court to remain there until farther orders. This was occasioned by the approbation he had given to a French translation of the Missal of M. Voisin, which at first he did
After passing some years in the quiet prosecution of his studies, he encountered some opposition in consequence of the five propositions condemned by the popes Innocent X. and Alexander VII. He was now suspected of favouring the Jansenists, and of asserting that no one could sign the formulary without distinguishing the fact from the right. This induced him to quit his office of regent in 1654, and accept of the conventual priory of Betiay, in the diocese of Angers. Here, however, he did not constantly reside, but preached frequently in some cathedrals, and performed the duties of his office as chancellor of the university, until 1661, when happening to be at Benay, he received an order from the court to remain there until farther orders. This was occasioned by the approbation he had given to a French translation of the Missal of M. Voisin, which at first he did not choose to revoke. It does not appear, however, that while he ventured to express liberal notions, he had the courage to maintain them against the authority of his superiors, for he soon conceded every point, and offered to sign the formulary abovementioned, which he had hitherto refused, and accordingly was permitted to return to Paris in 1662, where the archbishop of Sens bestowed on him the office of priorcur6 of St. Mary Magdalen of Montargis; but this he enjoyed but a very few days, being seized with a disorder which carried him off, April 17, 1662, when only fortyeight years of age. He was a man of extensive reading in ecclesiastical and profane history; and as a preacher was lively and eloquent. He obtained much reputation for his discourses when bestowing the degree of master of arts, which was his province for fifteen years. He was an able linguist, not only in the modern, but ancient, and particularly the Eastern languages. Dupin, who gives him in other respects a very high character, observes, that he never attached himself so closely to any subject as to handle it thoroughly, but was always making discoveries, starting conjectures, and forming new ideas, and giving his subject a turn altogether uncommon.
nslations of them, various in merit, are common throughout Europe. Amongst the poorest of these is a French duodecimo* printed at Lyons, under the title of Le Benefice
Some botanical remarks of Fuchs, relating principally
to the Arabian writers, are found in the 2d volume of the
“Herbarium
” of Brunfelsius. But the work on which
his reputation in this study chit-fly rests, is his “Historia Plantarum,
” published at Basil in Bibliotheca Botanica,
” though indeed he there properly
stands amongst the usitatissimi with respect to h>s original
edition. By some of his writings, especially his “Cornarus furens,
” published in Historia Plantarum
” in a work entitled
“Vulpecula excoriata,
” he appears to have been vehement
in controversy, but in his general character and deportment he is said to have been dignified and amiable, with a
fine manly person, and a clear sonorous voice. His piety y
temperance, and indefatigable desire to be useful, were
alike exemplary. As a lecturer he was peculiarly admired
and followed, especially in his anatomical courses. The
famous Vesalius was present at one of his lectures, in which
he found himself criticized. He afterwards familiarly addressed the professor, saying, “why do you attack me
who never injured you?
” “Are you Vesalius
” exclaimed
Fuchs. “You see him before you,
” replied the former.
On which great mutual congratulations ensued, and a
strict friendship wag formed between these learned men.
Fuchs was so famous throughout Europe, that the great
Cosmo duke of Tuscany invited him, with the offer of a
salary of 600 crowns, to become professor of medicine at
Pisa, which he declined. The emperor Charles V. also
bore testimony to his merit, by sending him letters with
the insignia of nobility, which honour also Fuchs for
some time declined. He was indifferent to money, as well
as to all other than literary fame. His great ambition was,
whenever he undertook in his turn the rectorship of the
university, to promote good order, industry, and improvement among the students, whom he governed with paternal
assiduity and affection. Two colleges were always under
his immediate care, one of them founded by duke Ulrie
for students of divinity alone, and more amply endowed
by his son and successor.
to paint the portraits of persons of distinction, until the war of Poland, when the entrance of the French into Germany threw every thing into confusion. The duke his
, a Swiss artist, and a man of considerable learning, was born at Zurich in 1706. After acquiring the elements of painting from a very indifferent artist, he left his country in the eighteenth year of his age, and going to Vienna, associated himself with Sedelmeier. Gran and Meitens were his principal guides, if he could be said to have any other guide than his own genius. He became well known at court, but his love of independence induced him to refuse very advantageous offers. He would not, however, have probably ever left Vienna, had not the prince of Schwarzeuburg persuaded him to go to Kadstadt, where he became the favourite of the court. Among others whose portraits he painted was the margrave of Dourlach, who had a great affection for him, and advised him to go to Ludwigsbourg, which he did with letters of recommendation to the duke of Wirtemberg, who immediately took him into his service. Here he passed his time very agreeably, making occasional excursions to paint the portraits of persons of distinction, until the war of Poland, when the entrance of the French into Germany threw every thing into confusion. The duke his patron at the same time fell sick, and was removed to Stutgard, but on Fuessli’s leaving him to go to Nuremberg, his highness presented him with a gold watch, and requested him to return when the state of public affairs was changed. At Nuremberg he had a strong desire to see the celebrated artist Kupezki, of whose manners he had imbibed an unfavourable impression, but he was agreeably disappointed, and they became friends from their first interview. After remaining six months at Nuremberg, the duke of Wirtemberg died, and there being no immediate prospect of peace, Fuessli returned to his own country, and in 1740 married. Although his wife was a very amiable woman, he used to say that marriage was incompatible with the cultivation of the fine arts: if, however, he felt himself occasionally disturbed by domestic cares, he had the happiness to communicate his art to his three sons, Rodolph, who settled at Vienna; Henry, at present so well known in England; and Caspar, who died in the vigour of life, an entomologist of fidelity, discrimination, and taste.
commended him to the public; but he is chiefly known and valued for his “Universal Dictionary of the French Tongue,” in which he explains the terms of art in all sciences.
, an ingenious and learned lawyer, was born at Paris in 1620; and, after a liberal education, became eminent in the civil and canon law. He
was first an advocate in the parliament; and afterwards,
taking orders, was presented to the abbey of Chalivoy,
and the priory of Chuines. Many works of literature recommended him to the public; but he is chiefly known
and valued for his “Universal Dictionary of the French
Tongue,
” in which he explains the terms of art in all
sciences. He died in 1688. He was of the French academy, but, though a very useful member, was excluded
in 1685, on the accusation of having composed his
dictionary, by taking advantage of that of the academy, which
was then going on. He justified himself by statements,
in which he was very severe against the academy; but
wished, a little before his death, to be re-admitted; and
he offered to give any satisfaction, which could reasonably
be expected from a man, who owned he had been carried
too far by the heat of disputation. His dictionary was not
printed till after his death, in 2 vols. fol. Basnage de
Beauval published an edition at Amsterdam, 1725, 4 vols.,
fol. This dictionary was the foundation of that known by
the name of Trevoux, the last edition of which is, Paris,
1771, 8 vols. fol. His other works are: “Facta,
” and.
other pieces, against his brother academicians. “Relation
des Troubles arrives au Ro‘iaume d’Eloquence;
” a tolerably good critical allegory. “Le Roman Bourgeois,
” 12mo
or 8vo; a book esteemed in its time. Five “Satires
” in
verse, 12mo, which are not valued. “Paraboles Evangeliques,
” inverse, Furetieriana,
” in which there are some amusing anecdotes.
, a native of Paris, where he was. born in 1672, devoted himself early to poetry, and wrote for the French and Italian theatres, the royal musical academy, and the comic
, a native of Paris, where he was.
born in 1672, devoted himself early to poetry, and wrote
for the French and Italian theatres, the royal musical
academy, and the comic opera. He obtained the privilege
of conducting the “Mercury,
” jointly with M. de Bruere,
ul Mom us
Fabuliste,
” and his operas of “Les Ages,
” “Les Amours
dcs Dieux,
” << J^es Indes Galantes,“and
” Le Carnavai
du Parnasse," are particularly admired. He wrote much'
for the Italian theatre and comic opera; but La Harpe,
who has lately dictated in French criticism, speaks with,
great contempt of his talents.
, a French poet, well known by his satirical pieces against Bossuet, Rousseau,
, a French poet, well known by his
satirical pieces against Bossuet, Rousseau, La Motte, and
others, was the son of a merchant, and born at Lyons in
1667. He became a father of the Oratory; obtained the
poetical prize at the French academy in 1717; and died
in his priory of Baillon Nov. 15, 1725. Among his works
are, “Le Poete sans fard,
” a satirical piece, which cost
him some months of imprisonment; a French translation
of “Anacreon,
” with notes, which was the best of his
works; “L' Anti-Rousseau,
” an attack against J. Baptiste
Rousseau, the poet; “L'Homere venge,
” against La
Motte. Gacon also attacked La Motte, and turned him
into ridicule, in a small piece entitled “Les Fables de
M. de la Motte, traduites en vers Francois, par P. S. F.
au Caffe* du Mont Parnasse, &c.
” This poet’s natural
propensity to satire and criticism, led him to attack alt
sorts of writers, and involved him in all the literary quarrels of his times. The French academy acted with great
impartiality, when they adjudged him the prize; for he
had written in some shape or other against almost all the
members of that illustrious body; and on this account it
was, that he was not suffered to make his speech of thanks,
as is usual on such occasions, the prize having been remitted to him by the hands of the abbé de Choisy. “Gacon,
” says Voltaire, “is placed bj father Niceron in the
catalogue of illustrious men, though he has been famous
only for bad satires. Such authors cannot be cited but as
examples to be detested.
” In fact, though he wrote with
care, his style was heavy and diffuse in prose, and low in
verse.
esteem for him. During his abode in this city, he was invited to live with M. de la Thuillerie, the French ambassador, as a companion. He accepted the invitation, but
In 1629, he published “Rabbi Flea, de fine mundi,
Latine versus, cum notis,
” Paris, 8vo, i. e. “A Latin
version of Rabbi Elea’s treatise concerning the end of the
world, with notes;
” and the same year came out his “Curiositez Inouez, c. Unheard-of Cariosities concerning
the talismanic sculpture of the Persians -, the horoscope of
the Patriarchs, and the reading of the stars.
” This curious piece went through three editions in the space of
six months. In it the author undertakes to shew that talismans, or constellated figures, had the virtue to make a
man rich and fortunate, to free a house and even a whole
country from certain insects and venomous creatures; and
from all the injuries of the air. He started many other
bold assertions concerning the force of magic; and having
also made some reflections upon his own country, and
mentioned the decalogue according to the order of the
Old Testament, and the protestant doctrine, he was censured by the Sorbonne, and therefore retracted these and
Some other things advanced as errors submitting his faith;
in all points to the doctrine of the catholic and apostolic
church.
In 1633 he was at Venice, where, among other things,
he took an exact measure of the vessels brought from Cyprus and Constantinople, that were deposited in the treasury of St. Mark, at the request of the learned Peiresc,
with whom he had been long acquainted, and who had a
great esteem for him. During his abode in this city, he
was invited to live with M. de la Thuillerie, the French
ambassador, as a companion. He accepted the invitation,
but was not content with the fruitless office of merely diverting the ambassador’s leisure hours by his learned conrersation. He aimed to make himself of more importance,
and to do this friend some real service. He resolved therefore to acquaint himself with politics, and in that view
wrote to his friend Gabriel Naude“, to send him a list of
the authors upon political subjects; and this request it
was, that gave birth to Naude’s t( Bibliographia Politica.
” Gaffarell at this time was doctor of divinity and canon law, prothonotary of the apostolic see, and commendatory prior of St. Giles’s. After his return home, he was employed by his patron cardinal Richelieu, in his project for bringing back all the protestants to the Roman church, which he calls are-union of religions; and to that end was authorized to preach in Dauphin6 against the doctrine of purgatory. To
the same purpose he also published a piece upon the pacification of Christians.
h itself is a translation from Gomara. There is an Amsterdam edition of Gage, 1695, 2 vols. 12mo, in French, made by command of the French minister Colbert, by mons. de
, an English clergyman and traveller,
was descended from Robert Gage of Haling, in Surrey,
third son of sir John Gage, of Firle, in Sussex, who died
in 1557. He was the son of John Gage, of Haling, and
his brother was sir Henry Gage, governor of Oxford, who
was killed in battle at Culham-bridge,' Jan. 11, 1644. Of
his early history we are only told that he studied in Spain,
and became a Dominican monk. From thence he departed
with a design to go to the Philippine islands, as a missionary, in 1625; but on his arrival at Mexico, he heard
so bad an account of those islands, and became so delighted with New Spain, that he abandoned his original
design, and contented him with a less dangerous mission.
At length, being tired of this mode of life, and his request
to return to England and preach the gospel among his
countrymen being refused, he effected his escape, and
arrived in London in 1637, after an absence of twentyfour years, in which he had quite lost the use of his native
language. On examining into his domestic affairs, he
found himself unnoticed in his father’s will, forgotten by
some of his relations, and with difficulty acknowledged by
others. After a little time, not being satisfied with respect to some religious doubts which had entered his mind
while abroad, and disgusted with the great power of the
papists, he resolved to take another journey to Italy, to
“try what better satisfaction he could find for his
conscience at Rome in that religion.
” At Loretto his conversion from popery was fixed by proving the fallacy of the
miracles attributed to the picture of our Lady there; on
which he immediately returned home once more, and
preached his recantation sermon at St. Paul’s, by order of
the bishop of London. He continued above a year in.
London, and when he saw that papists were entertained
at Oxford and other parts of the kingdom attached to the
royal cause, he adopted that of the parliament, and received a living from them, probably that of Deal, in Kent,
in the register of which church is an entry of the burials
of Mary daughter, and Mary the wife of “Thomas Gage,
parson of Deale, March 21, 1652;
” and in the title of his
work he is styled “Preacher of the word of God at Deal.
”
We have not been able to discover when he died. His
work is entitled “A new Survey of the West-Indies; or
the English American his Travail by sea and land, containing a journal of 3300 miles within the main land of
America. Wherein is set forth his voyage from Spain to
St. John de Ulhua; and from thence to Xalappa, to Flaxcalla, the city of Angels, and forward to Mexico, &c. &c.
&c.
” The second edition, Lond. Madoc,
” says that
Gage’s account of Mexico is copied verbatim from Nicholas’s “Conqueast of West-India,
” which itself is a
translation from Gomara. There is an Amsterdam edition
of Gage, 1695, 2 vols. 12mo, in French, made by command of the French minister Colbert, by mons. de Beaulieu Hues O'Neil, which, however, was first published in
1676, at Paris. There are some retrenchments in this
edition. Gage appears to be a faithful and accurate relator,
but often credulous and superstitious. His recantation
sermon was published at London, 1642, 4to; and in 165L
he published “A duel between a Jesuite and a Dominican, begun at Paris, fought at Madrid, and ended at London,
” 4to.
s imperfect, was purchased of his widow by Dr. Hunt. It is said that he wrote a life of Mahommed, in French, published at Amsterdam, in 1730, in vols. 12mo. But this wa.s
In 1717 he was appointed to read the Arabic lecture at'
Oxford, in the absence of the professor Wallis. In 1718
appeared his “Vindiciae Kircherianae, seu defensio concordantiarum Graecarum Conradi Kircheri, adversus Abr.
Trommii animadversiones;
” and in Life of Mohammed,
” in Arabic, with a Latin
translation and notes, at Oxford, in folio. He also prepared for the press the same Arabic author’s Geography,
and printed proposals for a subscription, but the attempt
proved abortive, for want of encouragement. Eighteen
sheets were printed, and the remainder, which was imperfect, was purchased of his widow by Dr. Hunt. It is said
that he wrote a life of Mahommed, in French, published
at Amsterdam, in 1730, in vols. 12mo. But this wa.s
probably a translation of the former life, Gagnier had
before this inserted Graves’s Latin translation of AbulfedaY
description of Arabia, together with the original, in the
third volume of Hudson’s “Geographiae veteris scriptores
Grseci minores,
” in
, a French historian, wa born at Colines, near Amiens; and Guicciardini,
, a French historian, wa born at
Colines, near Amiens; and Guicciardini, as Vossius observes, is mistaken in fixing his birth elsewhere. He had
his education at Paris, where he took a doctor of laws degree; and the reputation of his abilities and learning became so great, that it advanced him to the favour of Charles
VIII. and Louis XII. by whom he was employed in several embassies to England, Germany, and Italy. He was
keeper of the royal library, and general of the order of the
Trinitarians. He died in 1501, certainly not young; but
we are not able to ascertain his age. He was the author
of several works; the principal of which is, a History in
eleven books, “De gestis Francorutn,
” in folio, from
, a French divine of the sixteenth century, was educated at Paris, where
, a French divine of the
sixteenth century, was educated at Paris, where in 1526
he had taken the degree of bachelor, and held the appointment of attorney for the French nation in the university.
He was afterwards lecturer in theology at the college of
Navarre, and rector of the university. In 1531 he took
his degree of D. D. and was chancellor of the university
from 1546 till his death, in 1549. Gaigny was deeply
read in the ancient languages, and highly esteemed as a
Latin poet, and his sovereign Francis I. frequently consulted him on subjects of literature, and made him his first
almoner. He was author of many works on subjects of
theology, the most important of which are “Commentaries
” upon the different books of the New Testament, hi
which he explains the literal sense by a kind of paraphrase.
Dupin says, “his notes will be found of admirable use to
those who desire to read the text of the New Testament,
and to comprehend the sense of it without stopping at any
difficult places, and without having recourse to larger
commentaries. His Scholia on the four evangelists, and
on the Acts of the Apostles, are inserted in the
” Biblia
Magrra" of father John de la Haye.
, an elegant French historian, member of the old French academy, of that of inscriptions
, an elegant French historian, member of the old French academy, of that of inscriptions and belles-lettres, and of the third class of the
institute, was born at Ostel, near Soissons, March 20,
1728. On his education or early pursuits, the only work
in which we find any notice of him is totally silent, and
we are obliged for the present to content ourselves with a
list of his works, all of which, however, have been eminently successful in France, and procured to the author
an extensive reputation and many literary honours, he
wrote, 1. “Rhetorique Franchise, a l'usage des jeunes
demoiselles,
” Paris, Poetique Françoise,
” ibid. Parallele des quatre Electre, de Sophocle, d'Euripide,
de Crebillon, et de Voltaire,
” ibid. ibid. 1757, 12mo.
5.
” Histoire de Marie de Bourgogne,“ibid. 1757, 12mo.
6.
” Histoire de Francois I.“1769, 7 vols. 12mo; of this
there have been several editions, and it is not without
reason thought to be Gaillard’s principal work; but Voltaire is of opinion that he softens certain obnoxious parts
of Francis’s conduct rather too much, but in general his
sentiments are highly liberal, and more free from the prejudices of his country and his religion than could have
been expected. Indeed, it may be questioned whether
he was much attached to the latter. 7.
” Histoire des rivalités de la France et de l'Angleterre,“1771—1802, 11
vols. 12mo, a work in which the author, not altogether
unsuccessfully, struggles to be impartial. 8.
” Histoire
de Charlemagne,“4 vols. 12mo. Gibbon, our historian,
who availed himself much of this history, says that
” it is
laboured with industry and elegance.“9.
” Observations
sur l'Histoire de France de Messieurs Velly, Villaret, et
Gamier,“1807, 4 vols. 12mo, a posthumous work. Besides these he was the author of various eloges, discourses,
poems, odes, epistles, &c. which were honoured with academical prizes; and several learned papers in the memoirs
of the academy of inscriptions. He wrote also in the
”
Journal des Savans“from 1752 to 1792, and in the
” Mercure“from 1780 to 1789, and in the new Encyclopedic he wrote
three fourths of the historical articles. His last performance, which bore no mark of age, or decay of faculties,
was an
” Eloge historique" on M. de Malesherbes, with
whom he had been so long intimate, that perhaps no man.
was more fit to appreciate his character. This writer, the
last of the old school of French literati, died at St. Firmin,
near Chantilly, in 1806.
apply themselves to the study of Medals both ancient and modern, by F. Jobert,” translated from the French, of which two editions were published without his name; one
1. “Antonini Iter Britanniarum Commentariis illnstratutn Thomae Gale, S, T. P. nuper Decani Ebor. Opus posthumum revisit, auxit, edidit R. G. Accessit Anonymi Ravennatis Britannia; Chorographia, cum amographo Regis
Galliae Mss. & cociice Vaticano collata adjiciuntur
conjecturse plurimae, cum nominibus locorum Anglicis, quotquot iis assignari potuerint,
” Lond. 1709, 4to. In the
preface to this book, Mr. Gale very properly points out what
parts of it were his father’s and what his own. Mr. Gough
had, among the books which he bequeathed to the Bodleian library, three copies of this edition, enriched with
many valuable ms notes by Mr. Roger Gale, Nicholas
Man, esq. and Dr. Abraham Francke, fellow of Trintycollege, Cambridge, and rector of West Dene in Wiltshire, 1728; and a fourth with ms various readings from
the two Mss. whence H. Stephens first printed this Itinerary . 2. “The Knowledge of Medals, or Instructions
for those who apply themselves to the study of Medals
both ancient and modern, by F. Jobert,
” translated from
the French, of which two editions were published without
his name; one of them in 1697, the other in 1715, 8vo.
3. “Registrum Honoris de Richmond,
” Lond. Remarks on a Roman Inscription found at Lanchester,
” in
the Philosophical Transactions, vol. XXX. p. 823 and in
vol. XLIII. p. 265, extracts of two of his letters to Mr.
Peter Collinson, F. R. S. concerning “the vegetation of
melon seeds 33 years old,
” and of “a fossil skeleton of a
man found at Lathkill-dale near Bakewell, in the county
of Derby,
” dated in 1743 and 174-1-f. “Explanation of a
Roman altar found at Castle Steeds in Cumberland,
” in
Gent. Mag. vol. XII. p. 135. In Horsley’s “Britannia
Romana,
” p. An Account of a
Roman Inscription found at Chichester. By Roger Gale,
esq.
” “Observations on an Inscription at Spello, by Fred.
Passarini and Roger Gale, esq.
” are printed in the Archaeologia, vol. II. p. 25. He presented to Mr. Drake’s History
of York a plate of a beautiful little bronze female bust,
which he supposed to be a Lucretia, found at York, and
in his possession, engraved by Vertue. To him also Mr.
Drake acknowledges himself obliged for a discovery that
fixes the building of the Chapter-house at York to
archbishop Grey. He died at Scruton, June 25, 1744, in
his 72d year, universally esteemed, and much lamented
by all his acquaintance; and left all his Mss. by will to
Trinity-college, Cambridge, of which he was once fellow,
and his cabinet of Roman coins to the public library there,
with a complete catalogue of them drawn up by himself,
of which Mr. Nichols printed twenty copies in 1780, for
the use of particular friends. His correspondence included
all the eminent antiquaries, of his time; and the late Mr.
George Allan of Darlington possessed, by the gift of his
grandson, a large collection of letters to and from him,
the principal of which are printed in the “Reliquiae Galeanae,
” as a valuable addition to antiquarian literature.
The originals are still in the possession of Henry Gale,
esq. The “Bibliotheca Topographica Britannica,
” No. II.
contains many other fragments and notices of the labours
of Mr. Gale.
e Oriental writers.” 3. “A Treatise upon the origin of Coffee.” 4. “Arabian Tales.” All these are in French. The last, usually called “The Arabian Nights Entertainments,”
, a learned antiquary of France,
member of the academy of inscriptions, and professor of
Arabic in the royal college at Paris, was born of poor parents at Hollo, a little town of Picardy, in 1646. After
having laid the foundation of learning at Noyon, he went
to Paris, where he learned Hebrew and the Oriental languages; and afterwards made a long voyage into the East,
and acquired an uncommon knowledge of the manners and
of the doctrines of the Mahometans. He returned to his
own country, and was made Arabic professor in 1709; but
did not live many years after, 'his death happening at Paris
in 1715. He was the author of several works, the principal of which are, 1. “An account of the Death of sultan
Osman, and of the Coronation of the sultan Mustapha.
”
2. “A collection of Maxims and Bon Mots, drawn from
the Oriental writers.
” 3. “A Treatise upon the origin of
Coffee.
” 4. “Arabian Tales.
” All these are in French.
The last, usually called “The Arabian Nights Entertainments,
” is a popular book all over Europe, and has been
published in various editions in English for above a century.
Galland was also the author of many curious dissertations
upon some scarce medals, which have been highly commended. He had likewise prepared a translation of the
Alcoran, with notes; and a system of the Mahometan
theology, more exact than any that has yet appeared; but
he did not live long enough to publish them.
Indeed, at the time of the French revolution, he could not resist the temptations which were thrown
Indeed, at the time of the French revolution, he could not resist the temptations which were thrown out in that country for turning the penny in the purchase of the estates of the guillotined and emigrant nobility and gentry under the title of national domains. And he bought an estate near Boulogne, which cost him 30,000l.; but of which, by the artifice of French lawyers, and connivance of the usurpers, he was never able to obtain secure possession, and at length abandoned all hopes of the estate or his money. This loss had much less effect upon his avaricious character than could be expected, considering that he was so rigid an economist, that his private life would furnish materials for a new drama on the subject of frugality. It has, however, been justly said of him, that he was generally considered as the most able teacher of his art that ever appeared in this country; and is supposed, by his incessant labours in this respect, notwithstanding his great losses, to have left money and effects to the Amount of lOO,Ooo/. to portion his family, which consisted of' a son and two daughters. He was a very shrewd, intelligent man, who perfectly knew the world; and, if he was not generous, he was, however, honourable in his dealings; and if few had cause to be grateful for his bounty, no one had a right to complain of his injustice.
hem understood Latin.” ' Gallois had been made member of the academy of sciences in 1668, and of the French academy in 1675. He lost his patron by death in 1683; and then,
, a learned Frenchman, was born of
a good family, at Paris, in 1632. He bad studied divinity,
ecclesiastical and profane history, philosophy, mathematics, the Oriental, together with the Italian, Spanish, English, and German languages; and was deemed an universal scholar. He is now memorable chiefly for having been
the first who published the “Journal des Sgavans,
” in
conjunction with M. de Sallo, who had formed the design
of this work. The first journal was published on Jan. 5,
1665; but these gentlemen censured new books with so
much severity, that the whole tribe of authors rose up
against their work, and effectually cried it down. De
Sallo abandoned it entirely, after having published a third
journal, in March following. Gallois was determined to
continue' it, yet did not venture to send out a fourth
journal till Jan. 1666, and then not without an humble
advertisement in the beginning of it, in which it is declared, that the author “will not presume to criticize, but
only simply to give an account of books.
” This, and the
protection shewn by the minister Colbert, who was much
pleased with the work, gradually reconciled the public to
the Journal. Thus began literary journals, which have been
continued from that time to this under various titles, and
by various authors; among whom are the names of Bayle
and Le Clerc. Gallois continued his journal to 1674,
when more important occupations obliged him to drop it,
or rather transfer it to another person. Colbert had taken
him into his house the year before, with a view of being
taught Latin by him; and the minister of state, it is said,
took most of his lessons in his coach, as he journeyed from
Versailles to Paris, Voltaire observes on this occasion,
that “the two men, who have been the greatest patrons
of learning, Louis XIV. and Colbert, neither of them understood Latin.
” ' Gallois had been made member of the
academy of sciences in 1668, and of the French academy
in 1675. He lost his patron by death in 1683; and then,
being at liberty, was first made librarian to the king, and
afterwards Greek professor in the royal college. He died
of the dropsy in 1707; and in 1710 a catalogue of his
books was printed at Paris, consisting of upwards of 12,000
volumes. It is remarkable of this learned man, that though
he had served many friends by his interest with Colbert,
yet he had neglected to make any provision for himself:
whence it happened, that, at the death of that minister,
he was but in poor circumstances, although an abbé.
, a writer of some eminence, and a member of the French academy of sciences, was born at Meulan in 1672, and, entering
, a writer of some eminence, and a member of the French academy of sciences,
was born at Meulan in 1672, and, entering the church,
obtained the office of canon of the Holy Cross de la Bretonniere, and died at Paris in 1756. He was much esteemed
for his literary talents, which appeared in the following
works: 1. “Physical Astronomy,
” Literary and Philosophical Dissertations,
” System of the Christian Philosopher,
” System of the Heart,
” published in The Elegancies of Language reduced to their Principles,
” a book called by one writer, the
“Dictionary of fine Thoughts,
” and by others pronounced
to be a work which every man who writes should read.
, a French engraver and letter-founder, was a native of Paris, and began
, a French engraver and letter-founder, was a native of Paris, and began to distinguish himself about 1510; when he founded his printing types, clear from all remains of the gothic, or, as it is usually called, the black letter. He brought them to so great a degree of perfection, that he can neither be denied the glory of having surpassed whatever had been done in this way before, nor that of not being excelled by any of his successors in this useful mechanic art. His types were prodigiously multiplied, as well by the great number of matrices which he engraved of every size, as by the letters which were founded from these, so that all parts of Europe were supplied with them; and as often as they were used by foreigners, they took care, by way of recommending their works, to distinguish them by his name, both in Italy, Germany, England, and even in Holland; particucularly the small Roman, by way of excellence, was known among the printers in all these countries, by the name of Garamond’s small Roman. He likewise, by the special command of Francis I. founded three species of Greek tj-pes for the use of Robert Stephens, who printed with them all his beautiful editions, both of the New Testament, and several Greek authors. Garamond died in 1561; and all his fine types came into the hands of Fournier the elder, an eminent letter- founder at Paris.
, a French Jesuit, and the author of the enmity between the Jesuits and
, a French Jesuit, and the author
of the enmity between the Jesuits and the Jansenists, in
the church of Rome, was born at Angouleme in 1585, and
having laid a good foundation of grammar-learning, entered of the Jesuits’ college in 1600. It was the special
care of those fathers, to admit none into their society but
youths of genius; and Garasse was not wanting in good
natural parts, nor did he neglect to improve them by
reading and study; of which he gave an admirable proof
in his book of elegies on the death of Henry IV. and in
a poem in heroic verse, addressed to Louis XIII. upon
his inauguration, in the name of the college at Poictiers.
The titles of these two pieces are, 1. “Elegiarum de funesta morte Henrici magni liber singularis,
” Pictavii,
Sacra Rhemensia Carolina Heroica nomine Collegii Pictavensis oblata Ludov. XIII. Regi Christianissimo in sua inauguratione,
” ibid. The two following
pieces are also ascribed to him: 1. “De la.Resemblance
de la lumiere du Soleil & de la Justice,
” Bourdeaux, Les champs Elysiens pour la Reception du Roy Louis
XIII. lors qu‘il entroit a Bourdeaux a l’occasion de son
Marriage.
”
t at the battle of Ramillies, in his nineteenth year, was severely wounded and taken prisoner by the French. He was carried to a convent, where he resided until his wound
, a brave officer of the army, and
not less celebrated for his piety, was born at Carriden, in
Linlithgow shire, in Scotland, Jan. 10, 1687-8. He was
the son of captain Patrick Gardiner, of the family of Torwoodhead, by Mrs. Mary Hodge, of the family of GladsKiitir. His family was military, his father, his uncle by
the mother’s side, and his elder brother, all fell in battle.
He was educated at the school of Linlithgow, but was soon
removed from it, owing to his early zeal to follow his father’s profession. At the age of fourteen he had an ensign’s commission in the Dutch service, in which he
continued until 1702; when he received the same from queen
Anne, and being present at the battle of Ramillies, in his
nineteenth year, was severely wounded and taken prisoner
by the French. He was carried to a convent, where he
resided until his wound was cured; and soon after was exchanged. In 1706 he obtained the rank of lieutenant, and
after several intermediate promotions, was appointed major of a regiment commanded by the earl of Stair, in whose
family he resided for several years. In January 1730, he
was advanced to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the same
regiment, in which he continued until April 1743, when
he received a colonel’s commission over a regiment of
dragoons. During the rebellion in Scotland, in 1745, his
regiment being in that country, and the rebel army advancing to Edinburgh, he was ordered to march with the
utmost expedition to D unbar, which he didj and that hasty
retreat, with the news soon afterwards received of the
surrender of Edinburgh to the rebels, struck a visible
panic into the forces he commanded. This affected his
gallant mind so much, that on the Thursday before the
battle of Preston-pans, he intimated to an officer of considerable rank, that he expected the event would be as it
proved; and to a person who visited him, he said, “I
cannot influence the conduct of others as I could wish;
but I have one life to sacrifice to my country’s safety, and
I shall not spare it.
” On Friday Sept. 20th, the day before the fatal battle, when the whole army was drawn up,
about noon, the colonel rode through the ranks of his regiment, and addressed them in an animated manner, to
exert themselves with courage in defence of their country.
They seemed much affected by his address, and expressed
a very ardent desire of attacking the enemy immediately,
a desire in which he, and another gallant officer of distinguished rank, would have gratified them, had it been
in their power, but their ardour and their advice were overruled by the strange conduct of the commander-in-chief,
sir John Cope, and therefore all that colonel Gardiner
could do, was to spend the remainder of the day in making
as good a disposition as the circumstances would allow. He
continued all night under arms, wrapped Mp in his cloak,
and sheltered under a rick of barley which happened to
be in the field. By break of day the army was roused by
the noise of the approach of the rebels; and the attack
was made before sun -rise. As soon as the enemy came
within gun-shot, they commenced a furious fire; and the
dragoons which constituted the left wing immediately fled.
The colonel at the beginning of the attack, which lasted
but a few minutes, received a ball in his left breast, which
made him give a sudden spring in his saddle; upon which
his servant, who had led the horse, would have persuaded
him to, retreat; but he said it was only a flesh-wound, and
fought on, though he presently after received a shot in
his right thigh. The colonel was for a few moments supported by his men, and particularly by about fifteen dragoons, who stood by him to 'the last; but after a faint
fire, the regiment in general was seized with a panic; and
though their colonel and some other brave officers did
what they could to rally them, they at lust took to a precipitate flight. Just in the moment when colonel Gardiner
seemed to be making a pause to deliberate what duty required him to do in such a circumstance, he saw a party
of the foot fighting bravely near him, without an officer to
lead them, on which he rode up to them immediately, and
cried out aloud, “Fire on, my lads, and fear nothing.
