
tutor into the family of Hugh Douglas of Long Niddrie, a
gentleman in East Lothian, who had embraced the reformed doctrines. Another gentleman, in the neighbourhood, also put his son under his tuition, and these two
youths were instructed by him in the principles of religion,
as well as of the learned languages, and he taught the
former in such a way as to allow the rest of the family,
and the people of the neighbourhood, to reap advantage
from it. He catechised them publicly in a chapel at Long
Niddrie, in which be also read to them at stated times, a
chapter of the Bible, accompanied with explanatory remarks. The memory of this has been preserved by tradition; and the chapel, the ruins of which are still apparent,
is popularly called “John Knox’s kirk.
” It was not, however, to be expected, that he would long be suffered to
continue in this employment, under a government entirely
at the devotion of cardinal Beaton (see Beaton); and
although he was, in the midst of his tyranny, cut off by a
conspiracy in 1546, Hamilton, successor to the vacant
bishopric, sought Knox’s life with as much eagerness as
his predecessor. Hence Knox resolved to retire to Germany, where the reformation was gaining ground; knowing that, in England, though the pope’s authority was
suppressed, yet the greater part of his doctrine remained
in full vigour. He was, however, diverted from his purpose, and prevailed on to return to St. Andrew’s, January 1547; where he soon after accepted a preacher’s place,
though sorely against his will.
reformers could give; a circumstance which, although objected to by some ecclesiastical historians, was not accounted any impediment to 1m afterwards receiving promotion
He now set openly, and with a boldness peculiar to his character, to preach the doctrines of the reformation, although he had received no ordination, unless such as the small band of reformers could give; a circumstance which, although objected to by some ecclesiastical historians, was not accounted any impediment to 1m afterwards receiving promotion at the hands of the English prelates. His first sermon was upon Dan. vii. 23 28; from which text he proved, to the satisfaction of his auditors, that the pope was Antichrist, and that the doctrine of the Romish church was contrary to the doctrine of Christ and his apostles; and he likewise gave the notes both of the true church, and of the antichristian church. Hence he was convened by his superiors; he was also engaged in disputes; but things went prosperously on, and Knox continued diligent in the discharge of his ministerial function tillJuly 1547, when the castle of St. Andrew’s, in which he was, was surrendered to the French; and then he was carried with the garrison into France. He remained a prisoner on. board the galleys, till the latter end of 1549, when being set at liberty, he passed into England; and, going to London, was there licensed, either by Cranmer, or Somerset the protector, and appointed preacher, first at Berwick, and next at Newcastle. During this employ, he received a summons, in 1551, to appear before Cuthbert Tonstall, bishop of Durham, for preaching against the mass. In 1552, he was appointed chaplain to Edward VI.; it being thought fit, as Strype relates, that the king should retain six chaplains in ordinary, who should not only wait on him, but be itineraries, and preach the gospel over all the nation. The sanje year he came into some trouble, on account of a bold sermon preached upon Christmas-day, at Newcastle, against the obstinacy of the papists. In 1552-3, he returned to London, and was appointed to preach before the king and council at Westminster; who recommended Cranmer archbishop of Canterbury to give him the living of Allhallows in London, which was accordingly offered him but he refused it, not caring to conform to the English liturgy, as it then stood. Some say, that king Edward would have promoted him to a bishopric; but that he even fell into a passion when it was offered him, and rejected it as favouring too much of Antichristianism.
he crossed over to Dieppe in France, and went thence to Geneva. He had not been long there, when he was called by the congregation of English refugees, then established
He continued, however, his place of itinerary preacher
till 1553-4, when queen Mary came to the throne, when
leaving England, he crossed over to Dieppe in France,
and went thence to Geneva. He had not been long there,
when he was called by the congregation of English refugees, then established at Francfort, to be preacher to them;
which vocation he obeyed, though unwillingly, at the command of John Calvin; and he continued his services among
them till some internal disputes about ceremonies broke up
their society. Some of the English, particularly Dr. Cox,
afterwards bishop of Ely, wished for a liturgy according to
king Edward’s form, but Knox and others preferred the
Geneva service; at length the party of Cox, to get rid of
the Scotch reformer, taking advantage of certain unguarded
expressions in one of his former publications, threatened
to accuse him of treason unless he quitted the place, which
he did, and went again to Geneva. After a few months
stay at Geneva, he resolved to visit his native country, and
went to Scotland. Upon his arrival there, he found the
professors of the reformed religion much increased in
number, and formed into a society under the inspection of
some teachers; and he associated with them, and preached
to them. He conversed familiarly with several noble personages, and confirmed them in the truth of the protestant
doctrine. In the winter of 1555, he taught for the most'
part in Edinburgh. About Christmas he went to the west
of Scotland, at the desire of some protestant gentlemen;
but returned to the east soon after. The popish clergy,
being greatly alarmed at the success of Knox in promoting
the protestant cause, summoned him to appear before them
at Edinburgh, May 15, 1556; but, several noblemen and
gentlemen of distinction supporting him, the prosecution
was dropped. This very month he was advised to write to
the queen-regent an earnest letter, to persuade her, if
possible, to bear the protestant doctrine; which, when the
queen had read, she gave to James Beaton, archbishop of
Glasgow, with this sarcasm: “Please you, my lord, to
read a pasquil.
”
While our reformer was thus occupied in Scotland, he received letters from the English
While our reformer was thus occupied in Scotland, he
received letters from the English congregation at Geneva,
earnestly intreating him to come thither; accordingly, July
1556, he left Scotland, went first to Dieppe in France,
and thence to Geneva. He had no sooner turned' his back
than the bishops summoned him to appear before them;
and, upon his non-appearance, passed a sentence of death
upon him for heresy, and burnt him in effigy at the Cross
at Edinburgh. Against this sentence, he drew up, and
afterwards printed at Geneva, in 1558, “An Appellation
from the cruel and unjust Sentence pronounced against
him by the false bishops and clergy of Scotland,
” &c. He
had a call to Scotland in that they would followforth their purpose, and commit themselves, and whatever God had given them, into his hands, rather than
suffer idolatry to reign, and the subjects to be defrauded
of th^ only food of their souls.
” To secure each other’s
fidelity to the protestant cause, a common bond, or
covenant, was entered into by them, dated at Edinburgh, December 3, 1557; and from this period they were distinguished by the name of “The Congregation.
” In the
mean time Mr. Knox returned to Geneva, where, in 1558,
he published his treatise, entitled “The First Blast of the
Trumpet against the monstrous Regiment of Women.
”
His chief motives to write this, were the cruel and bloody
government of queen Mary of England, and the endeavours of Mary of Lorrain, queen-regent of Scotland, to
break through the laws, and introduce tyrannical government. He designed to have written a subsequent piece,
which was to have been called “The Second Blast:
” but
queen Mary dying, and he having a great opinion of queen
Elizabeth, and great expectations to the protestant cause
from her, went no farther.
he government of women. He accordingly arrived in Scotland in May. At this time a public prosecution was carried on against the protestants, and their trial was just
In April 1559, he determined to return to his native country, and would have visited England in his way, but queen Elizabeth’s ministers would not suffer him, because he had rendered himself obnoxious to their royal mistress by inveighing against the government of women. He accordingly arrived in Scotland in May. At this time a public prosecution was carried on against the protestants, and their trial was just ready to commence at Stirling: Knox instantly hurried to share with his brethren in the threatened danger, or to assist them in their common cause.
ltitude with the utmost rage. The indiscretion of a priest, who, immediately after Knox’s discourse, was seen preparing to celebrate mass, and began to decorate the
Dr. Robertson, in describing this business, says, “While
their minds were in that ferment which the queen’s perfidiousness and their own danger occasioned, Knox mounted
the pulpit, and, by a vehement harangue against idolatry,
inflamed the multitude with the utmost rage. The indiscretion of a priest, who, immediately after Knox’s discourse, was seen preparing to celebrate mass, and began
to decorate the altar for that purpose, precipitated them
into immediate action. With tumultuous, but irresistible
violence, they fell upon the churches in that city, overturned the altars, defaced the pictures, broke in pieces the
images, and proceeding next to the monasteries, laid those
sumptuous fabrics almost level with the ground. This
riotous insurrection was not the effect of any concert, or
previous deliberation. Censured by the reformed preachers,
and publicly condemned by the persons of most power and
credit with the party, it must be regarded merely as an
accidental eruption of popular rage.
” From this time Mr.
Knox continued to promote the reformation by every means
in his power, sparingno pains, nor fearing any danger.
Mr. Knox, by his correspondence with secretary Cecil,
was chiefly instrumental in establishing those negotiations
between “The Congregation
” and the English, which terminated in the march of an English army into Scotland to
assist the protestants, and to protect them against the persecutions of the queen-regent. This army, being joined
by almost all the great men of Scotland, proceeded with
such vigour and success, that they obliged the French
forces, who had been the principal supports of the tyranny
of the regent, to quit the kingdom, and restored the parliament to its former independency. Of that body, a great
majority had embraced the protestant opinions, and encouraged by the zeal and number of their friends, they
improved every opportunity in overthrowing the whole
fabric of popery. They sanctioned the confession of faith
presented to them by Knox, and the other reformed
teachers: they abolished the jurisdiction of the ecclesiastical courts, and transferred the causes to the cognizance
of the civil courts; and they prohibited the exercise of religious worship, according to the rites of the Romish church.
In August 1561, the queen arrived from France, and
immediately set up a private mass in her own chapel;
which afterwards, by her protection and countenance, was
much frequented. This excited the zeal of Knox, who
expressed great warmth against allowing it: and, an act of
the privy-council being proclaimed at Edinburgh the 25th
of that month, forbidding any disturbance to be given to
this practice, under pain of death, Knox openly, in his
sermon the Sunday following, declared, that “one mass
was more frightful to him than ten thousand armed enemies,
landed in any part of the realm.' 1 This freedom gave great
offence to the court, and the queen herself had a long conference with him upon that and other subjects. In 1563,
he preached a sermon, in which he expressed his abhorrence of the queen’s marrying a papist; and her majesty,
sending for him, expressed much passion, and thought to
have punished him; but was prevailed on to desist at that
time. The ensuing year, lord Darnley, being married to
the queen, was advised by the protestants about the court,
to hear Mr. Knox preach, as thinking it would contribute
much to procure the good-will of the people he accordingly did so but was so much offended at his sermon,
that he complained to the council, who silenced Knox for
some time. His text was Isaiah xxiv. 13 and 17,
” O
Lord, our God, other lords than Thou have reigned over
us.“From these words he took occasion to speak of the
government of wicked princes, who, for the sins of the
people, are sent as tyrants and scourges to plague them;
and, among other things, he said, that
” God sets over
them, for their offences and ingratitude, boys and women."
r at the opening of the parliament. He went vigorously on with the work of reformation but, in 1572, was greatly offended with a convention of ministers at Leith, where
In 1567, Knox preached a sermon at the coronation of James VI. of Scotland, and afterwards the First of Great Britain and also another at the opening of the parliament. He went vigorously on with the work of reformation but, in 1572, was greatly offended with a convention of ministers at Leith, where it was agreed that a certain kind of episcopacy should be introduced into the church. At this time his constitution was quite broken; and what seems to have given him the finishing stroke was the dreadful news of the massacre of the Protestants at Paris about this time. He had strength enough to preach against it, which he desired the French ambassador might be acquainted with; but he fell sick soon after, and died November 24, 1572, after having spent several days in the utmost devotion. He was interred at Edinburgh, several lords attending, and particularly the earl of Morton, that day chosen regent, who, as soon as he was laid in his grave, said, u There lies he who never feared the face of man, who hath been often threatened with dag and dagger, but yet hath ended his days in peace and honour. For he had God’s providence watching over him in a special manner, when his very life was sought."
Knox was twice married, and had children by both his wives; two sons
Knox was twice married, and had children by both his
wives; two sons by the first, who were educated at St.
John’s college, in Cambridge, and chosen fellows of the
same. He requested the general assembly which met at
Edinburgh in 1566, for leave to visit these sons in England; but they were only at school then, being sent to the
university after his death. As to his writings, they were
neither numerous nor large: 1. “A faithful admonition
to the Professors of the Gospel of Christ within the Kingdom of England,
” A Letter to Queen Mary,
Regent of Scotland,
” The Appellation of
John Knox,
” &c. mentioned above, The First
Blast,
” &c. mentioned above, A brief Exhortation to England, for the speedy Embracing of Christ’s
Gospel, heretofore by the Tyranny of Mary suppressed
and banished,
” History of the Reformation of Religion within the Realm
of Scotland,
” &c. at the end of the fourth edition of
which, at Edinburgh, 1732, in folio, are subjoined all the
forementioned works. He published also a few pieces in
the controversial way, against the anabaptists, as well as
papists; and also his sermon before lord Darnley.
admirer of Knox, and certainly no bigot to the doctrines or discipline of his church, says that “he was the prime instrument of spreading and establishing the reformed
The character of this eminent man has been variously
represented, according to the sentiments of ecclesiastical
writers. The friends of popery, and of the episcopal establishment in Scotland, and the more recent admirers and
advocates of queen Mary, have spared no pains to give an
unfavourable turn to all his actions, while the adherents to
the church of Scotland have always continued to reverence
his character and actions. Dr. Robertson, by no means a
partial admirer of Knox, and certainly no bigot to the
doctrines or discipline of his church, says that “he was
the prime instrument of spreading and establishing the reformed religion in Scotland. Zeal, intrepidity, disinterestedness, were virtues which he possessed in an eminent degree. He was acquainted, too, with the learning
cultivated among divines in that age, and excelled in that
species of eloquence which is calculated to rouse and inflame. His maxims, however, were often too severe, and
the impetuosity of his temper excessive. Rigid and uncomplying himself, he shewed no indulgence to the infirmities of others. Regardless of the distinctions of rank
and character, he uttered his admonitions with acrimony
and vehemence, more apt to irritate than to reclaim. This
often betrayed him into indecent and undutiful expressions
with respect to the queen’s person and conduct. Those
very qualities, however, which now render his character
less amiable, fitted him to be the instrument of Providence
for advancing the reformation among a fierce people, and
enabled him to face dangers, and to surmount opposition,
from which a person of a more gentle spirit would have
been apt to shrink back.