”
As he had uttered these words, a Highlander advanced
towards him with a scythe fastened to a long pole, with
which he gave him such a deep wound in his right arm,
that his sword dropped from his band, and several others
coming about him at the same time, while he was thus
dreadfully entangled with that savage weapon, he was
dragged from his horse. The moment he fell, another
Highlander gave him a stroke either with a broad -sword, or a
Lochaber axe, on the hinder part of the head, which was the
mortal blow. All that his faithful servant, John Forster,
who furnished this account, saw further at this time, was,
that as his hat was falling olf, he took it in his left hand,
waved it as a signal for him to retreat, and added, which
were the last words he ever heard him speak, “Take care
of yourself.
” The servant immediately fled to a mill,
about two miles distant, where he changed his dress, and
disguised like a miller’s servant, returned with a cart about
two hours after the engagement. He found his master not
dnly plundered of his watch and other things of value, but
even stripped of his upper garments and boots. He was,
however, still breathing, and from appearances, not altogether insensible. In this condition he was conveyed to
the church of Tranent, and from that to the clergyman’s
house, where he expired about eleven o'clock in the
forenoon, Saturday Sept. 21, 1745. The rebels entered his
house before he was carried off from the field, and plundered it. His remains were interred on the Tuesday following, Sept. 24, at the parish church of Tranent. Even
his enemies spoke honourably of him, and seemed to join
in lamenting the fall of so brave and so worthy a man.
Nor was it for bravery only that colonel Gardiner was distinguished. He was perhaps one of the most pious men of
his age and country. He was, says his biographer, in the
most amazing manner, without any religious opportunity,
or peculiar advantage, deliverance, or affliction, reclaimed
on a sudden, in the vigour of life and health, from a life
of licentiousness, not only to a steady course of regularity
and virtue, but to high devotion, and strict, though unaffected sanctity of manners. All this is amply illustrated
in Dr. Doddridge’s well-known life of this gallant hero,
whose death was as much a loss, as the cause of it, the
battle of Preston-pans, was a disgrace to his country.
marriage null and void, was passed by Cranmer, May 22, 1533. The same year he went ambassador to the French king at Marseilles, to discover the designs of the pope and
As this step proved the ruin of Wolsey, in his distress
he applied to his old servant the secretary, who on this
occasion is said by the writer of his life in the Biog. Britannica, to have afforded an eminent proof of his gratitude,
in soliciting his pardon; which was followed in three days
by his restoration to his archbishopric, and 6000l. sent
him, besides plate and furniture for his house and chapel.
It is certain, however, that Gardiner did not interpose before Wolsey had supplicated him more than once in the
most humble manner, to intercede for him, and it is equally
certain that Gardiner did not risk much in applying to the
king, who for some time entertained a considerable regard
for the fallen Wolsey. Gardiner also, at the cardinal’s
recommendation, in 1530, introduced the provost of Beverly to the king, who received him graciously, and shewed
him that he was his good and gracious lord, and admitted
and accepted him as his orator and scholar. These were
matters of easy management. But the year had not expired, when the king’s service called the secretary to a
task of another nature, which was to procure from the university of Cambridge their declaration in favour of his majesty’s cause, after Cranmer’s book should appear in support of it. In this most difficult point his old colleague
Fox was joined with him; and they spared no pains, address, or artifice in accomplishing it. To make amends
for such an unreserved compliance with the royal will, a
door was presently opened in the church, through which,
by one single step (the archdeaconry of Leicester, into which he was installed in the spring of 1531), Gardiner
advanced to the rich see of Winchester, and was there
consecrated the November following. Gardiner was
not, at the time, apprized of the king’s design of conferring on him this rich bishopric; for Henry, in his caprice,
would sometimes rate him soundly, and when he bestowed
it on him said, “I have often squared with you, Gardiner,
but I love you never the worse, as the bishopric I give you
will convince you.
” As bishop of Winchester he now assisted in the court when the sentence, declaring Katharine’s
marriage null and void, was passed by Cranmer, May
22, 1533. The same year he went ambassador to the
French king at Marseilles, to discover the designs of the
pope and that monarch in their interview, of which Henry
was very suspicious; and upon his return home, being
called, as other bishops were, to acknowledge and defend
the king’s supremacy, he readily complied, and published
his defence for it, with this title, “De vera Obedientia.
”
His conduct was very uniform in this point, as well as in
that of the divorce and the subsequent marriage, and he
acquired great reputation by his writings in defence of
them.
France, where he procured the removal of Pole (then dean of Exeter, afterwards cardinal) out of the French dominions, having represented him as his master’s bitter enemy;
In 1535, Cranmer visiting the see of Winchester, in virtue of his metropolitan power, Gardiner disputed that power with great warmth. Some time afterwards, he resumed his embassy to France, where he procured the removal of Pole (then dean of Exeter, afterwards cardinal) out of the French dominions, having represented him as his master’s bitter enemy; and this was the original root of that disagreement between them, which in time became public. Before his return this second time, being applied to by Cromwell for his opinion about a religious league with the protestant princes of Germany, he declared himself against it, and advised a political alliance, which he judged would last longer, as well as answer the king’s ends better, if strengthened by subsidies. In 1538 he was sent ambassador to the German diet at Ratisbon, where he incurred the suspicion of holding a secret correspondence with the pope. Whatever truth there may be in this charge, it is certain that Lambert this year was brought to the stake by his instigation, for denying the real presence in the sacrament. This instance of a sanguinary temper was then shown before the statute of the six articles was enacted; a law on which many were put to death, and which he undeniably framed and promoted in the house of lords to the utmost extent of his influence. This act passed in 1540; and the first person condemned by it, and burnt in Smithfield, the same year, was Robert Barnes, who at his death declared his suspicion of Gardiner’s having a hand in it . Upon the death of Cromwell, his rival long in the king’s favour, the university of Cambridge, where he still held his mastership of Trinity-hall, chose him their vice-chancellor; and in return he shewed his sense of it by an assiduity in his office among them, and a warm zeal to assist them on all occasions with his interest at court; which, as long as the sunshine of any signal service lasted, was very good. But in this, his case, like other courtiers, was subject to the sudden vicissitudes of light and shade which so remarkably checquered the series of that reign; and this minister was no more excepted than his fellows from complying with those conditions of ministerial greatness, which were indispensable as long as Henry sat at the helm: and, though he tells us himself that, after the king had let him into the secret, that he could look sour and talk roughly, without meaning much harm, he ever after bore those sallies with much less anxiety, and could stand a royal rattling pretty well ; yet this was only sometimes, and on some occasions. For upon others, we rind him submitting to very disagreeable supplications and expressions of deep humility, and great sense of his failings, directly contrary to the convictions of his own conscience and understanding. Of this we have the following remarkable instance. The bishop had for his secretary a relation of his own name, Gardiner, who, in some conferences with Fryth the martyr, had acquitted himself so well that they were judged fit for the public view. This young clergyman was much in his master’s favour, yet he fell under a prosecution upon the act of supremacy; and being very obstinate, was executed as a traitor, March 7, 1544. This was made an engine against the bishop by his enemies, who whispered the king that he was very likely of his secretary’s opinion, notwithstanding all he had written; and that if he was once in the Tower, matter enough would come out against him. On this suggestion, his majesty consented to his proposed imprisonment. But the bishop being informed of it in time, repaired immediately to court; confessed all that his majesty had charged him with, whatever it was; and thus, by complying with the king’s humour, and shewing the deepest concern for real or pretended failings, obtained full pardon, to the great mortification of his enemies. We have selected this instance from many others of a similar nature, all which are evident proofs of Gardiner’s want of honest and sound principle, because it may be of use in discovering his real principles upon the subject of the supremacy, which will at last be found to be nothing more, in fact, than an engine of his political craft. It has indeed been alleged in his behalf, that he was not always so servile and ready an instrument of the king’s will, especially upon the matter of the supremacy, and Strype publishes (Memorials, vol. I. p. 215) a letter in the Cottonian library, which Gardiner wrote to the king in consequence of his majesty’s being angry with him for approving some sentiments in a book that seemed to impugn his supremacy. But if this letter, as Strype conjectures, was written about 1535, this was the time when the king had some thoughts of a reconciliation with the see of Rome, and of returning the supremacy to the pope, which being very well known to Gardiner, might encourage him to speak with the more freedom on that subject. Gardiner, than whom no man seems to have more carefully studied the king’s temper, was not accustomed to look upon himself as undone because he sometimes received such notices of his majesty’s displeasure as threw some other courtiers into the most dreadful apprehensions. This knowledge and his artful use of it taught him to seek his own safety, in taking a share with others, in the divorce of Anne of Cleves, and that of queen Catherine Howard; the first of which, if we consider his skill in the law, must have been, against his conscience, and the second as much against his inclination, on account of his attachment to that noble family. The same regard for himself might also, had he been in the kingdom at the time, have led him to take a part against queen Anne Boleyn, sir Thomas More, and bishop Fisher.
y of Oxford on the 10th of March, 1657, and having settled in London, was appointed physician to the French ambassador: but fortune was altogether adverse to him, and he
, a physician at Caen,
but a native of Paris, received his degree before the age
of twenty, and came over to England, where he abjured
the Roman catholic religion. He was incorporated in
the university of Oxford on the 10th of March, 1657, and
having settled in London, was appointed physician to the
French ambassador: but fortune was altogether adverse to
him, and he died overwhelmed with poverty and distress,
in some part of Westminster, occasioned, as Wood says,
“by the ill usage of a certain knight,
” whose name, however, he does not mention, nor the time of our author’s
death.He was a man of some science, as his works evince.
They consist of a treatise, in English, on the nature and
properties of the tincture of coral, printed in 1676, in
12iuo; and another in Latin, entitled “Angiiae Flagellum,
seu, Tabes Anglica numeris omnibus absolute,
” The true Prophecies or Prognostics of Michael Nostradamus, physician
to Henry II. Francis II. and Charles IX. kings of France,
”
1672, folio.
, an eminent French surgeon, was born at Vitre, a small town in Brittany, on the
, an eminent French surgeon, was born at Vitre, a small town in
Brittany, on the 13th of July, 1683, where his father practised surgery. In order to improve himself, he spent five
years in the hospital of Angers, and in the great naval hospitals of Brittany; and afterwards made two voyages in the
navy. In 1711 he went to Paris, and studied under Winslow, Thibaut, Meri, &c. and afterwards gave a course of
lectures on anatomy in the medical schools; and henceforth his reputation extended even to foreign countries;
for he was elected a member of the royal society of London. He was also appointed demonstrator royal in the
schools of medicine. On the establishment of the society
of academicians, under the patronage of the king, in 1731,
Garengeot was chosen “Commissaire pour les extraits,
”'
which office he retained until
, a French protestant divine, was born in 1587, at Montauban. During his
, a French protestant divine,
was born in 1587, at Montauban. During his academical
studies, he made so rapid a progress in divinity, that he
was appointed minister at Puylaurens, when only twentyfour years of age, by the synod of Castres. He was afterwards minister and professor of divinity at Montauban, and
died there in 1650. His principal works are, an epic poem
in 12 books, entitled “Adolphidos,
” in which he celebrates the great exploits of Gustavus Adolphus, in elegant
Latin verse another Latin poem in praise of the protestant Swiss Cantons several theological theses a treatise
“De Imputatione priuai peccati Adse,
” 8vo another, “De
Christo Mediators,
” 4to and an explanation in Latin of
Calvin’s Catechism, which he wrote with his colleague M.
Charles, 8vo, &c.
, an ingenious French writer, was born at Goron in the Maine, March 13, 1729. After
, an ingenious French writer,
was born at Goron in the Maine, March 13, 1729. After
b.eing educated, probably in his own country, he came to
Paris, withput money or interest, and depending only on
his learning. This soon recommended him, however, to
a place in the college of Harcourt, and in 1760 he was
appointed coadjutor to the abbé Sellier in the royal college,
and was made before 1764 Hebrew professor, and chosen
a member of the academy of inscriptions au4 belles lettres.
His useful studies were interrupted by the revolution,
and in 1793 he was compelled ta fly, for refusing the republican oaths. He then went to Bougival, where he died
in 1795. All he could save from confiscation was his
library; but his friend Lalande, the celebrated astronomer,
so effectually represented to the government, the disgrace
of suffering a man of so much merit to want bread, that a
pension was granted him. He wrote, 1. “L'Homme de
lettres,
” Paris, Traité
” de l'origine du gouveruement
françoise,“1765, ib. 12 mo. 3.
” De l'education civile,“1765, 12mo. 4.
” De commerce remis a sa place." In
1770 he published the 9th vol. 4to of Velly and Villaret’s
History of France, beginning with the year 1469, and
continuing his labours in this work, produced the 15th vol.
in 1786, displaying throughout the whole more erudition
than his predecessors. He wrote several papers in the
memoirs of the academy of inscriptions, relative, among
other subjects, to the philosophy of the ancients, and
especially to that of Plato, of which he was perhaps rather
too fond, though less fanciful than some modern Platonists.
, a French tragic poet, was born at Ferte" Bernard in the province of Maine,
, a French tragic poet, was born at Ferte" Bernard in the province of Maine, in 1534. He was designed for the law, which he studied some time at Toulouse; but afterwards quitted it for poetry, in which he succeeded so well, that he was deemed by his contemporaries not inferior to Sophocles or Euripides. Thuanus says, that Ronsard himself placed nobody above Gamier in this respect: what Ronsard says, however, is no more than that he greatly improved the French drama.
irst visit to Paris in 1752; and though mademoiselle Dumesnil was then the, favourite actress of the French theatre, he ventured to pronounce that Clairon would excel all
In 1763, he undertook a journey into Italy, and set out for Dover, in his way to Calais, Sept. 17. His historian assigns several causes of this excursion, and among the chief, the prevalence of Covent-garden theatre under the management of Mr. Beard, the singer; but the real cause probably was, the indifferent health of himself and Mrs. Garrick, to the latter of whom the baths of Padua were afterwards of service, During his trayels, he gave frequent proofs of his theatrical talents; and he readily complied with requests of that kind, because indeed nothing was more easy to him. He could, without the least preparation, transform himself into any character, tragic or comic, and seize instantaneously upon any passion of the human mind. He exhibited before the duke of Parma, by reciting a soliloquy of Macbeth; and had friendly contests with the celebrated mademoiselle Clairon at Paris. He saw this actress when he paid his first visit to Paris in 1752; and though mademoiselle Dumesnil was then the, favourite actress of the French theatre, he ventured to pronounce that Clairon would excel all competitors; which prediction was fulfilled.
to publish his “Nouveau parfait Marechal,” the fourth edition of which is, 1770, 4to. It is the best French work on that subject; nor has it been exceeded by any that have
, was grandson
of M. de Garsault, groom of the king’s grand stable, whom
M. de Colbert made inspector general of the studs
throughout the kingdom in 1663. His uncle was captain
of the ktng’s studs, and he was appointed captain in reversion, but did not succeed to the place; he nevertheless
paid much attention to horses, and was by that means qualified to publish his “Nouveau parfait Marechal,
” the
fourth edition of which is, Anatomy of a Horse
” from the English, which translation appeared in Le Guide du Cavalier,
” les Fails des Causes
celebres,
” 12mo; *‘ le Notionaire de ce qu’il y a de plus
utile dans les Connoissances acquises," 8vo. He wrote
also in the collection of the academy of the sciences, thd
arts of the tennis-racket maker, the peruke-maker, tha
taylor, the sempstress, the shoemaker, the harness-maker,
the sadler, and a collection of plants engraved, in 4 vols, 8vo.
A palsy brought him insensibly to his grave, November
1778, at the age of 85.
engaged the curious researches of the learned world. His “Epistles” form an epoch in the history of French printing. When two doctors of the Sorbonne, William Fichet,
His Latin works, consisting of treatises on grammar and
rhetoric, orations, letters, &c. do not form the only title
he has to be considered among the revivers of learning and
elegant Latinity. He merited this honour also, like
Aurispa and Guarino, for his ability in explaining the ancient classics, and in decyphering the manuscript copies
which at that time engaged the curious researches of the
learned world. His “Epistles
” form an epoch in the history of French printing. When two doctors of the Sorbonne, William Fichet, and John de la Pierre, had engaged from Germany three printers, Gering, Crantz, and
Friburger, to come to Paris, in 1459, a printing-press
was set up in the house of the Sorbonne, and Gasparino’s
“Epistles
” were the first typographical production in
France. The title was “Gasp. Pergamensis (Bergomensis)
Epistolre,
” 4to, without date, but printed in
cian, has given an accurate view of the philosophy of Gassendi in his abridgment of it, published in French at Lyons, in 1684, in eight volumes 12mo. The Life of Gassendi,
His large and valuable library, together with his astronomical and philosophical apparatus, was purchased by the emperor Ferdinand III. and afterwards deposited, with other choice collections, in the imperial library at Vienna. The edition of his "works above mentioned contains the philosophy and life of Epicurus the author’s own philosophy; his astronomical works the lives of Peiresc, Copernicus, Tycho Brahe, Pnrbach, Regiomontanus, John Muller, &c. a refutation of the Meditations of Des Cartes; Epistles; and other treatises. Bernier, a celebrated Freuch physician, has given an accurate view of the philosophy of Gassendi in his abridgment of it, published in French at Lyons, in 1684, in eight volumes 12mo. The Life of Gassendi, accurately written by Bougerelle, a priest of the oratory, was published at Paris in 1737.
, a French divine of the eighteenth century, descended from a family of
, a French divine of the eighteenth
century, descended from a family of distinction, was born
at Aix, in Provence, and being at an early age admitted
into orders, officiated for some years as priest in the parish
church of St. Paul. Among his theological publications is
“A Collection, of Homilies on the Epistles to the Romans,
”
in two volumes, 12mo, with a delineation of the character
of St. Paul prefixed. But on the death of his elder brother, a celebrated advocate in the parliament of Provence,
he retired into the country, studied law, and being admitted an advocate, practised with uncommon success.
The interests of the poor he advocated without hope of
reward; and in 1717 he gained a famous cause against the
Jesuits, of whom he was an active opponent. Not contented with pleading professionally against them, he attacked them by means of the press, and wrote a piece
entitled “The Jesuits unmasked.
” He published some
treatises against the bishop of Marseilles, who procured
him to be banished twice to Viviers, where he died in 1731,
and on account of his reputed heresy he was denied the
rites of Christian burial.
, one of the French missionaries in China, whose knowledge of that country was carried
, one of the French missionaries in
China, whose knowledge of that country was carried to a
wonderful extent by an active spirit of inquiry, was born
at Caillac, in 1708, and in 1721 was sent by the Jesuits,
to which order he belonged, to China, where he resided
thirty -eight years. He acted as interpreter at the court of
Pekin; and his knowledge of the sciences and History of
China were matter of astonishment to the Chinese themselves. He sent many curious memoirs on the subject to
Europe, besides which, he published a good history of
Gengiskhan, in 4to, 1739; and after his death appeared
a translation of the “Chou King,
” in Lettres curieuses et edifiantes.
”
bellus de methodo concinnandi formulas medicamentorum,” ibidem, 1739, 1767; Franckfort, 1750, and in French, Paris, 1749. 3. “De fregimine Mentis, quod Medicorum est,”
, an eminent German physician, was born at Heidelberg in 1705, and was educated
partly among the Jesuits, and partly in the orphan-house
at Halle, under the celebrated professor Franke. He became afterwards a pupil of the learned Boerhaave, and a
professor of medicine in the university of Leyden, where
he took the degree of doctor in 1725. He died Nov. 29 r
1780, leaving several works of considerable value. 1.
“Dissertatio Inauguralis de solidis humani corporis partibus,
” Leyden, Libellus de methodo concinnandi formulas medicamentorum,
” ibidem, De
fregimine Mentis, quod Medicorum est,
” Leyden, Institutiones
Pathologiae Medicinalis,
” ibid. Adversariorum varii argument! Liber unus,
” ibid. Oratio Panegyrica in auspicium sseculi tertii Academic
Batavse quae Leidse est,
” &c.
, a French engraver and man of letters, was born at Paris in 1740, and
, a French engraver
and man of letters, was born at Paris in 1740, and became
the pupil of Le Bas, who taught him the arts of design and
engraving. Being early convinced of the importance of
learning in his profession, he devoted much of his time to
study, and became so celebrated for the productions of his
pen as well as his graver, that he was elected a member of
various literary societies both at home and abroad. As an
artist he succeeded principally in engraving portraits; and
his portrait of the queen of Louis XV. is considered as a
chef-d'oeuvre; nor was he much less esteemed in France
as a writer. In Fontenay’s Dictionary of Artists, published
in 1770, he wrote the articles concerning engravers, with
much candour, spirit, and discrimination. His other publications are, 1. “Observations sur le Costume Franchise,
”
in the “Journal des beaux arts,
” De l'orjgine et de la suppression des Cloches.
” 3. “Voyage au
Havre.
” 4. “Amour maternel,
” a successful dramatic
piece. 5. “Iconolo'gie, ou Traite complet des allegories
et emblemes,
” 4'vols. 8vo. 6. “Essai sur la gravure.
”
7. “Traite d‘anatomie a l’usage des artistes,
” fol. with fine
engravings. He is also said to have written *' Le Desaveu
des artistes," 1776, 8vo. He died at Paris Nov. 28, 1803.
, a French minor author, who while he lived, contrived to establish a fame
, a French minor author, who
while he lived, contrived to establish a fame superior to
his real deserts, by haranguing in societies of beaux and
ladies, was born in 1587. He became a counsellor of
state, and died in 1667. His works are, 1. “Notes and
Commentaries on Psellus, and on Theodore Prodomus.
”
2. “Notes on the Treatise of an anonymous Rabbi, concerning the life and death of Moses,
” Remarks on the false Callisthenes.
” 4. “An edition of the
Romance of Ismenus and Ismenias, in Greek and Latin,
”
Poems, consisting of Epigrams, Odes,
Hymns, and a Tragedy.
” He had a competent knowledge of ancient and modern languages, and is allowed
to, have had some fire in his compositions, though such
as greatly wanted the regulation of judgment. Another
instance of his imprudence occurs in the case of his marriage. His curate having refused to marry him, he declared in his presence that he took that woman for his
wife, and he lived with her afterwards as such. This occasioned an inquiry to be made into the validity of similar
marriages, which were called marriages “A la Gaulmin,
”
and were disallowed by the law.
, a French author, remarkable rather for the magnitude of his work entitled
, a French author, remarkable rather for the magnitude of his work entitled
“Causes Cé1ebres,
” in twenty volumes duodecimo, than
for any merit as a writer, was born at Lyons in 1673, of a
noble family of the robe, and was educated at Paris, but
seemed destined to fail in every walk of life. He began
by taking orders, and became an abbé; he then quitted
the church for the army, where he obtained no distinction,
and at the age of fifty, became an advocate. Not succeeding in this occupation, he applied himself diligently to
his pen; in which employment he rather proved his assiduity than his powers. His great work, though interesting in its subject, is rendered intolerable by the heaviness
and badness of the style, with the puerilities and bad
verses interspersed. It has been two or three times,
abridged. His other works are not more admired. They
are, 1. “An Account of the Campaigns of 1713 and
1714;
” a compilation from the Memoirs of Vilbart 2.
“The Art of adorning and improving the Mind,
” a foolish
collection of witticisms and 3. A compilation entitled
“Bibliotheque des Gens de Cour.
” He died in
, an eminent French writer of the last century, was born at Lausanne in 1727. His
, an eminent French
writer of the last century, was born at Lausanne in 1727.
His father, who was a protestant clergyman of that place,
took extraordinary pains in cultivating his mind, and at
the age of twelve years, young Gebelin could read German, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew; and at fifteen, he spoke
German and Latin with ease, as well as French in compliment to his parents, who were natives of France, but had
left it on account of their religion. His thirst of knowledge
was such as to prevent his hours of rest; and when his parents, in order to break him of the habit of studying at
night, would not allow him candles, he used to pore over
his books as well as he could by moon -light. In 1763,
after the death of his father, he came to Paris, bringing
with him nothing but a great stock of learning, and the
greatest simplicity of manners; and as the persons to whom
he had recommendations happened to be absent, he remained for some time alone and friendless in that great
metropolis. The first acquaintances he made were two ladies who lived opposite to him, and who lived together in
such harmony as to desire no other connections, but were
yet so pleased with Gebelin’s amiable manners, as to admit him into their friendship, and furnish him with every
assistance he could wish in carrying on his great work,
“Le monde primitif,
” in digesting the materials of which
he employed ten years. One of these ladies, mademoiselle Linot, learned engraving solely with the view of being useful to him in his labours, and actually engraved
some of the plates in his work; while the other, mademoiselle Fleury, contributed 5000 livres towards the expences
of the first volume of his work. After his -death they transferred their kindness to his relations, a sister and two
nieces whom he had sent for to reside at Paris, but to
whom he was not able to leave much.
test exactness, as well as gratitude, every assistance he derived from books, or living authors. The French academy, knowing his merit and modesty, adjudged him twice the
The love of study and retirement was so strong in him,
that he entirely neglected opportunities of making his way
in the world. “I like better,
” he used to say, “to pay
court to the public, than to individuals whom that public
despises.
” In his need, for he was long unprovided for,
he knew how to contract his wants, and never was ashamed
to own that in the first years of his residence at Paris he
brought himself to live on bread and water, which he preferred to the more painful necessity of soliciting his
friends. His modesty was equal to his learning, which all
acknowledge was extensive and profound. In the first
volume of his great work, “Le monde primitif,
” we find
him acknowledging with the greatest exactness, as well as
gratitude, every assistance he derived from books, or living authors. The French academy, knowing his merit
and modesty, adjudged him twice the prize of 1200 livres,
which was founded by count de Valbelle as a recompense
to authors who had made the best use of their talents.
ve reading, and sentiment, create a reverence for his talents, and it is not without reason that the French rank this work among those which have done the greatest honour
At length the first volume of his “Le monde primitif
”
made its appearance in
is time; and he endeavoured also to make himself master of the Greek and Latin languages, and of the French, Spanish, German, and Low Dutch.
, a Roman catholic divine, who attempted to translate the Bible, with a view to destroy its credibility, was born in 1737, in the parish of Ruthven, and county of Bamff, in Scotland. His parents, who were Roman catholics, in very humble life, possessed but a few books, among which was an English Bible, to the study of which their son applied very early, and is said to have known all its history by heart before he was eleven years old. At the age of fourteen he was sent to Scalan, a free Roman catholic seminary in the Highlands, of obscure fame, where he acquired only an acquaintance with the vulgate Latin Bible. Having attained the age of twentyone, he was removed to the Scotch college at Paris, where he made such proficiency in his studies as very much attracted the attention of his preceptors. Here school divinity and biblical criticism occupied the principal part of his time; and he endeavoured also to make himself master of the Greek and Latin languages, and of the French, Spanish, German, and Low Dutch.
laria tria, pro tfibus celeberrirnis libertatis Gallicae epochis,“1793, 4to. 20.” Ver-Vert,“from the French of Gresset, 1793, 4to. 21.” Dr. Geddes’s address to the public
Dr. Geddes died the day after this interview, Feb. 26,
1802, and was buried in Paddington church-yard. IJe
was unquestionably a man of extensive learning, although,
not entitled to the superiority which his friends have assigned to him, and which indeed he too frequently arrogated to himself. It was this want of knowledge of his
real powers, and the vanity superinduced upon it, that
made him ambitious of the character of a wit and a poet,
without either temper or genius. His wit was mere flippancy, and his poetry had rarely any other attribute than
that of rhyme. The list of his works will show that in the
employment of his talents there was something undignified
and trifling, that showed a mind vexed with restlessness,
rather than seriously anduniformly employed for the
public good. While engaged in so important a work as
the translation of the Bible., he was perpetually stooping
to pick up any little paltry anecdote of the day, as the
subject -for a pamphlet or <a poem, and while he was suffering: by the neglect or censure of those whose religious opinions he had shocked, he was seeking comfort in
ridiculing the characters of men who had never offended
him by any species of provocation. Of his private character, while he is praised for his benevolence and catholic 1
spirit, we find also, and not very consistently, that its
leading feature was irritability upon the most trifling provocations, if they deserved the name, which discovered
itself in the most gross and offensive language. One instance of this species of insanity, for such it appeared to
be in him, is given by his biographer, which we shall
throw into a note, for its excellence as a genuine portrait
of the man .
Dr. Geddes published, 1. “Select Satires of Horace,
”
&c. London, Linton, a Tweedale Pastoral,
” Edinburgh, 4to. 3. “Cursory Remarks on a late
fanatical publication entitled a Full Detection of Popery,
”
Lond. &c. ibid. 1786, 4to. 5.
” Letter to the
Bishop of London, containing doubts, queries, &c. relative to a vernacular translation of the Holy Scriptures,“ibid. 1787, 4to. 6.
” Letter to the Rev. Dr. Priestley,
in which the author attempts to prove by one prescriptive
argument, that the divinity of Jesus Christ was a primitive
tenet of Christianity,“ibid. 1787, 8vo. 7.
” Letter to a,
member of parliament on the case of the Protestant Dis-'
senters, and the expediency of a general repeal of all
penal statutes that regard religious opinions,“ibid. 1787,
8vo. 8.
” Proposals, &c.“for his translation, ibid. 1788,
4to. 9.
” Dr. Geddes’s general answer to queries, counsels,“&c. ibid. 1790, 4to. 10.
” An answer to the bishop
of Comana’s pastoral letter; by a protesting catholic,' 1
1790, 8vo. II. “A Letter to the right rev. the archbishops and bishops of England; pointing out the only
sure means of preserving the church from the dangers that
now threaten her. By an Upper Graduate,
” Epistola macaronica ad fratrem, de iis quo; gesta
stint in nupero Dissentientium conventu,
” Carmen seculare pro Gallica gente tyrannicli aristocraticae erepta,
” Encyclical letter of
the bishops of Rama, Acanthos, and Centuriæ, to the
faithful clergy and laity of their respective districts, with
a continued commentary for the use of the vulgar,
” 1791,
8vo. 15. “An (ironical) apology for Slavery,
” The first book of the Iliad of Homer, verbally rendered into English verse; being a specimen of a new
translation of that poet; with critical annotations,
” L'Avocat du Diable the Devil’s Advocate,
” &c. The Holy Bible, translation of, vol. I.
” 1793, 4to. 20.
” Ver-Vert,“from the French of Gresset, 1793, 4to. 21.
” Dr. Geddes’s
address to the public on the publication of the first volume
of his new Translationof the Bible,“1793. 22.
” Letter
to the right rv. John Douglas, bishop of Centurice, and
vicar-apostolic in the London district/' 1794, 4to. 23.
“A Norfolk Tale; or a Journal from London to Norwich,
”
Ode to the Hon. Thomas Pelham, occasioned by his speech in the Irish House of Commons on
the Catholic bill,
” A Sermon preached
before the university of Cambridge, by H. W. C(6ulthurst)> D. D. &c.
” in doggrel rhymes, The Battle of B(a)ng(o)r; or the Church’s triumph a
comic-heroic poerh,
” Translation of the
Bible, vol. II.
” 1797. 28. “A New-year’s gift to the
good people of England, being a sermon, or something
like a sermon, in defence of the present War,
” &e. A Sermon preached on the day of the general
fast, Feb. 27, 1799, by Theomophilus Brown,
” &c. A Modest Apology for the Roman Catholics
of Great Britain, addressed to all moderate Protestants,
”
&c. Critical Remarks,
” before mentioned, vol. I. Bardomachia, poema
macaronico-Latinum,
” Paci feliciter feduci Ode Sapphica,
” Translation of the Book of Psalms,
”
as far as Psalm CXVIII. In this, as may be expected, he
gives up the prophetic sense of the Psalms.
, a French writer and classical scholar, was born at Orleans June 17, 1667,
, a French writer and classical
scholar, was born at Orleans June 17, 1667, whence he
v/ent to study at Paris, and was a Jesuit for ten years; but
returning back to the world, became one of the friends of
the celebrated Ninon de PEnclos, and figured as a man of
wit and letters, which, however, did not impede his
ecclesiastical career, as in 1701 he was appointed canon of thfe
holy chapel at Paris. In 1711 he was received into tho
academy of belles lettres; in 1719, into the French academy; and 1732, he was named to the abbey of Notredame de Beaugency. He died Aug. 10, 1744. He is
distinguished by two excellent French translations, of Quintilian, 4to, or 4 rols. 8vo, and Pausanias, 2 vols. 4to.
There were also published in 1745, “CEuvres diverses,
”
or a collection of little essays by him upon subjects of morality and literature, edited by the abbé Olivet, with a
life of the author, by Bachaumont. Gedoyn was besides
author of many ingenious dissertations in the memoirs of
the French academy.
te here about the excellence and misery of man and other animals. It has been translated into Latin, French, and English, the last by Barker, Lond. 1599, 12mo. These dialogues,
In 1546, he published at Florence, “Dialoghi,
” in 4to,
to which, in the fifth edition, which was printed in 1551,
8vo, and is the best, there are three more added, making
in all ten, but he afterwards changed the title from “
Dialoghi,
” to “i Capricci del Bottaio.