” Knox has lately found more
zealous biographers in Cook, and especially M‘Crie, whose
life of him is an important addition to the ecclesiastical
history of his country, and does honour to Mr. M’Crie’s
talents, judgment, and extensive research. It is not perhaps necessary to add many authorities to this notice of
that work.
, the son of capt, Robert Knox, commander of the Anne frigate, in the East India service, was born about 1641, and probably brought up to the sea service.
, the son of capt, Robert Knox,
commander of the Anne frigate, in the East India service,
was born about 1641, and probably brought up to the sea
service. He went with his father to Fort George in 1657,
and returning thence to England in 1659, put into Ceylon
on account of a storm, where he, his father, and fourteen
others were made prisoners, and his father died in this captivity, Feb. 9, 1660. After a servitude of nineteen years and a
half, the subject of this memoir escaped from the inland
parts of the island, where he was prisoner at large, to
Areppa, a Dutch settlement on the north-west coast. Here
he was hospitably received, and carried in one of their ships
to Batavia, and thence, in an English ship, to England.
Many of his companions whom he left at Ceylon, had become reconciled to their fate, married, and had families;
but captain Knox, although often solicited, preserved his
repugnance to such connexions, and his love of liberty.
After his return he wrote “An historical relation of the
Island of Ceylon, in the East Indies,
” with an account of
his captivity and escape; illustrated with plates and a map
of the island, London, 1681, fol. The preface is by Dr,
Robert Hooke, who probably had some share in the compilation. It was long esteemed a book of authority, It is
uncertain when captain Knox died. He was cousin to
Strype the historian.
, who was born in the country of Holstein, acquired some celebrity in
, who was born in the country
of Holstein, acquired some celebrity in his day for an attempt to propagate atheistical tenets, and for undertaking
long journeys on purpose to make proselytes. He first
broached his impious notions at Koniugsberg, in Prussia,
about 1673. He boasted that he had a great many followers in the chief cities of Europe; at Paris, at Amsterdam, at Leyden, in England, at Hamburgh, at Copenhagen, at Stockholm, at Rome; and that he had even
seven hundred at Jena. His followers were called conscienciaries, because they asserted, that there is no other
God, no other religion, no other lawful magistracy, but
conscience. He gave the substance of his system in a
short letter dated from Rome the contents of which may
be reduced to the following heads “First, there is neither
a God nor a devil; secondly, magistrates are not to be
valued, churches are to be despised, and priests rejected;
thirdly, instead of magistrates and priests, we have learning and reason, which, joined with conscience, teach us to
live honestly, to hurt no man, and to give every one his
due; fourthly, matrimony does not differ from fornication;
fifthly, there is but one life, which is this, after which
there are neither rewards nor punishments; sixthly, the
holy scripture is inconsistent with itself.
” The letter may
be found in the edition of “Micraclii Syntagma Historitc
Ecclesiastic, 1699.
” Knutzen dispersed also some writings in the German tongue, but his opinions were amply
refuted, in the same language, by a Lutheran professor,
named John Musacus, who undertook that task in order to
remove the suspicions that might be entertained to the prejudice of the university of Jena. When he died is not
mentioned, nor does his history appear now of much importance.
, professor of philosophy in Prussia, was born at Konigsberg, in 1713, where he was for some years professor
, professor of philosophy in Prussia, was born at Konigsberg, in 1713, where he was for
some years professor of philosophy, and librarian. He died
in 1751, leaving several learned works, of which the principal are, “Systema Causarum Efficientium;
” “Elementa
Philosophic Rationalis, Methodo Mathematico demonstrata;
” “Theoremata de Parabolis infinitis
” and “A
Defence of the Christian Religion,
” which is said to be
his ablest performance.
, a learned German, was born at Altorf, in Franconia, in 1616; and afterwards became
, a learned German, was
born at Altorf, in Franconia, in 1616; and afterwards became professor of poetry and of the Greek tongue, and
library-keeper, in the university there, in which last office
he succeeded his father. He was well versed in the belles
lettres, in divinity, and in the oriental languages; but, being
afflicted with deafness some years before he died, he was
much impeded in the discharge of his academical functions. He died Dec. 2 9, 1699, having survived a wife, whom
he married in 1648, and four children. He gave several
public specimens of his learning, but is principally known
for a work entitled “Bibliotheca vetus et nova,
” printed
at Altorf,
, a botanist and disciple of Linnæus, was born in Couriand in 1728, and in 1765 travelled to Iceland,
, a botanist and disciple of Linnæus, was born in Couriand in 1728, and in 1765 travelled to Iceland, and after having investigated the vegetable productions of that dreary country, and of its circumjacent seas, visited the richer climes of India, and died at Jagrenatpour, in Bengal, in 1785. His communications have greatly enriched the collections of Europe, especially those of Linnteus, lletzius, and sir Joseph Banks. The fine Banksian library contains his botanical manuscripts. His letters to Linnæus are very numerous and instructive. The Koenigia-y a plant which he discovered in Iceland, was so called by Linnæus in honour of him.
, a learned philosopher and mathematician, was a Swiss by birth, and came early into eminence by his mathematical
, a learned philosopher and mathematician, was a Swiss by birth, and came early into eminence by his mathematical abilities. He was professor of
philosophy and natural law at Franeker, and afterwards at
the Hague, where he became also librarian to the stadtholder, and to the princess of Orange; and where he died
in 1757. The academy of Berlin enrolled him among her
members; but afterwards expelled him on the following
occasion. Maupertuis, the president, had inserted in the
volume of the Memoirs for 1746, a discourse upon the
laws of motion; which Koenig not only attacked, but also
attributed the memoir to Leibnitz. Maupertuis, stung with
the imputation of plagiarism, engaged the academy of Berlin to call upon him for his proof; which Koenig failing to
produce, he was struck out of the academy. All Europe
was interested in the quarrel which this occasioned between
Koenig and Maupertuis. The former appealed to the public; and his appeal, written with the animation of resentment, procured him many friends. He was author of some
other works, and had the character of being one of the
best mathematicians of the age. He had a brother, Daniel,
who was murdered at the age of twenty-two, at Franekei 4
The populace, overhearing him talk in French, imagined
that he was a French spy, and would have killed him on
the spot, if the academicians had not rescued him from
their fury: but the wounds which he received hurried him
to the grave in a few months. He translated into Latin
Dr. Arbuthnot’s “Tables of Ancient Coins,
” which remained in ms. till 1756, when it was published at Utrecht,
with a curious and useful preface, by professor Reitz.
, a celebrated traveller, was born in 1674, at Dorflas, in the principality of Baireuth, of
, a celebrated traveller, was born in
1674, at Dorflas, in the principality of Baireuth, of which
place his father was a judge, and afterwards a receiver of
taxes. His early years were passed in poverty, until, in
1696, he was received into the* house of Eimart, an astronomer, under whose directions he made considerable progress in the sciences. He entered the university of Halle
in 1700, and afterwards gave a course of lectures in mathematics and philosophy. He was introduced to baron von
Krosie, privy counsellor to his Prussian majesty, to whom
he became secretary, and whom he accompanied in his
travels; and a proposal being made to him to go to the
Cape of Good Hope, he gladly embraced the opportunity.
Here he remained ten years, making observations on the
country and the people, till he was afflicted with blindness,
from which, however, on his return to Europe, he so far
recovered as to be able to read with the assistance of
glasses. In 1716 he inserted in the Acta Eruditorum a
treatise “De aquis Capitis Bonse Spei.
” This work introduced him into farther notice, and he was appointed rector
of the school of Neustadt, where he died in 1726. His
chief publication was “A Description of the Cape of
Good Hope,
” in folio, with twenty-four plates. This
work was translated into Dutch in 1727; and at London, into English, in 1731, by Mr. Medley, who lopped
o.'Fsome of its redundancies. It was afterwards abridged,
and published in French in three vols. 12mo. The first
attack on the veracity of tliis work was made by the abbe“de la Caille, who, in his Journal of the voyage to the Cape,
said that he took Kolben’s description with him, but found
it full of inaccuracies and falsehoods, and more resembling
a series of fables than an authentic narrative. It has been
also said that Kolben having passed the whole of his time
with his bottle and his pipe, was perplexed to find that he
had nothing to show in Europe, as the first fruits of his
supposed labours, and therefore engaged some inhabitants
of the Cape to draw up for him that description of the
colony which he imposed upon the public as his own.
Forstcr, on the other hand, in his
” Voyage round the
World," ascribes to La Caille certain interested motives in
thus decrying Kolben' s work, and says it would be easy to
refute almost every criticism which the abbe* has passed on
that intelligent and entertaining voyager. These different
opinions might perplex us, if more recent travellers had
not rendered us independent both of Kolben and La Cailie.
, a learned professor of divinity at Kiel, was born Jan. 15, 1633, at Burg, in the isle of Femeren, near the
, a learned professor of divinity at Kiel, was born Jan. 15, 1633, at Burg, in the isle
of Femeren, near the Baltic sea, in the country of Holstein.
He was sent first to school at Burg, whence in his sixteenth year he removed to Sleswick, where he applied to
his books two years more; and afterwards studied in the
college of Stetin, and gave public proofs of his progress
by some theses. Going to Rostoch in 1652, he assiduously
frequented the lectures of the professors, and took the degree of doctor in philosophy, in 1656. He then pursued
his studies in the university of Jena, and gained great reputation by the academical acts, and by private lectures
read on philosophy, the Eastern tongues, and divinity.
He left Jena in 1660, and after visiting the universities of
Leipsic and Wittemberg, returned to Rostoch, where he
was made Greek professor in 1662; and took a doctor of
divinity’s degree the same year. He married in 1664, and
next year was invited to be second professor of divinity in
the university just founded at Kiel. He was so zealous
for the prosperity of that new university, and so grateful
for the kindness of the duke of Holstein, his master, that
he refused all the employments, though very beneficial and
honourable, which were offered him in several places.
This prince bestowed upon him, in 1680, the professorship
of ecclesiastical antiquities; and declared him vice-chancellor of 'the university for life, 1689; and he discharged
the duty of those offices with great ability, application, and
prudence. His death, which happened March 31, 1694,
was a great loss to the university of Kiel, and to the republic of letters. His works in Latin and German are numerous, and esteemed by the learned; the principal are,
1. “Tractatus de persecutionibus Ecclesise primitive, veterumque Martyrum cruciatibus,
” the best edition of which
is, Keil, Tractatus de Calumniis Pagariorum in veteres Christianos,
” Keil, Tractatus de Religione Ethnica, Mahummedana et Judaica,
”
De Origine et Natura Christianismi ex
mente Gentilium,
” De tribus Impostoribus magnis Liber, Edwardo Herbert, Thomse Hobbes, et
Benedicto Spinosa oppositis,
” Hamburg, De rationis cum revelatione in Theologia concursu,
”
Oratio de Scholarum et Academiarum ortu
et progressu, presertim in Germania,
”
, grandson of the preceding, was born in 1709, at Keil, where his father, Sebastian Kortholt,
, grandson of the preceding,
was born in 1709, at Keil, where his father, Sebastian Kortholt, was professor. He discovered an early disposition
towards the sciences, and made so rapid a progress in
them, that he was admitted at twenty to assist in the
“Journal of Leipsic,
” in which may be found some good
pieces of his till 1736, and some well chosen extracts from
works on ecclesiastical history. Kortholt visited Holland
and England, and was esteemed by the learned there.
While in England he drew up a short account of the society of Antiquaries of London, “Epistola ad Kappium de
Soc. Ant. Lond.
” Leipsic, De Ecclesiis suburbicariis
” “De Enthusiasmo Muhammedis
” and several excellent “Dissertations.
” The most
esteemed of those in German are, a “Treatise on the truth
of Christianity
” “Sermons,
” &c. He published four volumes of Latin letters by Leibnitz, a volume of his French
letters, and a collection of various pieces on philosophy,
mathematics, history, &c. by the same author.
, born in 1585, was one of the three fanatics whose visions were published at Amsterdam
, born in 1585, was one of
the three fanatics whose visions were published at Amsterdam in 1657 (by Comenius, as noticed in his life), with
the following title: “Lux in Tenebris.
” He lived at
Sprottow in Silesia; and his visions began in June 1616.