” He published also,
“La Circe,
” Le Lettioni
iiell' Academia Fiorentina,
” Ragionamento sopra le Difficulta del mettere in,
Jr-egole la nostra lingua,
” without date. He was the author also of two comedies, “La Sporta,
” and “Lo Errore
”
and of some translations, as already observed.
ich neither pleased the public, nor contributed to his own honour or profit. One day he would set up French music against all other; the next English, Scots, Irish any
Dr. Burney, who has enumerated his various works, says that, with all his harmonical abilities, he was so circumscribed in his invention, that he was obliged to have recourse to all the arts of musical cookery, not to call it quackery, for materials to publish. In his younger days, when imagination is most fertile, sixteen years elapsed between the publication of his first book of solos and his first six concertos. Indeed, during that period, he atchieved what a plodding contrapuntist of inferior abilities might bave done as well; he transformed Corelli’s solos and six of his sonatas into concertos, by multiplying notes, and loading, and deforming those melodies, that were more graceful and pleasing in their light original dress. After the publication of his second set of solos, his productions seem to have been the offspring of whim, caprice, expedients, and an unprincipled change of style and taste, which neither pleased the public, nor contributed to his own honour or profit. One day he would set up French music against all other; the next English, Scots, Irish any thing but the best compositions of Italy or Handel. He was certainly a great master of harmony, and very useful to our country in his day; but though he had more variety of modulation, and more skill in diversifying his parts than Corelli, his melody was even inferior, and there is frequently an irregularity in his measures and phraseology, and a confusion in the effect of the whole, from the too great business and dissimilitude of the several parts, which gives to each of his compositions the effect of a rhapsody or extemporaneous flight, rather than a polished and regular production, His sixth concerto of the second set is always to be excepted, which is the most pleasing and perfect composition of the kind.
, marquis of St. Aubin, a French author, born in 1687, was first counsellor in the parliament
, marquis of St. Aubin, a French author, born in 1687, was first counsellor in
the parliament of Paris, afterwards master of requests, and
died in 1746. He wrote, I. “A Treatise on Opinion,
”
Antiquities of the
Royal Family of France;
” a work in which he displays a
system of his own on the origin of the dynasties of that
country, but not with sufficient success to subvert the
opinions of others.
, a French historian, was born of an obscure family at Rouen, in 1659,
, a French historian, was born of
an obscure family at Rouen, in 1659, and educated and
patronized by Harlay, archbishop of Rouen, and afterwards of Paris. This patron gave him first a canonry of
Notre-Dame, and afterwards he was made abbé of ClaireFontaine, in the diocese of Chartres. He died at Paris,
Feb. 1, 1733. Le Gendre was author of several works, of
which the most important were the following: 1. “A History of France, from the commencement of the Monarchy,
to the Death of Louis XIII.
” in 3 vols. folio, or 8, 12mo,
published in 1718. This history, which is considered as
an abridgement, is much esteemed by his countrymen.
The style is simple, and rather low, but it contains many
curious particulars not recorded in other histories. It is
reckoned more interesting than Daniel’s, though less elegant. His first volumes, from the nature of the subject,
were less admired than the last. 2. “Manners and Customs of the French, in the different periods of the monarchy,
” The Life of
Francis Harlay,
” An
Essay on the Reign of Louis the Great;
” a panegyric,
which ran through four editions in eighteen months, but
owed its popularity to the circumstance of being presented
to the king in person. 5. “A Life of cardinal d'Amboise,
with a parallel of other cardinals who have been ruling
statesmen,
” Paris, Life of Peter du Bosc,
”
liament of Provence sentenced this treatise to be burnt, and banished Genebrard from the kingdom); a French translation of various Rabbins, fol. and a translation of Josephus;
“Urna capit cineres, nomen non orbe tenetur.
”
His principal works are a “Sacred Chronology,
” 8vo; a
“Commentary on the Psalms,
” 8vo three books “on the
Trinity,
” 8vo; a Latin treatise, in which he maintains the
right of the clergy and people to elect bishops, contrary
to the king’s appointment, 8vo (the parliament of Provence sentenced this treatise to be burnt, and banished Genebrard from the kingdom); a French translation of various
Rabbins, fol. and a translation of Josephus; “Excommunication of the Ecclesiastics who assisted at divine service
with Henry de Valois, after the assassination of cardinal
de Guise,
”
, a French poet of some celebrity, was born at Paris in 1636. Having lost
, a French poet of some
celebrity, was born at Paris in 1636. Having lost his father early in life, he hoped to make his fortune in the Indies; but the ship he embarked in being taken by the
English, for some time he taught French in London, and
being enabled to return to France, he was made preceptor
to mademoiselle de Blois, afterwards duchess of Orleans,
He also became abbot of St. Vilmer, almoner to the duchess of Orleans, secretary to the duke of Maine, and
member of the French academy. He died November 19,
1719. His principal work is in French verse, entitled
“Principes de la Philosophic,
” 12mo; he also wrote four
tragedies, one of whicb, called “Penelope,
” was much
admired; and his “Joseph,
” still more so, when performed
in private at the duchess of Maine’s, at Clugni; but sunk
under the more impartial taste of the French theatre. The
two others are, “Zenolide Princess de Sparte,
” and “Polymnestre.
” In the collection of “Vers Choisis,
” by Bouhours, is a very elegant, though not very argumentative
epistle from the abbé Genest, to M. de la Bastide, persuading him to abjure the protestant religion. He had
also a great share in the collection entitled “Lcs Divertissemens de Sceaux,
” 2 vols. 12mo.
Sciences, in a short time, with the statutes of the academy founded by cardinal Richelieu,” from the French, 1654, 8vo. 5. “The antipathy between the French and the Spaniard,”
, son of the preceding, but unworthy of him, was born in London in 1590, matriculated
a member of Christ church, at the very early age of nine,
and took the degree of B. A. as a member of Jesus college
in 1603. After this he was translated to St. John’s college,
and thence elected probationer fellow of All Souls’ in 1607,
by his father’s influence, for he was then under the statutable years. In this college he took a degree in civil law,
but afterwards became extremely loose and dissipated, and
a disgrace to his parents. It is said, however, that he went
abroad, and returned a more sober character, and received
a pension from the king. At what time he died is uncertain, but probably not before 1654. His latter years he
employed in translating, 1. Paul Servita’s “History of the
Inquisition,
” Lond. On the
success and chief events of the monarchy of Spain,
” Considerations on the lives of Alcibiades and
Coriolanus,
” by the same author, A
compendious Method for attaining the Sciences, in a short
time, with the statutes of the academy founded by cardinal Richelieu,
” from the French, 1654, 8vo. 5. “The
antipathy between the French and the Spaniard,
” from the
Spanish,
medicine at the royal college. He was also fellow of the royal society in London, and member of the French academy of sciences. His modest, timid, and patient character,
, a celebrated physician and chemist, was the son of an apothecary, and born
at Paris Feb. 13, 1672. He travelled in his own country,
and into England, Holland, and Italy, to complete his medical studies, and the collateral knowledge of botany and
chemistry. On his return he obtained the degree of doctor,
and became professor of chemistry at the king’s garden,
and of medicine at the royal college. He was also fellow
of the royal society in London, and member of the French
academy of sciences. His modest, timid, and patient character, induced him to study nature with attention, and to
aid her with caution; and he took an interest in the recovery of his patients, which at the beginning of his
practice was rather injurious to him, as causing him to betray
too visible an anxiety. He never refused his advice to
any one. He died Jan. 6, 1731. Just before his death he
completed a pharmacopoeia, containing a collection of the
compound medicines requisite to be kept by apothecaries,
“Le Code Medicamentaire de lar Faculte
” de Paris,“of
which two editions, enlarged and corrected, were afterwards published. His papers on the materia medica were
published under the title,
” Tractatus de Materia Medica,
sive, de Medicamentorum simplicium historia, virtute,
delectu, et usu,“Paris, 1741, 3 vols. 8vo, under the inspection of Antoine de Jussieu. Several editions have
been subsequently published, and it has been translated
into French. Arnault de Nobleville, and Salerne, physicians of Orleans, published a continuation of this work,
under the title of
” Histoire Naturelle des Animaux,“Paris, 1756, 1757, in 6 vols. 12mo, which is deemed not
unworthy to be ranked with the production of Geoffroi.
From a ms copy of his lectures, Dr. G. Douglas translated and published in 1736,
” A Treatise of the Fossil,
Vegetable, and Animal substances that are made use of
in physick,“8vo, to which the best account we have yet
seen of the author is prefixed. He had a brother, Claude
Joseph Geoffroi, who wrote an essay on the structure and
use of the principal parts of flowers, and some other physiological papers printed in the
” Memoires de l'acad. des
sciences."
, a learned French ecclesiastic, was born in 1629, at a village in the diocese
, a learned French ecclesiastic, was
born in 1629, at a village in the diocese of Rheims. He
was admitted a doctor of the Sorbonne in 1661, chosen
professor of rhetoric at the royal college in 1662, and was
afterwards principal of the college at Rheims, where, by
his will, he founded two scholarships. He died April 14,
1699, leaving several works in Latin and French; the
principal are, a treatise “De Causis Majoribus,
” Sur le pecule des Religieux,
” Lettre sur la Comedie,
”
12mo; “Lettre sur les Dorures et le Luxe des Habks
des Femmes,
” 12mo 3 &c. All the works of this author
discover lively wit, great strength and solidity of reasoning,
with much penetration and deep learning. He was chosen
by the French clergy to publish the edition of “Rules
” respecting the Regulars, with M. Hallier’s notes, 1665, 4to.
, a famous writer in favour of Jansenism, was born at Saint Calais, in the French province of Maine, in 1628, and was first of the oratory, and
, a famous writer in favour of
Jansenism, was born at Saint Calais, in the French province of Maine, in 1628, and was first of the oratory, and
then became a Benedictine in the congregation of St.
Maur, in 1649. He there taught theology for some years
with considerable success, but being too free in his opinions
in favour of the Jansenists, was ordered to be arrested by
Louis XIV. in 1682, at the abbey of Corbie. He contrived,
however, to escape into Holland, but the air of that country
disagreeing with him, he changed his situation for the Low
Countries. In 1703 he was taken into custody by the
bishop of Mechlin, and being condemned for errors on the
doctrine of grace, suffered imprisonment at Amiens, and
in the castle of Vincennes. No sufferings could shake his
zeal for what he thought the truth, and in 17 10 he was
given up to the superiors of his own order, who sent him
to the abbey of St. Denis, where he died in 1711. He
was author of many works on the subjects of controversy
then agitated, particularly a general History of Jansenism,
3 vols. 12mo, Amsterdam, 1703, for which he was called
a violent Jansenist. His other principal works were, edi->
tions of Marius Mercator, St. Anselm, and Baius; the
Apology of Rupert, abbot of Tuy, respecting the Eucharist, in Latin, 8vo; “Le veritable Penitent, ou Apologie
cte ja Penitence,
” 12mo, against P. Hazard, a Jesuit
“La verit6 Catholique victorieuse, sur la Predestination
et la Grace efficase
” “Traité historique sur la Grace
”
“Lettres a M. Bossuet, Eveque de Meaux
” “La confiance Chretienne
” “Le Chretien disabuse
”“” La Regie
des Moeurs contre les fausses Maximes de la Morale corrompue,“12mo;
” La Defense de l‘Eglise Romaine’.'
and “Avis salutaires de la Sainte Vierge a ses Devots indiscrets.
” This last is a translation of the “Monita Salutaria
” of Adam Windelfels, a German lawyer* Many others
are enumerated by Moreri.
yed in the court of Turin, published three works in confutation of some paradoxes of as many eminent French writers,Melon, Montesquieu, and Rousseau. He confuted Melon
The reputation of, these two works, whatever may now
be thought of them, procured him the professorship of philosophy in the university of Turin in 1750, and he was
also appointed a fellow of the royal academy which was
instituted at that time. Many excellent memoirs from his
pen are printed in the first five volumes of its transactions,
published in 1759. In 1757 he published what was thought
the most useful of all his works, the “Introduction to the
Study of Religion,
” against the infidel writers of his day.
The merit of this work induced the pope Benedict XIV. to
recommend him to his Sardinian majesty, to be tutor to
the prince royal, afterwards the late (abdicated) king of
Sardinia. For the use of his royal pupil he wrote an excellent treatise on duels; and during the time he was
employed in the court of Turin, published three works in
confutation of some paradoxes of as many eminent French
writers,Melon, Montesquieu, and Rousseau. He confuted Melon in his doctrine, that luxury contributes tcr
the prosperity of nations; Montesquieu, in his principle
that monarchic governments can subsist without virtue;
and Rousseau, in the whole of his system of education,
exhibited in the Emile. This last appears to be the best.
Rousseau himself acknowledged that it was the only book
written against him which he thought worthy of being read
to the end, a compliment, however, as much to himself
as to Gerdil, and containing more vanity than truth. This
work was translated into English, and published at London
in 1764, under the title “Reflections on Education; relative both to theory and practice,
” &c. 2 vols. 12mo.
Gerdil afterwards diminished in some degree his general
reputation by publishing a work on the phenomena of capillary tubes, in which he combated the doctrine of attraction. On this occasion the late celebrated astronomer La
Lande said, *' Gerdil is learned in many other branches of
science; and his reputation may safely dispense with this
work.“In 1777, on the nomination of his Sardinian majesty,
Gerdil was made a cardinal, and consequently left Turin
for Rome, where, however, he lived in a state of comparative retirement, and is said to have been dissatisfied with
the political conduct of the court of Rome, from which he
foresaw many evils to the church. In 1801 he warmly opposed the intended negociations with the French consular
government, and treated Buonaparte’s proposal for a concordate as an impudent hypocritical farce, and therefore
openly dissented from it. It was generally reported that
he told the late pope, Pius VI. that
” by the signature of
the concordate he had signed the destruction of religion,"
which in one sense was probably true. Gerdil was a catholic of the old school, and with him there was no religion
but that of the church, and no power but that of the court
of Rome. These predominant sentiments of his mind are not
unfrequently discoverable in his works. He died at Rome,
Aug. 17, 1802, much regretted by his admirers, by his colleagues, and by the public at large. He was buried by
his own desire in the plainest manner, in the church of
his convent of St. Charles, at Cattinari. The year after
his death a complete edition of his works was published at
Bologna, in 6 vols. 4to. They are written in Latin, Italian,
and French.
, a French missionary, was a native of Paris, and the son of M. Gervaise,
, a French missionary, was a
native of Paris, and the son of M. Gervaise, physician to
M. Fouquet, superintendant of the finances. He had not
arrived at his twentieth year, when he embarked with some
ecclesiastics, who were going as missionaries to the kingdom of Siam. Here he remained four years, made himself master of the language, conversed with the learned,
and, at his return, published “Hist, naturelle et politique
du Royaume de Siatn,
” 1G88, 4to, and “Description historique du Iloyaume de Macacar,
” 12moj two very curious works. He was afterwards curate of Vannes in Brettany, then provost of the church of St. Martin at Tours.
His new dignity induced him to write a life of St. Martin,
4-to, which was criticised by Dom. Stephen Badier, a Benedictine; and, sixteen years after, he printed “Hist, de
Boe'ce
” at Paris. Being consecrated bishop of Horren,
some time after, at Rome, he embarked for the place of
his mission; but the Caribbees murdered him and all his
clergy on their arrival, November 20, 1729. He wrote
several other books, but of less consequence than those
above mentioned.
The success of this work, however, was uncommon. Soon after its appearance it was translated into French, and 90 much pleased the readers in that country that three
The success of this work, however, was uncommon.
Soon after its appearance it was translated into French, and
90 much pleased the readers in that country that three
editions were sold in less than a year. It was at up long
Distance translated (by Mrs. Collier) into English, and almost every other European tongue. In this country it is
still a very favourite work with the lower classes. His
other publications became now in higher request, and the
most celebrated men in France, especially Turgot and
Diderot, lent their assistance towards rendering the translation of the “Death of Abel
” more perfect. The duchess
of Choiseul, who was then at the head of taste in France,
requested Gesner to settle at Paris but he declined it,
stating, by way of apology, that he was retained in his
native place by the tenderest ties of nature.
tion of his history; and a life of him, by Leonard Panzini. There is a correct, but not very elegant French translation by Desmonceaux, Hague, 4 vols. 4to, and an English
, or in Latin Jannonius (Peter), was
born at Ischitella, a small town in Apulia, in the month of
May 1676, and practised the law, but was much more
distinguished as an historian. In 1723 he wrote a “History of Naples,
” in 4 vols. 4to. The style is pure, but
the freedom with which he discussed several topics relating
to the origin of the papal power gave so much offence to
the court of Rome, that he was obliged to exile himself
from his native country. He found an asylum with the
king of Sardinia, who did not, however, dare to avow himself his protector, but chose rather to represent his situation as that of a prisoner. Giannone died in Piedmont in
April 1748. Extracts from his history were afterwards
printed in Holland, under the title of “Anecdotes Ecclesiastiques.
” His posthumous works were given to the
world in a 4to volume, 1768, containing, among other miscellaneous matter, his profession of faith, and a justification
of his history; and a life of him, by Leonard Panzini.
There is a correct, but not very elegant French translation
by Desmonceaux, Hague, 4 vols. 4to, and an English one,
by capt. Ogilvie, in 1729 1731, in 2 vols. fol.
ed to reclaim his pupil from the errors of popery; but as he could not speak English, nor Mr. Gibbon French, some time elapsed before much conversation of any kind became
His father was now advised to send him fot some time to
Lausanne, in Switzerland, where he was placed, with a
moderate allowance, under the care of. Mr, Pavilliard, a
Calvinist minister. Mr. Pavilliard was instructed to reclaim his pupil from the errors of popery; but as he could
not speak English, nor Mr. Gibbon French, some time
elapsed before much conversation of any kind became
practicable. When their mutual industry had removed
this obstacle, Mr. Pavilliard first secured the attention and
attachment of his pupil by kindness, then directed his
studies into a regular plan, and placed within his power
such means of information as might remove the errors into
which he had fallen. This judicious method soon proved
successful; on Christmas day 1754, after“a full conviction,
” Mr. Gibbon received the sacrament in the church of
Lausanne; and here it was, he informs us, that he suspended his religious inquiries, acquiescing with implicit
belief in the tenets and mysteries which are adopted by the
general consent of catholics and protestants.
ystem. He opened new stores of learning and taste, by acquiring a knowledge of the Greek, Latin, and French languages. Of this proficiency, although his tutor ought not
His ad vantages in other respects were so important during
his residence at Lausanne, that here, for the first time,
he appears to have commenced that regular process of instruction which laid the foundation of all his future improvements. His thirst for general knowledge returned, and
while he was not hindered from gratifying his curiosity in his
former desultory manner, certain hours were appropriated
for regular studies. His reading had now a fixed object,
and that attained, he felt the value of the acquisition, and
became more reconciled to regularity and system. He
opened new stores of learning and taste, by acquiring a
knowledge of the Greek, Latin, and French languages.
Of this proficiency, although his tutor ought not to be
robbed of his share of the merit, it is evident that Mr. Gibbon’s unwearied industry and laudable avidity of knowledge were at this time uncommon, and bespoke a mind
capable of the/ji'vghest attainments, and deserving of the
highest honours! wkhin the compass of literature. To mathematics only, he showed a reluctance; contenting himself with understanding the principles of that science. At
this early age it is probable he desisted merely from finding
no pleasure in mathematical studies, and nothing to gratify curiosity; but as in his more mature years it was his
practice to undervalue the pursuits which he did not choose
to follow, he took an opportunity to pass a reflection on
the utility of mathematics, with which few will probably
agree. He accuses this science of “hardening the mind
by the habit of rigid demonstration, so destructive of the
finer feelings of moral evidence, which must determine
the actions and opinions of our lives.
” So easy is it to
find a plausible excuse for neglecting what we want the
power or the inclination to follow.
eatre, on which he performed his own favourite characters, and Mr. Gibbon became so enamoured of the French stage, as to lose much of his veneration for Shakspeare. He
To his classical acquirements, while at Lausanne, he
added the study of Grotius, and Puffendorff, Locke, and
Montesquieu; and he mentions Pascal’s “Provincial Letters,
” La Bleterie’s “Life of Julian,
” and Giannone’s
civil “History of Naples,
” as having remotely contributed
to form the historian of the Roman empire. From Pascal,
he tells us that he learned to manage the weapon of grave
and temperate irony, even on subjects of ecclesiastical solemnity, forgetting that irony in every shape is beneath
the dignity of the historical style, and subjects the historian to the suspicion that his courage and his argument are
exhausted. Jt is more to his credit that at this time he
established a correspondence with several literary characters, to whom he looked for instruction and direction, with
Crevier and Breitinger, Gesner and Allamand; and that
by the acuteness of his remarks, and his zeal for knowledge,
he proved himself not unworthy of their confidence. He
had an opportunity also of seeing Voltaire, who received
him as an English youth, but without any peculiar notice or distinction. Voltaire diffused gaiety around him
by erecting a temporary theatre, on which he performed
his own favourite characters, and Mr. Gibbon became so
enamoured of the French stage, as to lose much of his veneration for Shakspeare. He was now familiar in some,
and acquainted in many families, and his evenings were
generally devoted to cards and conversation, either in private parties, or more numerous assemblies.
ised and displayed by the study of ancient literature, in opposition to D'Alembert and others of the French encyclopedists, who contended for that new philosophy that has
In 1761 his first publication made its appearance, under
the title of “Essai sur l'etude de la litterature,
” a small
volume in 12 mo. Part of this had been written at Lausanne, and the whole completed in London. He consulted
Dr. Maty, a man of extensive learning and judgment, who
encouraged him to publish the work, but this he would
have probably delayed for some time, had not his father
insisted upon it, thinking that some proof of literary talenta
might introduce him to public notice. The design of this
essay was to prove that all the faculties of the mind may
be exercised and displayed by the study of ancient literature, in opposition to D'Alembert and others of the French
encyclopedists, who contended for that new philosophy
that has since produced such miserable consequences.
He introduces, however, a variety of topics not immediately connected with this, and evinces that in the study
of the belles lettres, and in criticism, his range was far
more extensive than could have been expected from his
years. His style approaches to that of Voltaire, and is
often sententious and flippant, and the best excuse that
can be offered for his writing in French, is, that his principal object relates to the literature of that country, with
which he seems to court an alliance, and with which it is
certain he was more familiar than with that of England.
This essay accordingly was praised in the foreign journals,
but attracted very little notice at home, and was soon forgotten. Of its merits he speaks in his Memoirs, with a
mixture of praise and blame, but the former predominates,
and with justice. Had the French language been then as
common in the literary world as it is now, so extraordinary
a production from a young man would have raised very
high expectations.
de Bleterie, Barthelemy, Raynal, Arnaud, Helvetius, and others, who were confessedly at the head of French literature. After passing fourteen weeks in Paris, he revisited
In France, however, the fame of his essay had preceded
him, and he was gratified by being considered as a man of
letters, who wrote for his amusement. Here he mixed
in familiar society with D'Alembert, Diderot, count de
Caylus, the abbé de Bleterie, Barthelemy, Raynal, Arnaud, Helvetius, and others, who were confessedly at the
head of French literature. After passing fourteen weeks
in Paris, he revisited (in the month of May 1763) his old
friends at Lausanne, where he remained nearly a year.
Among the occurrences here which he records with most
pleasure, is his forming an acquaintance with Mr. Holroyd,
now lord Sheffield, who has since done so much honour to
his memory, and whom he characterises as “a friend whose
activity in the ardour of youth was always prompted by a
benevolent heart, and directed by a strong understanding.
”
In 1764 he set out for Italy, after having studied the
geography and ancient history of the seat of the Roman
empire, with such attention as might render his visit profitable. Although he disclaims that enthusiasm which takes
fire at every novelty, the sight of Rome appears to have
conquered his apathy, and at once fixed the source of his
fame. “It was at Rome, on the 15th of October 1764, as
he sat musing amidst the ruins of the capitol, while the
bare-footed friars were singing vespers in the temple of
Jupiter (now the church of the Zoccolants, or Franciscan friars) that the idea of writing the Decline and Fall of
the city first started to his mind.
” But this appears to hate
been merely the effect of local emotion, for his plan was
then confined to the decay of the city. In the month of
June 1765, he arrived at his father’s house, and seems to
have entered on a life which afforded no incident, or room
for remark. The five years and a half which intervened
between his travels and his father’s death in 1770, he informs us, were the portion of his life which he passed with
the least enjoyment, and remembered with the least satisfaction. By the resignation of his father, and the death
of sir Thomas Worsley, he was promoted to the rank of
major and lieutenant-colonel commandant of his regiment
of militia, but was, each year that it was necessary to attend the monthly meeting and exercise, more disgusted
with “the inn, the wine, the company, and the tiresome
repetition of annual attendance and daily exercise.
”
urable opinion; yet it was praised by Hume, who endeavoured only to dissuade him from the use of the French language. The opinion, however, of the foreign critics to whom
Another source of uneasiness arose from reflections on
his situation. He belonged to no profession, and had
adopted no plan by which he could, like his numerous acquaintance, rise to some degree of consequence. He lamented that he had not, at a proper age, embraced the
lucrative pursuits of the law, or of trade, the chances of
civil office, or of India adventure, or even “the fat slumbers of the church.
” Still, however, such a mind as his
was not formed to be inactive, and a greater portion of his
dissatisfaction appears to have arisen from an impatience to
acquire fame, and from the extreme length of those prospects which the various designs he formed had presented.
He yet contemplated the Decline and Fall of Rome, but
at an awful distance; and in the mean time, as something
more within his grasp, he resumed his study of the revolutions of Switzerland, so far as to execute the first book of
a history. This was read in the following winter (1767) to
a literary society of foreigners in London, who did not
flatter him by a very favourable opinion; yet it was praised
by Hume, who endeavoured only to dissuade him from the
use of the French language. The opinion, however, of
the foreign critics to whom he had submitted this attempt,
prevailed over that of Hume, and he renounced the design
of continuing it. The manuscript is now in the possession
of lord Sheffield.
he establishment of Christianity, compiled from Jewish and Heathen authors only; translated from the French of professor Bullet, &c. By William Salisbury, B. D. with notes
It may not be unuseful to give in this place the titles at
least, of the principal writings which his bold and disingenuous attack on Christianity called forth. These were,
i. “Remarks on the two last Chapters of Mr. Gibbon’s
History. In a letter to a friend.
” (See Art. 8.) 2. “An Apology for Christianity, in a series of letters, addressed to
Edward Gibbon, esq. By R. Watson, D. D. F. R. S. and
regius professor of divinity in the university of Cambridge
”
(now bishop of Llandaff), The History
of the establishment of Christianity, compiled from Jewish
and Heathen authors only; translated from the French of
professor Bullet, &c. By William Salisbury, B. D. with
notes by the translator, and some strictures on Mr. Gib bon’s Account of Christianity, and its first teachers,
” A Reply to the reasonings of Mr. Gibbon in his
History, &c. which seem to affect the truth of Christianity,
but have not been noticed in the answer which Dr. Watson
hath given to that book. By Smyth Loftus, A. M. vicar of
Coolock,
” Dublin, Letters on the prevalence of Christianity, before its civil establishment. With
observations on a late History of the Decline of the Roman
Empire. By East Apthorpe, M. A. vicar of Crovdon, 1778,
8vo. 6.
” An Examination of the Fifteenth and Sixteenth
Chapters of Mr. Gibbon’s History. In which his view of
the progressof the Christian religion is shown to be founded
on the misrepresentation of the authors he cites; and
numerous instances of his inaccuracy and plagiarism are produced. By Henry Edward Davis, B. A. of Baliol college,
Oxford,“1778, 8vo. 7.
” A few Remarks on the History
of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire; relative
chiefly to the Two last Chapters. By a gentleman,“8vo.
8.
” Remarks on the Two last Chapters of Mr. Gibbon’s
History. By James Chelsum, D. D. student of Christ
Church, Oxford, and chaplain to the lord bishop of Worcester: the second edition enlarged," 1778, 12mo. This
is a second edition of the Anonymous Remarks mentioned
in the first article, and contains additional remarks by Dr.
Randolph, Lady Margaret’s professor of divinity in the
university of Oxford.
nistration. At the request of the ministers of state, he was induced to answer a manifesto which the French court had issued against Great Britain, preparatory to war.
The prosecution of his history was for some time checked
by an employment of a different nature, but for which his
talents were thought preferable to that of any writer connected with administration. At the request of the ministers
of state, he was induced to answer a manifesto which the
French court had issued against Great Britain, preparatory
to war. This Mr. Gibbon ably accomplished in a “Memoire Justificatif,
” composed in French, which was delivered as a state paper to the courts of Europe. For this
service he was appointed one of the lords commissioners
of trade and plantations, a place worth about 700l. or 800l.
a year, the duties of which were not very arduous. His
acceptance of this place, he informs us, provoked some of the
leaders of the opposition, with whom he had lived in habits
of intimacy, and he was unjustly accused of deserting a
party in which he had never enlisted. At the general
election, however, in 1780, he lost his seat in parliament, the
voters of Leskeard being disposed to favour an oppositioncandidate.
inform us. Left to conjecture, it is not unreasonable for us to suppose, that his intimacy with the French writers on the side of infidelity, and particularly with Helvetius;
But although he has disclosed much of his character in
his Memoirs, there are some points left unexplained about
which it would be important to be better informed. He
appears to be anxious to exhibit the peculiarities of his
temper, and the petty habits of his life, and he has givetj
such ample details of the progress of his studies, from the
first cjuPil perusal of a book, to the completion of his
history as no scholar can peruse without interest and admiration. But he has not told us much of the progress of
opinions in his mind. His conversion to popery is a boyish
whim, which can never be contemplated in the grave light
in which he has represented it. His returned to protestantism is related with more brevity and obscurity. What
passed in his mind during his first years of maturity, we
know not, but on the publication of his History, we find
him an implacable enemy to Christianity, without the pretence of a quarrel, or any previous declaration of hostilities. It has been justly remarked by professor Porson, that
“he often makes, where he cannot readily find, an occasion
to insult our religion, which he hates so cordially, that be
might seem to revenge some personal injury.
” But by
what train of reading, or interchange of sentiments, he
acquired this inveteracy, he has not thought proper to inform us. Left to conjecture, it is not unreasonable for us
to suppose, that his intimacy with the French writers on
the side of infidelity, and particularly with Helvetius; and
the correspondence he carried on with Hume, to whom he
looked up with the reverence of a pupil, induced him to>
think that the more he departed from the Christian belief,
the nearer he approached to the perfection of the philosophical character.
, inimitable beauties” of that writer. Hume told him very candidly and justly, that his study of the French writers led him into a style more poetical and figurative, and
As a historian, the universal acknowledgment of the
literary world has placed him in the very highest rank; and
in that rank, had his taste been equal to his knowledge, if
his vast powers of intellect could have descended to simplicity of narrative, he would have stood without a rival.
But in all the varied charms of an interesting an-d pathetic
detail, and perhaps in the more important article of fidelity,
he is certainly inferior to Robertson as much as he excels
that writer in extent of knowledge, and in the comprehensive grasp of a penetrating mind. If he is likewise superior to Hume in these respect^ he falls short of what he
has himself so admirably characterised as “the careless,
inimitable beauties
” of that writer. Hume told him very
candidly and justly, that his study of the French writers led
him into a style more poetical and figurative, and more
highly coloured than our language seems to admit of in
historical composition. We find, in his correspondence,
that during his first residence abroad, he had ajmost entirely lost his native language, and although he recovered
it afterwards, during die twenty years he passed in England, yet his reading was so much confined to French
authors, that when he attempted English composition, he
every where discovered the turns of thought and expression by which his mind was imbued. It has been asserted
that his style has the appearance of labour, yet we know
not how to reconcile much effort with his declaration, that
the copy sent to the press was the only one he ever wrote.
His labour might be bestowed in revolving the subject hi
his mind; and as his memory was great, he might commit
it to paper, without the necessity of addition or correction.
By whatever means, he soon formed a style peculiar to
himself, a mixture of dignity and levity, which, although
difficult at first, probably became easy by practice, and
even habitual, for his Memoirs are written in the exact
manner of his History, and the most trivial events of his
life are related in the same stately periods with which he
embellishes the lives of heroes, and the fate of empires.
His epistolary correspondence is in general more free from
stiffness, and occasionally assumes the gaiety and familiarity
suited to this species of composition.
id him the highest credit: it was printed in octavo, in 1682. He wrote two small tracts also, in the French language, entitled, “Christian Valour encouraged,” exhorting
, an ancestor of the preceding, and a
heraldic writer, was born November 3, 1629. He was
son of Robert Gibbon, a woollen-draper in London, and
a member of the Cloth-workers’ company, by a daughter
of the Edgars of Suffolk. Having spent some time in Jersey, he was sent to Jesus college, Cambridge, but afterwards became a soldier, and went to the Netherlands, to
France, and in 1659 and 1660 was in Virginia. He procured the appointment of blue-mantle by the patronage of
sir William Dugdale, then norroy. His patent was given
only during pleasure, and he never received any other. Ab
his death, in 17 he was the oldest officer at arms, but
thought himself ill-treated in never having farther promotion. To assist in maintaining his family he kept a school.
He was a learned, but imprudent man, injuring his best
interests by an arrogant insolence to his superiors in the
college, filling the margins of the books belonging to the
library with severe reflections upon their conduct, couched
in quaint terms, and with silly calculations of his own nativity. He despised them for not having had so classical
an education as himself, and he supposed his destiny so
fixed by the stars which presided at his birth, that good or
ill behaviour could never alter it. These were weaknesses
which shaded his excellencies. His “Introductio ad Latinam Blazoniam, an essay towards a more correct Blazon
in Latin than formerly hath been used,
” was a work which
did him the highest credit: it was printed in octavo, in
1682. He wrote two small tracts also, in the French language, entitled, “Christian Valour encouraged,
” exhorting the king of France to join the Venetians in their design
upon the Morea, and to attack the Turks, and leave Germany alone. He likewise wrote “Day Fatality
” “Unio
Pissidentium
” “Prince-protecting Providences;
” “Edivardus Confessor redivivus.
” “Satan’s welcome,
” Flagellum Mercurii Antiducales.
” He also diligently
collected, out of various authors, a particular account of
the great and important services of heralds of former times,
which he styled “Heraldo Memoriale,
” the heads of which
came afterwards into the hands of Maitland, to be inserted
in his History of London.