He fancied he saw an angel, under the form of a man, who
commanded him to go and declare to the magistrates, that,
unless the people repented, the wrath of God would fall
dreadfully upon them. His pastor and friends restrained
him for some time, nor did he execute his commission, even
though the angel had appeared six times; but in 1619,
being threatened by the same spirit, he divulged his commission. This brought upon him some ridicule, but his
visions continued, and were followed by extasies and prophetic dreams. He waited on the elector Palatine, whom
the protestants had declared king of Bohemia, at Breslaw,
in 1620, and informed him of his commission, and published it in other places, and, in 1625, at Brandenburg,
He became acquainted, the same year, with Comenius,
who greatly favoured his prophecies but, as they chiefly
presaged happiness to the elector-palatine, and the
reverse to the emperor, he became at length obnoxious,
and, in 1627, was closely imprisoned, as a seditious impostor, afterwards set on the pillory, and banished the
emperor’s dominions. Upon this he went to Lusatia, which
was then subject to his electoral highness of Saxony; and
lived there unmolested till his death, in 1647. Whether
fool, or knave, he was not discouraged from prophesying,
though his predictions were continually convicted of falsehood by the event.
, a famous historian of the fifteenth century, was a native of Hamburg, and had no sooner finished his classical
, a famous historian of the fifteenth
century, was a native of Hamburg, and had no sooner
finished his classical studies, than he set out upon his travels, visiting several parts of Europe, during which he
studiously cultivated the sciences, and became a man
of general knowledge. His talents procured him the
title and offices of doctor of divinity and of the canon
law, and professor of philosophy and divinity in the university of Rostoch, of which also he was rector in 1482.
He went from Rostoch to Hamburg, and was elected dean
of the chapter in the cathedral there in 1498. He executed many important affairs for the church and city of
Hamburg; and was so famed for his abilities and prudence, that, in 1500, John king of Denmark, and Frederick duke of Holstein, did not scruple to make him umpire, in a contest they had with the province of Dietmarsen. He died Dec. 7, 1517, after having written some
very good works, which were afterwards published: as, 1.
V Ghronica Regnorum Aquilorum, Danise, Sueciae, Norvegiae,“Argentorat. 1546, folio. 2.
” Saxonia, sive de Saxonicse Gentis vetusta Origine, longinquis Expeditionibus
susceptis, et Bellis Domi pro Libertate diu fortiterque gestis Historia, Libris 13 comprehensa, et ad Annum 1501
deducta,“Colon. 1520, folio. 3.
” Vandalia, sive Historia
de Vandalorum ver& Origine, variis Gentibus, crebris e
Patria Migrationibus, Regnis item, quorum vel Autores
fuerunt vel Eversores, Libris 14 a prim& eorum Origine ad
A. C. 1500 deducta,“Colon. 1519, folio. 4.
” Metropolis,
sive Historia Ecciesiastica Saxoniae,“Basil, 1548, fol. 5.
” Jnstitutiones Logicoe," Leipsic, 1517, 4to, &c.
, a learned divine, was born in 1576, at Cobelen in Misnia, of a noble and ancient family.
, 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.
, nephew of the preceding, was born in 1610, at Zeitz, and became celebrated for his learning
, nephew of the preceding, was
born in 1610, at Zeitz, and became celebrated for his
learning and writings, professor of history, rhetoric, and
divinity at Leipsic, in which city he died, in 1670, leaving
numerous works, of which the following are the principal
“Theologia Positivo-Polemic-a
” “Historia Erclesiast.
”
“Loci anti-Syneretistici
” “Polymathia Theologica
”
“Comment, in Epist. ad Galatas et Apocai
” “Scrutinium Religionum,
” &c.
, a celebrated fanatic, was born at Breslaw in Silesia in 1651, and gave great hopes by
, a celebrated fanatic, was born
at Breslaw in Silesia in 1651, and gave great hopes by the
uncommon progress he made in literature; but this was
interrupted by a sickness he laboured under at eighteen
years of age. He was thought to be dead on the third day
of his illness, but had then, it seems, a most terrible vision.
He fancied himself surrounded with all the devils in hell,
and this at mid-day, when he was awake. This vision was
followed by another of God himself, surrounded by his
saints, and Jesus Christ in the midst; when he saw and
felt things inexpressible. Two days after, he had more
visions of the same kind; and when he was cured of his
distemper, though he perceived a vast alteration with regard to these sights, yet he found himself perpetually encompassed with a circle of light on his left hand. He had
no longer any taste for human learning, nor any value for
university-disputes or lectures; he would have no other
master but the Holy Ghost. He left his country at nineteen years of age. His desire to see Holland made him
hasten thither, even in the midst of a desolating war; and
he landed at Amsterdam, Sept. 3, 1673, which was but
three days before the retaking the city of Naerden. He
went to Leyden a few days after, and meeting with Jacob
Behmen’s works, his disorder increased, for he now
said he found that Behmen had prophesied of things,
of which he thought nobody but himself had the least knowledge. There was at that time in Holland one John Hothe,
a prophet likewise of the same stamp; for whom Kuhlman
conceived a high veneration, and dedicated to him his
“Prodromus quinquennii mirabilis,
” printed at Leyden in
I frankly own myself,
” says he,
“incapable of your sublime and celestial knowledge:
what I have written, I have written after a human manner, that is, by knowledge gained by study and labour,
not divinely inspired or infused. I do not doubt but that
you, by means of the incomparable and vast extent of
your genius, will produce discoveries much greater and
more admirable than my trifles. You promise great and.
incredible things, which, as they far transcend all human
capacity, so I affirm boldly, that they have never been
attempted, nor even thought of, by any person hitherto;
and therefore I cannot but suspect, that you have obtained
by the gift of God such a knowledge as the scriptures
ascribe to Adam and Solomon: I mean, an Adamic and
Solomonic knowledge, known to no mortal but yourself,
and inexplicable by any other.
” Our fanatic, not perceiving that his correspondent was jesting with him, carefully
published Kircher’s answers, using capital letters in those
passages where he thought himself praised. Kircher, however, gave him serious advice, when Kuhlman consulted
him about writing to the pope: he told him with what circumspection and caution things were conducted at Rome;
and assured him, that in his great work, which he proposed to dedicate to the pope, he must admit nothing
which might offend the censors of books, and especially
take care not to ascribe to himself an inspired knowledge.
ppear; but it is related, that he wandered a long time in England, France, and the East, and at last was burnt in Muscovy, Oct. 3, 1689, on account of some predictions
When Kuhlman left Holland does not appear; but it is related, that he wandered a long time in England, France, and the East, and at last was burnt in Muscovy, Oct. 3, 1689, on account of some predictions of the seditious kind. In the character of this fanatic, there is little to excite respect or compassion. He kept two women in succession, without the sanction of marriage, and made use of the worst arts to get money. He used to write letters to people, in which he denounced terrible judgments, if certain sums were not advanced for the promotion of the new kingdom of God. The celebrated Van Helmont received one of these letters, but paid no attention to it. Another proof that there was nothing very sincere in his enthusiasm, is, that, while he was reaay to write respectfully to the pope for the good of Christianity, he was comforting himself with Drabicius’s prophecies relating to the destruction of the papacy; and, at that very time, wrote to his friends letters full of hopes that it was then approaching.
, a learned German, and accurate classical editor, was born in 1647 at Gripswalde, a town of Pomerania, where his father
, 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.
He published himself, 1. “Animadversiones in Pollucem,” 1680, 12mo. This was a specimen bf an intended edition of Pollux’s “Onomasticon,”
He published himself, 1. “Animadversiones in Pollucem,
” Onomasticon,
” which he was prevented by death from executing. His labours, however,
were not lost, but inserted in the folio edition of that
author at Amsterdam, 1706. 2. ^Æliani variae histories libri
jdv.“Argent. 1685, 8vo. His notes on this author are
very exact and learned, and not only critical, but explanatory. 3.
” Diogenes Laertius de vitis philosophorum, &c. n
Amst. 1692, in 2 vols. 4to, Meibomius’s fine edition, in
which the short notes of Kuhnius, and other learned men,
are inserted. After his death were published, 4. “Quaestiones philosophies ex sacris Veteris et Novi Testament!
aliisque scriptoribus,
” Argent. Pausanice
Groecise descriptio,
” &c. Lipsiae,
, a celebrated chemist, was born at Husurn, in the duchy of Sleswick, in 1630. He was originally
, a celebrated chemist, was born at
Husurn, in the duchy of Sleswick, in 1630. He was originally intended for the practice of pharmacy; but having
applied himself with equal diligence to the study of chemistry and metallurgy, he obtained great reputation in.
these sciences, and was appointed chemist to the elector
of Saxony. He afterwards went to the court of Frederic
William, elector of Brandenburg, with a similar appointment; and subsequently to that of Charles XI. king of
Sweden, who, in 1693, granted him letters of nobility,
under the name of Kunckel de Loewenstern. He was
elected a member of the imperial Academia Naturae Curiosorum, under the name of Hermes III. He died in Sweden, in March 1703. Notwithstanding his advantages and
fame, his theoretical knowledge was very imperfect; he
was altogether destitute of the least tincture of philosophy,
and was even said to have been one of the searchers for
the philosopher’s stone. He is now principally known as
the discoverer of phosphorus, which he prepared from
urine, and which bears his name in the shops. He
was the author of several works, written in German, in a
very bad style, and with as little method as the rest of the
alchemists. His treatise “On Phosphorus,
” was printed
at Leipsic in Art of Glass-making
” in
, a learned critic, was born in the month of Feb. 1670 at Blomberg, a little town in
, 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.
in High Dutch. 2. “Bibliotheca Librorum collecta a L. Neocoro, 77 Utrecht, 5 tomes in 8vo. This work was continued from the month of April 1697, to the end of 1699.
Kuster’s other works, not hitherto mentioned, were: 1.
“Historia Critica Homeri,
” Francfort, Bibliotheca Librorum collecta a L. Neocoro, 77 Utrecht,
5 tomes in 8vo. This work was continued from the month
of April 1697, to the end of 1699. Mr. Kuster was at.first
employed alone in this journal; but took into his assistance
Mr. Henry Sike, who was afterwards professor of Hebrew
in the university of Cambridge. They wrote in conjunction till June 1699, when Mr. Kuster left this work to Mr.
Sike, who continued it no longer than the last six months
of that year. 3.
” Jamblichi de Vita Pythagoras Liber,
Grsece & Latine, cum nova Versione, Emendationibus, &
Notis L. Kusteri. Accedit Porphyrius de Vit& Pythagoras
cum notis L. Holstenii &-C. Hittershusii; itemque
Anonymus apud Photium de Vita Pythagorse,“Amsterdam,
1707, in 4to. Dr. Kuster’s notes are merely criticd, in
which he restores a prodigious number of passages in his
authors. 4.
” Diatriba L. K. in qu& Editio Suidae Cantabrigiensis contra Cavillationes J. G. Aristarchi Leydensis
defenditur,“inserted in M. Le Clerc’s Bibliotheque
Choisie, torn. XXIV. p. 49, & seqq. and published separately, in 12mo. A new edition of it, with additions, was
published under the title of
” Diatriba Anti-Gronoviana,“at Amsterdam, 1712, in 8vo. 5.
” De Musseo Alexaudrino Diatriba,“inserted in the 8th tome of Gronovius’s
collection of Greek Antiquities. 6.
” Ludovici Savoti
Dissertationes de Nummis antiquis lingua Gallica in Latinam translate a. L. Neocoro,“inserted in the llth tome
of Graevius’s Roman Antiquities. 7.
” Picturae antiquse
sepulchri Nasoniorum in Via Flaminia delineate & incisee
a Petro Sancto Bartaeriolo, explicates a Joanne Petro Hellene; ex Italics. Lingua in Latinam transtulit L. Neocorus,“inserted in the 12th volume of GraDvius. 8
” Epistola, in qua Praefatio quarn v. c. J. P. [Jacobus Perizonius]
novissimae Dissertationi suae de aere gravi praeposuit, refellitur,“Leyden, 1713, 8vi. 9.
” De vero usu Verborum Mediorum apud Graecos, eorumque differentia u
Verbis Activis & Passivis. Annexa est Epistola de Verbo
Cerno ad virum clar. J. P. Auctore Ludolpho Kustero,
Regias Inscriptionum Academiae socio,“Paris, 1714, in
12mo. 10.
” Explication d'une Inscription Greque envoy^e de Smyrne,“inserted in the Memoirs de Trevoux
for September, 1715. 11.
” Examen Criticum Editionis
novissimae Herodoti Gronovianae,“inserted in Le Clerc’s
Bibliotheque ancienne &, moderne, torn. V. p. 383 & seqq.
There has been published in Holland under the name of
Graevius, and with the title of
” Nova Conors Musarum,"
a little tract of Kuster, written in 1699, for the instruction
of some young noblemen. Our author published a specimen of a new edition of Robert Stephens’s Thesaurus, with
great improvements in La Roche’s Memoirs of Literature,
vol. V. p. 298 & seqq
Kuster’s chief excellence was his skill in the Greek language, to which he devoted himself
Kuster’s chief excellence was his skill in the Greek language, to which he devoted himself with an enthusiasm
which undervalued every other pursuit. He thought the
history and chronology of Greek words the most solid entertainment of a man of letters, and despised all other
branches of learning. It is reported of him, that one day
taking up Bayle’s “Commentaire Philosophique,
” in a
bookseller’s shop, he threw it down, and said, “This is
nothing but a book of reasoning; non sic itur ad astra.
”
But many of his characteristic peculiarities will be best understood from the following letter from Joseph Wasse, the
learned editor of Sallust.