, an elegant French scholar, was born January 17, 1662, at Aix in Provence. He took
, an elegant French scholar, was
born January 17, 1662, at Aix in Provence. He took a
bachelor’s degree in divinity, and was appointed professor
of philosophy at Beauvais at the age of twenty-four, and
professor of rhetoric four years after, at the Mazarine
college, in which the exercises began 1688, and were
opened by him with a public speech. He filled this chair
with much credit above fifty years, and formed a great
number of excellent scholars, by whom he had the art of
making himself beloved. He was several times rector of
the university of Paris, and defended its rights with zeal
and firmness. In 1728 he succeeded his friend, the celebrated Pourchot, as syndic of the university; and it was
in this character that he made a requisition in the general
assembly of the university in 1739, by which he formed
an opposition to the revocation of the appeal which the university had made from the bull Unigenitus to a future council; which step occasioned his being banished to Auxerre.
He died in the bishop of Auxerre’s house, October 28,
1741. His principal work is entitled, “Jugement des Savans, sur les Auteurs qui ont traite de la Rhtorique,
”
3 vois. 12mo. He also left “Traite de la veritable Eloquence,
” and “Reflexions sur la Rheiorique,
” in 4 books,
where he answers the objections of P. Lami; “La Rhetorique, ou les Regies de TEloquence,
” 12mo, the best
work the French have upon that subject.
took the degree of doctor of civil law there in 1567; and went thence to Italy in the retinue of the French ambassador. Afterwards he removed to Germany, where he taught
, a
learned critic and civilian, was born at Buren in Guelderland in 1534. He studied at Louvain and at Paris, and
was the first who erected the library of the German nation
at Orleans. He took the degree of doctor of civil law
there in 1567; and went thence to Italy in the retinue of
the French ambassador. Afterwards he removed to Germany, where he taught the civil law with high repute, first
at Strasburg, where he was likewise professor of philosophy; then in the university of Altdorf, and at last at Ingoldstadt. He forsook the protestant religion to embrace
the Roman catholic. He was invited to the imperial court,
and honoured with the office of counsellor to the emperor
Rodolph. He died at Prague in 1609, if we believe some
authors; but Thuanus, who is more to be depended on,
places his death in 1604. He wrote notes and comments
upon Aristotle’s “Politics and Ethics,
” and on Homer and
Lucretius; and published also several pieces relating to
civil law.
, a voluminous and useful French writer of the last century, was born at Paris, Nov. 17, 1726,
, a voluminous and useful
French writer of the last century, was born at Paris, Nov.
17, 1726, and being educated in the profession of the
law, became successively counsellor of the parliament of
Paris, and member of the grand council. He died in that
city in 1807. His countrymen owe to him various translations, which are held in high repute, particularly one of
Homer, first printed in 1784, 8vo, of which there were
afterwards two splendid editions printed by Didot; and
translations of Hesiod, Theocritus, Demosthenes, and
Goldsmith’s Vicar of Wakefield. His original works were,
1. “Traite de Peloquence de barreau,
” De la
” Religion, par un homme du monde,“1778, and
following years, 5 vols. 8vo. This work, though loaded
with a superabundance of quotations, which render it too
prolix, was well received. In 17 85 he published a judicious abridgment of it, under the title of
” Nouveaux Melanges de Philosophic et de la Litterature,“exhibiting in
a regular plan the fundamental principles of religion in
general, and the moral government of the Deity. 3.
” Les
vrais principes du Governement Francaise,“Geneva, 8vo,
Paris, 8vo, and 2 vols. 12mo. 4.
” Analyse raisonnée du
droit Français," Paris, 1782, 4to.
, an ingenious French writer, wa born at Clermont in Auvergne in 1678, and educated
, an ingenious French writer, wa
born at Clermont in Auvergne in 1678, and educated for
the church. In his youth he had a canonry in the collegiate church of Notre Dame de Monferrand, but resigned
it to one of his brothers, that he might be at liberty to go
to Paris and devote his time to literary pursuits. There
by the interest of some friends he was made almoner to the
duchess of Berri, daughter of the regent, and also obtained the place of king’s interpreter for the Sclavonian
and Russian languages. In 1744 he was admitted a member of the French academy. He died Feb. 4, 1748. The
work by which he is best known, and to which indeed he
chiefly owed his reputation in France, is his “Synonymes
Fransais,
” 12mo, of which a new edition, with some posthumous pieces by Girard, was published by M. Beauzee in
1769, 2 vols. 12mo. No grammatical work was ever more
popular in France, nor more useful in denning the precise
meaning of words apparently synonymous; and the elegance and moral tendency of the examples he produce*
have been much admired. The abbe“Roubaud has since
published
” Les Nouveaux Synonymes Francais,“1786,
4 vols. 8vo, which may be considered as a supplement to
Girard. Our author published also a grammar under the
title of
” Les vrais principes de la laugue Franc.ais," 2
vols. 12mp, far inferior in ingenuity to his former, and
full of metaphysical whims on the theory of language, not
unmixed with those infidel principles which were in his
time beginning to be propagated.
, advocate to the parliament of Paris, and to the council, and member of the French academy, was born at Paris in 1596. His abilities an 1 probity
, advocate to the parliament of Paris,
and to the council, and member of the French academy,
was born at Paris in 1596. His abilities an 1 probity recommended him to some very honourable employments, and
he particularly enjoyed the confidence of cardinal Mazarin.
He was author of the following translations “Dialogues
des Orateurs,
” 4to. “l'Apologie de Socrate
” “riiist.
Sacree de Sulpice Severe;
” “I'Apologetique de Tertullien,
” for which he was received into the academy; “la
Cite de Dieu, de St. Augustin,
” I vol, 4to.; “Epitres
Choisies de St. Augustin,
” 5 vols. 12mo. He died in 1665,
at Paris. His son, Francis, who was provincial of the
Minim order, gained great reputation by some devotional
works; but deserves little credit for his principal publication, “Les Vies des Saints,
” fol. which although esteemed
for its piety, is full of fables, and far from accurate as to
facts. P. Raft'ron, of the same order, has written his life,
12mo.
ppeared in different languages; the majority of editions are in German, some in Latin, and others in French. A collection of the whole in Latin was published at Francfort
, a celebrated chemist of Amsterdam, and called the Paracelsus of his age, was born in Germany in the beginning of the sixteenth century. He travelled much in the pursuit of chemical knowledge, and collected many secret processes; and his experiments contributed to throw much light on the composition and analysis of the metals, inflammable substances, and salts. In fact he passed the greater part of his life in the laboratory. He did not always see the proper application of his own experiments, and vainly fancied that he had discovered the panacea, and the philosopher’s stone, which were at that time objects of pursuit; and the disappointment of many persons who had been seduced by his promises, contributed to bring the art of chemistry into contempt. His theory is full of obscurity; but his practice has perhaps been misrepresented by those who listened to his vain and pompous pretensions; and who accuse him of a dishonourable traffick, in first selling his secrets to chemists at an enormous price, of again disposing of them to other persons, and lastly, of making them public in order to extend his reputation. Glauber published about twenty treatises; in some of which he appears in the character of physician, in others in that of an adept or metallurgist; in the latter he most particularly excelled. However, it would be unjust not to give him the praise of acuteness of mind, of facility and address in the prosecution of his experiments, and of extensive chemical knowledge. He was the inventor of a salt which to this day retains his name in the shops of our apothecaries. The works of Glauber have appeared in different languages; the majority of editions are in German, some in Latin, and others in French. A collection of the whole in Latin was published at Francfort in 1658, in 8vo, and again 165y, in 4to. An English translation was published by Christopher Pack, London, 1689, fol.
771 “Paride ed Helena;” but in 1774, his arrival at Paris produced a remarkable era in the annals of French music, by his conforming to the genius of the French language,
From London he returned to Italy, and composed several operas in the style of the times, and afterwards engaged with the Italian poet Calsabigi, with whom he
joined in a conspiracy against the poetry and music of the
melo-drama then in vogue in Italy and all over Europe.
In 1764, when the late emperor Joseph was crowned king
of the Romans, Gluck was the composer, and Guadagni
the principal singer. It was in this year that a species of
dramatic music, different from that which then reigned in
Italy, was attempted by Gluck in his famous opera of
“Orfeo,
” which succeeded so well, that it was soon after
performed in other parts of Europe, particularly at Parma
and Paris, Bologna, Naples, and in 1770 at London. In
1769 he produced “Alceste,
” a second opera on the reformed plan, which received even more applause than the
first; and in 1771 “Paride ed Helena;
” but in
age of seventythree. Gluck had great merit as a bold, daring, nervous composer; and as such, in his French operas, he was unrivalled. But he was not so universal as to
The chevalier Gluck, after returning to Vienna from Paris, and being rendered incapable of writing by a paralytic stroke in 1784, only lingered in a debilitated state till the autumn of 1787, when he died at the age of seventythree. Gluck had great merit as a bold, daring, nervous composer; and as such, in his French operas, he was unrivalled. But he was not so universal as to be exclusively admired and praised at the expence of all other composers ancient and modern. His style was peculiarly convenient to France, where there were no good singers, and where no good singing was expected or understood by the public in general; and where the poetry was set up against music, without allowing equality, or even an opportunity of manifesting her most captivating vocal powers.
, a learned French Dominican, was born at Paris, of a reputable family, in 1601,
, a learned French Dominican, was born
at Paris, of a reputable family, in 1601, and after a classical education, took the habit of his order in 1619. He
then employed six years in the study of philosophy and
theology, after which he was sent to Toul to instruct the
young men of his order in these sciences. In the mean
time his extreme partiality to the Greek, and his extensive
reading in Greek literature, inspired him with a great desire to visit the country of the modern Greeks, and inquire
into their sentiments and customs; and having obtained
leave of his superiors, he set out in 1631, as an apostolic
missionary, and was for the sake of local convenience, made
prior of the convent of St. Sebastian, in the island of Chios.
Here he resided eight years, conversing with the ablest
of the natives, and inquiring into their history, religion,
and manners. Before returning to France he went to
Rome in 1640, where he was appointed prior of the convent of St. Sixtus, and being arrived at Paris, was made
master of the novices, and began to employ his time in
preparing his works for the press. This was an object so
much at heart, that when elected in 1652 vicar-general of
his order, he accepted it with great reluctance, as likely ta
interrupt his labours. It is supposed, indeed, that his
intense application, and the various duties of this office,
impaired his health, and brought on a slow fever, which
proved fatal Sept. 23, 1653. His principal work was his
collection of Greek liturgies, published under the title of
“Euchologion, sive rituale Grcecorum,
” Paris,
oodwin, president of Magdalen, Dr. Owen, dean of Christ Church, and Cromwell’s brother-in-law, Peter French, a canon of Christ Church, to act as his delegates in all matters
, an English physician and chemist, and promoter of the royal society, was the son of a rich ship-builder at Deptford, and born at Greenwich about 16 17. Being industrious and of good parts, he made a quick progress in grammar-learning, and was entered a commoner at Magdalen-hall, Oxford, in 1632. He staid at the university about four years, applying himself to physic; and then left it, without taking a degree, to travel abroad, as was at that time the custom, for farther improvement in his faculty. At his return, not being qualified, according to the statutes, to proceed in physic at Oxford, he went to Cambridge, and took the degree of bachelor in the faculty, as a member of Christ college, in 1638; after which, intending to settle in London, without waiting for another degree, he engaged in a formal promise to obey the laws and statutes of the college of physicians there, Nov. 1640. Having by this means obtained a proper permission, he entered into practice; but being still sensible of the advantage of election into the college, he took the first opportunity of applying for his doctor’s degree at Cambridge, which he obtained, as a member of Catherine-hall, in 1643; and was chosen fellow of the college of physicians in 1646. In the mean time, he had the preceding year engaged in another society, for improving and cultivating experimental philosophy. This society usually met at or near his lodgings in Wood-street, for the convenience of making experiments; in which he was very assiduous, as the reformation and improvement of physic was one principal branch of this design. In 1647, he was appointed lecturer in anatomy at the college; and it was from these lectures that his reputation took its rise. As he, with the rest of the assembly which met at his lodgings, had all along sided with the parliament, he was made head-physician in the army, and was taken, in that station, by Cromwell, first to Ireland in 1649, and then to Scotland the following year; and returned thence with his master; who, after the battle of Worcester, rode into London in triumph, Sept. 12, 1651. He was appointed warden of Merton-college, Oxon, Dec. 9th following, and was incorporated M. D. of the university, Jan. 14th the same year. Cromwell was the chancellor; and returning to Scotland, in order to incorporate that kingdom into one commonwealth with England, he appointed our warden, together with Dr. Wilkins, warden of Wadham, Dr. Goodwin, president of Magdalen, Dr. Owen, dean of Christ Church, and Cromwell’s brother-in-law, Peter French, a canon of Christ Church, to act as his delegates in all matters relating to grants or dispensations that required his assent. This instrument bore date Oct. 16, 1652. His powerful patron dissolving the long parliament, called a new one, named the Little Parliament, in 1653, in which the warden of Merton sat sole representative of the university, and was appointed one of the council of state the same year.
, a learned French bishop and writer, was descended from a good family at Dreux,
, a learned French bishop and
writer, was descended from a good family at Dreux, and
born in 1605. Being inclined to poetry from his youth,
he applied himself to it, and so cultivated his genius, that
he made his fortune by it. His first essay was a paraphrase
in verse of the Benedicite, which was much commended.
He was but twenty -four when he became a member of that
society which met at the house of Mr. Conrart, to confer upon subjects of polite learning, and to communicate
their performances. From this society cardinal Richlieu
took the hint, and formed the resolution, of establishing
the French academy for belles lettres; and our author in a
few years obtained the patronage of that powerful ecclesiastic. The bishopric of Grasse becoming vacant in 1636,
cardinal Richelieu recommended him to the king, who immediately conferred it upon him; and as soon as the ceremony of consecration was over, he repaired to his diocese,
and applied himself to the functions of his office. He held
several synods, composed a great number of pastoral instructions for the use of his clergy, and restored ecclesiastical discipline, which had been almost entirely
neglected. He obtained from pope Innocent X. a bull for
uniting the bishopric of Vence to that of Grasse, as his
predecessor William le Blore had before obtained from
Clement VIII. This arrangement, considering the propinquity of the two dioceses, and the small income of both
together (about 450l.) was not unreasonable; but when
Godeau found the people and clergy averse to it, he gave
up his pretensions, and contented himself with the bishopric
of Vence only. He assisted in several general assemblies
of the clergy, held in 1645 and 1655; in which he vigorously maintained the dignity of the episcopal order, and
the system of pure morality, against those who opposed
both. One of his best pieces upon this subject, was published in 1709, with the title of “Christian Morals for the
Instruction of the Clergy of the Diocese of Vence
” and
was afterwards translated into English, by Basil Kennet.
These necessary absences excepted, he constantly resided
upon his diocese, where he was perpetually employed in
visitations, preaching, reading, writing, or attending upon
the ecclesiastical or temporal affairs of his bishopric, till
Easter-day, April 17, 1671; when he was seized with a
fit of an apoplexy, of which he died the 21st.
o, they remained in manuscript. He was, however, the first person who gave a “Church History” in the French language. He was the author also of a “Translation of the Psalms
He was a very voluminous author, both in prose and
verse. Moreri, after giving a list of fifty works, adds
many fugitive pieces of devotional poetry. One of his
principal works is his “Ecclesiastical History,
” intended
to be comprized in 3 vols fol. The first appeared in 1653,
containing the “History of the first eight centuries;
” but
as he did not finish the other two, they remained in manuscript. He was, however, the first person who gave a
“Church History
” in the French language. He was the
author also of a “Translation of the Psalms into French
verse,
” which were so well approved, that those of the
reformed religion have not scrupled to use them at home
in their families, instead of the version of Marot, which is
adapted and consecrated to the public service. Of this
work Basil Kennet has given a criticism in the preface to
“An Essay towards a Paraphrase on the Psalms,
”
nd died Octobers, 1643, at Munster, in which city he then resided as counsellor and secretary to the French embassy for the general peace. He left many excellent works
, eldest son of the preceding,
was born July 17, 1580, at Geneva, and went to Paris in
1602, where he turned Catholic, was appointed counsellor
of state 1643, and died Octobers, 1643, at Munster, in
which city he then resided as counsellor and secretary to
the French embassy for the general peace. He left many
excellent works on law, history, the titles of the kingdom,
&c. the principal of which are, I. “Le Ceremonial de
France,
” 4to, a work much valued reprinted in 2 vols.
fol. by his son Denys Godefroi but this is unfinished
and the 4to edition must be referred to for the funeral ceremonies. 2. “Genealogie des Rois de Portugal issus
en Ligne directe masculine de la Maison de France qui
regne aujourd'huis,
” 4to. 3. “Mem. concernant la Preseance des Rois de France sur les Rois d'Espagne, 4to.
4.
” Entreveue de Charles IV. Empereur, et Charles V,
Roi de France; plus PEntreveue de Charles VII. Roi de
France, et de Ferdinand, Roi de Arragon.“&c. 4to. 5.
” Hist, de Charles VI. par Jean Juvenal des Ursins; de
Louis XII. par Seyssell, et par d'Auton, &c. de Cha.
VIII. par Saligny, et autres du Chevalier Bayard, avec
le Supplement, par Expilly,“1651, 8vo. 6.
” De Jean
le Meinore, dit Boucicaut, Marechal de France,“4to.
7.
” D'Artus III. Due de Bretagne,“4to. 8.
” De
Guillaume Marescot,“4to. 9.
” De la veritable Origine
de la Maison d'Autriche,“4to. 10.
” Genealogie des
Dues de Lorrain,“4to. 11.
” L‘Ordre et les Ceremonies
observers aux Manages de France et d’Espagne,“4to.
12.
” Genealogie des Comptes et Dues de Bar,“<Ko. 13.
” Traite touchant les Droits du Roi tres Chretien, sur
plusieurs Etats et Seigneuries, possedes par plusieurs
Princes Voisins," fol. under the name of Pierre Dupuy.
ndon, produced “Mary, a Fiction,” “Original Stories from real life,” made some translations from the French, and compiled “The Female Reader,” on the model of Dr. Enfield’s
In 1785, a Mrs. Skeggs, with whom she had contracted
an ardent friendship, and who resided at Lisbon, being
pregnant, Miss Woollstonecraft, shocked with the idea hat
she might die in childbed at a distance from her fri( ds, passed over to Lisbon to attend her, leaving the school under the management of her sisters; an exertion of friendship the more entitled to praise that it proved hurtful to her school, which oon after her return she was compelled to abandon. Perhaps, however, this was not wholly a matter of compulsion, for we are told that “she had a rooted aversion to that sort of cohabitation with her sisters, which the project of the school imposed.
” She now appears to have meditated literary employment as a source of
profit, and exhibited a specimen of her talents in a l'2mo
pamphlet, entitled “Thoughts on the Education of Daughters,
” for the copy-right of which she obtained the sum of
ten guineas from the late Mr. Johnson, bookseller, of St.
Paul’s church-yard, who afterwards proved one of her most
liberal patrons. After this she was employed for some
months, as a governess, in the family o an Irish nobleman, at the end of which she returned again to literary
pursuits, and from 1787, when she came to reside in London, produced “Mary, a Fiction,
” “Original Stories
from real life,
” made some translations from the French,
and compiled “The Female Reader,
” on the model of
Dr. Enfield’s “Speaker.
” She wrote also some articles
in the “Analytical Review,
” which was established by her
publisher, in
In the French revolution which took place in the following year, and which
In the French revolution which took place in the following year, and which let loose all kinds of principles and
opinions except what had stood the test of experience,
Miss Woollstonecraft found much that was congenial with
her own ways of thinking, and much which it will appear
soon she determined to introduce in her conduct. She
was therefore among the first who attempted to answer Mr.
Burke’s celebrated “Reflections on the French Revolution,
”
and displayed a share of ability which made her reputation
more general than it had yet been. This was followed by
her “Vindication of the Rights of Woman,
” in which she
unfolded many a wild theory on the duties and character of
her sex. How well she was qualified to guide them appeared now in the practical use of her own precepts, of
which the first specimen was the formation of a violent attachment for a very eminent artist, which is thus embellished by her biographer “She saw Mr. Fuseli frequently;
he amused, delighted, and instructed her. As a painter,
it was impossible she should not wish to see his works, and
consequently to frequent his house. She visited him; her
visits were returned. Notwithstanding the inequality of
their years, Mary was not of a temper to live upon terms
of so much intimacy with a man of merit and genius, without loving him. The delight she enjoyed in his society,
she transferred by association to his person. What she experienced in this respect, was no doubt heightened, by the
state of celibacy and restraint in which she had hitherto
lived, and to which the rules of polished society condemn
an unmarried woman. She conceived a personal and ardent affection for him. Mr. Fuseli was a married man, and
his wife the acquaintance of Mary. She readily perceived
the restrictions which this circumstance seemed to impose
upon her, but she made light of any difficulty that might
arise out of them.
” Notwithstanding this contempt for
difficulties, Mr. Fuseli was not to be won, and in order to
get rid of a passion which he would not indulge, she went
ever to France in 1792. Here within a few months she
found a cure in that “species of connection,
” says her
biographer, “for which her heart secretly panted, and
which had the effect of diffusing an immediate tranquillity
and cheerfulness over her manners.
” This was an illicit
connection with a Mr. Imlay, an American, and we are
gravely told, that “she was now arrived at the situation,
which, for two or three preceding years, her reason had
pointed out to her as affording the most substantial prospect of happiness.
” Her reason, however, unfortunately
pointed wrong in this instance, as she was afterwards most
basely and cruelly abandoned by the object of her affections, whose conduct cannot be mentioned in terms of indignation too strong. She now made two attempts at suicide, on which we shall only remark that they were totally
inconsistent with the character given of her by her biographer, as possessing “a firmness of mind, an unconquerable
greatness of soul, by which, after a short internal struggle-,
she was accustomed to rise above difficulties and suffering.
”
Having overcome two ardent passions, she formed a
third, of which her biographer, Mr. William Godwin, was
the object. A period only of six months intervened in
this case; but, says Mr. Godwin, with a curious felicity of
calculation, although “it was only six months since she
had resolutely banished every thought of Mr. Imlay (the former lover), it was at least eighteen that he ought to have
been banished, and would have been banished, had it not
been for her scrupulous pertinacity in determining to leave
no measure untried to regain him.
” This connection,
likewise, was begun without the nuptial ceremonies; but,
after some months, the marriage took place; the principal
reason was that she was pregnant, and “unwilling to incur that seclusion from the society of many valuable and
excellent individuals, which custom awards in cases of this
sort.
” But it did not produce the desired effect. Some
who visited her, or were visited by her, and who regarded
her as the injured object of Mr. Imlay' s indifference, were
not pleased to bestow their countenance on one who was
so eager to run into the arms of another man, and alike
informally. Mr. Godwin takes this opportunity of censuring the prudery of these nice people in terms of severity
with what justice our readers may determine. The happiness of this connection, however, was transient. In August 1797, she was delivered of a daughter, and died Sept.
10, of the same year. From the account given of her, by
her biographer, in which we must condemn the laboured
vindication of principles inconsistent with the delicacy of
the female sex, and the welfare of society, Mrs. Godwin
appears to have been a woman of strong intellect, which
might have elevated her to the highest rank of English female writers, had not her genius run wild for want of cultivation. Her passions were consequently ungovernable,
and she accustomed herself to yield to them without scruple, treating female honour and delicacy as vulgar prejudices. She was therefore a voluptuary and sensualist,
without that refinement for which she seemed to contend
on other subjects. Her history indeed forms entirely a
warning, and in no part an example. Singular she was, it
must be allowed, for it is not easily to be conceived that
such another heroine will ever appear, unless in a novel,
where a latitude is given to that extravagance of character
which she attempted to bring into real life.
Besides the works already noticed, she published “A moral and historical view of the French Revolution,” of which one volume only was published, and “Letters
Besides the works already noticed, she published “A
moral and historical view of the French Revolution,
” of
which one volume only was published, and “Letters from
Norway.
” The latter contains much elegant description
and just remark. The former could be noticed only at the
time of its publication. The gay illusions of the French
revolution soon disappeared. After her death some miscellanies, letters, and an unfinished novel, were published
by her husband, in 4 vols. 12mo, with a Life of the authoress. Much of both had better been suppressed, as ill
calculated to excite sympathy for one who seems to have
rioted in sentiments alike repugnant to religion, sense, and
decency.
put himself at the head of the soldiers, and contributed much to the defence of the town against the French, when the other officers had abandoned it. When he was old,
, a Portuguese writer of the sixteenth century, was born at Alanquar near Lisbon, of a
noble family, in 1501, and brought upas a domestic in,
the court of king Emanuel, where he was considered both
as a man of letters and of business. Having a strong passion for travelling, he contrived to get a public commission;
and travelled through almost all the countries of Europe,
contracting as he went an acquaintance with all the learned. At Dantzic he became intimate with the brothers
John and Olaus Magnus; and he spent five months at Friburg with Erasmus. He afterwards went to Padua, in
1534, where he resided four years, studying under Lazarus Bonamicus; not, however, without making frequent
excursions into different parts of Italy. Here he obtained
the esteem of Peter, afterwards cardinal Bembus, of Christopher Maclrucius, cardinal of Trent, and of James Sadolet. On his return to Lou vain in 1538, he had recourse
to Conrad Goclenius and Peter Nannius, whose instructions were of great use to him, and applied himself to
music and poetry; in the former of which he made so
happy a progress, that he was qualified to compose for the
churches. He married at Louvain, and his design was to
settle in this city, in order to enjoy a little repose after
fourteen years travelling; but a war breaking out between
Charles V. and Henry II. of France, Louvain was besieged
in 1542, and Goez, who has written the history of this
siege, put himself at the head of the soldiers, and contributed much to the defence of the town against the French,
when the other officers had abandoned it. When he was
old, John III. of Portugal, recalled him into his country,
in order to write the history of it; but as it became first
necessary to arrange the archives of the kingdom, which
he found in the greatest confusion, he had little leisure to
accomplish his work. The favours also which the king
bestowed upon him created him so much envy, that his
tranquillity was at an end, and he came to be accused;
and, though he cleared himself from all imputations, was
confined to the town of Lisbon. Here, it is said that he
was one day found dead in his own house; and in such a
manner as to make it doubted whether he was strangled by
his enemies, or died of an apoplexy; but other accounts
inform us, with more probability, that he fell into the fire
in a fit, and was dead before the accident was discovered.
This happened in 1560, and he was interred in the cburck
of Notre Dame, at Alanquar. Rewrote “Fides, Religio,
Moresque Æthiopum
” “De Imperio et Rebus Lusitanorum
” “Hispania;
” “Urbis OlissiponensisDescriptio;
”
“Chronica do Rey Dom Emanuel
” “Historia do Principe Dom Juao
” and other works, which have been often
printed, and are much esteemed. Antonio says, that,
though he is an exact writer, yet he has not written the
Portuguese language in its purity; which, however, is not
to be wondered at, considering how much time he spent
out of his own country.
, an ingenious French writer, was born at Paris in 1716, where his father was an advocate,
, an ingenious French writer, was born at Paris in 1716, where his father was an advocate, and himself became a counsellor to the parliament. By close study, and by great assiduity in his pursuits, he produced in 1758 a work that obtained a temporary reputation, and was translated into English, entitled c< Origine des Loix, des Arts, des Sciences, et de leur Progres chez les anciens Peuples," 3 vols. 4to; reprinted in 1778, in six volumes 12mo. This work treats of the origin and progress of human knowledge, from the creation to the age of Cyrus, but displays more genius than erudition, and is rather an agreeable than a profound work. He died of the small-pox, May 2, 1758, immediately after the publication of his work; leaving his Mss. and library to his friend, Alexander Conrad Fugere, who died only three days after him, in consequence of being deeply affected by the death of Goguet, who was a man of much personal worth. Goguet had begun another work on the origin and progress of the laws, arts, sciences, &c. in France, from the commencement of the monarchy, the loss of which the admirers of his first production much regretted.
nected with sir Philip Sydney, for he finished an English translation of Philip Mornay’s treatise in French, on the “Truth of Christianity,” which had been begun by Sydney,
, a man of some poetical turn,
but principally known as a translator, in the sixteenth century, was a native of London. In 1563 we find him living
with secretary Cecil at his house in the Strand, and in
1577 in the parish of Allhallows, London Wall. Amongst
his patrons, as we may collect from his dedications, were,
sir Walter Mildmay, William lord Cobham, Henry earl of
Huntingdon, lord Leicester, sir Christopher Hatton, lord
Oxford, and Robert earl of Essex. He was connected
with sir Philip Sydney, for he finished an English translation of Philip Mornay’s treatise in French, on the “Truth
of Christianity,
” which had been begun by Sydney, and
was published in 1587. His religious turn appears also
from his translating many of the works of the early reformers and protestant writers, particularly Calvin, Chytraeus,
Beza, Marlorat, Hemingius, &c. He also enlarged our
treasures of antiquity, by publishing translations of Justin
in 1564; and of Csesar in 1565. Of this last, a translation
as far as the middle of the fifth book by John Brend,
had been put into his hands, and he therefore began at
that place, but afterwards, for uniformity, re-translated the
whole himself. He also published translations of Seneca’s
Benefits, in 1577; of the Geography of Pomponius Mela
the Poly history of Solinus, 1587, and of many modern
Latin writers, which were then useful, and suited to the
wants of the times. Warton thinks his only original work
is a “Discourse of the Earthquake that happened in England and other places in 1580,
” 12mo; and of his original
poetry, nothing more appears than an encomiastic copy of
verses prefixed to Baret’s “Alvearie
” in Ovid’s Metamorphoses,
” the
first four books of which he published in it was a pretty good one considering the time when it was written.
” The style is certainly poetical and spirited, and his versification clear; hi
manner ornamental and diffuse; yet with a sufficient observance of the original. He has obtained a niche in the
“Biographia Dramatica
” for having translated a drama of
Beza’s, called “Abraham’s Sacrifice,
”
heatre. They were, however, chargeable with the same faults which he had corrected in Italy; and the French supported, and even applauded in the Italians, what they would
, an eminent modern Italian dramatist, was born at Venice in 1707. In his infancy the
drama was his darling amusement, and all his time was
devoted to the perusing comic writers, among whom was
Cicognini, a Florentine, little known in the dramatic commonwealth. After having well studied these, he ventured
to sketch out the plan of a comedy, even before he went
to school. When he had finished his grammatical studies
at Venice, and his rhetorical studies at the Jesuits’ college
in Perugia, he was sent to a boarding-school at Rimini, to
study philosophy, but he paid far more attention to the
theatres, entered into a familiar acquaintance with the
actors, and when they were to remove to Chiozza, made
his escape in their company. This was the first fault he
committed, which, according to his own confession, drew
a great many others after it. His father had intended him
to be a physician, like himself: the young man, however,
was wholly averse to the study. He proposed afterwards
to make him an advocate, and sent him to be a practitioner
in Modena; but a horrid ceremony of ecclesiastical
jurisdiction, at which he was present, inspired him with a melancholy turn, and he determined to become a Capuchin.
Of this, however, he was cured by a visit to Venice, where
he indulged in all the fashionable dissipation of the place.
He was afterwards prevailed upon by his mother, after the
death of his father, to exercise the profession of a lawyer
in Venice, but by a sudden reverse of fortune he was compelled to quit at once both the bar and Venice. He then
went to Milan, where he was employed by the resident of
Venice in the capacity of secretary, and becoming acquainted with the manager of the theatre, he wrote a farce
entitled “II Gondoliere Veneziano,
” the Venetian Gondolier; which was the first comic production of his that
was performed and printed. Some time after, Goldoni
quitted the Venetian resident, and removed to Verona,
where he got introduced to the manager of the theatre, for
which he composed several pieces. Having removed along
with the players to Genoa, he was for the first time seized
with an ardent passion for a lady, who soon afterwards became his wife. He then returned with the company to
Venice, where he displayed, for the first time, the powers
of his genius, and executed his plan of reforming the Italian stage. He wrote the “Momolo,
” “Courtisan,
” the
“Squanderer,
” and other pieces, which obtained universal admiration. Feeling a strong inclination to reside some
time in Tuscany, he repaired to Florence and Pisa, where
he wrote “The Footman of two Masters,
” and “The Son of
Harlequin lost and found again.
” He returned to Venice,
and set about executing more and more his favourite
scheme of reform. He was now attached to the theatre of
S. Angelo, and employed himself in writing both for the
company, and for his own purposes. The constant toils
he underwent in these engagements impaired his health.
He wrote, in the course of twelve months, sixteen new
comedies, besides forty-two pieces for the theatre; among
these many are considered as the best of his productions.
The first edition of his works was published in 1753, in 10
vols. 8vo. As he wrote afterwards a great number of new
pieces for the theatre of S. Luca, a separate edition of these
was published, under the title of “The New Comic
Theatre:
” among these was the “Terence,
” called by the
author his favourite, and judged to be the master-piece of
his works. He made another journey to Parma, on the
invitation of duke Philip, and from thence he passed t
Rome. He had composed 59 other pieces so late as 1761,
five of which were designed for the particular use of Marque Albergati Capacelli, and consequently adapted to the
theatre of a private company. Here ends the literary life
of Goldoni in Italy, after which he accepted of an engagement of two years in Paris, where he found a select and
numerous company of excellent performers in the Italian
theatre. They were, however, chargeable with the same
faults which he had corrected in Italy; and the French
supported, and even applauded in the Italians, what they
would have reprobated on their own stage. Goldoni wished
to extend, even to that country, his plan of reformation, without considering the extreme difficulty of the undertaking. His first attempt was the piece called “The
Father for Love;
” and its bad success was a sufficient
warning to him to desist from his undertaking. He continued, during the remainder of his engagement, to produce pieces agreeable to the general taste, and published
twenty-four comedies; among which “The Love of Zelinda and Lindor
” is reputed the best. The term of two
years being expired, Goldoni was preparing to return to
Italy, when a lady, reader to the dauphiness, mother to
the late king, introduced him at court, in the capacity of
Italian master to the princesses, aunts to the king. He
did not live in the court, but resorted there, at each summons, in a post-chaise, sent to him for the purpose. These
journeys were the cause of a disorder in the eyes, which
afflicted him the rest of his life; for being accustomed to
read while in the chaise, he lost his sight on a sudden,
and in spite of the most potent remedies, could never afterwards recover it entirely. For about six months lodgings were provided him in the chateau of Versailles. The
death, however, of the dauphin, changed the face of affairs. Goldoni lost his lodgings, and only, at the end of
three years, received a bounty of 100 Louis in a gold box,
and the grant of a pension of four thousand livres a year.
This settlement would not have been sufficient for him, if
he had not gained, by other means, farther sums. He
wrote now and then comedies for the theatres of Italy and
Portugal; and, during these occupations, was desirous to
shew to the French that he merited a high rank among
their dramatic writers. For this purpose, he neglected
nothing which could be of use to render himself master of
the French language. He heard, spoke, and conversed
so much in it, that, in his 62d year, he ventured to write a
comedy in French, and to have it. represented in the court
theatre, on the occasion of the marriage of the king. This
piece was the “Bourru Bienfaisant;
” and it met with so
great success, that the author received a bounty 'of 150
Louis from the king, another gratification from the performers, and considerable sums from the booksellers who
published it. He published soon after, another comedy in
French, called “L'Avare Fastueux.
” After the death of
Lewis XV. Goldoni was appointed Italian teacher to the
princess Clotilde, and after her marriage, he attended the
late unfortunate princess Elizabeth in the same capacity.
His last work was the “Volponi,
” written after he had retired from court. It was nis misfortune to live to see
his pension taken away by the revolution, and, like thousands in a similar situation, he was obliged to pass his old
age in poverty and distress. He died in the beginning of
1793. As a comic poet, Goldoni is reckoned among the
best of the age in which he flourished. His works were
printed at Leghorn in 1788—91, in 31 vols. 8vo. He has
been reckoned the Moliere of Italy, and he is styled by
Voltaire “The Painter of Nature.
” Dr. Burney says that
he is, perhaps, the only author of comic operas in Italy
who has given them a little common sense, by a natural
plot, and natural characters; and his celebrated comic
opera of the “Buona Figliuola,
” set by Piccini, and first
performed in London Dec. 9th, 1766, rendered both the
poet and composer, whose names had scarcely penetrated
into this country before, dear to every lover of the Italian
language and music, in the nation.
h he continued to do, until that city was in the following year reduced again to the dominion of the French king, after which he resolved to return to Holland. He had early
, professor of Arabic at Leyden, descended from a considerable family in that city, was born
at the Hague, in 1596. At Leyden he made himself
master of all the learned languages, and proceeded to
physic, divinity, and the mathematics. His education
being finished, he took a journey to France with the
duchess de la Tremouille; and was invited to teach the
Greek language at Rochelle, which he continued to do,
until that city was in the following year reduced again to
the dominion of the French king, after which he resolved
to return to Holland. He had early taken a liking to Erpenius, the Arabic professor at Leyden; by the help of
whose lectures he made a great progress in the Arabic
tongue, and having in 1622 an opportunity of attending
the Dutch ambassador to the court of Morocco, he consulted with Erpenius, who directed him to observe carefully every production, either of nature, art, or custom,
which were unknown in Europe; and to describe them,
setting down the proper name of each, and the derivation
of it, if known. He also gave him a letter directed to that
prince, together with a present of a grand atlas, and a
New Testament in Arabic. These procured him a very
gracious reception from Muley Zidan, then king of Morocco, who expressed great satisfaction in the present, and
afterwards read them frequently.
In the mean time Golius made so good use of Erpenius’ s
advice, that tie attained a perfect skill in the Arabic
tongue; and in indulging his curiosity respecting the
customs and learning of that country, contrived to make
himself very agreeable to the doctors and courtiers. By
this means he became particularly serviceable to the ambassador, who growing uneasy because his affairs were not
dispatched, was advised to present to his majesty a petition
written by Golius in the Arabic character and language,
and in the Christian style, both circumstances rather novel
in that country. The king was astonished at the beauty of
the petition, both as to writing and style; and having
learned from the ambassador that it was done by Golius,
desired to see him. At the audience, the king spoke to
him in Arabic, and Golius said in Spanish, that he understood his majesty very well, but could not keep up a conversation in Arabic, by reason of its guttural pronunciation,
to'which his throat was not sufficiently inured. This excuse was accepted by the king, who granted the ambassador’s request, and dispatched him immediately. Before
his departure, Golius had an opportunity of examining the
curiosities of Fez, and took a plan of the royal palace,
which was afterwards communicated to Mr. Windus, and
inserted in his “Journey to Mequinez,
” The Annals of the Ancient
Kingdom of Fez and Morocco,
” which he resolved to
translate. He communicated every thing to Erpenius,
who well knew the value of them, but did not live long
enough to enjoy the treasure; that professor dying in Nov.
1624, after recommending this his best beloved scholar to the
curators of the university for his successor. The request
was complied with, and Golius saw himself immediately
in the Arabic chair, which he filled so ably as to lessen
their sense of the loss of Erpenius. Being, however, still
desirous of cultivating oriental languages and antiquities,
he applied to his superiors for leave to take a journey to
the Levant; and obtained letters patent from the prince of
Orange, dated Nov. 25, 1625. He set out immediately
for Aleppo, where he continued fifteen months; after
which, making excursions into Arabia, towards Mesopotamia, he went by land to Constantinople, in company
with Cornelius Hago, ambassador from Holland to the
Porte. Here the governor of the coast of Propontis gave
him the use of his pleasant gardens and curious library in
which retirement he applied himself wholly to the reading
of the Arabic historians and geographers, whose writings
were till then either unknown to, or had not been perused
by him. Upon his return to the city, discovering occasionally in conversation with the great men there a prodigious memory of what he had read, he excited such admiration, that a principal officer of the empire made him an
offer of a commission from the grand signor to take a survey of the whole empire, in order to describe the situation
of places with more exactness than was done in such maps
as they then had; but he pretended that this would interfere with the oath which he had taken to the States,
although his real fear arose from the danger of such an
undertaking. In this place also he found his skill in physic
of infinite service in procuring him the favour and respect
of the grandees; from whom, as he would take no fees, he
received many valuable and rich presents, and every liberal
offer to induce him to settle among them. But after a residence of four years, having in a great measure satisfied
his thirst of eastern learning, and made himself master of
the Turkish, Persian, and Arabic tongues, he returned in
1629, laden with curious Mss. which have ever since been
valued among the richest treasures of the university library
at Leyden. As soon as he was settled at home, he began
to think of making the best use of some of these manuscripts
by communicating them to the public; but first printed an
“Arabic Lexicon,
” Erpenius’s Grammar, enlarged with notes and additions;
”
to which also he subjoined several pieces of poetry, extracted from the Arabian writers, particularly Tograi and
Ababella. One purpose on which he employed his knowledge and influence cannot be too highly commended. He
had been an eye-witness of the wretched state of Christianity in the Mahometan countries, and with the compassion of a Christian, resolved, therefore, to make his
tfkill in their language serviceable to them. With this
laudable view he procured an edition of the “New Testament
” in the original language, with a translation into
the vulgar Greek by an Archimandrite, which he prevailed
with the States to present to the Greek church, groaning
under the Mahometan tyranny; and, as some of these
Christians use the Arabic tongm? in divine service, he took
care to have dispersed among them an Arabic translation
of the confession of the reformed protestants, together
with the catechism and liturgy .
were once looked upon as fictitious, are yearly found really existent, and of undoubted antiquity. A French writer compares him to Pliny the natural historian, who was
, a German antiquary, was born
at Venloo, in the duchy of Gueldres, in 1526. His father
was a painter, and he was himself bred up in this art,
learning the principles of it from Lambert Lombard; but
he seems to have quitted the pencil early in life, having a
particular turn to antiquity, and especially to the study of
medals, to which he entirely devoted himself. He considered medals as the very foundation of true history;
and travelled through France, Germany, and Italy, in
order to make collections, and to“draw from them what
lights he could. His reputation was so high in this respect,
that the cabinets of the curious were every where open to
him; and on the same account he was honoured with the
freedom of the city of Rome in Io67. He was the author
of several excellent works, in all which he applies medals
to the illustration of ancient history, and for the greater
accuracy, had them printed in his own house, and corrected them himself. He also engraved the plates for the
medals with his own hands. Accordingly, his books were
admired all over Europe, and thought an ornament to any
library; and succeeding antiquaries have bestowed the
highest praises upon them. Lipsius, speaking of the
” Fasti Consulares,“says, that
” he knows not which to
admire most, his diligence in seeking so many coins, his
happiness in finding, or his skill in engraving them."
Some, however, have said that although his works abound
with erudition, they must be read with some caution. The
fact seems to be, that all his works have many coins not yet
found in cabinets, because his own collection was unfortunately lost, yet the medals which he describes, and
which were once looked upon as fictitious, are yearly
found really existent, and of undoubted antiquity. A
French writer compares him to Pliny the natural historian,
who was thought to deal much in falsehood, till time drew
the truth out of the well; so that as knowledge advances,
most of his wonders acquire gradual confirmation. Yet it
is certain that he was often imposed upon, and the caution
above given is not unnecessary. His coins of the Roman
tyrants, for instance, are clearly false; for they bear Pren.
and Cog. on the exergue, which marks never occur on the
real coins. It has been also said that many errors of this
nature must be committed by a man, whose love and veneration for Roman antiquities was such, that he gave to all
his children Roman names, such as Julius, Marcellus, &c.
so that he might easily receive for antiques what were not
so, out of pure fondness for any thing of that kind. Upon
this principle, it is probable, that he took, for his second
wife, the widow of the antiquary Martini us Smetius; whom
he married more for the sake of Smetius 1 s medals and inscriptions than for any thing belonging to herself. She
was his second wife, and a shrew, who made his latter days
unhappy. He died at Bruges March 14, 1583.
lio Csesare ad Carolum V. ex veteribus numismatibus,” Antwerp, 1557, fol. afterwards translated into French, Italian, and Spanish. 2. “Fasti magistratuum et Triumphorum
His works are, 1. “Imperatorum fere omnium Vita?, ac
viva3 Imagines, a C. Julio Csesare ad Carolum V. ex veteribus numismatibus,
” Antwerp, Fasti magistratuum et Triumphorum Romanorum, ab urbe condita
usque ad Augusti obitum,
” Bruges, De origine et statu populi Romani,
” &c. Bruges, Thesaurus rei Antiquarii,
” Ant.
Vita et res gesta^ C. Julii Caesaris.
” 6. “Vita et res gestae Augusti Cassaris,
” Bruges,
Historia Sicilian et
Magnae Graeciae ex antiquis numismatibus,
” Antwerp, 1 644,
fol. which Mr. Pinkerton recommends as an introduction
to the study of the Greek coins. His whole works were
republished at Antwerp in 1644 and 1645, in 5 vols. fol.
by Balthasar Moretus, whose predecessors, the Plan tins,
bad purchased Goltzius’s printing-materials and plates.
, a French poet, was born in 1567, at St. Just de Lussac, near Brouage
, a French poet, was born in 1567, at St. Just de Lussac, near Brouage in Saintongue. He was a gentleman by birth, and his breeding was suitable to it. Alter a foundation of grammarlearning, he finished his studies at Bourdeaux; and having gone through most of the liberal sciences, under the best masters of his time, he betook himself to Paris, in the view of making the most of his parts; for, being the cadet of a fourth marriage by his father, his patrimonial finances were a little short. At Paris, he soon introduced himself to the knowledge of the polite world, by sonnets, epigrams, and other small poetical pieces, which were generally applauded: but, reaping little other benefit, he was obliged to use the strictest oeconomy, to support a tolerable figure at court, till the assassination of the king by Ravillac, in 1610, provoked every muse in France. The subject was to the last degree interesting, and our poet exerted his talent to the utmost in some verses which pleased the queen- regent, Mary de Medicis, so highly, that she rewarded him with a pension of 1200 crowns nor was there a man of his condition, that had more free access to her, or was more kindly received by her. He was also in the same favour with the succeeding regent, Anne of Austria, during the minority of Lewis XIV.
, Sieurde, an ingenious French writer, was born at Chevreuse, in the diocese of Paris, or as
, Sieurde, an ingenious French writer, was born at Chevreuse, in the diocese
of Paris, or as some say in Paris itself, in 1599. He was
early distinguished by some successful publications which
had given him a literary reputation, and made him be enrolled among the number assembled by cardinal Richelieu
for the purpose of founding the French academy in 1635.
His first publications were romances and works of a light
nature, but at the age of forty-five he formed the resolution of consecrating his pen to religion, and adopted a
penitentiary course of life, which some think was more
strict at the commencement than at the termination of it.
He died June 14, 1674. One of the most curious of his
works, “La doctrine des Mceurs, tiree de la philosophic
des Stoiques, representee en cent tableaux,
” and
” La jeune Alcidiane,“published in 1733 by
madame Gomez, who says that Gomberville left merely an
outline of it. His other works were, 1.
” Relation de la
riviere des Amazones,“1632, 2 vols. 12mo. 2.
” Memoires
de Louis de Gonzague, due de Nevers,“1665, 2 vols. fol.
3.
” Discours des vertus et des vices de Phistoire," 1620,
4to, and various pieces of sacred poetry, &c.
, a French lady, whose romances and tales are known in this country by
, a French
lady, whose romances and tales are known in this country
by translations, was the daughter of Paul Poisson, a player,
and was born at Paris in 1684. She was courted by M. de
Gomez, a Spanish gentleman of small fortune, who, knowing her talents, foresaw many advantages from an union
with her, while she, in accepting him, appears to have
been deceived concerning his circumstances. Her works,
however, procured some pensions, by which she was enabled to live at St. Germain-en-L.aye till 1770, in which
year she died, respected by all who knew her. This lady
left some tragedies, which may be found in her “Miscellaneous Works,
” 12mo, but were all unsuccessful, and a
great number of romances. “Les Journees Amusantes,
”
8 vols. “Crementine,
” 2 vols. “Anecdots Persanes,
” 2
vols. “Hist, du Comte d'Oxford,
” one vol. “La Jeune
Alcidiane,
” 3 vols. (see Gomberville) “Les CentNouvelles Nouvelles,
” 36 parts comprised in 8 vols. These
are all well written, and with great delicacy, and were at
one time very popular in France.
, a French physician of the thirteenth century, is said to have conferred
, a French physician of the thirteenth century, is said to have conferred honour on the medical faculty of Montpellier, where he began to teach and to practise in 1285. As was the custom of the time, he took his surname from the place of his birth (Gordon, in Rouvergne), and called himself Bernardus de Gordonio, and not Gordonus, as it is commonly written. According to the accounts of some writers, who place the death of this physician in 1305, he taught at Montpellier only twenty years; but others say that he was living in 1318. He left a considerable number of treatises, which were published together at Eerrara in 1487, at Venice in 1494, at Paris in 1542, and at Lyons in 1550.
ion of poems, several times reprinted. “Discourses.” “Letters,” &c. and he translated into Italian a French work entitled “A true account of things that have happened in
, an Italian poet and miscellaneous
writer, was born at Rome in 1525, where he pursued his
studies in the house of the cardinal de Santa Fiora, but in
his seventeenth year was taken into the service of Ferdinand Gonzaga, then viceroy of Sicily, and governor of
Milan, to which city he accompanied that nobleman in
1546, and became his secretary. He was afterwards taken
to the court of Spain, where he obtained the esteem and
favour of Philip II. Under the duke of Albuquerque he
was imprisoned on a charge of conspiracy against the life
of John Baptist Monti, but vindicated his own cause, and
was not only released, but admitted to public employment
under the succeeding governors of Milan. He died Feb.
12, 1587, leaving behind him several works, that obtained
for him high reputation; of these the principal are, “The
Life of Ferdinand Gonzaga,
” Three Conspiracies,
” &c. Rime,
” or a collection of
poems, several times reprinted. “Discourses.
” “Letters,
” &c. and he translated into Italian a French work
entitled “A true account of things that have happened
in the Netherlands, since the arrival of Don Juan of
Austria.
”
, one of the early and most celebrated composers of music to the metrical French translations of the psalms for the use of the protestants, was
, one of the early and most celebrated composers of music to the metrical French translations of the psalms for the use of the protestants, was a
native of Franche-Comte, who lost his life at Lyons, on
the day of the massacre of Paris in 1572, for having set to
music the psalms of Clement Marot. Goudimel has been
much celebrated by the protestants in France for this music, which was never used in the church of Geneva, and by
the catholics in Italy for instructing Palestrina in the art of
composition, though it is doubtful whether this great harmonist and Goudimel had ever the least acquaintance or
intercourse together. He set the “Chansons Spirituelles
”
of the celebrated Marc- Ant. De Muret, in four parts, which
were printed at Paris, 1555. We may suppose Goudimel,
at this time, to have been a catholic, as the learned Muret
is never ranked among heretics by French biographers.
Ten years after, when he set the psalms of Clement Marot r
this version was still regarded with less horror by the catholics than in later times; for the music which Gpudimei had
set to it was printed at Paris by Adrian Le Roy, and Robert
Ballard, with a privilege, 1565. It was reprinted in Holland, in 1607, for the use of the protestants. His works
are become so scarce, that his name and reputation are
preserved by protestant historians, more in pity of his misfortunes, than by any knowledge of their excellence. The
earliest mention of Goudimel, as a composer, is in a work
entitled “Liber quartus Ecclesiasticarum Cantionum quatuor vocum vulgo Motetae vocant,
” printed at Antwerp, by
Susato, Melissi
Schediasmatum Reliquiae,
”
ly no other instance in our literary annals. This was “The History of the Bible, translated from the French,” (of an Amsterdam edition of 1700) “by II. G. junior,” printed
By this lady, who died May 27, 1774, he had an only
son, the subject of this article, who was born Oct. 21, 1735,
in a large house in Winchester-street, on the site of the
monastery of the Austin friars. He received the first rudiments of Latin and Greek under the tuition of one Barnewitz, a Courlander; and afterwards, on his death, was
committed to the care of the rev. Roger Pickering, a dissenting minister, a man unfortunate in life, but an accomplished scholar, who. died in 1755*; when Mr. Gough
finished his Greek studies under Mr. Samuel Dyer, the
friend of Dr. Johnson and of the contemporary literati.
Under these instructors, Mr. Gough has not left us to
question his proficiency, nor that early ambition to know
and to communicate, which forms the instructive editor and
author. At the very early age of eleven he commenced a
task which would have reflected credit on any period of
life, and he completed it with a perseverance of which
there is probably no other instance in our literary annals.
This was “The History of the Bible, translated from the
French,
” (of an Amsterdam edition of by II. G.
junior,
” printed at London in 1747. Of this curious
volume, consisting of 160 sheets in folio, his mother,
delighted at such a display of laudable application, bore
the expence of printing twenty-five copies, as presents
to a few friends; and when completed at the press,
it was marked, by way of colophon, “Done at twelve years
and a half old,
” after which, in the copy now before us,
follows, “A short Chronology of the Holy Scripture,
” in
in about three years completing a translation of “The Customs of the Israelites, translated from the French of the abbot Fleury, by R. G.” 1750, 8vo. This was also printed
It is not difficult to conceive that his parents and friends
would be desirous to encourage a turn of mind which indicated so powerful a sense of the value of time and instruction; and accordingly we find him in about three years
completing a translation of “The Customs of the Israelites,
translated from the French of the abbot Fleury, by R. G.
”
Atlas Renovatus,
or Geography Modernized; being a particular description
f the world as far as known to the ancients, and the present names of such places as now subsist; containing all
the cities, towns, villages, castles, &c. mentioned in ancient authors, with all the remarkable occurrences that
happened at the several places; the birth-places of famous
men, the memorable sieges and battles, &c. the bounds,
soil, air, manners, government, religion of each country.
The whole being the most complete system ever composed before. To which is annexed a list of the Roman ways, and
a copious index to facilitate the whole. Drawn upon the
plans of Hornius’s and Cellarius’s maps.
” This is a folio
volume, dated to whom,
”
says Mr. Gough, “I regularly repeated my lesson, without a grain of instruction on his part.
” To the university
Mr. Gough brought a considerable fund of classical literature, and having already imbibed a curiosity after matters
of antiquity, found his enthusiasm heightened by a connexion with a college eminent for producing a succession
of British antiquaries; and it is certain that he here laid
the plan of his “British Topography*.
” He applied, in
the mean time, to academical studies, with an ardour
which even at this age was become habitual, and the knowledge he acquired in philosophy and the sciences was often
displayed in his future labours; some of which prove that
he had paid no little attention to subjects of theology and
sacred criticism; and indeed it was inferred by the friends
who kpew his acquisitions most intimately, that he might
have passed into any of the learned professions by a very
easy transition. Before he left the university he had prepared for the press, although they all remain still in ms.
the following works: 1. “Notes on Memnon, annexed to
the abbe Gedoyn’s French translation.
” 2. “Astro-mythology; or, a short account of the Constellations, with the
names of the principal stars in each, and their connexion
with mythology.
” 3. The History of Bythynia, translated from the French of the abbe“Sevin.
” 4. “Memoirs
of celebrated Professors of the belles lettres in the academy of inscriptions, &c. at Paris, translated and abridged
from the Elogia, &c.
” 5. “Reflections on the Egyptian
Government; and also on the Jewish, Persian, Cretan,
Carthaginian, Spartan, Athenian, and Roman Governments.
” 6. “Memoirs of the Life and Character of Mithridates, king of Pontus, extracted from various and genuine authors.
” All these, with many voluminous commonplace books, were executed before our author had reached
ed were Mr. Gough’s steady principles during that period of intellectual delusion which followed the French revolution; and he gave his aid with no mean effect, to a numerous
without any view to a degree or a pro- of Memoirs, as above,
fession, I should exc.eed the time
His first regular publication was anonymous, “The
History of Carausius; or an examination of what has been
advanced on that subject by Genebrier and Dr. Stukeley,
”
If,
” as he says himself, “he criticised
with warmth and severity certain innovations attempted in
church and state, he wrote his sentiments with sincerity
and impartiality in the fullness of a heart deeply impressed with a sense of the excellence and happiness of
the English constitution both in church and state.
” Such
indeed were Mr. Gough’s steady principles during that
period of intellectual delusion which followed the French
revolution; and he gave his aid with no mean effect, to
a numerous body of writers and thinkers, many of whom
(and we wish his name could have been added to the number) have lived to enjoy the full gratification of their
hopes. We cannot, however, quit this subject without
noticing that extensive knowledge which Mr. Gough displayed in his critical labours in the Magazine; he seems
never to have undertaken any thing of the kind without
such an acquaintance with the subject as showed that his
studies had been almost universal, and even occasionally
directed to those points of literatare which could be least
expected to demand his attention; we allude to the subjects of theology and criticism, both sacred and classical.
The perusal of the classics in particular appears frequently
to have relieved his more regular labours.
In 1768 he published in 1 vol. 4to, his “Anecdotes of
British Topography,” which was reprinted and enlarged
in 2 vols. 1780. To have published a third edition, with
the improvements of twenty-six years, would have afforded
him a high gratification; and in fact a third edition was
put to press in 1806, and was rapidly advancing, when the
destructive fire (of Feb. 8, 1808,) in Mr. Nichols’s printing-office, and the then declining state of the author’s
health, interrupted the undertaking. The corrected copy,
with the plates, was given by him to Mr. Nichols, who has
since relinquished his right; and it is hoped that the delegates of the Oxford press will speedily undertake a new
edition. On the utility of this work to British antiquaries
it would be unnecessary to make any remark. It points
the way to every future effort to illustrate local history.
, a French writer of some note, was the son of Nicholas Goulu, royal professor
, a French writer of some note, was the
son of Nicholas Goulu, royal professor of Greek in the
university of Paris, in 1567, and author of a translation
from Greek into Latin of Gregentius’s dispute with the Jew
Herbanus, which De Noailles, the French ambassador, had
brought from Constantinople, and of other works, a collection of which was printed at Paris in 1580. His son
was born at Paris Aug. 25, 1576, and educated for the bar;
but, having failed in the first cause he pleaded, he felt the
disappointment so acutely as to relinquish the profession,
and retire into a convent. He chose the order of the
Feuillans, and entered amongst them in 1604. He was so
much esteemed in his order that he always enjoyed some
office in it, and was at last made general. The name he
took when he became a monk, was Dom John of St. Francis. As he understood the Greek tongue, he translated
into French Epictetus’s Manual, Arrian’s Dissertations,
some of St. Basil’s treatises, and the works of Dionysius
Areopagita; to which he added a vindication of this St.
Dionysius’s works. He also revised his father’s Latin
translation of St. Gregory Nyssen against Eunomius, and
published it. He also wrote a book against Du Moulin’s
treatise of the calling of pastors, “De la Vocation des
Pasteurs
” the Life of Francis de Sales, bishop of Geneva;
and a Funeral Oration on Nicholas le Fevre, preceptor to
Lewis XIII.; but it is said that he never delivered it. He
did not, however, gain so great reputation by all those
writings as by his angry controversy with Balzac, already
noticed in our account of that writer. Goulu died Jan.
5, 1629.
, a French female wit, the daughter of William de Jars, lord of Neufoi
, a French female
wit, the daughter of William de Jars, lord of Neufoi and
Gournay, was born either in Paris, or in Gascony, about
1565. From her infancy she had a strong turn to literature; and Montagne publishing his first essays about this
time, she conceived an enthusiastic veneration for the
author. These declarations soon reached the ears of Montagne, who returned her compliments by corresponding
regard for her talents. Her esteem by degrees growing
into a kind of filial affection for Montagne, when her father
died she adopted him in his stead, even before she had
seen him; and, when he was at Paris in 1588, she paid
him a visit, and prevailed upon him to accompany her and
her mother the lady Gournay, to their country mansion,
where he passed two or three months. In short, our
young devotee to the muses was so wedded to books of
polite literature in general, and Montague’s Essays in particular, that she resolved never to have any other associate
to her happiness. Nor was Montagne sparing to pay the
just tribute of his gratitude, and foretold, in the second
book of his Essays, that she would be capable of great
eminence in the republic of letters. Their affectionate
i-egard extended through the family; Montagne’s daughter,
the viscountess de Jamaches, always claimed mademoiselle
de Jars as a sister; and the latter dedicated her piece, “Le
Bouquet de Pinde,
” to this sister. Thus she passed many
years, happy in her new alliance, until she received the
melancholy news of Montagne’s death, whet) she crossed
almost the whole kingdom of France to mingle her tears
and lamentations, which were excessive, with those of his
widow and daughter. Nor did her filial regard stop here.
She revised, corrected, and reprinted an edition of his
“Essays
” in
, a French politician, was born at Rochefoucauld in 1625, and was taken
, a French politician,
was born at Rochefoucauld in 1625, and was taken by the
celebrated duke of that name into his service as valet de
chambre, from which situation he rose to be his confidential
friend. He was also equally honoured by the great Conde,
and was employed by the superintendant Fouquet, in public business, and was involved in his disgrace. But such
was the value put upon his political talents and integrity,
that he was at one time proposed to the king as successor
to. Colbert in the ministry. He died in 1705, leaving
“Memoirs of his Life from 1642 to 1698,
” 2 vols. 12mo,
written with frankness and simplicity and containing very
lively characters of the ministers and principal persons of
his time, of which, it is said, Voltaire made much use in
his “Siecle de Louis XIV.
”
, a learned French physician, professor of mathematics, and a member of several
, a learned French physician,
professor of mathematics, and a member of several learned
societies, was born at Paris March 7, 1722. His first public services in the literary world were the arrangement and
preparation for the press of M. la Condamiue’s memoir
on the measure of the first three degrees of the meridian
in the Southern hemisphere. In the Encyclopaedia he was
chosen for the department of the mechanic arts, and his
numerous articles are remarkable for accuracy and perspicuity. He had a great turn for mechanics, and invented
several machines still employed in agriculture and chemistry, c. in France. In connexion with the unfortunate
baron de Marivetz, he published a learned and elaborate
work entitled “Physique du monde,
” five volumes of
which he published during the life of his colleague, and
afterwards three others. The whole was to have been
comprized in 14 vols. 4to, but of these eight only have
appeared. In 1779 he published “Prospectus d'un traite
de geometric physique particuliere du royaume de France,
”
4to. He died at Paris in
, a French mathematician, was born Sept. 18, 1650, at Dieppe, and entered
, a French mathematician, was born
Sept. 18, 1650, at Dieppe, and entered among the Jesuits
in 1667. He early acquired reputation for his skill in mathematics, and was admitted into the academy of sciences
in 1699. He assisted constantly at the meetings of that
academy, whose members entertained a high opinion of
his genius. He died at Paris, in the professed house of
the Jesuits, March 24, 1725, aged seventy-five. His principal work is entitled, “Observations Physiques et Mathematiques pour servir a la perfection de TAstronomie, et de
la geographic, envoyees de Siam, a Pacademie des sciences
de Paris, par ies P. P. Jesuites missionaires;
” with notes
and remarks, in 2 vols. the first, 8vo, the second, 4to.
These remarks may also be found in torn. 7. of the “Memoires
” of the above academy.
fference of opinion and pursuit. Chaucer had the courage to emancipate his muse from the trammels of French, in which it was the fashion to write, and the genius to lay
As this is the only evidence of a difference between
Chaucer and Gower, we may be allowed to hope that no
violent loss of friendship ensued. As to their poetical
studies, it is evident that there was a remarkable difference
of opinion and pursuit. Chaucer had the courage to emancipate his muse from the trammels of French, in which it
was the fashion to write, and the genius to lay the foundation of English poetry, taste, and imagination. Gower,
probably from his closer intimacy with the French and Latin poets, found it more easy to follow the beaten track.
Accordingly the first of his works was written in French
measure. It is entitled “Speculum Meditantis. Un Traittee, selonc les aucteurs, pour ensampler les amants marietz, au fins qils la foy de lour seints espousailles, pourront per fine loyalte guarder, et al honeur de Dieu salvement trener.
” Of this, which is written in ten books, there
are two copies in the Bodleian library. It is a compilation
of precepts and examples from a variety of authors, in
favour of the chastity of the marriage bed.
f the marquis of Stafford, of which he has given a long account, with specimens. They are sonnets in French, and certainly are more tender, pathetic, and poetical than
Besides these larger works, some small poems are preserved in a ms. of Trinity college, Cambridge; but, possessing little or no merit, are likely to remain in obscurity.
Mr. Warton speaks more highly of a collection contained
in a volume in the library of the marquis of Stafford, of
which he has given a long account, with specimens. They
are sonnets in French, and certainly are more tender, pathetic, and poetical than his larger poems. As an Ecglish
poet, however, his reputation must still rest on the “Confessio Amantis;
” but, although he contributed in some degree to bring about a beneficial revolution in our language, it appears to be the universal opinion of the critics
that he has very few pretensions to be ranked among inventors. It seems to have been his ambition to crowd all
his erudition into his “Confessio,
” and therefore the most
interesting parts are his stories brought as moral examples
from various authors.
not much suited to the present taste, 2 vols. 4to. The chief of those that have been translated into French are, “Le Heros,” by P. de Courbeville, a Jesuit, Rotterdam,
, a celebrated Spanish Jesuit,
was born at Catalaiud, formerly Bilbilis. He taught the
belles-lettres, philosophy, and theology, in his society,
preached during some years, and was rector of the college
at Tarragona, where he died December 6, 1658, leaving a
considerable number of works in Spanish, published at
Madrid in 1664, but which are not much suited to the present taste, 2 vols. 4to. The chief of those that have been
translated into French are, “Le Heros,
” by P. de Courbeville, a Jesuit, Rotterdam, Reflexions
politiques sur les plus grands princes, et particulierement
sur Ferdinand le Catholique,
” by M. de Silhouette, Amsterdam, Le Politique Dom. Ferdinand le Catholique,
” Paris, L'Homme
Universel,
” by P. de Courbeville, 12 mo. “L'Homme
detrompe, ou le Criticon,
” by Maunoy, 3 vols. 12mo.
“L'Hornme de Cour,
” by Amelot de la H^oussaye, with
notes, 12mo. P. de Courbeville has likewise translated it,
with the title of “Maximes de Balthasar Gracian, avee
des Reponsesaux Critiques de L'Homme Universe!,
” Paris,
Manual on the Art of Prudence,
” was
published in English, in
, a French lady of literary reputation, was the daughter of a military
, a French lady of literary reputation, was the
daughter of a military officer, and born about the year 1694.
She was married, or rather sacrificed to Francis Hugot de
Grafigny, chamberlain to the duke of Lorraine, a man of
violent passions, from which she was often in danger of her
life; but after some years of patient suffering, she was at
length relieved by a legal separation, and her husband
finished his days in confinement, which his improper
conduct rendered necessary. Madame de Grafigny now
came to Paris, where her merit was soon acknowledged,
although her first performance, a Spanish novel, did not
pass without some unpleasant criticisms, to which, says
our authority, she gave the best of all possible answers, by
writing a better, which was her “Lettres d'une Peruvienne,
”
2 vols. 12mo. This had great success, being written with
spirit, and abounding in those delicate sentiments which
are so much admired in the French school, yet an air
of metaphysical speculation has been justly objected, as
throwing a chill on her descriptions of love. She also
wrote some dramatic pieces, of which the comedies of
“Cenie
” & “La Fille d'Aristide
” were most applauded.