“Dr. Raster, a tall, thin, pale man, seemingly unable to bear fatigue, was nevertheless indefatigable, and of an uncommon application to
“Dr. Raster, a tall, thin, pale man, seemingly unable
to bear fatigue, was nevertheless indefatigable, and of an
uncommon application to letters. He formed himself
under Graevius. I was acquainted with him from 1700 to
1714-. Upon my collecting the remains of Anacreon for
Mr. Barnes, about 1702, he introduced me to Dr. Bentley.
You must be known, says he, to that gentleman, whom I
look upon, not only as the first scholar in Europe, but as
the best of friends. I only hinted to him the difficulty I
lay under in relation to the officers of the customs; and,
presently after, he accommodated that troublesome affair
to my entire satisfaction, without so much as once letting
me know he had any hand in it till near a year after:
unde satis compertum mihi Bentleium esse re officiosum
non verbis. Many an excellent emendation upon Suidas
have I received from him. I the rather mention this, says
Mr. Wasse, because when that Lexicon was in the press,
Kuster with indignation shewed me an anonymous letter
in Latin, addressed to him, wherein he was advised not to
treat the doctor with that distinction, if he intended his
book should make its way in the learned world. But to
proceed; when he came to write upon Suidas, he found
himself under a necessity of making indices of all the
authors mentioned by the ancients; Eustathius particularly,
and nineteen volumes of Commentaries upon Aristotle,
&c. of the history, geography, and chronological characters occasionally mentioned. Dr. Bentley prevailed upon
me to give him some assistance. Those that fell to my
lot were chiefly Eustathius on the Odyssey, seven or eight
Scholiasts, Plutarch, Galen. You may judge of Kuster’s
dispatch and application, when I tell you I could by no
means keep pace with him, though I began the last author Jan. 9, 1703, and finished him March the 8th of the
same year, and in proportion too, the remainder. Though
I corrected all the sheets of the first volume, yet I never
perceived he had omitted some less material words, nor
ever knew the true reason. I have heard him blamed too
for mentioning the names of one or two persons who sent
him a few notes; but this was occasioned, I am confident,
by the hurry he was always in, and the great number of
letters, memorandums, and other papers he had about
him. As I remember, he translated cle novo in a manner
five or six sheets a week, and remarked upon them; so
that the work was hastily executed, and would have been
infinitely more perfect, had he allowed himself time. Some
people thought they assisted him when they did not. A
person of figure took him into his closet after dinner, and
told him he would communicate something of mighty importance, a xfi/xiiMov, which in all difficulties had been his
oracle. In an ill hour I met Kuster transported with delight. We found it was Bndaeus’s Lexicon, large paper,
with only the names of the authors he quotes written in
the margin, without one single remark or addition. Kuster, the best-natured man alive, was terribly put to it
how to treat one that meant well, and continually inquired what service it did him, and triumphed that he was
able to contribute so largely to the worthy edition of Suidas. Towards the close of the work, Kuster grew very
uneasy, emaciated to the last degree, cold as a statue,
and just as much alive as a man three parts dead. Sure
I was to hear, every time I called upon him, * O utinam
illuce.scat ille dies, quo huic operi manum ultimam imponam' It may now be proper to acquaint you in what
manner this gentleman used to relax, and forget his labours over a bottle, for even Scipio and Luelius were not
such fools as to be wise always; and that was generally
in the poetical way, or in conversations that turned upon
antiquities, coins, inscriptions, and obscure passages of
the ancients. Sometimes he performed on the spinnet at
our music-club, and was by the connoisseurs accounted
a master. His chief companions were, Dr. Sike, famous
in oriental learning; Davies and Needham; Mr. Oddy,
who wrote Greek pretty well, and has left notes upon
Dio, and a version of Apollonius Rhodius, which are reposited in lord Oxford’s library; he is the person whose
conjectures upon Avienus were printed by Dr. Hudson at
the end of his Geographers; and Mr. IJarnes, the Greek
professor. Upon the publication of his Suidas, Kuster in
a little time grew very fat; and, returning into Prussia,
found his patrons retired from court, and his salary precarious. What is more, his principles, which inclined to
what is now called Arianism, rendered him not very
acceptable to some persons. In a little time measures
were taken to make him uneasy, and he retired to Amsterdam. Here he reprinted Dr. Mill’s New Testament, and
published Aristophanes, and some additional remarks upon
Suidas, under Mr. Le Clerc’s cover. But his banker
failing, he was reduced to extreme poverty; and, happening at that very juncture to be invited to Paris by his
old friend l'abbe Bignon, was unfortunately prevailed upon
to join himself to the Gallican church. He desired me
to write to him, as usual, but never on the article of religion; declaring, at the same time, how he had not been
obliged to make a formal recantation, or condemn the
reformed by an express act of his, but merely to conform.
How far this is true I know not; what is certain is, only
that he was promised all the favour and distinction any convert could expect. He was presently admitted a member
of the royal academy of inscriptions; and in 1714, in
return for a paper of verses I sent him, made me a present of
his book c De vero usu verborum mediorum; xpvesa %ataW
The last 1 had from Kuster contained only queries upon
Hesychius; on whom, before he left England, he had
made about 5000 emendations. His queries were not over
difficult and thence I guessed his health much impaired.
And it proved so indeed for we heard soon after, that he
had been blooded five or six times for a fever, and that,
upon opening his body, there was found a cake of sand
along the lower region of his belly. This, I take it, was
occasioned by his sitting in a manner double, and writing
on a very low table, surrounded with three or four circles
of books placed on the ground, which was the situation we
usually found him in. He had a clear head, cool and
proper for debate: he behaved in a very inoffensive manner; and I am persuaded, the last error of his life was
almost the only one, and by charitable persons will be
placed in a good measure to the account of his deplorable
circumstances; for if oppression, which only affects a part,
will, why shall not the loss of all one’s fortunes, purchased
with so much labour, ‘make a wise man mad.’
”
, a very original artist, was born at Dort in 1606, and was the son of Jacob Gerritz Kuyp,
, a very original artist, was born at Dort in 1606, and was the son of Jacob Gerritz Kuyp, a landscape painter of much merit, whom, however, he far surpassed in his progress. He was one of the most agreeable painters that ever lived; imitating with the greatest perfection the purity and brilliancy of light. No artist ever represented the atmosphere which surrounds all objects more completely than Cuyp; not even Claude: and in the effect of sun-shine, none ever approached him. The simplest scenes and combinations of objects were sufficient for him to exert his talents upon; and he never failed to give an interest to them by the sweetness of his colour, and the beauty of his light and shade.
, an ecclesiastic and antiquary, was born in Worcestershire towards the latter end of the fifteenth
,
an ecclesiastic and antiquary, was born in Worcestershire
towards the latter end of the fifteenth century. When he
was about fifteen years of age, he was received into the
monastery of Benedictine monks at Winchcombe in Gloucestershire; whence, being professed one of that order, he
was sent to Gloucester-hall, Oxford, which was then a
school for young Benedictines. After studying there four
years, he was recalled to his monastery, and made principal
chapjain; and his good conduct procured him to be chosen
abbot in 1487. He had considerable reputation as a scholar and a promoter of learning; and was an exact observer
and reformer of the discipline of his house. In one of his
visits to Oxford, which were frequent, he took the degree
of D. D. in 1500. He also visited Rome on some affairs
belonging to his order, and on his return acquired much
reputation as a preacher in the beginning of the reign of
Henry VIII. In 1515, when there was a great debate
between the clergy and the laity concerning exceptions;
some asserting that what is called the “benefit of clergy,
”
should not be extended but to the higher orders, our abbot
contended that the minor or inferior orders should also be
included. He died in 1531, leaving “Tractatus contra
doctrinam Lutheri,
”
, an English poet, son of sir Edward Kynaston, knt. was of an ancient family, whose seat was at Otely in Shropshire,
, an English poet, son of sir
Edward Kynaston, knt. was of an ancient family, whose
seat was at Otely in Shropshire, where, probably, he was
born in 1587. In 1601 he entered as a gentleman- commoner of Oriel college, Oxford, which he left after taking
his bachelor’s degree, being then, as Wood says, “more
addicted to the superficial parts of learning, poetry and
oratory (wherein he excelled), than logic and philosophy.
”
He afterwards, however, went to Cambridge, and after
taking his master’s degree, returned in 1611 to Oxford,
and was admitted ad eundem. He then became a courtier,
admired for his talents, and had the honour of knighthood
conferred upon him, and was afterwards made esquire of
the body to Charles I. He was the first regent of a literary
institution called the Musaum Minerv& 9 of which he drew
up and published “The Constitutions,
” Lond. 4to, into Latin, published at Oxford,
1635, 4to; but is better known to the lovers of our early
poetry by his
” Leoline and Sydanis,“with
” Cinthiades,“1641, of which Mr. Ellis has given some beautiful specimens, and the story is analized by Mr. Gilchrist, with
additional extracts, in the
” Censtira."
Chester (descended from a younger branch of the Kynastons of Bronguin, in the county of Montgomery), was born at Chester, Dec. 5, 1728; admitted a commoner in Brazen-nose
, son of Humphry Kynaston, citizen of Chester (descended from a younger branch of the Kynastons of Bronguin, in the county of Montgomery),
was born at Chester, Dec. 5, 1728; admitted a commoner
in Brazen-nose college, Oxford, March 20, 1746; elected
scholar, on the foundation of Sarah dutchess dowager of
Somerset, in the said college, Aug. I of the same year
took the degree of B. A. Oct. 16, 1749 was elected fellow
June 14, 1751 and took the decree of M. A. June 4,
1752. He obtained no small reputation by an Oratiuncula,
entitled, “De Impietate C. CornelioTacito falso objectata;
Oratio ex Instituto Viri cl. Francisci Bridgman , militis,
habita in Sacello Collegii JEnei Nasi Oxon. Festo Sancti
Thomre, Decembris 2':, A. D. 1761, a J. K. A. M. Coll.
ejusdem Socio;
” in which he endeavoured to disprove the
false allegations (for such he really thought them) of Famianus Strada (the excellent critic, and most elegant writer)
against Tacitus, on his impiety and sovereign contempt of
the Supreme. On the apprehension of the notorious miss
Blandy, Mr. Kynaston took an active part, from the time
of her conviction till her body was secured from indecent
treatment. In this business he barely steered free from
censure. His method was, to be with her as much as postible when the ordinary (the learned, well-known, but credulous Mr. Swinton, whom she gained to countenance her hypocrisy) was absent; and was suspected to have given
hopes of pardon, in concert with another person, also of
Brazen-nose College, to the morning of her execution,
when she appeared in that studied genteel dress and attitude which she could not possibly have put on had she
been watchfully attended by a firmer-minded instructor.
In 1764, he published “A collection of papers relative to
the prosecution now carrying on in the Chancellor’s Court
in Oxford, against Mr. Kynaston, by Matthew Maddock,
clerk, rector of Cotworth and Holywell, in the county of
Huntingdon, and chaplain to his grace of Manchester, for
the charge of adultery alleged against the said Matthew
Maddock,
” 8vo. From the date of this publication (the cause of which operated too severely on his high sense of honour) he resided, in not the best state of health, at
Wigan principally, loved and respected by a few select
friends. On the 27th of March, 1783, Mr. Kynaston had
the misfortune to break his left arm, near the shoulder;
but, the bones having been properly replaced, he was thought
out of danger. It brought on his death, however, in the
June following.
, a French enthusiast, was born at Bourg, in Guienne, Feb. 13, 1610; and, being sent to
, a French enthusiast, was born at Bourg, in Guienne, Feb. 13, 1610; and, being sent to the Jesuits college at Bourdeaux at seven years of age, he made so quick a progress in his studies, that his masters resolved to take into their society a youth, who gave such promising hopes of being an honour to it. The spirit of piety, with which he was animated, brought him easily into their views; but, being opposed in this by his father, who was gentleman of the bedchamber to Lewis XIII. he could not then carry his design into execution. On his father’s death, however, he entered into the order; and, having finished his course of rhetoric and philosophy in three years, he took upon himself the office of a preacher before he was ordained priest. He continued among the Jesuits till 1639; when his frequent infirmities, and the desire he had of attaining to greater perfection, engaged him to quit that society, as he asserts, while others aver, that he was expelled for some singular notions, and for his hypocrisy. Whatever was the cause, he went immediately to Paris, where he preached with great zeal, and procured the friendship of father Gondren, general of the oratory; and Coumartin, bishop of Amiens, being present at one of his sermons, was so much pleased, that he engaged him to settle in his diocese, and gave him acanonry in his cathedral-church.
He was no sooner fixed at Amiens, than he endeavoured to become a director
He was no sooner fixed at Amiens, than he endeavoured to become a director of consciences, and presently saw himself at the head of a vast number of devotees; but it is said that his enthusiasm led him to practices more of a carnal than a spiritual nature; and that the discovery of some love-intrigues, in a nunnery, obliged him to seek a retreat elsewhere. For that purpose he chose first PortRoyal; but, as his doctrines or practices were not acceptable, his stay there was short. He therefore removed to Bazas, and afterwards to Toulouse, where M. de Montchal, archbishop of the city, gave him the direction of a convent of nuns; but here, likewise, the indecency of his familiarities with his pupils, under pretence of restoring the notions of primitive purity, and unsuspicious innocence, obliged the bishop, apprehending the consequences of such a converse, to disperse those who had been seduced into different convents, to be better instructed. Labadie endeavoured to inculcate the same practices elsewhere, but, despairing at length to make disciples any longer among the catholics, by whom he was by this time suspected and watched, he betook himself to the reformed, and resolved to try if he could not introduce among them the doctrine and practice of spirituality and mental prayer; with which view, he published three manuals, composed chiefly to set forth the excellence and necessity of that method. But an attempt which he is said to have made upon the chastity of mademoiselle Calonges lost him the esteem and protection of those very persons for whose use his books were particularly written.