Having resided for some time at the court of Lorraine, she
became known to the emperor, who had read her “Peruvian Letters
” with much pleasure, and engaged her to
write some dramatic pieces proper to be performed before
the empress and the younger branches of the royal family
at court. This she complied with, and sent five or six
such pieces to Vienna, and in return received a pension of
1500 livres, but with the express condition that she was
not to print these dramas, nor give copies to any other
theatre. She long retained the esteem and patronage of
the court of Vienna, and was chosen an associate of the
academy at Florence. She died, much esteemed by all
classes, at Paris in 1758. A complete edition of her works
was published at Paris in 1738, 4 vols. 12mo; and her
“Letters of a Peruvian Princess,
” were published in
English, by F. Ashworth,
a small cabinet; from which, as a model, all the modern orreries have been constructed. And when the French academicians were sent to the north, to make observations for
A great mural arch in the observatory at Greenwich was made for Dr. Halley, under Mr. Graham’s immediate inspection, and divided by his own hand: and from this incomparable original, the best foreign instruments of the kind are copies made by English artists. The sector by which Dr. Bradley first discovered two new motions in the fixed stars, was of his invention and fabric. He comprised the whole planetary system within the compass of a small cabinet; from which, as a model, all the modern orreries have been constructed. And when the French academicians were sent to the north, to make observations for ascertaining the figure of the earth, Mr. Graham was thought the fittest person in Europe to supply them withinstruments by which meant they finished their operations in one year while those who went to the south, not being so well furnished, were very much embarrassed and retarded in their operations.
, a French historian, was born in 1565, and, after a liberal education,
, a French historian, was
born in 1565, and, after a liberal education, became counsellor and master of the requests to Mary de Medicis, queen
of France. He frequented the court in his youth, and devoted himself to the service of Henry IV. by whom he was
much esteemed and trusted. Being a man of probity, and
void of ambition, he did not employ his interest with
Henry to obtain dignities, but spent the greatest part of
his life -in literary retirement. Among other works which
he composed, are “The History of Henry IV.
” and “The
History of Lewis XIII. to the death of the Marshal d'Ancre,
” in 1617; both which were published in /olio, under
the title of “Decades.
” The former he presented to
Lewis XIII. who read it over, and was infinitely charmed
with the frankness of the author: but the Jesuits, who
never were friendly to liberality of sentiment, found means
to have this work castrated in several places. They served
“The History of Lewis XIII.
” worse; for, Le Grain having in that performance spoken advantageously of the
prince of Conde, his protector, they had the cunning and
malice to suppress those passages, and to insert others,
where they made him speak of the prince in very indecorous terms. Conde was a dupe to this piece of knavery,
till Le Grain had time to vindicate himself, by restoring
this as well as his former works to their original purity.
He died at Paris in 1643, and ordered in his will, that
none of his descendants should ever trust the education of
their children to the Jesuits; which clause, it is said, has
been punctually observed by his family.
ey are related, by his brother-in-law, Anthony, who, following the fortunes of James II. entered the French service, and died at St. Germain’s, April 21, 1720. He was generally
, son of Antony
duke of Gramont, served as a volunteer under the prince
of Conde, and Turenne, and came into England about
two years after the restoration. He was under a necessity
of leaving France for having the temerity to pay his
addresses to a lady to whom Lewis XIV. was known to have
a tender attachment. He possessed in a high degree every
qualification that could render him agreeable to the licentious court of Charles II. He was gay, gallant, and perfectly well-bred, had an inexhaustible fund of ready wit,
and told a story with extraordinary humour and effect.
His vivacity infused life wherever he came, and was generally inoffensive. He had also another qualification very
well suited to the company he kept. He had great skiil
and success in play; and seems to have been chiefly indebted to it for support. Several of the ladies engaged
his attention upon his first coming over; but miss Elizabeth Hamilton, whom he afterwards married, seems to
have been his favourite, though some say he endeavoured
to break off the connection. She was the daughter of sir
George Hamilton, fourth son of James first earl of Abercorn. His “Memoirs
” were written from his own information, and probably in much the same language in which
they are related, by his brother-in-law, Anthony, who, following the fortunes of James II. entered the French service, and died at St. Germain’s, April 21, 1720. He was
generally called Count Hamilton. Count Gramont died
Jan. 10, 1707. There have lately been several editions of
the “Memoirs
” printefd here, both in French and English,
and in a splendid form, illustrated with portraits. They
contain many curious particulars respecting the intrigues
and amusements of the court of Charles II. but present
upon the whole a disgusting picture of depraved manners.
, a French historical writer, was born Feb. 6, 1653, at St. Lo, in Normandy.
, a French historical writer, was
born Feb. 6, 1653, at St. Lo, in Normandy. After studying philosophy at Caen, he entered into the congregation
of the oratory in 1671, where he applied to the belles lettres
and theology, but quitted it in 1676, and went to Paris,
where he engaged in the education of two young men of
rank, the marquis de Vins, and the duke cTEstrees, and
at the same time applied himself to the study of history
under the direction of father Le Cointe, who formed a very
high opinion of him. He first appeared as a writer in 1688,
in “A History of the Divorce of Henry VIII. and Catharine of Arragon,
” in three vols. 12mo. The main object
of this work is to refute certain facts and arguments contained in the first two books of Burnet’s History of the Reformation. In 1685, when Burnet was at Paris, he had an
interview with Le Grand in the presence of Messrs. Thevenot and Auzout, in which the latter proposed his doubts,
and the former answered them, both preserving a tone of
elegance and mutual respect. The publication of the
above work, however, produced a controversy, in the
course of which, in 1691, Le Grand addressed three letters
to the bishop, to which he replied. How long the controversy might have continued is uncertain, as Le Grand was
necessarily diverted from it in 1692, when he received the
appointment of secretary to the abbe d'Estrees, in his embassy to Portugal. In this situation he continued till 1697.
The leisure which his diplomatic functions allowed was
employed in translations of voyages and travels from the
Portuguese. In 1702 he accompanied the same minister
in Spain, where he remained about two years as secretary.
Soon after this, the marquis de Torci, minister of state, took
him into his service, and employed his pen in drawing up
several memorials concerning the Spanish monarchy, and
other political topics, in which he acquitted himself with
great ability, but most of them were printed without his
name. He employed much of his time in writing a life of
Louis XL; but, although this was quite finished in 1728, it
still remains in manuscript. In that year, however, hepublished his translation of Lobo’s History of Abyssinia, with
many additions; and about the same time his treatise “De
la succession a la Couroune de France.
” He died of an
apoplectic stroke, April 30, 1733. He had been possessed
of church preferment, and had held, for a time, the office
of censor royal of books.
own on the world by the dissolution of the order, and was soon employed in the elaborate work of the French Glossary, projected by Lacurne de Sainte-Palaye, and in an examination
, was born at Amiens, June
3, 1737, and was surnamed d'Aussy, because his father
was a native of Auxy-le-Chateau, in the department of
Pas-de-Calais. He received his education in the college
of the Jesuits at Amiens at the age of eighteen entered
into the society of his preceptors and, a few years afterxvards, had the honour of being elected to the rhetorical
chair at Caen. At the age of twenty-six he was thrown on
the world by the dissolution of the order, and was soon
employed in the elaborate work of the French Glossary,
projected by Lacurne de Sainte-Palaye, and in an examination of the very rich library of the marquis de Paulmy.
In 1770 he was appointed secretary in the direction of the
studies of the military school. He afterwards co-operated,
under the marquis de Paulmy, and again with the count
de Tressan, in the “Bibliotheque des Romans;
” after
which he became still deeper engaged in collecting, translating, extracting, and commenting upon the “Fabliaux,
”
or tales of the old French poets of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. In 1782 he published, in three volumes,
8vo, his “Histoire de la Vie privee des Frangais;
” and in
Tour to Auvergne,
” which
province he visited the preceding year, at the entreaty of
his Jesuit brother Peter Theodore Lewis Augustin, who
was then prior of the abbey of Saint Andre, in the town of
Clermont. This Tour he first published in one volume,
ivo; but he afterwards enlarged and republished it in
1795, in three volumes of the same size. His contributions
to the Institute were numerous, and, for the most part,
possessed of merit. For some years before his death, he
had conceived the plan of a complete history of French
poetry, and had even begun to carry it into execution; and
as he stood in need of all the treasures of the national library, he was fortunately nominated, in 1796, conservator
of the French Mss. of this library and he now not only
renewed his intention, but enlarged his scheme he included in it the history of the French tongue that of literature in all its extent, and all its various ramifications as
well as that of science, of arts, and their utility in different
applications a monument too vast for the life and power
of an individual to be able to construct. He had, however,
accomplished some part of his design, when, after a slight
indisposition which caused no alarm, he died suddenly in
1801. He was upon the whole a retired and taciturn scholar. “His life,
” says his biographer, “like that of most
other men of letters, may be comprized in two lines What
were his places of resort The libraries. Among whom did
he live His books. What did he ever produce Books.
What did he ever say? That which appears in his books.
”
ocent of the crimes for which he suffered. Renaudot, a famous physician, and the first author of the French gazette, wrote Grandier’s eulogium, which was published at Paris
The story of this unhappy person shews how easily an
innocent man may be destroyed by the malice of the few,
working upon the credulity and superstition of the many:
for, Grandier, though certainly a bad man, was as certainly
innocent of the crimes for which he suffered. Renaudot, a
famous physician, and the first author of the French gazette, wrote Grandier’s eulogium, which was published at
Paris in loose sheets. It was taken from Menage, who
openly defends the curate of Loudun, and calls the possession of those nuns chimerical. In 1693 was published
at Amsterdam “Histoire des Diables de Loudun;
” from
which very curious account it appears, that the pretended
possession of the Ursulines was an horrible conspiracy
against Grandier’s life. As an author he is known only for
a funeral oration for Scaevola de St. Martha, which is said
to be an eloquent performafice.
, a learned French divine, was born at St, Quentin, Nov. 11, 1604, and was educated
, a learned French divine, was
born at St, Quentin, Nov. 11, 1604, and was educated ia
classic.il learning at Noyon and Amiens. At the age of
seventeen he came to Paris, where he studied divinity
under the Jesuit Mairat, and afterwards taught a course of
philosophy in the college of cardinal Le Moine. He was
then admitted a doctor of the Sorbonne, and in 1638
appointed professor of divinity, which office he retained
until his death, Nov. 16, 1691. He was a man of piety
and talents, and an elegant and correct speaker. His
course of theological lectures was published by M. du
Plessis d'Argemre, 1710—1712, in 6 vols. 4to, under the
title of “Opera Theoiogica.
”
, a French satirist and dramatic poet, was born 1676, in Perigord. He wrote
, a French satirist and dramatic poet, was born 1676, in Perigord. He
wrote a little comedy in three acts, when but nine years old,
which was performed several days successively in the college of Bourdeaux, where he was a scholar; and at sixteen, produced his tragedy of “Jugurtha;
” but the work
which has made him most known, is a satire against the
duke of Orleans, then regent, entitled, “The Philippicks,
” in which he accused that nobleman of the most
atrocious crimes. To avoid the punishment this work deserved, he fled to Avignon, in which city was a French
officer, who had taken refuge there in consequence of
having committed a murder, and received a promise of
pardon if he could entice the author of the “Philippicks
”
into the French dominions. His attempt succeeded, and
La Grange was conducted to the isle of St. Margaret; but
6nding means to make friends of his keepers, escaped in a
boat to Villa Franca, notwithstanding a violent storm.
The king of Sardinia gave him a considerable sum of money, and he went from thence into Spain; afterwards into
Holland, where he remained till the duke of Orleans was
dead. He was then permitted to end his days in France,where he died in 1758, at the castle of Antoniat, his family
seat. His works have been collected in 5 vols. small 12mo,
and his tragedies have been as much admired, as his lyric
efforts have been depreciated.
. He left “Synodal Ordinances;” “The Life of Cardinal Commendo,” 4to, which has been translated into French by M. Flechier; “De Bello Cyprio,” 4to; “De Casibus adversis
, a learned bishop of
Amelia, was born in 1536 in the little city called Borgodi-san-Sepulcro in Tuscany. He was educated by cardinal Commendo, who trusted him with the most important
affairs, and gave him a rich abbey. After this cardinal’s
death, Gratiaiii was secretary to pope Sixtus V. then to
cardinal Montalto and Clement VIII. who was partly indebted to him for his elevation to the papal chair, made
him bishop of Amelia, sent him to Venice as nuncio, and
would have even created him cardinal, but was dissuaded
from it by cardinal Aldobraudino, because Gratiani was
the duke of Florence’s subject. The air of Venice not
agreeing with his health, he retired to Amelia, devoted
himself to the duties of a holy bishop, and died there,
1611. He left “Synodal Ordinances;
” “The Life of
Cardinal Commendo,
” 4to, which has been translated into
French by M. Flechier; “De Bello Cyprio,
” 4to; “De
Casibus adversis illustrium virorum sui oevi,
” 4to, translated into French by le Pelletier. In De Scriptis invita Minerva ad Aloysium fratrem libri viginti,
” 4to.
, a French artist, well known in this as well as his own country, was born
, a French artist, well known in this as well as his own country, was born at Paris March 26, 1699. He does not appear to have had much education in his profession, but soon made some figure as a draughtsman. He accompanied La Rochalard, who was appointed governor-general of St. Domingo, and meeting in that island with the artist Frezier, was employed by him on a map of the country. Gravelot returned to France in 1745, where he applied principally to drawing; but finding himself in the midst of a number of eminent artists, among whom he despaired of distinguishing himself, he came over to London, where he lived thirteen years. He possessed great fertility of invention, and composed, with much judgment, small subjects for vignettes and other book ornaments; he drew also admirably ancient buildings, tombs, and prospects, and was much employed in all these branches by the artists of London. He drew the monuments of the kings for Vertue, and gave the designs, where invention was necessary, for Pine’s plates of the tapestry in the house of lords. He was also for some time employed in Gloucestershire, drawing churches and antiquities. Vertue compares his neat manner to Picart, and owns that in composition and design, he even excelled his favourite Hollar. He sometimes attempted painting small histories and conversations, and he designed as well as engraved some of the prints to sir The* mas Hanmer’s edition of Shakspeare, and those belonging to Theobald’s edition: but the finest specimen of his abilities as an engraver, is his large print of Kirkstall abbey. He returned to France about the beginning of the present reign, and executed for the booksellers of Paris, the beautiful designs with which they ornamented the works of Corneille, Racine, Voltaire, Boccaccio, Ariosto, Marmontel, &c. He died at Paris in 1773. He is said to have been a man of wit and talents, and perfectly acquainted with the history and theory of his art.
, a very eminent French antiquary and lawyer, was born at Nismes in the beginning of
, a very eminent French antiquary and lawyer, was born at Nismes in the beginning of
1635, and being educated for the profession of the law,
became an advocate of the parliament of Toulouse, and of
the presidial court of Nismes, and director and secretary of
the academy of that place. During his researches into
matters of history and antiquities, he made a very fine collection of medals and manuscripts, among which were the
originals of the proceedings of the popish inquisitors
against the Albigenses. So highly was Graverol esteemed
for learning, that no strangers of distinction visited Nismes
without paying their respects to him, and such was his reputation in Italy that, in 1691, he was elected an associate
of the Ricovrati of Padua; and when the states of Languedoc formed the plan of collecting their records respecting
their fiefs and seignories, they considered Graverol as the
only person fit to execute the work, which he was earnestly
requested to undertake by the cardinal Bonzi. But his
adherence to the protestant religion impeded his advancement in life, and involved him in serious troubles. He
retired first to Orange in 1685, where he was very favourably received, but not thinking that a place of safety, left
it for Swisserland or Holland. During this journey he
was arrested and confined at Montpellier for about two
months. After this he must have been released, and permitted to go home, as we find he died at Nismes Sept. 10,
1694. Among the works which contributed most to his
reputation, are, 1. “Observations sur les arrets du parlement de Toulouse recueillespar la Rochefiavin,
” Toulouse,
Notice ou abrege historique des vingt-deux
villes chefs des dioceses de la province de Languecloc,
” 1
posthumous work published in 1696. 3. “Sorberiana,
sive excerpta ex ore Samuelis Sorbiere,
” Toulouse, Sorberiana.
” In the Journal des Savans
for March Bibliotheque du Languedoc,
” a kind of literary journal, in.
which he was to give the lives of the eminent men of that
province, and particulars of its history, &c.
yalty,“from the Greek of Xenophon” Fleurettes,“a translation of Fenelon’s Ode on Solitude, and other French authors” The Life of Commodus,“from the Greek of Herodian” The
Mr. Graves’s publications were very numerous. His first
was The Festoon; or, a collection of Epigrams, with an
Essay on that species of composition.“In 1772 he produced
” The Spiritual Quixote,“in 3 vpls. intended as a
satire on the itinerant and illiterate preachers among the
methodists, and which might have been pronounced one
of the most amusing and interesting novels of his time, had
he not, in pursuit of his main object, incautiously introduced the language of scripture, which, whether used by
methodists, or others, can never be a legitimate subject of
ridicule. He next published
” A Translation from the
Italian of Galates; or, a treatise on Politeness, by De la
Casa, archbishop of Benevento.“He soon after published
” Columelia, or the distressed Anchoret,“in 2 vols. to
show the consequence of a person of education and talents
retiring to solitude and indolence in the vigour of youth:
in this it is thought he alluded to his friend Shenstone. He
also published two volumes of poems under the title o
” Euphrosyne,“which have gone through several editions,
but he is rather entitled to the merit of an agreeable versifier, than that of a genuine poet. Then appeared his
” Eugenius; or, Anecdotes of the Golden Vale,“in 2
vols. In 1778 appeared
” Recollections of some particulars in the life of William Shenstone, esq. in a series of
letters to W. Seward, esq. F. R. S.“This was published
to vindicate the character of his friend from the criticisms
and censure of Dr. Johnson, Mr. Gray, and Mr. Mason.
The following is a list of his subsequent publications, although probably not in chronological order.
” Plexippus;
or, the aspiring Plebeian,“in 2 vols.
” Hiero on the
condition of Royalty,“from the Greek of Xenophon
” Fleurettes,“a translation of Fenelon’s Ode on Solitude,
and other French authors
” The Life of Commodus,“from the Greek of Herodian
” The Rout,“from a young
man in town to his friend in the country
” The Meditations of Antoninus, translated from the Greek;“” The
Reveries of Solitude,“consisting of pieces of prose and
verse
” The Coalition or, Opera rehearsed,“a comedy
in three acts
” The Farmer’s Son,“a moral tale, in the
ballad metre
” Sermons on various subjects,“in 1 vol.
” Senilities,“consisting of pieces in prose and verse. His
last publication was
” The Invalid, with the obvious means
of enjoying Life, by a Nonagenarian.“The above, we
believe, is a tolerably correct list of the publications of Mr.
Graves; whose works, although the
” Spiritual Quixote"
only will be much called for hereafter, will always be read
with pleasure, there being a sprightliness and epigram*
matic turn in his writings which was peculiar to himself,
and which he retained to the last. In Mr. Graves ended
the bright associates of their time, composed of Shenstone,
Whistler, and Jago.
at Rome of the plague, in 1528. It is thought that the greater part of his works were lost when the French went to Naples under Louis XII. in 1501, but a collection of
, an excellent Latin poet, was born
at Palermo, in Sicily, of a family originally of Gravina, a
city in the kingdom of Naples. He was canon of Naples,
and died at Rome of the plague, in 1528. It is thought
that the greater part of his works were lost when the
French went to Naples under Louis XII. in 1501, but a
collection of what remained was published therein 1532,
4to; a few of them are also inserted in the “Carm. Illust.
Poet. Ital.
” His epigrams are preferred by Sannazarius
to those of all his contemporaries. Paul Jovius and others
also bestow high encomiums on his poetry.
1756, 8vo, from which some copies have been printed in 4to, under the title of London. An excellent French translation of them appeared in 1775, 2 vols. 8vo, in which
, an Italian scholar and
poet of considerable eminence, was born at Florence
March 22, 1503, of a noble family, which can be traced as
far as the thirteenth century, but was now decayed, as we
find that Grazzini in his youth was brought up as an apothecary. He had, however, studied philosophy and the
belles lettres, and from the timetliathe acquired some reputation in the literary world, gave up his medical business. In 1540 he became one of the founders of the
academy of Florence, which was first called the academy
of the Humides, and each member distinguishing himself
by some appellation relative to the water, Grazzini adopting that of Lasca, which signifies a roach. From the first
establishment of this academy, he was appointed chancellor,
and when, some months after, the grand duke changed its
name to that of the academy of Florence, he was chosen
overseer, or superintendant, an office which he afterwards
filled three times. As the number of members, however,
increased, the juniors began to make new regulations without consulting the founders, and a schism broke out, attended with so many unpleasant circumstances, that Grazzini withdrew, and became the founder of a new academy,
known still by the name of La Crusca. The object of this
society was to polish the Italian language, to fix a standard
for it, to point out such authors as might be always models
for those who chose to improve their style, to oppose the
progress of false taste; and to sift the flour from the bran
of literature, crusca signifying bran. Grazzini was well
qualified to assist an academy instituted for these purposes.
He hail enriched the language with several choice phrases
and new modes of expression, and the academicians have
very justly ranked him among those authors to whom they
have been obliged for examples, in correcting their great
vocabulary. In the mean time his growing fame induced
his friend Leonard Salviati to endeavour his re-introduction
into the academy of Florence, which was successfully accomplished in 1566, twenty years after he had left it; in
return for which he procured admission for Salviati among
the Cruscanti. Grazzini died at Florence in February
1583. He was a man of unquestionable genius, spirit, and
humour, and wrote with great elegance, and although
there are some indelicate passages in his poems, which
was the vice of the times, he was a man of strict morals,
and even, says his biographer, very religious. Many of
his works are lost, and among these some prose tales, and
many pieces of poetry. There remain, however, twentyone tales, six comedies, a great number of capitoli, or
satirical chapters, and various poems, of which the best
edition is that of Florence, 1741, 2 vols. 8vo. His Tales
or Novels were printed at Paris, 1756, 8vo, from which
some copies have been printed in 4to, under the title of
London. An excellent French translation of them appeared
in 1775, 2 vols. 8vo, in which nine histories wanting in the
third evening are said to be inserted from an old French
translation in ms. He wrote also “La guerra di Mostri,
Poema giocoso,
” Florence, Tutti i trionfi, carri, mascherate o canti carnasciaj^schi
dal tempo di Lorenzo de Medici a questoanno 1559,
” 8vo;
al history of Bellora and Fidelio,” 1606. 40. “The debate between Follie and Love, translated out'of French,” 1608. 41. “Thieves falling out, true men come by their goods,”
, an English poet and miscellaneous
iter of the Elizabethan age, and memorable for his tants and imprudence, was a native of Norwich, and born
ubout 1560. His father appears to have been a citizen of
Norwich, the fabricator of his own fortune, which it is
thought he had accumulated by all the tricks of selfishness
and narrow prudence. He educated his son, however, as
a scholar, at St. John’s college, Cambridge. Here he took
the degree of A. B. in 1578, and for some time travelled
into Italy and Spain. Ou his return, he took his master’s
degree at Clare-hall, in 1583, and was incorporated in the
same at Oxford in 1588, no inconsiderable proof that
hiproficiency in his studies had been very conspicuous, and
that there was nothing at this time grossly objectionable in
his moral demeanour. It is supposed that he took orders
after his return from his travels, and that he was the same
Robert Greene who was presented to the village of Tollesbury, in Essex, June 19, 1584. If this be the case, it is
probable that he did not long reside, or was perhaps driven
from Tollesbury, by his irregular life, the greater part of
which was spent in London. Here, from some passages
cited by Mr. Beloe, it would appear that he gave himself
up to writing plays and love pamphlets, and from the date
of his “Myrrour of Modestie,
” The history of genius,
” says one of our authorities, with equal justice and feeling, “is too often a detail of immoral irregularities, followed by indigence and misery. Such, in after
times, was the melancholy tale of Otway and Lee, of Savage, Boyse, Smart, Burns, Dermody, and many others.
Perhaps the writers of the drama have, of all others, been
the most unfortunate in this respect; perhaps there is
something which more immediately seizes all the avenues
of the fancy in the gorgeous exhibitions of the stage;
which leads men away from the real circumstances of their
fortune, to the delusions of hope, and to pursue the fairy
lights so hostile to sober truth.
” In what species of dissipation, and to what degree Greene indulged, it were useless now to inquire his faults were probably exaggerated
by the rival wits of his day and his occupation as a playwriter being in itself at that time looked upon as criminal,
was barely tolerated. Among his errors, about which we
are afraid there is now no doubt, may be mentioned his
marrying an amiable lady, whom he deserted and ill-used.
His career, however, was short. He died Sept. 5, 1592,
at an obscure lodging near Dowgate, not without signs of
contrition, nor indeed without leaving behind him written
testimonies that he was more frequently conscious of an.
ill-spent life than able or willing to amend it. In some of
his works also, he made strenuous exertions to warn the
unthinking, and expose the tricks, frauds, and devices of
his miscreant companions. His works, says one of his
biographers, contain the seeds of virtue, while his acts
display the tares of folly. From such of his writings as
have fallen 'in our way, he appears to possess a rich and
glowing fancy, great command of language, and a perfect
knowledge of the manners of the times. As a poet he has
considerable merit, and few of his contemporaries yield a
more pleasant employment to the collectors of specimens.
His writings attained great popularity in his day, but until
very lately, have been seldom consulted unless by poetical
antiquaries. The following list of his works, by Mr. Haslewood, is probably complete: 1. “The Myrrour of Modestie,
” Monardo the Tritameron of Love,
”
Planetomachia,
” Euphues’s censure to Pbilautus,
” Arcadia
or Menaphon, Camillae’s alarm to slumbering Euphues,
”
Pandosto the Triumph of Time,
” Perimedes
the blackesmith,
” The pleasant and delightful
history of Dorastiis and Favvnia,
” Alcida, Greene’s Metamorphosis,
”
The Spanish Masquerade,
” Orpharion,
” The Royal Exchange, contayning
sundry aphorisms of Philosophic,
” Greene’s
mourning garment, given him by Repentance at the funerals of Love,
” Never too late,
” A notable discovery of
Coosenage,
” The ground work of
Conny Catching,
” 159U 18. “The second and last part
of Conny Catching,
” The third and
last part of Conny Catching,
” Disputation,
between a hee conny-catcher and a shee conny-catcher,
”
Greene’s Groatsworth of wit bought with a
million of repentance,
” Philomela, the lady FitzwalterV
nightingale,
” A quip for an
upstart courtier,
” r$92, 162O, 1625, 1635, and reprinted in 1
the Harleian Miscellany. 24. “Ciceronis amor, Tullie’s
love,
” News
both from heaven and hell,
” The Black
Book’s Messenger, or life and death of Ned Browne,
” The repentance of Robert Greene,
” Greene’s vision at the instant of his death,
” no date.
29. “Mamillia, or the triumph of Pallas,
” Mamillia, or the second part of the triumph of Pallas,
”
Card of Fancy,
” Greene’s
funerals,
” The
honourable history of Fryer Bacon and Fryer Bongay, a
comedy,
” The history of
Orlando Furioso, a play,
” 1S94, 1599. 35. “The comical
historic of Alphonsus king of Arragon, a play,
” A looking-glass for London and England,
” a comedy,
jointly with Lodge, The Scottish Historic of James the Fourthe, si ai ue at Flodden, intermixed
with a pleasant comedie,
” Penelope’s
Webb,
” Historic of Faire Bellora,
” no date,
afterwards published, as “A paire of Turtle doves, or the
tragical history of Bellora and Fidelio,
” The
debate between Follie and Love, translated out'of French,
”
Thieves falling out, true men come by their
goods,
” Greene’s Farewell to Folie,
” Arbasto, the history of Arbasto king of Denmarke,
” FairEmme, a comedy,
” The
history of lobe,
” a play, destroyed, but mentioned in Warburton’s list. A few other things have been ascribed toGreene on doubtful authority.
highly commending her conduct in that respect, and carried his complaisance so far as to declare the French happy above all other nations in having such a sovereign. In
In the year 595, he refused to send the empress Constantia any relics of St. Paul, which she had requested, desiring to look at the body of that apostle. On this occasion he relates several miraculous punishments for such a rash attempt, all as simply devised as those in his< Dialogues." The same year he warmly opposed John patriarch of Constantinople, for assuming the title of oecumenical or universal, which he himself disclaimed, as having Do right to reduce the other bishops to be his substitutes; and afterwards forbad his nuncio there to communicate with that patriarch, till he should renounce the title. His humility, however, did not keep him from resenting an affront put upon his understanding, as he thought, by the emperor, for proposing terms of peace to the Lombards, who besieged Rome this year: the same year he executed the famous mission into England; and as Brunehaut, queen of France, had been very serviceable in it, he wrote a letter of thanks to her on the occasion. The princess is represented as a profligate woman, but very liberal to the ecclesiastics; founding churches and convents, and even sueing t9 the pope for relics. This was a kind of piety which particularly pleased Gregory; and accordingly, he wrote to the queen several letters, highly commending her conduct in that respect, and carried his complaisance so far as to declare the French happy above all other nations in having such a sovereign. In the year 598, at the request of the Christian people at Caprita, a small island at the bottom of the gulph of Venice, he ordered another bishop to be ordained for that place, in the room of the present prelate, who adhered to the Istrian schism. This was done contrary to the orders of the emperor Maurice, against taking any violent measures with schismatics.
y easily separate the truths contained in it from the falsehoods. This work has been translated into French by the abbeé de Marolles, 1668, 2 vols. 8vo.
, St., or frequently called Geregius
Florentius Gregorius, an eminent bishop and writer of
the sixth century, descended from a noble family of AuTergne, was born about the year 544. He was educated
by his uncle Gallus, bishop of Clermont, and became so
eminent for learning and virtue, as to be appointed bishop
of Tours in the year 573. He assisted at the council held
at Paris in the year 577, respecting Pretextat, bishop of
Rouen, and strongly opposed the violence of some of the
members of that assembly, particularly Chilperic and Fredegonde. He went afterwards to visit the tomb of > the
apostles at Rome, where he formed a friendship with St.
Gregory the Great, and died Norember 27, 595. This
bishop wrote a “History of France,
” in ten books; eight
books of “The Miracles, or Lives of the Saints;
” and
other works, in the library of the fathers. The best edition-is that by Dom Ruinart, 1699, fol. His history is very
useful; for though the style is dry and coarse, and the
author extremely simple and credulous, yet an ingenious
critic may easily separate the truths contained in it from
the falsehoods. This work has been translated into French
by the abbeé de Marolles, 1668, 2 vols. 8vo.
? historical, ecclesiastical, ritual, and oriental learning, and a considerable master of the Saxon, French, Italian, Spanish, and all the eastern languages. All these
, a learned divine of a different family from the preceding, wus born November 10, 1607, at
Agmondesham, in Buckinghamshire. There appeared in
his infancy such a strong inclination to learning, as recommended him to the notice of some persons of the best rank
in the town; and, his parents being well respected for their
piety and honesty, it was resolved to give him a liberal
education at the university, the ex pence of which they
were not able to support. To this purpose, he was chosen
at the age of fifteen, by Dr. Crooke, to go with sir William
Drake to Christ church, in Oxford, whom he attended in
the station of a servitor, and he was soon after retained by
sir Robert Crook in the same capacity; Dr. George MorJey, afterwards bishop of Winchester, was their tutor. Mr.
Gregory made the best use of this favour, and applied
so closely to his studies, for several years at the rate
of sixteen hours each day, that he became almost a prodigy for learning. He took his first degree in arts in 1628,
and commenced master in 1631; about which time, entering into orders, the dean, Dr. Brian Duppa, gave him
a chaplain’s place in that cathedral. In 1634, he published
a second edition of sir Thomas Ridley’s “View of the Civil
and Ecclesiastical Law,
” 4to, with notes; which was well
received, and afforded the world eminent proofs of his extensive knowledge; the notes shewing him well versed in?
historical, ecclesiastical, ritual, and oriental learning, and
a considerable master of the Saxon, French, Italian, Spanish, and all the eastern languages. All these acquisitions
were the pure fruit of his own industry; for he had no assistance, except for the Hebrew tongue, in which Mr. John
Dod, the decalogist, gave him some directions, during one
vacation that he resided with him near Banbury. His merit engaged the farther kindness of Dr. Duppa; and, when
that prelate was promoted to the bishopric of Chichester
in 1638, he made Mr. Gregory his domestic chaplain, and
some time after gave him a prebend in that church. His
patron also continued his favours after his translation to the
see of Salisbury in 1G41, when he seated him in a stall of
that cathedral.
mong others he was many years editor of the” New Annual Register,“conducted through the whole of the French war with bitter hostility to the measures of the British government.
The greater part of Dr. Gregory’s time, after his arrival
in London, was spent in literary employment, and principally in compilations that were successful and useful. He
was the first who, about 1782-3, suggested a series of extracts from eminent authors, which were published by the late
Mr. Kearsley of Fleet-street, under the name of “Beauties,
” and had a very extensive sale. He afterwards published an original work, entitled “Essays historical and
moral,
” 2.
” Church History,“1788, and 1795, 2 vols. 3.
” Life of
Chatterton,“1780, 8vo, inserted afterwards in the
” Biographia Britannica,“for which it was originally intended.
4.
” Sermons,“1789. 5. A translation of Telemachus, or
rather a revisal of Hawkesworth’s translation, 1795, 4to.
6.
” The Economy of Nature,“3 vols. 8vo. 7.
” A Dictionary of Arts and Sciences,“1806, 2 vols. 4to. To some
of these it is supposed he contributed little more than his
name; but the number of works which he compiled without his name, would furnish perhaps a more numerous list.