Some time afterwards, an accusation was preferred at court against him, for raising a sedition respecting
Some time afterwards, an accusation was preferred at court against him, for raising a sedition respecting the corpse of a woman which the curate of Montauban thought proper to inter in the church-yard of the catholics, because she had changed her religion. Labadie denied the priest’s right to the corpse, and his party appeared in arms to dispute it. But the cause being brought before the court, it was there decided in favour of the catholics, and Labadie condemned to quit the church of Montauban as a seditious person. His banishment however caused a dangerous division. D'Arbussy, his colleague, was charged with promoting his condemnation, out of a spirit of jealousy. Two parties were formed in the town, almost wholly consisting of the reformed. They proceeded to the last extremities, though the chieftains of each party bore so bad a character as to be equally detested by all who had followed them. Labadie, thus driven out of Montauban, went to seek an asylum at Orange; but, not finding himself so safe there as he imagined, he withdrew privately to Geneva, in June 1659. In the mean time, his departure was much regretted at Orange, where he had imposed upon the people by his devout manner, and by his preaching; and he was not long at Geneva before he excited great commotions. Those that joined him built a large mansion, in which proper cells were provided for his most zealous followers; while the rest of the citizens, consulting how to get rid of him, contrived to procure him an invitation toMiddleburg, which was accepted; and accordingly he repaired thither in 166-6, and presently began to declare his opinions more explicitly than he had ever done before.
on the soul, and gave it new degrees of revelation; and, when once struck with that divine light, it was able to draw such consequences as would lead to a perfect knowledge
His peculiar tenets were these: 1. He believed that God could and would deceive, and that he had sometimes actually done it. 2. He held the holy scriptures not to be absolutely necessary to salvation, since the Holy Spirit acted immediately upon the soul, and gave it new degrees of revelation; and, when once struck with that divine light, it was able to draw such consequences as would lead to a perfect knowledge of the truth. 3. Though he did not deny the lawfulness of infant-baptism, yet he maintained that it ought to be deferred to riper years. 4. He put this difference between the old and new covenant: The first he said was carnal, loaded with ceremonies, attended with temporal blessings, and open to the wicked as well as the good, provided they were descendants of Abraham; whereas the new covenant admitted only spiritual persons, who were freed thereby from the law, from its curse, and from its ceremonies, and put into a state of perfect liberty. 5. He held the observation of the sabbath to be an indifferent thing; maintaining, that in God’s account all days were alike. 6. He distinguished the church into the degenerate and regenerate; and held, that Christ would come and reign a thousand years upon earth, and actually convert both Jews, Gentiles, and Christians, to the truth. 7. He maintained the eucharist to be nothing more than a bare commemoration of Christ’s death; and that, though the signs were nothing in themselves, yet Christ was received therein spiritually by the worthy communicant. 8. He taught, that the contemplative life was a state of grace and of divine union in this world, the fullness of perfection, and the summit of the Christian mountain, elevated to that height, that it touched the clouds, and reached up very near to heaven. 9. That a person whose heart was perfectly content and calm, was almost in possession of God, discoursed familiarly with him, and saw every thing in him: that he took all things here below with indifference, beholding the world beneath him, and whatever passed therein; its mutability not touching him; all the storms, to which the world is subject, forming themselves under his feet, just as rain and hail form themselves under the tops of mountains, leaving upon the summit a constant calm and quietude. 10. That this state was to be obtained by an entire self-denial, mortification of the senses, and their objects, and by the exercise of mental prayer.
and that in order to be a Labadist, a man must be as great an enthusiast as the founder himself. It was, however, owing to this practice of spirituality, accompanied
It is evident that some of these opinions are not peculiar to Labadie, and that others of them are rather wildly expressed than erroneous in themselves; but ^it is equally evident that they are inconsistent one with another, and that in order to be a Labadist, a man must be as great an enthusiast as the founder himself. It was, however, owing to this practice of spirituality, accompanied with an apparent severity of manners, that Labadie acquired a very great authority in a little time. Those who charged him with hypocrisy were looked on as worldlings, sold to the present life; while his followers were esteemed as so many saints. Even mademoiselle Schurman, so famous in the republic of letters, was persuaded, that she chose the better part, in, putting herself under his directions; she became one of the most ardent chiefs of his sect, and had the power to bring over to her way of thinking Elizabeth, princess Palatine, who opened an asylum to all the wandering and fugitive disciples of that preacher, esteemed it an honour to collect what she called the true church, and declared her happiness in being delivered from a masked Christianity, with which she had till then been deceived. She extolled Labadie to the skies. He was the man, she said, who talked to the heart, and it is this kind of talking, wh ch means no more than an influence on weak minds, through the medium of the passions, which has promoted religious impo ture in all ages.
hat 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
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.
ere he might be set above the fear of want, he went to Erfurt; and, being driven thence by the wars, was obliged to retire to Altena in Holstein, where a violent colic
In this exigence, he resumed the attempt he had vainly
made before, of associating with madam Bourignon in
Noordstrand; but not thinking him refined enough in the
mystic theology to become her colleague, nor supple
enough to be put in the number of her disciples, she rejected
his overtures; and now he formed a little settlement betwixt Utrecht and Amsterdam, where he set up a printingpress, and published many of his works. Here the number of his followers increased, and would have grown very
large, had he not been betrayed by some deserters, who,
publishing the history of his private life, and manner of
teac hing, took care to inform the public of the familiarities he took with his female pupils, under pretence of uniting them more closely to God. From this retreat he sent
his apostles through the great towns in Holland, in order
to make proselytes, especially in the richest houses; but,
not being able to secure any residence where he might be
set above the fear of want, he went to Erfurt; and, being
driven thence by the wars, was obliged to retire to Altena
in Holstein, where a violent colic carried him off, 1674,
in his 64th year. He died in the arms of mademoiselle
Schurman, who, as a faithful companion, constantly attended him wherever he went. This is the most generally
received account of his death; yet others tell us, that he
went to Wievaert, a lordship of Frizeland, belonging to the
house of Sommersdyck; where four ladies, sisters of that
family, provided him a retreat, and formed a small church,
called “The Church of Jesus Christ retired from the
World.
” His works are numerous, amounting to upwards
of thirty articles, but surely not worthy to be recorded.
, a celebrated traveller of the order of St. Dominic, was born in 1663 at Paris, and taught philosophy at Nancy. In 1693,
, a celebrated traveller of the
order of St. Dominic, was born in 1663 at Paris, and taught
philosophy at Nancy. In 1693, he went to America in
quality of missionary; and, at his return to France, in 1705,
was sent to Bologna, to give an account of his mission to a
chapter of the Dominicans. He continued several years’
in Italy; but, at length returning home, died at Paris Jan.
6, 1738. His principal works are, 1. “Nouveau Voyage
aux Isles de l'Amerique,
” 6 vols. 8vo, a very pleasant and
instructive work in many respects, but not always accurate
as to facts. 2. “Voyages en Espagne & en Italie,
” 3 vols.
12mo. 3. “Nouvelle Relation de I'Afrique Occidentale,
”
5 vols. 12mo. As Labat was never in Africa, this work is
compiled from the relation of others. He also published,
4. “Voyage du Chevalier des Merchais en Guinee,
” 4
vols. 12mo. 5. “La Relation historique de i'Ethiopie
Occidentale,
” translated from the Latin of father Cavazzi,
a capuchin, 4 vols, in 12mo; and 6. “Les Memoires du
Chev. d'Arvieux,
” containing his travels to Constantinople,
Asia, &c. 6 vols. 12mo, in which he is entitled to 'the
credit of a very judicious editor.
, a celebrated Jesuit, was born July 10, 1607, of a good family at Bourges. He taught ethics,
, a celebrated Jesuit, was born July
10, 1607, of a good family at Bourges. He taught ethics,
philosophy, and moral theology, with reputation, first at
Bourges, and afterwards at Paris, where he settled. His
memory was uncommon, and his learning very extensive;
and he was esteemed by the literati for amiable temper and
politeness, as well as for his writings. He died March 25,
1667, at Paris. He was not much of an original writer,
the greatest part of his numerous works being compilations,
which cost him little farther trouble than to collect and
arrange, which, however, he did with judgment. The
principal are, 1. “Nova Bibliotheca Mss. Librorum,
”
1657, 2 vols. fol. containing many pieces which had never
been printed before. 2. “De Byzantinae Historian Scriptoribus,
” fol. in which is an account and catalogue of the
writers of the Byzantine History, in chronological order.
3. “Two Lives of Galen,
” taken from his works, 8vo.
4. “Bibliotheca Bibliothecarum,
” Geneva, Biblioth. nummaria,
” and an “Auctuarium,
”
printed Concordia Chronologies,
” 5 vols. fol.
The 5th vol. is by Pere Briet; a learned work, but too
obscure, and of little use. He published also, several
pieces respecting the geographical history of France, and
the Greek language, which are forgotten. 6. “Bibliotheca anti-Janseniana,
” 4to, a catalogue of writings against
Jansenius and his defenders. 7. An edition of the “Annals of Michael Glycas,
” in Greek and Latin, fol. 8. A
good edition of “Notitia dignitatum omnium imperii Roinani,
” concerning the Instruction of a Christian
King,
” 12mo. 10. “De Scriptoribus Ecclesiasticis dissertutio,
” 2 vols. 8vi, in which is a dissertation against the
story of pope Joan. But the most known among Pere
Labhe’s works, is his new “Collection of the Councils,
”
Apparatus alter,
” because the 17th is also
entitled “Apparatus.
” This Collection was finished by
Pere Gabriel Cossart, one of his brethren, a better and
more judicious critic than himself, and is justly esteemed,
though it is deficient in several respects, and contains
many faults. Vigneul Marville says of P. Labbe, that he
was an honest man, accused of being a little piratical, and
of robbing the learned, not through necessity, but for
amusement.
, surnamed the Beautiful Ropemaker, was born about 1526, at Lyons. Her father’s name was Charly, called
, surnamed the Beautiful Ropemaker, was born about 1526, at Lyons. Her father’s name was Charly, called Labbe. She married Ennemond Perrin, a rope-maker, who lived at Lyons, in the street which still retains the name of Belle Cordiere; and dying 1565, without children, left her all he had, only entailing it on his nephews, James and Peter Perrin, which put a stop to the disadvantageous reports which had been circulated respecting her chastity. She died in 1566. She was the wonder of all the learned of her time, a mechanic’s wife, who understood Latin, Italian, and Spanish, and wrote verses in those three languages, being considered as an extraordinary phenomenon. Her poems were printed at Lyons, 1556, and at Rouen, 1610; but these have been eclipsed in every thing but price, by the edition of Lyons, 1762, 8vi.
gh in his time men of birth made no scruple to furnish entertainments of the theatrical kind, yet it was highly disgraceful to represent them in their own persons. Julius
, an ancient Roman knight, who excelled in writing Mimes, or little satirical productions for the stage, died in 46 A. C. Though in his time men of birth made no scruple to furnish entertainments of the theatrical kind, yet it was highly disgraceful to represent them in their own persons. Julius Caesar, however, ordered Laberius to act one of his own Mimes; and though he made all the opposition he could, yet Caesar compelled him. The prologue to the piece is still extant, and Rollin thinks it one of the most beautiful morsels of antiquity. Laberius bemoans himself for the necessity he was under in a very affecting manner, but in the course of the piece glances several strokes of satire at Caesar, which were so well understood as to direct the eyes of the spectators upon him. Coesar, by way of revenge, gave the preference to Publius Syrius, who was his rival upon the same theatre; yet, when the Mimes were over, presented him with a ring, as if to re-establish him in his rank. The very small fragments which remain of Laberius, have been often collected and printed with those of Ennius, Lucilius, Publius Syrus, &c. The prologue above-mentioned is preserved in Aulus Gellius, and there is a good version of it in Beloe’s translation of that author.
, a French historian and antiquary, was born in 1623, at Montmorency, near Paris, of which city his
, a French historian and antiquary, was born in 1623, at Montmorency, near Paris,
of which city his father was bailiff. He had scarcely attained his 13th year, when he became known to the literary world by his “Recueil de Tombeaux,
” or a
collection of monuments of illustrious persons buried in the
church of the Celestines at Paris, together with their
eloges, genealogies, arms, and mottoes. This work appeared in 1642, 4to; and although disclaimed by the authoron account of its imperfection, yet was so well received
by the public, that a second edition came out the following
year. In 1644 he was at court in quality of a gentleman
in waiting, when he was chosen to attend the marshal de
Guebriant, charged with conducting the princess Mary de
Gonzaga into Poland, in order to her marriage with Ladislaus IV. Our author returned with the ambassadress
the following year, and printed in 1647, at his own expence, a relation of the journey, which was very entertaining.
Having taken orders in the church, he was made almoner to the king, and collated to the priory of Juvigne.
Having taken orders in the church, he was made almoner to the king, and collated to the priory of Juvigne.