Among others he was many years editor of the
” New Annual Register,“conducted through the whole of the French
war with bitter hostility to the measures of the British government. He took advantage, however, of the short interval of peace, to give it a turn favourable to the then administration, which it is said procured him the living of
West Ham. He left in the press
” Letters on Natural and
Experimental Philosophy,“and a
” Series of Letters to
his Son," which have since been published.
e persisted in refusing their offers. He died December 31, 1588. His works have been translated into French by Mr. Girard, in 2 vols. folio, and 10 vols. 8vo. They are
, a celebrated Dominican in the
sixteenth century, one of the greatest masters of what
Roman catholics call the spiritual life, was born in 1504, at
Grenada. He was educated in the house of the marquis
de Mondejar, and acquired great reputation by his piety,
preaching, and writings. The kings of Portugal and Castile had a particular esteem for him, and would have raised
him to the highest ecclesiastical dignities, but he persisted in refusing their offers. He died December 31,
1588. His works have been translated into French by
Mr. Girard, in 2 vols. folio, and 10 vols. 8vo. They are
said to be written with uncommon eloquence of style, and
contain solid instruction. The principal are, “The Sinner’s Guide,
” 1 vol. the “Memorial of the Christian Life,
”
with the supplement, 3 vols. a “Treatise on Prayer,
” 2
vols. an excellent “Catechism,
” 4 vols. the edition of
1709 is more complete than the preceding ones. “Instructions for Preachers,
” 8vo, a treatise on the duties of
bishops; “Sermons,
” 6 vols. 8vo, Antwerp, 1604, in
Latin the Life of the Holy Priest, Avila, &C.
, a French poet of considerable eminence, was born 1709, at Amiens, entered
, a French poet of
considerable eminence, was born 1709, at Amiens, entered among the Jesuits at 16, and quitted the society at
the age of 26, about the end of J735. It was about this
time his “Ver Vert
” first came out, which has been so
justly admired, as the production of a genius (in Rousseau’s judgment) “at once refined, embellished, ornamented;
”
appearing in short, “in all its perfection.
” This great
poet considers the author as “displaying in his familiar
style, whatever is most brilliant in poetry, and every idea
>vith which a complete knowledge of the world could furnish a man who had passed his whole life in it.
” He thought
the same of the “Chartreuse,
” another of his productions,
but accused its author of negligence in his other pieces,
being of opinion that the familiar style did not exclude the
perfection of poetry. M. Cresset was admitted into the
French academy in 1748, and gave up poetry that he
might devote himself wholly to works of piety, and died
June 16, 1777, at Amiens, after having received letters of
nobility, and been appointed historiographer of the order
of St. Lazore. He married in 1751, mademoiselle Galland, daughter of a merchant of Amiens, but had no
children. Besides the pieces above-mentioned, he wrote
“Le Lutrin vivant;
” Les Ombres;“” Epistles;“66 Odes
” a poetical translation of Virgil’s Eclogues
“Edward III.
” a tragedy “Sidney,
” and “Le Mechant,
”
comedies the latter of which is deservedly admired.
They have all been collected in 1748, 2 vols. 12mo. Two
little poems in the style of “Ver Vert
” were found among
his papers, one entitled “Le Gazetin;
” the other, “Le
Parrain Magnifique,
” but not the two cantos which he had
added to the Ver Vert. This last poem has been versified
in English by Gilbert Cooper, and by Dr. Geddes.
g date April 25, 1583. In the midst of these civil employments he made a conspicuous figure when the French ambassadors, accompanied by great numbers of their nobility,
During his excursions abroad, his royal mistress granted him the reversion of two of the best offices in the court of the marches of Wales, one of which falling to him in 1580, he met with some difficulties about the profits. In this contest he experienced the friendship of sir Philip Sidney, who by a letter written to his father’s secretary, Mr. Molyneux, April 10, 1581, prevailed on him not to oppose his cousin Greville' s title in any part or construction of his patents; and a letter of sir Francis Walsingham to the president, the next day, April 11, put an end to the opposition that had been made from another quarter. This office appears to be clerk of the signet to the council of Wales, which is said to have brought him in yearly above 2000l. arising chiefly from the processes which went out of that court, all of which are made out by that officer. He was also constituted secretary for South and North Wales by the queen’s letters patent, bearing date April 25, 1583. In the midst of these civil employments he made a conspicuous figure when the French ambassadors, accompanied by great numbers of their nobility, were in England a second time to treat of the queen’s marriage with the duke of Anjou, in 1581. Tilts and tournaments were the courtly entertainments in those days; and they were performed in the most magnificent manner on this occasion by two noblemen, beside sir Philip Sidney and Fulk Greville, who with the rest behaved so bravely as to win the reputation of a most gallant knight. In 1586 these two friends were separated by the unfortunate death of the former, who be* queathed to his dear friend one moiety of his books.
, a French poet and physician, was born at Clermont, in Beauvoisis, in
, a French poet and physician, was
born at Clermont, in Beauvoisis, in 1533. He began early
to write, producing his tragedy of the “Death of Caesar
”
in his fifteenth year; and practised physic with success.
He was long retained in the service of Margaret of France,
duchess of Savoy, whom he followed to Piedmont. He
king of his dramas, give him this favourable testimony, “that he effaced all who preceded him on the French stage, and that eight or ten such poets as he would have put
* Lord Orford erroneously attributes 4to, which was evidently written by
to him “Sir Fulke Grevilta’s Five one of the presbyterian party, and was
Yeares of king James, or the condition afterwards republishetl, with additions,
of the state of England, and the rela- under the title of
” The first Fourteen
tion it had to other provinces,“1643, Years of king James,
” 1651, 4to.
died at Turin the 5th of November 1573. There are three
plays extant of his: “The Treasurer’s Wife,
” a comedy,
in Death of Caesar,
” a tragedy; and the
“Frighted Ones, (Les Esbahis)
” a comedy, both acted the
same day at the college of Beauvais in 1560. Grevin,
though snatched away by a premature death, had acquired
a great reputation, not only as a poet, but as a physician.
Some of his countrymen, speaking of his dramas, give him
this favourable testimony, “that he effaced all who preceded him on the French stage, and that eight or ten such
poets as he would have put it on a good footing, his versification being easy and smooth, especially in his comedies,
and his plots well contrived.
” His poems and plays were
printed at Paris, 1561, 8vo. He left also a “Treatise on
Poisons,
” and another “against Antimony,
” both translated
into Latin, and printed in 4to. It was by his means that
the absurd decree of the faculty of Paris, afterwards confirmed by parliament, against the use of antimony in medicine, was passed. He was a Calvinist, and united with Rochandieu and Florence Christian in their ingenious poem
entitled “The Temple,
” which they wrote against Ronsard, who had abused the Calvinists in his discourse on the
Miseries of Time."
hilosopher, “who hath said in his heart there is no God” The works of Grew were soon translated into French and Latin, but the latter very incorrectly. His funeral sermon
In 1681 Dr. Grew published a folio volume, entitled
“Museum Regalis Societatis,
” or a catalogue and description of the natural and artificial rarities belonging to the
Royal Society, and preserved at Gresbam college. This
is a scientific and descriptive catalogue, with learned references to preceding writers. It is accompanied by “the
Comparative Anatomy of Stomachs and Guts begun, being
several lectures read before the Royal Society in 1676.
”
Twenty-two plates illustrate the first part of this volume,
and nine the latter, which were given to him by Daniel
Coiwell, esq. the founder of the collection. The latest
publication of our author was “Cosmographia Sacra, or a
Discourse of the Universe, as it is the creature and kingdom of God.
” He was an illustrious proof that it is the
fool, and not the philosopher, “who hath said in his heart
there is no God
” The works of Grew were soon translated
into French and Latin, but the latter very incorrectly. His
funeral sermon was preached at the meeting in the Old
Jewry by the rev. John Shower. It appears by this discourse that Dr. Grew illustrated his learned character by a
life of strict piety, humility, and charity.
a proficiency as amazed them both. Her own language she spoke and wrote with peculiar accuracy: the French, Italian, Latin, and it is said Greek, were as natural to her
Her father had himself a tincture of letters, and was a great patron of the learned. He had two chaplains, Harding, and Aylmer afterwards bishop of London, both men of distinguished learning, whom he employed as tutors to his daughter; and under whose instructions she made such a proficiency as amazed them both. Her own language she spoke and wrote with peculiar accuracy: the French, Italian, Latin, and it is said Greek, were as natural to her as her own. She not only understood them, but spoke and wrote them with the greatest freedom: she was versed likewise in Hebrew, Chaldee, and Arabic, and all this while a mere child. She had also a sedateness of temper, a quickness of apprehension, and a solidity of judgment, that enabled her not only to become the mistress of languages, but of sciences; so that she thought, spoke, and reasoned, upon subjects of the greatest importance, in a manner that surprized all. With these endowments, she had so much mildness, humility, and modesty, that she set no value upon those acquisitions. She was naturally fond of literature, and that fondness was much heightened as well by the severity of her parents in the feminine part of her education, as by the gentleness of her tutor Aylmer in this: when mortified and confounded by the unmerited chicling of the former, she returned with double pleasure to the lessons of the latter, and sought in Demosthenes and Plato, who were her favourite authors, the delight that was denied her in all other scenes of life, in which she mingled but little, and seldom with any satisfaction. It is true, her alliance to the crown, as well as the great favour in which the marquis of Dorset her father stood both with Henry VIII. and Edward VI. unavoidably brought her sometimes to court, and she received many marks of Edward’s attention; yet she seems to have continued for the most part in the country at Bradgate.
ght to her father, to be instructed in midwifery; that she was mistress of Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and French, and understood the mathematics as well as most men: and what,”
, a very extraordinary woman, (whose maiden name is nowhere mentioned), was born
in the county of Kilkenny in Ireland, and married to Mr.
George Grierson, printer in Dublin. She died in 1733,
at the age of twenty-seven; and was allowed to be an excellent scholar, not only in Greek and Roman literature,
but in history, divinity, philosophy, and mathematics. She
gave a proof of her knowledge in the Latin tongue by her
dedication of the Dublin edition of Tacitus to lord Carteret; and by that of Terence to his son, to whom she likewise wrote a Greek epigram. Dr. Harwood esteems her
Tacitus one of the best edited books ever published.
Among the editions of her husband’s press, is a very fine
one of Dupin’s Ecclesiastical History, 1724, 3 vols. folio,
a rare book in this country. Mrs. Grierson composed some
poems in English, several of which are inserted by Mrs.
Barber amongst her own. When lord Carteret was lordlieutenant of Ireland, he obtained a patent for Mr. Grierson, her husband, to be the king’s printer; and, to distinguish and reward her uncommon merit, had her life inserted in it. Besides her parts and learning, she was also
a woman of great virtue and piety. Mrs. Pilkington has
recorded some particulars of her, and tells us, that, “when
about eighteen years of age, she was brought to her father,
to be instructed in midwifery; that she was mistress of
Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and French, and understood the
mathematics as well as most men: and what,
” says Mrs.
Pilkington, “made these extraordinary talents yet more
surprising was, that her parents were poor illiterate country people; so that her learning appeared like the gife
poured out on the apostles, of speaking all the languages
without the pains of study.
” Mrs. Pilkington inquired of
her, where she had gained this prodigious knowledge: to
which Mrs. Grierson sail, that “she had received some
little instruction from the minister of the parish, when she,
could spare time from her needle-work, to which she was
closely kept by her mother.
” Mrs. Pilkington adds, that
“she wrote elegantly both in verse and prose; that her
turn was chiefly to philosophical or divine subjects; that
her piety was not inferior to her learning; and that some
of the most delightful hours she herself had ever passed
were in the conversation of this female philosopher.
” Her
son, who was also his majesty’s printer at Dublin, and instructed by her, was a man of uncommon learning, great
wit, and vivacity. He died in Germany, at the age of
twenty-seven. Dr. Johnson highly respected his abilities,
and often observed, that he possessed more extensive knowledge than any man of his years he had ever known. His
industry was equal to his talents, he particularly excelled
in every species of philological learning, and was perhaps
the best critic of his time.
, a French writer of considerable reputation, was born October 9, 1698,
, a French writer of considerable
reputation, was born October 9, 1698, at Moulins. He
entered early among the Jesuits at Paris, was professor of
belles lettres in the college of Louis le Grand, and distinguished himself afterwards in the pulpit. On the dissolution of his order, he retired to Brussels, where he died of
a nephritic cholic, February 22, 1775. His works are, 1.
An edition of Daniel’s “History of France,
” Paris, Traité des differentes sortes de preuves qui servent à etablir la verite de
l'Histoire,
” Liege, Sermons,
” Liege, Anneé du Chretien,
”
Paris, Latin Poems,
” written
at college, of indifferent character. 6. An improved edition of‘ D’Avrigny’s Memoirs, 1757, 5 vols. 12mo. 7.
“Insuffisance de la religion naturelle,
” Liege, 2 vols.
12mo. 8. An enlarged edition of the “Delices des Pays
Bas,
” Liege,
a city life, passed several years with a relation in the country of Ireland, where he read, learned French, and “studied husbandry philosophically.” He then engaged in
, a lady once of some note a
a writer of novels and plays, whose maiden name was
Griffith, was of Welch descent, and early in life married
Richard Griffith, a gentleman of a good family, but reduced fortune, in Ireland. The first performance by which
she became known was entitled “The Letters of Henry
and Frances,
” which are said to contain the genuine correspondence between her and her husband before their marriage, and for some years after. They were published at
the particular request of Margaret countess of Cork, who
was one of her friends, and privy to her connexion with
Mr. Griffith, which was at first kept secret. From these
letters, a few particulars of the private history of the parties may be collected. Mr. Griffith appears to have received no regular education, although in his youth he had
evinced some talents for poetry; he introduced himself,
however, by degrees into “the genteelest and most reputable company;
” but tired of a city life, passed several
years with a relation in the country of Ireland, where he
read, learned French, and “studied husbandry philosophically.
” He then engaged in a farm and the linen manufacture; and about 1760 appears to have received a
place from the duke of Bedford, at that time lord lieutenant of Ireland. His acquaintance with Mrs. Griffith was
accidental, and commenced on his parr, to use his own
phrase, “as an act of gallantry
” but rinding “no probability of success,
” a strange declaration and being
enafrioured with her writings, conversation, and character, became, at last, a real and honourable lover, but declined
matrimony for several years, as she had no fortune, and his
expectations from his father were much larger than they
were likely to turn out. At length, however, they married,
about the year 1752; and their first publication was this
correspondence, published by subscription, and not very
successful with any class of readers, not even the sentimentalists, for whom it was chiefly calculated. Some of
the letters, however, are of a superior cast, and contain
many sensible remarks on books, men, and manners. Their
next publication, which was also written in conjunction,
was “Two Novels, in Letters, 4 vols. the first and second,
entitled Delicate Distress, by Frances the third and fourth,
entitled the Gordian Knot, by Henry,
” The Triumvirate; or the authentic Memoirs of A. B. and C.
” 2 vols. 12mo, a novel of so Joose a
kind, that even his wife could not venture to recommend it
to the fair sex, and yet adds her opinion that “every gentleman will read it with pleasure, and I trust without any
injury to his morals.
” Of Mr. Griffith’s performances we
hear no more, nor have been able to ascertain the time of
his death. Mrs. Griffith’s other novels were “Lady Barton,
” and “Juliana HarJey.
” She also wrote some dramas
which had various success, but none of them have preserved their station on the stage. One of her most agreeable publications svas “The Morality of Shakspeare’s
Drama illustrated,
” The Adventures of Pierre Viaud,
” and the
“Letters of Ninon de L'Enclos,
” c. She died Jan. 3,
1793, at Millecenr, in the county of Kildare. She was unquestionably a woman of considerable literary talents, but
does not appear to have found in her lover and husband
the judgment which could give them a proper direction.
Nor did he contribute much to bar happiness in his latter
days. He had long accustomed himself to the cant of sentiment, which is too frequently mistaken for genuine moral
feeling. When in his grand climacteric, he seduced a girl
of fortune and consequence, with whom he lived the reminder of his days. The libehine notions in his “
Triumvirate
” appear to have been more predominant
sense he affected to entertain of pure morals in his “Letters.
”
d always carried on a correspondence; and he was very instrumental in obtaining a settlement for the French protestants in their own way of worship, approaching to the
Strype has ably vindicated his memory from the misrepresentations of Fuller and Heylin, who consider him as too much inclined to puritanism; and observes, that in the times in which he lived, when he was better known, his episcopal abilities, and admirable endowments for spiritual government, as well as his great learning, were much celebrated. He was a man, says Strype, of great firmness and resolution, though of a mild and affable temper, and friendly disposition; in his deportment courteous and engaging, not easily provoked, well spoken, and easy of access; and in his elation not at all affecting grandeur or state, always obliging in his carriage, as well as kind and grateful to his servants, and of a free and generous spirit. Strype allows, what indeed is obvious, that he used great moderation towards the puritans, to whose interest in the cabinet, joined to his own merits, his preferment was in a great measure owing; and had they repaid this moderation by a corresponding behaviour, he would have less seldom incurred the displeasure of the court , who thought his favours ill-bestowed on men of restless and turbulent dispositions. He had a great respect for the eminent reformers abroad, Calvin, Luther, Melancthon, Bucer, Peter Martyr, Bullinger, Zanchius, and others, with whom he had contracted a friendship during his exile, and always carried on a correspondence; and he was very instrumental in obtaining a settlement for the French protestants in their own way of worship, approaching to the Genevan, who were allowed to assemble in the Walloon church in Threadneedle-street, which has ever since been a French church.
, a French topographer and engraver, was born in 1689 at Sedan, and going
, a French topographer and engraver, was born in 1689 at Sedan, and going to Paris,
entered the congregation of the priests of St. Lazare, and
was sent by them into Poland, to be professor of divinity
at Cracow. In a short time, however, he returned, and
afterwards quitted his congregation to devote himself entirely to mathematics and topography. He published the
“Plan of Paris/' 1723, a very good work in itself, but
the engraving was too imperfect at which the abbe de
Grive was so vexed, that he broke the plates, and determined, in future, to engrave his works himself, which resolution he executed punctually. Being appointed geographer of Paris, he drew the course of the river Seine,
from its source to its mouth. M. de la Grive assisted M.
Cassini in determining the meridian of Paris, and undertook a very particular and circumstantial account of that
capital, which work was far advanced at the time of his
death, which happened April 1757. The first two drawings
of this vast plan have been published by M. Hugnin, hi*
pupil. The other most esteemed works of the abbe de la
Grive are, his
” Environs de Paris;“Jardins de Marly
”
“Terrier du Domaine du Roi aux Environs de Paris
”
Plan de Versailles,“&c. He also left
” Le Manuel de
Trigonometric Spherique," published in 1754.
rted in his son’s” Thesaurus.“19.” Oratio tie lege regia, &c.“Leyden, 1678. A translation of this in French was published by Barbeyrac with Noodt’s treatise upon liberty
Frederic Gronovius was the author of many critical
works. Besides his edition of Casaubon’s Epistles, Hague,
1638, in 4to, he published the following 1. “Diatribe in
Statii Poetce Sylvas,
” Hague, Anti-Diatribe
” at Paris,
1639j 24mo, Gronovius published, 2. “Elenchus AntiDiatribes Mercurii Frondatoris ad Statii Sylvas,
” Paris,
Muscarium ad Statii Sylvas,
” Paris, De Sestertiis, sive subsecivorum Pecunise veteris Graecae & Romanae Libri IV. Accesserunt Lucius Volusius Maecianus,
J. C. & Balbus Mensor de Asse,
” &c. Deventer, 1643,
6vo, Amsterdam, 1656, 8vo, and Leyden, 1691, 4to, in
which last edition, published by his son James Gronovius,
are added “Paschasii Grosippi, (i. e. Casparis Schioppii)
Tabulo3 Numerarije; Johannis Freder. Gronovii Mantissa
pecunise veteris, & tres 'AvreZnyweis de Fcenere Unciario &
centesimis Usuris; item de Hyperpyro; Salmasii Epistola
& ad earn Responsio; & Aoyaoiw Tlateua ua\ Nea, Græcè &
Latinè.
” 4. “Notæ in Senecam Philosophum & Rhctorein;
” first printed separately at Leyden, Seneca cum
Notis Variorum,
” Monobiblos Ecclesiasticarum Observationum,
” Deventer, 1652, i'2mo. 7.
” Statins
ex recensione J. F. Gronovii, cum ejusdem Notis,“Amsterdam, 1653. Our author’s notes were reprinted in the
edition of Statius published by John Veenhusius at Leyden, 1671, in 8vo. And Statius as revised by him was published by Christian Daumius with the Commentaries of
Barthius in 2 vols. 4to, at Zwickaw in 1664. 8.
” Senecae
Tragcedise cum Notis Johannis Frederici Gronovii & variip
aliorum,“Leyden, 1661, 8vo. His Notes were reprinted
with improvements in the edition of Seneca’s tragedies
published by his son James Gronovius at Amsterdam, 1682,
8vo. 9.
” Observationum Libri tres,“Leyden, 1662, 8vo.
10.
” Plautus ex recensione Joh. Fred. Gronovii, cum
Notis Variorum,“Leyden, 1664, and 1684, 8vo. 11.
” Titus Livius ex recensione & cum Notis Joh. Frid, Gronovii, additis integris Caroli Sigonii & selectis Variorum
Notis,“Amsterdam, 1665, and 1679, 3 vols. 8vo; which
last edition of 1679 is preferable to the former, on account
of the notes of Henry Valesius and James Gronovius, which
were added to it. Our author had published an edition of
Livy revised by him at Leyden in 1645 and 1654 in 3 vols.
12mo, and in 1661 and 1678, in one volume, 12mo. His
Notes upon Livy were printed separately at Leyden in
1645, 12mo. But several things in this edition of 1645
are omitted in the larger editions of 1675 and 1679. 12.
” Plinii Historia Naturalis,“Leyden, 1669, 3 vols. 8vo.
13.
” Tacitus,“Amsterdam, 1673, 2 vols. 8vo, reprinted
at Amsterdam, 1685, 2 vols. 8vo. 14.
” Notae in Hugonis
Grotii Libros tres de Jure Belli & Pacis,“Amsterdam,
1680, 8vo. 15.
” Observationes ad Bened. Petrocorii de
Vita B. Martini carminum libros sex,“published in Daumius’s edition of Petrocorius, Leipsic, 1682, 8vo. 16.
” Auli Gellii Noctes Attics,“Leid. 1687, 8vo. His notes
are reprinted in his son’s edition, Leid. 1706. 17.
” Nota3
in Phsedri Fabulas,“published by his son in the edition of
Leyden, 1703, 8vo. 18.
” De Musseo Alexandrino Dissertatio,“inserted in his son’s
” Thesaurus.“19.
” Oratio
tie lege regia, &c.“Leyden, 1678. A translation of this
in French was published by Barbeyrac with Noodt’s treatise upon liberty of conscience, Amst. 1714, 8vo. A great
many of Gronovius’s Letters are published in Burman’s
*' Sylloge Epistolarum.
”
, a learned French theologian, was born in December 1675, at Rheims, of obscure
, a learned French theologian,
was born in December 1675, at Rheims, of obscure and
poor parents. The religious of St. Genevieve, who served
the parish of St. Denis at Rheims, undertook his education, and he was admitted doctor of divinity in that city in
1702, and became successively chaplain at Notre Dame,
canon of the collegiate church of St. Symphorien, and, in
1704, canon of the cathedral at Rheims. He was also
made governor of the little seminary of St. James by M
Le Tellier, but was deprived of that office on this gentleman’s death in 1710, and forbidden to preach or confess,
on account of his zealous opposition to the bull Unigenitus.
Being afterwards excommunicated by M. de Maille, who
succeeded M. le Tellier as archbishop of Rheims, he went
to Paris, and afterwards to Holland, where he remained
ubout a year with father Quesnel and Messrs. Petitpied
and Fouillou; but when Louis XIV. died, the proceedings
at Rheims were declared null, and M. le Gros returned
thither in 1716. He was a zealous promoter of the appeal
to a future council, and was the soul of the faculty of theoJogy; but M. de Mailli obtained a lettre dt cachet against
him in 1721, by which he was banished to St. John de Luz.
This sentence, however, he evaded, by living concealed
four or five years. In 1725, he went into Italy to observe
what passed in the council appointed by Benedict XIIL
and at length retired to Holland, and there spent the last
twenty-five years of his life, excepting a voyage he made
to England. The archbishop of Utrecht chose him professor of divinity in his seminary at Amersfort, and he
died at Rhinwick, near Utrecht, December 4, 1751, aged
76. His principal works are, 1. “Le Renversement des
Libenes de l'Eglise Gallicane dans r affaire de la Constitution Unigenitus,
” 2 vols. 12mo. 2. “La Sainte Bible traduite sur les textes originaux, avec les differences de la
Vulgate,
” Sept Lettres
Theolo^iques contre le Traite des Prets de Commerce, et
en ge‘ne’ral contre toute Usure,
” 4to. 4. “Dogma Ecclesiae circa Usurum expositum, et vindicatum;
” with several
other pieces in Latin against usury, 4to. 5. “Observations sur une Lettre attribute a ieu M. de Launoi sur
l'Usure,
” 4to. 6. “Eclaircissement historique et dogmatique sur la Contrition,
” 12mo. 7. “Motifs invincible*
d‘Attachement a l’Eglise Romaine pour les Catholiqnes,
ou de Re-union pour les pretendus Reformes,
” 12mo.
8. “Meditations sur la Concorde des Evangiles,
” 3 vols.
12mo. 9. “Sur l'EpStre aux Remains,
” 2 vols. 12mo.
10. “SurlesEpitrescanoniques,
” 2 vols. 12mo. ll.“Memoire sur les Droits du second Ordre,
” 4to. 12. “Me
”moire sur l'Appel au futur Concile,“4to; several tracts
on the Constitution, the Miracles, ascribed to M.Paris;
the Convulsions, &c. 13.
” Manuel du Chretien,“which
contains the Psalms, the New Testament, and the Imitation, 24to. A book in twelves, entitled
” Eclaircissement sur les Conciles genéraux," is also attributed to M.
le Gros.
, a French antiquary and polite writer, was born at Troyes Nov. 18, 1718,
, a French antiquary and polite writer, was born at Troyes Nov. 18, 1718, and was
educated in the profession of the law, but a decided turn
for literary pursuits interrupted his legal studies, and induced him, in search of knowledge, to travel twice into
Italy, twice into England, and once into Holland, besides
passing a considerable part of every year at Paris, where
he was received into the best company, but would never
settle. His disposition appears to have been amiable and
liberal, as when yet a youth he gave up a legacy of 40,000
livres in favour of his sister. At his own expence, too, he
undertook to embellish the saloon of the town house of his
native city, Troyes, with marble busts of the eminent
natives of that city, executed by Vasse, the king’s sculptor; and the first put up were those of Pithou, le Comte,
Passerat, Girardon, and Mignard. He died in that city,
Nov. 4, 1785, being then an associate of the academy of
inscriptions and belles lettres, and a member of our royal
society. His principal works are, 1. “Recherches pour
Fhistoire du Droit Francois,
” Paris, Vie de Pithou,
” ibid. Observations de deux gentil-hommes Stiedou
sur l'Italie,
” Londres,
” Essais historiques sur la
Champagne.
” 6. “Ephemerides Troyennes,
” continued
for several years, and containing papers relative to the
history of Troyes. He had also a part in the “Memoires
de Pacademie de Troyes,
” and in the last translation of
Davila; and was an useful contributor to the “Journal Encyclopedique,
” from Dictionnaire Historique.
” A Life, written by himself, and some
posthumous pieces, have been lately published,
wards went to Paris, where he prosecuted his studies of Greek and Hebrew, and made himself master of French. Here he also studied the divinity and philosophy of the age,
, an English prelate, and the most learned ecclesiastic of his time, was born probably about 1175, of obscure parents at Stradbrook in Suffolk. He studied at Oxford, where he laid the foundation of his skill in the Greek tongue, and was thus enabled to make himself master of Aristotle, whose works had been hitherto read only in translations: at Oxford too he acquired a knowledge of the Hebrew. He afterwards went to Paris, where he prosecuted his studies of Greek and Hebrew, and made himself master of French. Here he also studied the divinity and philosophy of the age, his proficiency in which was so remarkable as to draw upon him the suspicion of being a magician. At Oxford, on his return, he became celebrated as a divine, and was the first lecturer in the Franciscan school in that university. In 1235 he was elected, by the dean and chapter, bishop of Lincoln, which see was then, and continues still, the largest in England, although Ely, Oxford, and Peterborough have been since taken from it. Grosseteste, who was of an ardent and active spirit, immediately undertook to reform abuses, exhorting 'both clergy and people to religious observances, and perhaps would have been in a considerable degree successful, had he not confided too much in the Dominican and Franciscan friars, as his helpers in the good work. But they being appointed by him to preach to the people, hear their confessions, and enjoin penance, abused these op-portunities by exercising dominion over the superstitious minds of the laity, and enriched themselves at their expence. Although, however, the hypocrisy of the Dominicans and Franciscans in this instance escaped his penetration, he could not be deceived in the dissolute character and ignorance of the more ancient orders, and was very strict in his visitations, and very severe in his censures of their conduct. Partly through this sense of his duty, and his love of justice, and partly from his warmth of temper, he was frequently engaged in quarrels with convents, and other agents of the pope. At one time he was even excommunicated by the convent of Canterbury; but treating this with contempt, he continued to labour in promoting piety, and redressing abuses with his usual zeal, firmness, and perseverance. Although the friars continued to be his favourites, and he rebuked the rectors and vicars of his diocese, because they neglected to hear them preach, and be^ cause they discouraged the people from attending and confessing to them, in time he began to see more clearly into the character of those ecclesiastics. In 1247, two English Francisqans were sent into England with credentials to extort money for the pope; and when they applied, with some degree of insolence, to Grosseteste, for six thousand marks, as the contribution for the diocese of Lincoln, he answered them that (with submission to his holiness), the demand was as dishonourable as impracticable; that the whole body of the clergy and people were concerned in it as well as himself; and that for him to give a definitive answer in an instant to such a demand, before the sense of the kingdom was taken upon it, would be rash and absurd.
, a French protestant clergyman, born at Paris in 1647, was educated in
, a French
protestant clergyman, born at Paris in 1647, was educated
in the reformed religion, and after applying with success
to classical studies, was advised by his father to follow the
law. In 1664, accordingly, he was admitted to the title
and privilege of a doctor of the civil and canon law, and
the year following was received as an advocate at Paris,
and was distinguishing himself, when by the persuasion of
some friends, he quitted his profession, and began to study
divinity at Saumur. In 1675 he was appointed minister
of the church of Lisy, and was ordained. In -1677 and
1678 he received pressing invitations from the churches of
Gien and Amiens, both which he declined, as it was his
intention to spend a few more years in close study. At
length, however, in 1682, he accepted an invitation from
the church at Rouen, but did not remain long connected
with it, a decree of council having separated him from his
flock, and forbid him to come nearer the place than seven
leagues. He was confined by sickness at the time this decree arrived, and on his recovery went to England in 1685,
and connected himself in the exercise of his ministerial
functions with Messieurs Allix and Lombard. In 1694 he
became minister of the Savoy, which office he held until
his death, Sept. 30, 1713. His widow is said to have given
his library to the Savoy church, on Condition of its being
open to the public certain days in every week. He published “Trait< de Pinspiration des livres sacrt-es,
” Amst.
omplete his satisfaction, a sight of the celebrated M. de Thou, or Thuanus, the person among all the French whom he most esteemed. He had eagerly sought an acquaintance
* Their business was, in conjunc- France, against Spain; but this was
tion with lord Cecil, on the part of not successful: Grotius fives a historyEngland, to negociate a triple al- of this embassy in the 7th book of his
liance between England. Holland, and Annals.
M, cle Buzanval, who had been ambassador in Holland, introduced him to the king-, who presented him with his picture and a gold chain, with which Grotius was so highly
flattered, as to have a print engraved of himself, adorned
with the chain. After almost a year’s stay in France he returned home, much pleased with his journey; one thin“only was wanting to complete his satisfaction, a sight of
the celebrated M. de Thou, or Thuanus, the person among
all the French whom he most esteemed. He had eagerly
sought an acquaintance with that great man, and as he did
not succeed, he now resolved to open a literary correspondence, and present him with the first-fruits of his studies in print, which he had just dedicated to the prince of
Conde
”. This was his edition of“Maitianus Capella.
” He
had formed the plan of this work, when only fourteen years
old, almost finished it before he left Holland, and published it presently after his return in 1599. M. de Thou
was extremely well pleased with this address, and from
this time to his death there subsisted an intimate correspondence between them. In 1600, Grotius sent de Thou
an epithalamiuin he had written on the marriage of Henry
IV. with Mary of Medicis, but this is not in the collection
of his poems.
rgomaster of Veer. The marriage was solemnized in July 1608, and celebrated by him in some Latin and French verses, the former of which he translated into Dutch. On this
In 1603, the glory which the United Provinces had obtained by their illustrious defence against the whole power
of Spain, after the peace of Vervins, determined them to
transmit to posterity the signal exploits of that memorable
war; and for this purpose they sought out a proper historian. Several made great interest for the place, and
among others Baudius, the professor of eloquence at Leyden. But the States thought young Grotius, who had
taken ao steps to obtain it, deserved the preference; and,
what is singular, Baudius himself did not blame their
choice, because he looked upon Grotius to be already a
very great man. In the execution of this office, he undertook his “Annals,
” which were begun in Mare liberum,
” i. e. “the Freedom of the
Ocean, or the Right of the Dutch to trade to the Indies.
”
The work was printed in Mare clausum, seti
de dominio maris,
” yet, being soon after disgusted with his
country, he took no farther concern in the controversy.
The ensuing year, he published his piece “De antiquitate ReipublieiE Batavae,
” designed to shew the original
independence of Holland and Friesland against the Spanish
claim; and he accordingly dedicated it to those States^
March 16, 1610, who were es-tremely pleased with it, returned thanks to the author, and made him a present.