In 1664, his majesty, out of his special favour, made him
commander of the order of St. Michael. He had many
years before begun a translation of the History of Charles
VI. written by a monk of St. Denys, and continued by
John le Fevre, called of St. Remy; but though this translation was finished in 1656, it was not published till 1663,
and then too came out with a very small part of those commentaries, which, according to his promise, were to have
filled two volumes. He had also published in 1656, the
history of the marshal of Guebriant, with the genealogy
of Budos, and some other houses in Britanny; and gave
the public the memoirs of Michael de Castelnau, with several genealogical histories, 1659, in 2 vols. folio, a scarce
and highly-valued edition. He continued to employ himself in writing other pieces in the same way, some of which
were published after his death, which happened in 1675.
Le Long and others are of opinion that Laboureur had
some hand in the two last volumes of Sally’s Memoirs.
He had a brother named Louis Le Laboureur, who was
bailiff of Montmorency, and author of several pieces of
poetry. He died in 1679. These also had an uncle,
Claude Le Laboureur, provost of the abbey of L'isle Barbe,
upon the Seine, near Lyons, who, in 1643, published
“Notes and Corrections upon the Breviary of Lyons;
” and
in Les Mesures de L'Isle Barbe,
”
i. e. an historical account of every thing relating to that
abbey; but the little caution which he observed in speaking of the chapter of St. John at Lyons obliged him to
resign his provostship, and raised him an enemy in the person of Besian d'Arroy, a prebendary of the church, who,
in 1644, refuted his “Notes and Corrections,
” and his
“Measures
” in L'Apologie de PEglise de Lyon
” and the other, “Histoire de PAbbaie de l'lsle Barbe.
” Dom. Claude published
“A Treatise of the Origin of Arms, against Menetrier,
”
and “A genealogical History of the House of St. Colombe,
”
which was printed in
, a French Jesuit, was born in 1605, and became successively professor of polite literature,
, a French Jesuit, was born in 1605,
and became successively professor of polite literature, philosophy, and theology; performed missions; and went
through several departments of business in his society.
Among all his avocations, he found time to be the author
of several useful works relating to the history of his country; the most considerable of which are, 1. “Historia Galliarum sub Praefectis Prsetorii Galliarum,
” Historia Coloniarum a Gallis in exteras Nationes missarum,
” De Regibus Franciae et Lege
Salica.
” 4. “Historia Romana,
” Notitia Provinciarum Imperil utriusque
cum Notis,
” Velleius Paterculus
” and “Tacitus <le Germairia,
” with
learned notes, of which Dithrnan availed himself in his edition of 1726.
, a diligent French miscellaneous historian, was born at Paris in 1724. Of his numerous works, which have been
, a diligent French miscellaneous
historian, was born at Paris in 1724. Of his numerous
works, which have been all well received, the following
are the best: “Abrege chronologique de l'Histoire Ancienne,
” De l'Histoire du Nord.
” “De
l‘Histoire D’Espagne et de Portugal.
” “Dictionnaire
portatif des Beaux Arts,
” Le Salon,
” Le Spectacle des Beaux Arts,
” 1760, 12mo.
” Histoire de Christine Reine de Suede," 1762, 12mo.
This is his best work, and has merit; but the English translation of it, published at London, 1766, is said to be preferable to the original. The time of La Combe’s death is
not mentioned.
, brother of the former, born at Paris, 1725, was the author likewise of many dictionaries, in the taste of the
, brother of the former, born at Paris, 1725, was the author likewise of many
dictionaries, in the taste of the times, which seems t he
the age among the French for subjecting all subjects to
alphabetical order. The period of his death is likewise
omitted in our authority. His most useful publications are,
“Dictionnaire du Citoycn,
” Dictionnaire de Jurisprudence,
” Les
Tense’s de Pope, avec sa vie,
” Dictionnaire
de Portraits et d'Anecdotes des Hommes ceMebres,
” 2 vols.
8vo, &c. He is not to be confounded with another author
of the same time, name, and nation, who has left a very
useful dictionary of old French, 1765, 1 vol. 8vo.
, or Lucius Cælius, or Cæcilius (Firmianus), an eminent father of the church, was, as some say, an African, or, according to others, a native
, or Lucius Cælius, or
Cæcilius (Firmianus), an eminent father of the church,
was, as some say, an African, or, according to others, a
native of Fermo, a town in the marche of Ancdna, whence
Le is supposed to have taken his surname. Arnobius was
his preceptor. He studied rhetoric in Africa, and with so
great reputation, that Constantine the Roman emperor
appointed him preceptor to his son Crispus. This brought
him to court; but he was so far from giving into the pleasures or corruptions incident to that station, that, amidst
very great opportunities of amassing riches, he lived so
poor as even frequently to want necessaries. He is account^d the most eloquent of all the ecclesiastical Latin
authors. He formed himself upon Cicero, and wrote in
such a pure, smooth, and natural, style, and so much in
the taste and manner of the lloman orator, that he is generally distinguished by the title of “The Christian Cicero.
” We have several pieces of his, the principal of
which is his “Institutiones Divinae,
” in seven books, composed about the year De Ira Divina.
” In De Justitia,
” Edin. 12mo.
Lactantius had before written a book “De Operibus Dei,
”
in which he proves the creation of man, and the divine
providence. St. Jerome mentions other works of our author, as “Two Books to Æsclepiades;
” “Eight Books of
Letters;
” a book entitled “The Festin,
” composed before
he went to Nicomedia; a poem in hexameter verse, containing a description of his journey thither; a treatise
entitled “The Grammarian;
” and another, “De Persecutione.
” Concerning this last tract, there are various opinions. Dr. Lardner, after stating the evidence on both
sides, seems inclined to deny that it was written by LaCtantius. He allows, however, that it is a very valuable
work, containing; a short account of the sufferings of Christians under several of the Roman emperors, from the death
and resurrection of Christ to Dioclesian; and then a particular history of the persecution excited by that emperor,
with the causes and springs of it; as well as the miserable
deaths of its chief instruments. The learned judge above
mentioned, who published a translation of this work in
1782, Edin. 12mo, has also examined the opinions of those
who have treated of its authenticity, with far more acuteness than Lardner, and concludes with Baluze, Mosheim,
and other eminent critics, that the treatise “De Mortibus
Persecutorum
” was written by Lactantius. Lord Hailes’s
preface is a master-piece of critical inquiry, nor are his
notes and illustrations, which occupy one half of the volume,
of less merit or utility.
llen into several errors. His works have gone through a great number of editions, the first of which was published at Rome, in 1468, folio and the last, which is the
The character of Lactantius as a Christian writer is, that he refutes paganism with great strength of reasoning, but treats divinity too much as a philosopher. He did not understand thoroughly the nature of the Christian mysteries, and has fallen into several errors. His works have gone through a great number of editions, the first of which was published at Rome, in 1468, folio and the last, which is the most ample, at Paris, 1748, in 2 vols. 4-to.
, a dramatic writer, who flourished in the reign of king Charles II. was born near Doncaster in Yorkshire, and was at first bred a d
, a dramatic writer, who flourished in the
reign of king Charles II. was born near Doncaster in Yorkshire, and was at first bred a dancing-master, but afterwards went into the army, having a lieutenant’s commission and warrant as quarter-master under colonel Charles
lord Gerrard. The charms of a military life, however, he
quitted to go upon the stage, in which profession, from
the advantages of a fine person, being well shaped, of a
good stature, and well proportioned, added to a sound critical judgment, and a large share of comic humour, he arrived at so great a height of excellence, as to be universally admired; and in particular was so high in the esteem
of king Charles II. that his majesty had his picture painted
in three several characters, viz. Teague in the “Committee,
” Scruple in the “Cheats,
” and Galliard in the
“Variety
” which picture is still preserved at Windsorcastle. His cast of acting was chiefly in comedy and his
writings are all of that kind, he being the author of the
four following comedies: 1. “Dumb Lady, 11 1672, 4to.
2.
” Sir Hercules Buffoon,“1684, 4to. 3.
” Old Troop,“1698, 4to. 4.
” Sawney the Scot," 1698, 4to. The second of these was not brought on the stage till three years
after the author’s death, which happened on the 15th of
September, 1681.
, became a very skilful philosopher, and very pleasing in his discourses, teaching in a garden which was given him by Attalus, king of Pergamus. This prince also invited
, a celebrated Greek philosopher of Cyrene,
the disciple of Arcesilaus, and his successor in the academy, devoted himself early to study, and, in spite of poTerty, became a very skilful philosopher, and very pleasing in his discourses, teaching in a garden which was given
him by Attalus, king of Pergamus. This prince also invited him to court, but Lacydes replied, that the portraits
of kings should be viewed at a distance. In some things,
however, like the rest of his brethren, he descended from
philosophy to the littlenesses of common men. He had a
goose who attended him every where, and when she died
he buried her as magnificently as if she had been his son
or brother and his death, which happened in the year 212
B. C. is attributed to excess in drinking. Lacydes followed the doctrines of Arcesilaus, and affirmed that we
ought not to decide on any thing, but always suspend our
judgment. His servants frequently took advantage of this
maxim to rob him, and, when he complained of it,
maintained that he was mistaken; nor could he, on his own
principles, make any reply but, growing weary at last of
being plundered, and they still urging that he ought to
suspend his judgment, he said to them, “Children, we
have one method of disputing in the schools, and another
of living in our families.
”
, an useful and agreeable French writer, was born Jan. 3, 1709, at Vauxcouleurs, in Champagne, where his
, an useful and agreeable
French writer, was born Jan. 3, 1709, at Vauxcouleurs, in
Champagne, where his father was a magistrate. He studied in his native place, but particularly at Pont-a-mousson, where he was called “the prince of philosophers,
” an
academical title given to those who distinguished themselves by their talents and application. Being intended
for the church, he was sent to the seminary of St. Louis in
Paris, where he remained five years. He afterwards took
the degree of bachelor of divinity, was admitted of the
house of the Sorbonne in 1734, and of the society in 1736,
being then in his licentiateship; but after finishing that
career with equal ardour and reputation, he was placed
in the second rank, among more than 140 competitors.
He took a doctor’s degree June 1738, and afterwards served
the curacy of Greux, and Dom-Remi, to which he had
been nominated by his bishop. This prelate proposed to
have M. Ladvocat near him, fix him in his chapter, and
place his whole confidence in him; but the Sorbonne did
not give the bishop time to execute his plan for one of
their royal professorships becoming vacant by the resignanation of M. Thierri, chancellor of the church and university of Paris, they hastened to appoint M. Ladvocat to it,
January 11, 1740. Our new professor was unable to continue his lectures more than two years and a half, from a
disorder of his lungs, thought by the physicians to be incurable, but of which he at length cured himself by consulting the best authors. In the mean time he wrote two
tracts, one “on the Proofs of religion,
” the other, “on
the Councils,
” both which are valued by catholics. In
October 1742, he resigned his chair to be librarian to the
Sorbonne, an office then vacant by the premature death of
the abbe Guedier de St. Aubin, and made use of the leisure
this situation afforded, to improve himself in the learned languages, which he had never neglected in the midst of his
other studies. He was often consulted by Louis, duke of
Orleans, first prince of the blood, who, among other things,
wished to become acquainted with the original language of
the holy scriptures. M. Ladvocat took advantage of his
situation with this prince to represent to him what great
and important benefits religion would derive from the
establishment of a professor who should explain the holy
scriptures according to the Hebrew text. M. the duke
immediately comprehending all the good which would result from this professorship, realized it in 1751, and chose
M. Ladvocat to fulfil its duties; desiring that for that time
only, without any precedent being drawn from it in future,
the offices of librarian and professor, which till then had
been incompatible, might center in one person. M. Ladvocat was no sooner appointed to this professorship, than
he considered by what means he might procure scholars
to it; in which he was again seconded by the pious liberality
of its august founder. The seminary of the Holy Family,
endowed by Anne of Austria, offered choice subjects; the
duke assembled them, and revived that seminary by paying the debts which had been necessarily contracted in
repairing its buildings. The extinct, or suspended fellowships, rose to new existence, and were no longer given
but to deserving competitors; an emulation for understanding scripture inspired the most indifferent, and. all
the students in divinity hastened to receive lectures from
the Orleans professor. The example was followed by some
other communities, and this school, which seemed at first
likely to be deserted, had the credit of training up many
men of great talents. M. Ladvocat died at Paris, December 29, 1765, by which event the house and society of the
Sorhonne lost one of its most learned members, the faculty
of theology one of its most ingenious doctors, and religion
one of its ablest defenders. There is scarce any kind of
knowledge which he had not pursued; philosophy, mathematics, the learned languages, history, theology, the holy
scripture, all fixed his attention. Assiduous and deliberate
study had made the Greek and Latin fathers familiar to
him: no monument of ecclesiastical antiquity had escaped
his researches; but his peculiar study was to find the true
sense of the sacred books; and the theses which he caused
to be maintained on the Pentateuch, the Psalms, and the
Book of Job, at which the most distinguished among the
learned were present, prove the utility of his labours. A
genius lively and penetrating, uncommon and extensive,
accurate and indefatigable; a ready and retentive memory,
a delicate and enlightened feeling, a decided taste formed
from the best models of antiquity, a clear and impartial
judgment, a fertile, singular, and natural imagination, and
a conversation, which, without seeking for ornaments of
style, never failed to prove agreeable and interesting, characterized the scholar in M. Ladvocat, and gained him the
regard and esteem of all with whom he had any intercourse
or connections. He was frequently consulted on the most
intricate and important points, by persons of the greatest
distinction in different departments, while his uniform conduct, full of candour and simplicity, tender and compassionate, honest and virtuous, rendered him, though always
far from affluence, the resource of indigent men of letters,
and made him a kind relation, an excellent friend, beloved
by all who had any intercourse with him, and a most valuable member of society in general. His works are, “A
Hebrew Grammar,
” The Historical Dictionary,
” 4 vols. 8vo, reprinted several times during his
lite; “Tractatus de Consiliis
” a “Dissertation on Psalm,
67, Exurgat Deus;
” “Lettres sur FAutorite des Textes
originaux de FEcriture Sainte;
” “Jugemens sur qoelques
nouvelles Traductions de ‘lEcriture Sainte, d’apres le Texte
Hebreu.
” The four last were published after his death.
M. Ladvocat assisted in the “Dict. Geographique,
” which
has appeared under the name of M. the abbé de Vosgiens,
the best edition of which is that of 1772, 8vo. He had
planned several other works which ke had not time to
finish, but which were impatiently expected even in foreign
countries.
, an author of the seventeenth century, distinguished by his knowledge in history and geography, was born at Antwerp, and died there in 1640, leaving some very useful
, an author of the seventeenth century,
distinguished by his knowledge in history and geography,
was born at Antwerp, and died there in 1640, leaving
some very useful works behind him 1. “Novus Orbis,
”
Leyden, Historia Naturalis Brasilia,
” in folio, with cuts. 5. “De
Regis Hispanise Regnis et Opibus,
” in 8vi. 4. “Respublica Belgarum.
” 5. “Gallia.
” 6. “Turcici Imperii
Status.
” 7. “Persici Imperil Status.
” The four last
works are part of the little books called “Respublicse,
”
amounting to about forty volumes, printed by Elzevir in
24to, and treat in a general way of the climate, produce,
religion, manners, civil and political government, of these
several states; and have served at least as a good model for
future improvements. A more considerable work employed
the last years of Laet’s life; an edition of “Vitruvius,
”
which was printed also by Elzevir, Adversus obtrectatorem, opaca
quern bonum facit barba,
” but Laet’s positions were not to
be refuted.
, a French writer, was born at Bourdeaux, and having early entered the schools of the
, a French writer, was born
at Bourdeaux, and having early entered the schools of the
Jesuits, became soon distinguished by a taste for history
and polite literature, and although he never arrived at the
wealth of his brother, the subject of the next article, he
was thought his superior in knowledge and judgment. He
made himself known in the literary world by a work entitled
“Les Mosurs des Sauvages, compare'es aux mceurs des
premiers siecles,
” Paris, Histoire des De*couvertes des Portugais dans
le Nouveau Monde,
” Remarquessur le Gin-Seng,
” Paris, Histoire de Jean
de Brienne, ernpereur de Constantinople,
” Paris, 1727,
12mo. He died in 1755.
, brother to the preceding, was born in 1685, at Bourdeaux. He entered among the Jesuits early
, brother to the preceding,
was born in 1685, at Bourdeaux. He entered among the
Jesuits early in life, and distinguished himself by his talents for the pulpit; but being sent to Rome on account of
the disputes concerning the bull Unigenitus, Clement XI.
was so pleased with his lively sallies, that he could not part
with him; and Lafitau, taking advantage of the pope’s partiality, quitted his order, and was appointed bishop of Sisteron. His diocese was not much edified by him at first,but in the latter part of his life, he is said to have been an
example to his clergy, and devoted himself wholly to episcopal duties. Duclos, however, gives him a shocking characterfor immorality. He died April 5, 1764. His attachment to the bull Unigenitus, induced him to publish some
works written with more ease of style, than truth as to
facts, such as “Histoire de la Constitution Unigenitus,
” 2
vols. 12mo; the “History of Clement XI.;
” and some volumes of Sermons," and devotional tracts.
, an eminent mathematician, was born at Lyons in 1660. Being intended for the bar, he was sent
, an eminent mathematician, was born at Lyons in 1660. Being intended for
the bar, he was sent to study the law first at the college of
Lyons, and next at the university of Thoulouse but having accidentally met with Fournier’s Euclid, and a treatise
on algebra, mathematics became his favourite science. In
1686 he came to Paris, was soon after appointed tutor to
the duke de Noailles, elected a member of the academy of
sciences, and was appointed by Louis XIV, royal hydrographer at Rochefort; but sixteen years afterwards, he
was recalled to Paris, and made librarian to the king with
a considerable pension. He died April 11, 1734, and in
his last moments, when he no longer knew the persons
who surrounded his bed, one of them, through a foolish
curiosity, asked him “What is the square of 12
” to which
he replied, as it were mechanically, New Methods for the Extraction and Approximation
of Roots,
” Elements of Arithmetic and
Algebra,
” On the Cubature of the,
Sphere,
” A general Analysis, or Method of resolving Problems,
” published by Richer in
, a very eminent mathematician and philosopher, was born at Turin, Nov. 25, 1736, where his father, who had been
, a very eminent mathematician and philosopher, was born at Turin, Nov. 25,
1736, where his father, who had been treasurer of war, was
in reduced circumstances. In his early days his taste was
more inclined to classical than mathematical studies, and
his attention to the latter is said to have been first incited
by a memoir that the celebrated Halley had composed for
the purpose of demonstrating the superiority of analysis.
From this time Lagrange devoted himself to his new study
with such acknowledged success, that at the age of sixteen
he became professor of mathematics in the royal school of
artillery at Turin. When he had discovered the talents of
his pupils, all of whom were older than himself, he selected
some as his more intimate friends, and -from this early association arose an important institution, the academy of
Turin, which published in 1759 a first volume under the
title of “Actes de la Socie*te* Prive*e.
” It is there seen that
young 'Lagrange superintended the philosophical researches
of Cigna, the physician, and the labours of the chevalier
de Saluces. He furnished Foncenex with the analytical
part of his memoirs, leaving to him the task of developing
the reasoning upon which the formulae depended. In
these memoirs, which do not bear his name, may be observed that pure analytical style which characterizes his
greatest productions. He discovered a new theory of the
lever, which makes the third part of a memoir that had
much celebrity. The first two parts are in the same style,
and are known to be also by Lagrange, although he did
not positively acknowledge them, and they were generally
ascribed to Foncenex.
would treat of this subject, which in other respects appeared interesting to him, in a work that he was preparing, and in which from the same principles would be deduced
Lagrange, while giving up to his friend these anonymous solutions, published at the same time under his own name, theories which he promised to unfold and explain. After having given new formulae of maxima and minima, and after having shown the insufficiency of the methods already known, he announced that he would treat of this subject, which in other respects appeared interesting to him, in a work that he was preparing, and in which from the same principles would be deduced all the mechanical properties of bodies, whether solid or fluid. Thus at the early age of twenty. three, he laid the foundation of those great works which have attracted the admiration of the learned. In the same volume he applied the theory of recurring consequences and the doctrine of chances to the differential calculus, which till his attempt was worked by indirect methods, but which he established on more general principles.
oposed numerous objections, which Lagrange afterwards answered. Euler' s first notice of this memoir was by making Lagrange a member of the Academy of Berlin, which
Newton had undertaken to reduce the motion of fluids to calculation, and had made researches on the propagation of sound. His principles Lagrange found insufficient, and some of his suppositions inaccurate. This he demonstrated he founded his new researches on the known laws of Dynamics by considering only the particles in air that are in a right line, he reduced the problem to that of vibrating chords, upon which the greatest geometricians had differed. He showed that their calculations were insufficient to decide the question. He therefore undertook a general solution of it by an analysis as new as ingenious, by which he reduced at the same time an indefinite number of equations, and which included continued functions. He established more firmly Bernoulli’s theory of the mingling of simple and regular vibrations, showed within what limits this theory is accurate, and where it becomes erroneous. He then arrived at the construction given by Euler, a true construction, though discovered without any rigorous calculations. He also answered D‘Alembert’s objections. Euler perceived the merit of the new method, which he made an object of his profoundest meditations; but D’Alembert proposed numerous objections, which Lagrange afterwards answered. Euler' s first notice of this memoir was by making Lagrange a member of the Academy of Berlin, which he announced to him, Oct. 20, 1759, in a letter handsomely acknowledging the merit of his discoveries.
desirable in a work of pure analysis. Euler himself thought so, but thought at the same time that it was conformable to truth, and that by means of sound metaphysics
Euler’s admiration of our young mathematician involves
the origin of Lagrange' s discoveries, as he himself afterwards related. The first attempts to determine the maxima and minima in all indefinite integral formulae were made
by means of a curve of the quickest descent, and by the
Isoperimeters of Bernouilli. Euler reduced them to a
general method, which, however, had not that simplicity
which is desirable in a work of pure analysis. Euler himself thought so, but thought at the same time that it was
conformable to truth, and that by means of sound metaphysics it might be made extremely evident; but this task,
he said, he left to those who made metaphysics their study.
While the metaphysicians took no notice of this appeal,
Lagrange’s emulation was excited, and he soon discovered
the solution that Euler had despaired of, by analysis; and
in giving an account of his process, he said that he considered it not as a metaphysical principle, but as a necessary result of the laws of mechanism, as a mere corollary
of a more general law, which he afterwards made the basis
of his celebrated work, entitled “Mecanique analytique.
”
We see also the germ of this work in the paper he wrote
when the Academy of sciences proposed as a prize question, the theory of the moon’s libration, on which subject
he had an opportunity to apply the principles of his analytical discoveries. He wrote also an equally able memoir on
another prize subject by the same academy, the theory of
Jupiter’s satellites; and as the subject was not exhausted
in this memoir, it was his intention to return to it and enlarge his researches, but his other more pressing engagements prevented him.
In the mean time, as the society of Turin was not quite to his taste, he had a strong desire to become personally
In the mean time, as the society of Turin was not quite
to his taste, he had a strong desire to become personally
acquainted with those scientific men at Paris, with whom
he had correspondence; and an opportunity offering, he
visited that city, and was kindly received by D'Alembert,
Clairaut, Condorcet, Fontaine, Nollet, &c. Soon after,
either from his well-known and well-earned fame, or in
consequence of the recommendation of his friends, he was,
in 1766, appointed director of the Berlin academy, forphysico-mathematical sciences. Here, as he was a foreigner,
he had some prejudices to overcome; but by a diligent application to the duties of his office, and by steering clear
of all contests and parties, political or religious, he soon
gained universal esteem, and enriched the memoirs of the
Academy of Berlin by a vast number of highly interesting
papers, which, however, are but a part of what twenty
years enabled him to produce. He had among other things
published his “Mecauique analytique
” at Paris, to which
city he again removed on the death of Frederic, which occasioned great changes in Prussia, some of which it was
supposed would affect the literary world. The successor
of Frederic indeed was reluctant to part with such an ornament to the academy, and granted leave of absence on
condition that Lagrange should continue to contribute to
the Berlin memoirs; and the volumes for 1792, 1793, and
1803, show that he was faithful to his engagement.
r fifteen years; and in order to give him the right of voting in all their deliberations, this title was changed into that of veteran pensioner. When the revolution
In 1787 Lag-range came to Paris to take his seat in the
Academy of sciences, of which he had been a foreign member fifteen years; and in order to give him the right of
voting in all their deliberations, this title was changed into
that of veteran pensioner. When the revolution took place,
he lost his pension, which he did not so much regard as he
did the dangers which threatened literature and civilization.
When the new institutions were formed, such a man could
not be overlooked. He was first appointed professor of the
Normal school, but this was of short duration. In the Po
lytechnic school, however, he found an opportunity to return to the cultivation of the science of analysis, and now
developed those ideas, the origin of which was contained
in two memoirs that he published in 1772, in order
to show the true metaphysics of the differential and integral calculus. At that time he published his “Fonctions analytiques,
” and “Lemons sur le Calcule,
” which
passed through several editions. He also published about
the same time his “Traite de resolution numerique des
Equations,
” with notes on several points of the theory of
Algebraic equations. He also undertook a new edition of
his “Mecanique analytique,
” and laboured at it with. all
the ardour of his best days; but so much application
brought on weakness and faintings, and about the end of
March 1813, a decay of nature was visible, which terminated in his death on April 10.
Lagrange had naturally a good constitution, and by temperance and a tranquil placid mind, his life was prolonged to seventy-six years, almost the whole of which were
Lagrange had naturally a good constitution, and by
temperance and a tranquil placid mind, his life was prolonged to seventy-six years, almost the whole of which
were devoted to scientific pursuits; and so much were his
thoughts engaged on these, that in his intercourse with
society, he was more frequently meditating on some favourite mathematical subject, than taking any share in
conversation. When he did, his manner was timid and
respectful, and he seemed to be soliciting rather than imparting that information with which his mind was so amply
stored. As he had an aversion to have his portrait taken,
a sketch of him was taken by stealth, from which the
bust was formed now in the library of the Institute. If
his fame might be supposed to rest on any selection from
his numerous works, we might instance his “Mecanique
analytique,
” and “Fonctions analytiques,
” as unquestionably the most profound and important. “By means of his
successful labours,
” says his eulogist, “mathematical
science is at present like a great and beautiful palace, the
foundations of which he renewed, fixed the summit, and
in which it is impossible to take a step without discovering,
with admiration, monuments of his genius.
”
Lagrange was, as before noticed, one of the founders of the academy of Turin;
Lagrange was, as before noticed, one of the founders of the academy of Turin; director, during twenty years, of the Berlin academy, foreign associate of the Academy of Sciences of Paris, member of the Imperial Institute and of the Board of Longitude; senator and count of the empire, grand officer of the legion of honour, and grand-cross of the imperial order of re-union.
a painter of histories on ceilings, staircases, halls, &c. and an assistant and imitator of Verrio, was born in France; and his father being master of the menagerie
, a painter of histories on ceilings,
staircases, halls, &c. and an assistant and imitator of Verrio, was born in France; and his father being master of
the menagerie at Versailles, he had Louis XIV. for his
godfather, and after him he was named. At first he was
intended for the church, and was placed in the Jesuits’
college for education; but, having a hesitation in his
speech, and having exhibited some taste in drawing, the
king recommended to his parents to bring him up to the
profession of painting. He then studied in the school of
Le Brun, and in the royal academy of Paris; and made so
much progress, that, in 1683, at the age of twenty, he
came to England, and was immediately employed by Verrio upon the large work at St. Bartholomew’s hospital; in
which he succeeded so well, that he soon obtained considerable employment on his own account, and executed a
great number of ceilings, halls, and staircases, in the
houses of the principal nobility of the country, particularly
at lord Exeter’s at Burleigh, at Devonshire house, Piccadilly, Petworth, and Blenheim. King William gave him
lodgings at Hampton Court, where he painted the “Labours of Hercules,
” and repaired the large pictures called
“The Triumphs of Caesar,
” by Andrea Mantegna. His
talents were not of a cast to demand very high respect, but
they were fully equal to the mode in which they were employed, which requiring a certain portion of ingenuity, is
a certain waste of talents of a superior class. In a few
years, it is probable, his name will repose for perpetuity
on the records of history, and the unlucky satire of Pope,
“where sprawl the saints of Verrio and Laguerre.' He
died in 1721, and in a place very seldom disturbed by such
an event, viz. in the theatre of Drury-lane. He had gone
there to see the
” Island Princess" acted for the benefit of
his son, who was newly entered upon the stage as a singer;
but, before the play began, he was seized by an apoplexy,
and carried away senseless.
, a physician, born at Segovia in 1499, was high in the confidence of the emperor Charles V. at whose court
, a physician, born at Segovia in
1499, was high in the confidence of the emperor Charles
V. at whose court he passed a considerable part of his life.
He published “Annotations upon Dioscorides
” and an
“Epitome of the Works of Galen,
” with a life of this
author and “A Treatise of Weights and Measures.
” He
was a respectable critic, and died in
, a French poet, was born in 1650, at Chimay, in Hairiault, and was of the same family
, a French poet, was born in 1650, at Chimay, in Hairiault, and was of the same family with father Lainez, second general of the Jesuits, the subject of our next article. He was educated at Rheims, where his wit procured him an acquaintance with the chief persons of the town, and an admittance amongst the best companies. At length he came to Paris, and attended the chevalier Colbert, colonel of the regiment of Champagne, to whom he read lectures upon Livy and Tacitus. Several other officers of the army attended these lectures, making their remarks, and proposing their difficulties, which produced very agreeable and useful conversations. Having, however, a rambling disposition, he quitted this society, travelled into Greece, and visited the isles of the Archipelago, Constantinople, Asia Minor, Palestine, Egypt, Malta, and Sicily. Thence he made a tour through the principal towns of Italy, and, returning through Switzerland into France, arrived at Chimay, wiiere he resided in obscurity for two years, until the abbe Faultrier, intervdant of Hainault, having received orders from the king to seize some scandalous libels that were handed about upon the frontier of Flanders, forced himself by violence into his chamber, on suspicion of being one of the authors of these. There he found Lainez wrapped up in an old morninggown, surrounded with a heap of papers, all in the greatest confusion. He accosted him as a guilty person, and seiz-" ed his papers. Lainez answered with modesty, proved the injustice of the suspicion; and the examination of his papers, which consisted of verses, and minutes of his travelsj added conviction to his arguments. The abbé Faultrier was much pleased to find him innocent y and, having had this occasion of knowing his merit, took him home with him, furnished him with apparel, of which at this time he stood very much in need, gave him lodging and diet, and treated him as a friend. Four months after, Lainez followed his benefactor to Paris, and lived with him at the arsenal; but, in half a year’s time, finding the little restraint this laid him under not at all agreeable to his spirit, he obtained leave to retire. This being granted, he made an excursion to Holland, to visit Bayle; and then crossed the water to England, whence, at last, he returned to settle at Paris, where he passed his days betwixt stjdy and pleasure, especially that of the table. He was, according to Moreri, a great poet, a great classic, and a great geographer, and, if possible, a still greater drinker. Nobody exactly knew where he lodged. When he was carried homeward in any friend’s chariot, he always ordered himself to be set down on the Pont-neuf, whence he went on foot to his lodgings. His friends, who were very numerous, and among them several persons of distinguished birth as well as merit, did not care where he lodged, if they could often have the happiness of his company. His conversation at once charmed and instructed them. He talked upon all kinds of subjects, and talked well upon all. He was a perfect master of Latin, Italian, Spanish, and of all the best authors in each of those languages. The greatest part of the day he usually devoted to his studies, and the rest was passed in pleasure. As, one of his friends expressed his surprize to see him in the king’s library at eight in the morning, after a repast of twelve hours the preceding evening, Lainez answered him in this distich extempore:
; so that they are short, but sprightly, easy, full of wit, and very ingenious. A collection of them was published at the Hague in 1753, 8vo. Almost all his papers came
He died at Paris, April 18, 1710. Although he composed a great deal of poetry, we have little of it left, as he satisfied himself with reciting his verses in company, without communicating them upon paper. The greatest jpart of his pieces were made in company, over a bottle, and extempore; so that they are short, but sprightly, easy, full of wit, and very ingenious. A collection of them was published at the Hague in 1753, 8vo. Almost all his papers came into the hands of Dr. Chambou, his physician.
his first disciples, appeared with great distinction at the council of Trent and colloquy of Poissy was much esteemed for his prudence, learning, and piety refused
, a Spaniard, and celebrated general
of the Jesuits, in which office he succeeded St. Ignatius
1558, after having been one of his first disciples, appeared
with great distinction at the council of Trent and colloquy
of Poissy was much esteemed for his prudence, learning,
and piety refused the cardinal’s hat, and died at Rome,
January 19, 1565, aged fifty-three, leaving some works in
Latin, on “Providence,
” “On the use of the Cup,
” and
“On Women’s painting and dress,
” &c. Father Theophil us
Raynaud attributes to him also “The Declarations on the
Constitutions of the Jesuits;
” while others believe that
Lainez drew up the constitutions themselves, alledging, in
support of this opinion, that they discover too much penetration, strength of genius, and refined policy, to have
been the work of St. Ignatius. In the first congregation
after that saint’s death, Lainez caused an absolute authority ty be granted him, with a perpetuity of the generalship, and a right of having prisons; thus changing the
uprightness and simplicity of the founder’s maxims for a
system of human policy, which guided all the undertakings
of the society, and led at length to its destruction.
various learned academies in France and Italy, professor of bibliography, and member of the Lyceum, was born in 1739, at Dole in Franche-comte“, of reputable but poor
, librarian to the cardinal Lomenie, a member of various learned academies in France
and Italy, professor of bibliography, and member of the
Lyceum, was born in 1739, at Dole in Franche-comte“, of
reputable but poor parents, who, however, procured him
admission into the religious house of the Minims of his
native place. Here his easy access to the fine library of
the order, inspired and gratified an early predilection for
bibliographical researches, and laid the foundation of that
general knowledge of literary history and antiquities, for
which he was afterwards so much distinguished, and which
he improved in the course of his travels in France, Italy,
and Greece. He died at Paris in 1801. His works are,
1.
” Memoires pour servir a i‘Histoire Litteraire de quelques
grands hommes du 15 siecle, avec un Supplement aux Annales Typographiques de ’Mattaire.“This, of which we
have only the French title, was published in Latin, at Naples in 1776, 4to. 2.
” Specimen Historicum Typographic
Romanic XV saeculi,“Rome, 1778, 3vo. This is the least
valued of his works. 3.
” Epistola ad abbatem Ugolini,
c.“printed at Pavia, but in the title, Strasburgh. 4.
” De l'origine et des progres de rimprimerie en FrancheComte,“with a catalogue of the works printed there Dole,
1784, 12mo. 5.
” $erie dell' edizioni Aldine,“written in
conjunction with the cardinal Lomenie, whose librarian he
was, as noticed above: of this there have been three editions, at Pisa, 1790, at Padua, in the same year, and at
Venice in 1792, 12mo. 6.
” Index librorum ab inventa
Typographia, ad annum 1500,“Sens, 1791, 2 vols. 8vo.
This is a catalogue of the books of the fifteenth century,
belonging to the library of the cardinal Lomenie, and is
our author’s most useful work. Laire also published some
pajiers on subjects of French antiquities, in the
” Magazin
Encyclopedique."
, an eminent Flemish painter, was born at Liege, in 1640. His father, who was a tolerable painter,
, an eminent Flemish painter, was born at Liege, in 1640. His father, who was a tolerable painter, put his son first to study the belles lettres, poetry, and music, to the last of which Gerard dedicated a day in every week: but at length taught him design, and made him copy the best pictures, particularly those of Bertholet Flaraael, a canon of that city. At the age of fifteen, Gerard began to paint portraits, and some historical pieces, for the electors of Cologne and Brandenburgh, which contributed-to make him known, and gave him great reputation. The ease, however, with which he got his money tempted him to part with it as easily, and run into expence. He was fond of dress, and making a figure in the world; he had also an ambition to please the ladies, and fancied that the liveliness of his wit would compensate in some degree for the deformity of his person. But one of his mistresses, whom he had turned off, having out of revenge wounded him dangerously with a knife, he abandoned such promiscuous gallantry, and married. While settled at Utrecht, and poor, he was seized with a contagious distemper; and, his wife lying-in at the same time, he was reduced to offer a picture to sale for present support, which, in three days’ time, was bought by Vytenburgh, a picture-merchant at Amsterdam, who engaged him to go to that city. Accordingly Lairesse settled there; and his reputation rose to so high a pitch, that the Hollanders esteem him the best history-painter of their country, and commonly call him their second Raphael; Hemskirk is their first. Yet his style of painting was but a compound of those of Poussin and the old French school. While he aimed at imitating the best Italian masters, he never avoided those false airs of the head and limbs, which seem rather taken from the stage than from nature; so that his works do not rise to the level of true merit. At length, borne down with infirmities, aggravated by the loss of his eye-sight, he finished his days at Amsterdam, in 1711, at the age of seventy-one.
les. He had also three brothers, Ernest, James, and John: Ernest and John painted animals, and James was a flower-painter. He engraved a great deal in aqua-fortis. His
He had three sons, of whom two were painters and his disciples. He had also three brothers, Ernest, James, and John: Ernest and John painted animals, and James was a flower-painter. He engraved a great deal in aqua-fortis. His work consists of 256 plates, great and small, more than the half of which are by his own hand; the others are engraved by Poole, Berge, Glauber, &c. Lairesse has the credit of an excellent book upon the art, which has been translated into English, and printed both in 4to and 8vo, at London, but it is thought that it consists only of observations made by him, and published with the authority of his name.
e, knt. principal secretary of state to James I. and son of Almeric Lake or Du Lake, of Southampton, was born in St. Michael’s parish, and educated for some time at
, a pious English prelate, brother to
sir Thomas Lake, knt. principal secretary of state to James
I. and son of Almeric Lake or Du Lake, of Southampton,
was born in St. Michael’s parish, and educated for some
time at the free-school in that town. He was afterwards
removed to Winchester school, and thence was elected probationer fellow of New college, Oxford, of which he was
admitted perpetual fellow in 1589. in 1594 he took his
degrees in arts, and being ordained, was made fellow of
Winchester college about 1600, and in 1603 master of the
hospital of St. Cross. In 1605 he took his degrees in divinity, and the same year was installed archdeacon of
Surrey. In 1608 he was made dean of Worcester, and in
December 1616, consecrated bishop of Bath and
He Was a man of great learning and extensive rej f
particularly in the fathers and schoolmen, then a cf
study; and as a preacher was greatly admired,
says he obtained his preferments “not so much by the
power of his brother (the secretary) as by his own desert,
as one whose piety may be justly exemplary to all of his
order. In all the places of honour and employment which
he enjoyed, he carried himself the same in mind and person, showing by his constancy, that his virtues were virtues
indeed; in all kinds of which, whether natural, moral,
theological, personal, or paternal, he was eminent, and
indeed one of the examples of his time. He always lived
as a single man, exemplary in his life and conversation,
and very hospitable.
” Walton confirms this character; he
says Dr. Lake was “a man whom I take myself bound in
justice to say, that he made the great trust committed to
him the chief rare and whole business of his life. And
one testimony of this truth may be, that he sat usually with
his chancellor in his consistory, and at least advised, if not
assisted, in most sentences for the punishing of such offenders as deserved church censures. And it may be
noted, that after a sentence of penance was pronounced,
he did very rarely or never allow of any commutation for
the offence, but did usually see the sentence for penance
executed; and then, as usually, preached a sermon of
mortification and repentance, and so apply them to the
offenders that then stood before him, as begot in them a
devout contrition, and at least resolutions to amend their
lives; and having done that, he would take them, though
never so poor, to dinner with him, and use them friendly,
and dismiss them with his blessing and persuasions to a
virtuous life, and beg them for their own sakes to believe
him. And his humility and charity, and all other Christian excellencies, were all like this.
”