While it was in the press, Grotius and his father, who
usually assisted him in his writings, translated it into
Dutch.
ble, that of uniting all Christians in one faith. In the midst of these occupations, Du Maurier, the French ambassador in Holland, and his particular
At this time a dispute arose between the English and the Dutch, concerning the right of fishing in the Northern seas. Two Amsterdam vessels, having caught some whales in the Greenland ocean, were met by some English ships bound to Russia; who, finding that the Dutch had no passports from the king of England, demanded the whales, which the Dutchmen, unable to resist, were obliged to deliver. On their arrival in Holland, they made their complaint; and the affair being laid before the States, it was resolved that Grotius, who had written on the subject, and was more master of it than any one, should be sent to England, where his demands were refused. On this the Dutch determined not to send to Greenland for the future without a force sufficient to revenge themselves on the English, or at least to have nothing to fear from them. The dispute growing serious, to prevent any acts of hostility, a conference was held, in 1615, between the commissioners of England and Holland, in which the debate turned chiefly on the whale-fishery; but, the English still insisting on the right to Greenland, which the Dutch refused, the conference broke up without any success. Grotius, who was one of the commissioners from Holland, gives the history of this conference, in a letter to Du Maurier, dated at Rotterdam, June 5, 1615. On this occasion, however, he had reason to be well satisfied with the politeness of king James, who gave him a gracious reception, and was charmed with his conversation. But the greatest pleasure he received at this visit, was the intimate friendship he contracted with Casaubon. Their esteem for each other was increased by a similarity of studies and sentiments, and they both entertained hopes of a scheme, which human agency at least will never render practicable, that of uniting all Christians in one faith. In the midst of these occupations, Du Maurier, the French ambassador in Holland, and his particular
and was introduced to Louis XIII. on the sixth. The great business of this embassy was to obtain the French king’s assistance to Sweden against the imperialists, in transacting
As soon as he could thtis depend upon an establishment, he resolved to renounce his country, and to make it known by some public act, that he considered himself as no longer a Dutchman. In this spirit he sent his brother letters for the prince of Orange and the Dutch to that purport, July 13 of this year: he likewise wrote to Rotterdam, whick had deferred nominating a pensionary after the sentence passed against him, that they might proceed to an election, since they must no longer look upon him as a Dutchman. He set out from Mentz on his embassy to France in the beginning of 1636, and made his public entry into Paris, March 2, and was introduced to Louis XIII. on the sixth. The great business of this embassy was to obtain the French king’s assistance to Sweden against the imperialists, in transacting which, he always supported with great firmness the rights and honours belonging to the rank of an ambassador. He continued in that character in -France till 1644, when he was recalled at his own request. In order to his return, having obtained a passport through Holland, he embarked at Dieppe, and arrived at Amsterdam in 1645, where he was extremely well received, and entertained at the public expence. That city fitted out a vessel to carry him to Hamburgh, where he was, May 16, this year. He went next day to Lubeck, and thence to Wismar, where count Wrangle, admiral of the Swedish fleet, gave him a splendid entertainment, and afterwards sent a man of war with him to Calmar, whither the chancellor sent a gentleman with his coach to bring him to Suderacher. He continued there about a fortnight with the chancellor and other ambassadors, who treated him with great honours. Returning to Calmar, he went by land to Stockholm, whither queen Christina came from Upsal to see him.
n which reason lies buried under a mass of authorities and quotations. This fashion originated among French wits and declaimers, and it has been, I know not for what reason,
It seems universally allowed that Grotius’s treatise “On
the Truth of Christianity
” is the most valuable of his theological writings. This has been translated into almost every
European, and into some of the Eastern languages, and is
still used at schools and universities as a text book. In
English we have at least five translations of it. But the
work on which his fame principally rests is his treatise “De
Jure Belli ac Pacis,
” in which he first reduced the law of
nations to a system. It wns by the advice of lord Bacon
and Peiresc that he undertook this arduous task. “Few
works,
” says an elegant modern writer, “were more celebrated than that of Grotius in his own days, and in the
age which succeeded. It has, however, been the fashion
of the last half century to depreciate his work as a shapeless
compilation, in which reason lies buried under a mass of
authorities and quotations. This fashion originated among
French wits and declaimers, and it has been, I know not
for what reason, adopted, though with far greater moderation and decency, by some respectable writers among ourselves. As to those who first used this language, the most
candid supposition that we can make with respect to them
is, that they never read the work; for, if they had not
been deterred from the perusal of it by such a formidable
display of Greek characters, they must soon have discovered that Grotius never quotes on any subject till he has
first appealed to some principles, and often, in my humble
opinion, though not always, to the soundest and most rational principles.
y, like Cicero, of imbibing the elements of learning from his mother, Catharine Tishem; who, besides French, Italian, and English, was complete mistress of Latin, and so
, a celebrated philologer,
was born December 3, 1560, at Antwerp. He was the
son of John Walter Gruter, burgomaster of Antwerp;
who, having, among others, signed the famous petition tq
the duchess of Parma, the governess of the Netherlands,
which gave rise to the word Gueux (Beggars), was banished
his country. He crossed the sea to Norwich in England,
taking his wife (who was an English woman) and family
along with him. Young Gruter was then but an infant; he
had the peculiar felicity, like Cicero, of imbibing the elements of learning from his mother, Catharine Tishem;
who, besides French, Italian, and English, was complete
mistress of Latin, and so well skilled in Greek that she
could read Galen in the original. The family found an
hospitable asylum in England, where they resided several
years, and at a proper age sent their son to complete his
education at Cambridge. His parents, after some time,
repassing the sea to Middleburg, the son followed them to
Holland and, going to Leyden, studied the civil law, and
took his doctor’s degree there in that faculty but,
applying himself at the same time to polite literature, he became an early author, as appears by some Latin verses
which he published, under the title of “Ocelli,
” at twenty
years of age.
, a learned French abbé, prior of St. George de Vigou, a member of the royal society
, a learned French abbé, prior of
St. George de Vigou, a member of the royal society of
London (1742) and of the French academy of sciences, was
born in Languedoc, in 1712, and was the son of John de
Gua, baron of Halves, whose property was swallowed up
in the unfortunate Missisippi Scheme. He was educated
for the church, but appears to have had less ambition for
promotion in that, than to render himself distinguished for
scientific knowledge. When admitted into the academy
of sciences in 1741, he gave a specimen of his skill in
mathematics by publishing “Usages de l'analyse de Descartes,
” and was the author of other papers on mathematical subjects in the Memoirs of the Academy, in one of
which he endeavours to vindicate Descartes against our
Wallis, who, in the abbe’s opinion, wrote his history of
algebra for no other purpose than to bestow upon his coun tryman Hariot, the discoveries that belong to Viete and
Descartes. (See Hariot.) The abbe* was, however, chiefly
distinguished in France for having first given the plan of
the Encyclopedic, although he wrote very little in it. In
1764 he presented a plan for exploring the mines of Languedoc, and was the author of some other projects whick
bad little success. His necessities sometimes drove him to
the business of translating for the booksellers. Amonothese publications we find bishop Berkeley’s “Hylas and
Philonous,
” “Locke’s Essay,
” Anson’s Voyage, and Decker
on trade. He died at Paris, June 2, 1735, leaving the
character of a man of considerable learning and industry,
but not very happy in his temper, and often pursuing
trifling difficulties, which he made a great merit in surmounting, such as complicated anagrams; and on one occasion, in consequence of a sort of challenge, he perplexed
himself in writing a very long poem, in which words only
of one syllable were admitted.
0. His” History of cardinal Mazarine’s Administration“is much esteemed, and has been translated into French, 1671, 3 vols. 12mo;” The Life and Qualities“of the same cardinal,
, an Italian historian, was born 1606, of a noble family at Vincenza. He
was historiographer to the emperor, and distinguished himself in the seventeenth century by his historical works,
written, in a very pleasing style, in Italian; the principal
are, “History of the Wars of Ferdinand II. and Ferdinand
III.
” from 1630 to 1640, fol. “History of Leopold,
” from
from 1648 to 1654. The authors of the
” Journal des
Savans,“March 16, 1665, said they had found as many
errors as words in this work. But Gualdo, not discouraged
by that censure, continued his History to the peace of the
Pyrenees, and reprinted it with that addition at Cologn,
1670. His
” History of cardinal Mazarine’s Administration“is much esteemed, and has been translated into
French, 1671, 3 vols. 12mo;
” The Life and Qualities“of
the same cardinal, a valuable work, which appeared in
French, 1662, 4to
” An account of the Peace of the
Pyrenees" the most ample edition is, Cologn, 1667, 12mo.
This work is likewise much esteemed, and has been translated into Latin, and inserted in the fourth volume of the
Public Law of the Empire, published at Francfort, 1710.
It has been also translated into French. Gualdo died at
Vincenza in 1678.
, a French naval officer, born at St. Malo in 1673, was the son of a merchant
, a French naval officer,
born at St. Malo in 1673, was the son of a merchant who
had been French consul at Malaga, and who commanded
armed vessels, either for war or trade, as circumstances
required. Young Du Guay, led by his example, went on
board a privateer, and performed a number of heroic actions. In 1691, when he was only in his eighteenth year,
he had the command of an armed sloop, carrying fourteen
guns, with which he obtained much success on the coast of
Ireland. Three years after he entered the river of Limerick, and carried off several vessels but falling in with four
English ships, he was obliged to yield, and was taken a
prisoner into Plymouth. In confinement he won the aifootions of a female, who enabled him to make his escape, and
in a short time he appeared again on the coast of England,
where he captured some prizes. In 1695 he took three
rich vessels on the Irish coast, and two Dutch ships on th
coast of Spain: these successes were followed by others
still more important. In 1696 he fell in with baron de
Wassenaer, who with three ships was escorting a fleet of
merchant-men, and took the baron with a part of his convoy. He presented, in person, his prisoner to the king,
and thereupon was removed to the royal navy, and appointed to the command of a frigate. In a few years afterwards he was made captain of a fifty-four gun ship, with
which, it is said, he took an English man-of-war of seventytwo gnus. So brilliant was his career of success, that in
1709 he was rewarded with letters of noblesse, the preamble to which records his having captured more than 300
merchant ships, and 20 ships of war. The most important
f all his exploits was the taking of Rio Janeiro in 1711,
which occasioned a loss to the Portuguese of at least a million sterling. A pension was now forced on him, he having in 1707 refused one that was then offered, requesting
that it might be granted to his second captain, whose thigh
had been shot off. “I,
” said the gallant officer, “am
sufficiently rewarded, if I obtain the advancement of my
friends. 7 ' In 1728 he was made commander of the order
of St. Louis, and lieutenant-general, and in 1731 went at
the head of a squadron to curb the insolence of Algiers
and Tunis, and promote a good understanding between
France and Tripoli. After many other important services,
he died at Paris Sept. 27, 1736, leaving
” Memoirs,"
partly written by his own hand, and partly by a nephew,
which were printed in one vol. 4to. 1740.
, a French writer who attained some share of reputation among the encyclopedists,
, a French
writer who attained some share of reputation among the
encyclopedists, was born at Paris June 6, 1738, in which
city he died Feb. 26, 1812. His countrymen have as yels
given us very little of his history, except that he was,
either by talents or interest, advanced to be a member of
the academies of Marseilles and Lyons, an associate of
the Frencij institute, and a member of that of Auxerre.
He was intimately connected with Beaumarehais, whom
he often assisted with his pen, and passed for his secretary.
In political sentiments he was a disciple of Rousseau, and
eagerly promoted those opinions which led to the revolution. Besides three tragedies of no great merit, he published, i. “Graves observations stir les bonnes moeurs,
”
in poetical tales, published under the name of Frere Prul,
Paris> 1777. 2. “Discours,
” likewise in verse, o h
abolition of slavery, Paris, 1781, in which he compli acnti
Henry IV. as
nt d’Angleterre,” Paris, 1789, 3 vols. 8vo. This was held in such esteem as to gain the prize of the French academy in 1790. 6. “Supplement au Contrat Social,” Paris, 1790,
“Seul roi de qui le pauvre ait garde la incmoirc.
”
3. “Essai sur le progres des arts et de l'esprit sous le regne
de Louis XV.
” Deux Fonts, 1776, Lausanne, 1777. 4.
“Supplement a, la maniere d‘ecrire l’histoire,
” Kiel, Essai sur l‘histoire de Cornices de Rome, des etats generaux de France, et du parlement d’Angleterre,
” Paris,
Supplement au Contrat Social,
” Paris, La
Conquete de Naples,
” Paris, L' Astronomic,
” a
poem, Paris, Contes,
” History of France,
” which, if written
on his principles, is not now likely to be thought worthy
of the press.
e house of the celebrated professor Amyrault, if he would read lectures upon ancient history to some French noblemen.
His learned friends all this while were labouring to serve
him. Grttviiis tried to get him a place at Duisbnrg, but
could not succeed. The magistrates of Amsterdam soon
after offered him a considerable sum to digest and revise
Blondel’s “Remarks upon Baron ius’s Annals,
” and gave
him hopes of a professorship; but receiving a letter from
Gronovius, which proposed to him a better offer, he declined the undertaking. Gronovius proposed to him the
making the tour of France, Italy, and other countries of
Europe, in quality of tutor to a rich young gentleman,
whose name was Samuel Schas; and this proposal he
readily embraced, though he had another letter from Alexander Moms, with the offer of a pension of Saumur, and a
lodging in the house of the celebrated professor Amyrault,
if he would read lectures upon ancient history to some
French noblemen.
, an elegant French writer, was born in 1641, at Paris, and admitted advocate to
, an elegant French writer, was
born in 1641, at Paris, and admitted advocate to the parliament in that city, and although he seldom pleaded, was
much consulted as a chamber counsel, in which rank he
met with great success. He died April 22, 1688, at Paris.
His principal works are, 1. “Les sept Sages de la Grcce.
”
2. “Entretiens sur l'Eloquence de la Chaire et du Barreau.
” 3. “Le Parnassus reforme.
” 4. “La Guerre des
Auteurs.
” 5. “Le Journal du Palais,
” a well-digested
collection of the decrees of parliament, in the compilation
of which he was assisted by Claude Blondeau, 1755, 2 vols.
folio. 6. La Carte de'la Cour.“7.
” La Promenade
de St. Cloud, ou Dialogues sur les Auteurs,“a small work,
but elegantly written, and full of wit; which the abbe
”
Joly, chanter of the chapel aux Riches at Dijon, having
copied at the abbe L'Avocat’s house from the original
ms. published without the abbe’s knowledge in the “Mcnioires historiques de Bruys.
” M. Gueret published an
edition of “Le Prester,
” “Arrets notable du parlement,
”
with learned notes and additions, Memoire sur l'Immunite du
Clerge*,
” Sur les Refus des Sacremens,
”
Sur le Droit qu'ont les Cures de commettre leur Vicaires, et les Confesseurs, dans leur Paroisses,
”
, a French physician and botanist, was born at Estampes, September 22,
, a French physician
and botanist, was born at Estampes, September 22, 1715,
and was admitted a doctor of the faculty of medicine of
Paris in 1742. He distinguished himself in the study of
botany and mineralogy, and his reputation procured for
him admission into the academies of science of Paris,
Stockholm, Florence, and Rochelle, as well as the situations of censor royal, and of keeper of the cabinet of natural history belonging to the duke of Orleans. He travelled much in quest of knowledge, and he published in
the collection of the academy of sciences, and printed in
two quarto volumes, nearly two hundred memoirs, on different parts of natural history. He likewise published
some “Observations on Plants,
” Paris,
, abbot, a French historian, was born of a rich and powerful family in a village
, abbot, a French historian, was born of a
rich and powerful family in a village of the diocese of
Beauvais, in 1053. He took the religious habit at the abbey of St. Germer, and was elected abbot of Nogent-sousCoucy, in 1104. Dom. Luke d'Achery published his
works, 1651, fol. which consist of an excellent “Traite
de la Predication;
” a history of the first Crusades, entitled “Gesta Dei per Francos;
” a singular treatise " on
the Relics of the Saints, 1 * occasioned by the monks of St.
Medard, at Soissons, pretending they had a tooth of our
Lord’s in their possession, which Guibert, though very
credulous, rejected as contrary to the faith of Christ’s resurrection, which teaches us that he re-assumed his body
entire. He died in the abbey of Nogent-sous-Coucy, in
J 124. In his history of the Crusades, he is to be considered as a collector of facts from others, as he does not
pretend to have been an eye-witness of any part which he
relates.
, a French writer on military affairs, was born at Montauban, Nov. 12,
, a French
writer on military affairs, was born at Montauban, Nov.
12, 1743. His father, who was a very intelligent officer,
ook great pains in forming his son for the army, in which,
Design he so perfectly succeeded, that at the school at
which young Guibert was placed, his name was honourably quoted as an example to others, long after he left it.
At the age of thirteen he followed his father to the field,
and served six campaigns in the German war; three as a
captain in the regiment d'Auvergne, and the three other
upon the staff, where he gave frequent proofs of his judgment and spirit. After the peace in 1763, he assiduously
devoted himself to the study of the theory of his profession
till the expedition to Corsica took place, where he obtained
the rank of colonel for his services in the action of Ponte
Nuovo, and at the end of the campaign was rewarded with
the cross of St. Louis. In 1770, two years after his return to France, he published his celebrated “Essai general de Tactique,
” a work which though known and admired over all Europe, drew upon its author the envy too
often attendant on merit, which embittered a great part
of his days. But his pride disdaining to answer his enemies, as much as his mild spirit disliked controversy, he
therefore determined to travel, and leave his work to answer
for itself. So says his panegyrist, without informing us
that his unsparing censures and conceited style had proyoked the hostilities of those enemies.
ublished, the author being called to assist the celebrated M. de Saint Germain, in his reform of the French army. He is said to have been the soul of this minister; and
On his return to France, he pursued his literary turn,
and produced “Le Connetable de Bourbon,
” a tragedy,
and afterwards two other tragedies, the “Gracchi,
” and
“Anna Bullen,
” of which his biographer speaks very
highly; but they were not published, the author being
called to assist the celebrated M. de Saint Germain, in his
reform of the French army. He is said to have been the
soul of this minister; and much to his honour, he continued his friendship in his patron’s disgrace. After the
new organization was completed, Guibert returned to his
studies, and among others, wrote the famous panegyrics
on marshal Catinat, and the chancellor de PHopital. He
afterward assisted at the camp in Normandy; and during
the disputes concerning the number of ranks in which
troops should be drawn up, he published the “Refutation
complete du systeme de M. Menil-Durand.
”
The French government having determined to send troops to assist the Americans,
The French government having determined to send
troops to assist the Americans, the author was ordered on
that service; but on the eve of embarking, he received
counter orders; a disappointment which he attributed to
the malice of his enemies, and which preyed on him very
deeply. As soon as he had recovered from this mortification, he began a work entitled “Histoire de la Milice
Francaise,
” which, from the profound manner in which he
treats his subject, might be called the history of the art of
war, and of the military system of the nations of Europe,
from the time of the Romans. He had brought it to the
eleventh century, when he was drawn from his retirement
by having obtained for his venerable father the appointment of governor of the invalids. While he was assisting
in reforming the abuses of that noble institution, he wa
admitted a member of the French academy; where his
introductory address is said to have been much admired
for its truly classical spirit. Two years afterward, his
health obliged him to retire to the country: but he was
soon recalled by the death of his father, to comfort his
aged mother. It appears that one of the most estimable
traits in Guibert’s character, was his filial piety.
was afterwards appointed a member of the council of war, formed to establish a regular system in the French army. Here envy and malice again most vehemently pursued him,
Guibert was afterwards appointed a member of the
council of war, formed to establish a regular system in the
French army. Here envy and malice again most vehemently pursued him, and being at last persuaded to write
in his own justification, he was first attacked by the people
for his arbitrary sentiments, then by the court for his popular principles, and was again driven into retirement. At
the commencement of the late revolution, he wrote several interesting papers; but, aware of the prejudices
existing against him, he assumed the name of G. T. Raynal; under which he obtained all the fame that was refused
to Guibert. The chief of these works, was “De la force
publique considered sous tous ses rapports.
” In his last illness, the injustice done to him still preyed on his mind,
and he frequently exclaimed “They will one time know
me, and do me justice!
” He died May 6, 1790, of an
almost broken heart, at the early age of forty-seven. A
most flattering mark of esteem and respect was paid to his
memory, by the regiment of Neustrie, which he had commanded ten years; the officers and men unanimously voting
a letter of condolence to his widow, who published his
“German Tour,
” in
more important matters. The Florentines were thrown into great difficulties by the league, which the French and Spaniards had entered into against the pope. Perplexed about
He continued thus employed in the proper business of his profession till 1511; but that year the cKsis of the public affairs gave occasion to call forth his abilities for more important matters. The Florentines were thrown into great difficulties by the league, which the French and Spaniards had entered into against the pope. Perplexed about their choice to remain neuter or engage in the league* they had recourse to our advocate, whom they sent ambassador to Ferdinand, king of Spain, to treat of this matter; and at the same time charged him with other affairs of the highest importance to the state. With this character he left Florence in 1512, and arriving safely afc Bruges, where his Spanish majesty then resided, remained two years at that court. Here he had an opportunity of exerting and improving his talents as a statesman. Many events happened in that time, the consequences whereof came within his province to negociate; such as the taking and plundering Ravenna and Prato by the Spaniards, the deposing of Piero Soderini, and the restoration of the family of Medici. In these and several other occurrences, which happened at that time, he adopted such measures, and with such address, that the republic found no occasion to employ any other minister; and the king testified his satisfaction by a great quantity of fine-wrought plate, which he presented to him at his departure. On his arrival at Florence in 1514, he was received with, uncommon marks of honour; and, in 15 15, constituted advocate of the consistory by Leo X. at Cortona. The pope’s favours did not stop here. Guicciardini’s extraordinary abilities, with a hearty devotion to the interest of the church, were qualifications of necessary use in the ecclesiastical state. Leo, therefore, that he might reap the full advantage of them, sent for him not long after to Rome, resolving to employ him where his talents might be of most service. In 1518, when Modena and Reggio were in great danger of being lost, he was appointed to the government of those cities, and proved himself equal to the charge.
His merit in this government recommended him, in 1521, to that of Parma, whence he drove away the French, and confirmed the Parmesans in their obedience; and this at
His merit in this government recommended him, in 1521, to that of Parma, whence he drove away the French, and confirmed the Parmesans in their obedience; and this at a time when the holy see was vacant by the death of Leo, and the people he commanded full of fears, disheartened, and unarmed. He retained the same post under Adrian VI, to whom he discovered the dangerous designs of Alberto Pio da Carpi, and got him removed from the government of Reggio and Rubiera. Clement VII. on his exaltation to the pontificate, confirmed him in that government. This pope was of the house of Medici, to which Guicciardini was particularly attached; and, in return, we find him presently raised to the highest dignities in the ecclesiastical state. Having in 1523 prevented the duke of Ferrara from seizing Modena, the pope, in acknowledgement thereof, not only made him governor of that city, but constituted him president of Romagna, with unlimited authority. This was a post of great dignity and power, yet as factions then ran very high, the situation was both laborious and dangerous. However, he not only by his prudence overcame all these difficulties, but found means, in the midst of them, to improve the conveniences and delight of the inhabitants. Their towns which lay almost in rubbish, he embellished with good houses and stately buildings; a happiness, of which they were so sensible, that it rendered the name of Guicciardini dear to them, and they were overjoyed, when, after a farther promotion of Francis, they understood he was to be succeeded in his government by his brother. This happened June 6,
es, which brought about the great change in religion by the reformation; shews by what accidents the French kings were enabled to become masters at home, and to extend
As to the productions of his pen, his history claims the
first place. It would be tedious to produce all the encomiums bestowed upon it by persons of the first character
Bolingbroke calls him “The admirable historian
” and
says, he “should not scruple to prefer him to Thucydides
in every respect.
” In him are found all the transaction^
of that aera, in which the study of history ought to begin;
as he wrote in that point of time when those events and re
volutions began, that have produced so vast a change in,
the manners, customs, and interests, of particular nations; and in the policy, ecclesiastical and civil, of those
parts of the world. And, as Guicciardini lived in those
days, and was employed both in the field and cabinet, he
had all opportunities of furnishing himself with materials
for his history: in particular, he relates at length the various causes, which brought about the great change in religion by the reformation; shews by what accidents the
French kings were enabled to become masters at home,
and to extend themselves abroad; discovers the origin of
the splendor of Spain in the fifteenth century, by the marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella; the total expulsion of
the Moors, and the discovery of the West-Indies. Lastly,
in respect to the empire, he gives an account of that
change which produced the rivalship between the two great
powers of France and Austria; whence arose the notion of
a balance of power, the preservation whereof has been the
principal care of all the wise councils of Europe, and is so
to this day. Of this history sir William Jones says, “It is
the most authentic I believe (may I add, I fear) that ever
was composed. I believe it, because the historian was an
actor in his terrible drama, and personally knew the principal performers in it; and I fear it, because it exhibits
the woeful picture of society in the fifteenth and sixteenth
centuries.
”
, an ingenious and judicious French historian in the seventeenth century, was a native of Macon,
, an ingenious and judicious
French historian in the seventeenth century, was a native
of Macon, and advocate at Bourg-en-Brasse. He distinguished himself by his works, and was loaded with favours
from the duke of Savoy for his excellent “Hist. Genealogique de la Maison Royale de Savoie,
” Une Suite Chronologique des Eveques
de Belley,
” 4to. “Hist.de Brasse et de Bugey,
” Hist, de la Principaute* de
Dombes,
” never printed; also a collection of the most remarkable acts and titles of the Province of Brasse and
Bugey, entitled “Bibliotheca Sebnsiana,
”
, a French historian, was born about 1625, at Thiers in Auvergne, and became
, a French historian, was born about 1625, at Thiers in Auvergne, and
became the first historiographer of the academy of painting
and sculpture to which office he was elected in 1682. H&
died at Paris, April 6, 1705. He was author of many
works of considerable reputation, as “Athene Ancienne et
Nouvelle;
” “Lacedemone Ancienne et Nouvelle,
” both
printed in A History of the grand viziers’ Caprogji,
” c. “The Life of Mahomet II.;
” “The
History of Castrucio Castracani,
” translated from the Italian of Machiavel; “Les Arts de l‘homme d’Epee, ou Dietionnaire du Genlilhomme,
” Ancient and modern Athens
” involved him in a serious
dispute with Spon, in which he was said to have gained the
victory, as far as style and mannerly writing were concerned.
, a French anatomist, was born 1487, at Andermach. He was physician to
, a French anatomist, was born 1487, at Andermach. He was physician
to Francis I. and retired to Strasburg, to avoid the troubles
which arose about religion, and became professor of Greek
there, as he had been at Louvain; and also practised physic, but was afterwards obliged to resign his professorship.
He died Oct. 4, 1574. Guintier translated several treatises
from Galen and other authors, and published some tracts
in Latin “On the Plague,
” 8vo and “On Pregnant
Women and Children,
” 8vo. He is sard to have been
the first who gave the name of pancreas to the glandular
substance which is fixed to the peritonaeum; and made
some other discoveries, for which Winslow praises him
highly, but Vesalius speaks contemptuously of his anatomical skill.
, a French antiquary, and counsellor of the presidial court of Nismes,
, a French antiquary, and counsellor of the presidial court of Nismes, was born in that
city in 1600, of protestant parents, and early acquired a
reputation for learning and probity. The court frequently
employed him in affairs of importance, in all which he acquitted himself with ability. Henry Frederic of Nassau,
prince of Orange, having appointed him counsellor of the
parliament of that city, Louis XIV. permitted him to retain with it his office in the presidial of Nismes, one of the
most considerable of the kind in that kingdom. He died
at Nismes, in 1680. His antiquarian pursuits produced a
dissertation entitled, 1. “Explicatio duorum vetustorum
numismatum Nemausensium ex sere,
” Thesaurus.
” 2.
“Recherches historiques et chronologiques, concernant
l'etablissement et la suite de seuechaux de Beaucaire et
de Nimes,
”
ly received the approbation of catholics as well as protestants, are, 1. A Latin, German, Greek, and French Dictionary, published in 1682. 2. “Historia Templariorum ob
, a learned protestant divine, was
born at Basil, Dec. 8, 1654, where his father was a merchant. Until the fourteenth year of his age, he was instructed by private tutors, and profited so much as to be
then fit for the university of Basil, where, after studying
languages, philosophy, mathematics, and history, for three
or four years, he was on July 2, 1672, admitted to the degrees of master of arts and doctor in philosophy. He tnen
studied divinity, and had for one of his masters Peter Werenfels, father of the celebrated Samuel VVerenfels. In
about two years, he was appointed to lecture on theology
during the vacations, and acquitted himself with great credit. In March 1676, he was admitted a preacher, and the
following year passed six months at Geneva, whence he
went into France, and visited the university of Saumur,
where he heard the lectures of Henry Philiponeau de Hautecour, who was afterwards his colleague in the university
of Franeker. His reputation having by this time extended
to Germany, he was invited to Heilborn to be professor of
philosophy and rhetoric, and rector of the classes, of which
office he took possession in 1685, with a public harangue,
“de fato philosophico in ecclesia Christiana.
” As divinity
was still his favourite study, he continued improving his
knowledge of it; and having visited Heidelberg during the
third jubilee of that university, he received his degree of
D. D. with every mark of distinction, even from the learned
catholics who heard him maintain a thesis on this occasion,
the subject of which was “Christ’s kingly office.
” After
he had remained about two years at Heilborn, he was requested to accept the theological chair at Hanau, with
which he complied. In 1696 he was again removed to Bremen as professor in ordinary of divinity, moderator of the
schools, and perpetual rector magrdficus. To this place
he drew a great concourse of students; but the fatigues
attending his occupations here made him willing to accept
the less laborious professorship of divinity at Deventer in
1699. In 1705 the curators of the university of Franeker
offered him their theological chair, which he at first refused, but accepted it, on a second and more pressing invitation, in 1707. His constitution was now, however, so
much worn down by repeated attacks of the gout, that he
did not enjoy this office above four years, dying Sept. 28,
1711. Gurtler was a man of genuine piety, modesty, and
candour, and of extensive knowledge in every branch of
science, but especially in those connected with his profession. His works, which have generally received the approbation of catholics as well as protestants, are, 1. A Latin, German, Greek, and French Dictionary, published in
1682. 2. “Historia Templariorum observationibus ecclesiasticis aucta,
” Amst. Institutiones Theologies,
” ibid. Voces
Typico-propheticiT,
” Bremen, Dialogi Eucharistici,
”
Bremen, SystemaTheologise propbeticse,
”
Amst. Origines mundi, et in eo regnorum,
” &c.
Amst. Dissertationes de Jesu Christo in
gloriam evecto,
” Franeker, Forma sanorum
verborum,
” a short abridgment of divinity, which he used
as a text-book, 1709, 12mo. Gurtler wrote also a “History of the Churches of France,
” in German.
t Interest,” which has long been a standard book in Scotland, and has been translated into Dutch and French, and, as reported, into one of the Eastern languages, at the
, an eminent clergyman of the
presbyterian church of Scotland, descended from the ancient family of Pitforthy in the shire of Angus, was horn
on his father’s estate of Pitforthy in 1620, and educated at
the university of St. Andrew’s under his cousin, professor
James Guthrie, who was executed at the restoration for
his opposition to episcopal government, although he had
with equal zeal opposed the usurpation of Cromwell.
Under this tutor our author became a very hard student,
well versed in the classical languages; and after taking his
degree of M. A. studied divinity under professor Samuel
Rutherford. He became afterwards private tutor to the
eldest son of the earl of London, chancellor of Scotland,
and in November 1644 was presented to the church of
Finwick, a newly erected parish, and consisting of inhabitants rude and unacquainted with religion. The pains he
bestowed upon them, however, soon produced a favour
able change in their manners, and his easy and affable address and example had a remarkable elfcct upon them.
With this view, as he was fond of fishing, fowling, and
other field sports, he took those opportunities to mix
among his people, and recommend morals and piety. He
was not less happy in curbing the insolence of Cromwell’s
army when in Scotland, by addressing them with an eloquence and air of authority which they could not resist.
In the mean time his great fame as a preacher procured
him invitations from the more eligible churches of Renfrew,
Linlithgow, Stirling, Glasgow, and Edinburgh, to all which
he preferred his humble situation at Finwick, and continued among his parishioners until 1664, when he was
ejected by Burnet, archbishop of Glasgow, notwithstanding
the solicitations of the earl of Glencairn, then chancellor
of Scotland, and other persons of rank, who represented
Mr. Guthrie as an excellent man and well affected to government. He did not long survive this sentence, dying
Oct. Jo, 1665. Some spurious publications were attributed
to him; but the only genuine work extant is his “Christian’s Great Interest,
” which has long been a standard book
in Scotland, and has been translated into Dutch and
French, and, as reported, into one of the Eastern languages, at the expence of the Hon. Robert Boyle.
, a French lady of fashion, remarkable for simplicity of heart, and regularity
, a
French lady of fashion, remarkable for simplicity of heart,
and regularity of manners, but of an enthusiastic and unsettled temper, was descended of a noble family, and born
atMontargis, April 13, 1648. At the age of seven she was
sent to the convent of the Ursulines, where one of her
sisters by half-blood took care of her. She had afforded
proofs of an enthusiastic species of devotion from her
earliest infancy, and bad made so great a progress in what her
biographers call “the spiritual course
” at eight years of age,
as surprized the confessor of the queen mother of England,
widow of Charles I. who presented her to that princess, by
whom she would have been retained, had not her parents opposed it, and sent her back to the Ursulines. She wished
then to take the habit; but they having promised her to a
gentleman in the country, obliged her to marry him. At
twenty-eight years of age she became a widow, being left
with two infant sons and a daughter, of whom she was constituted guardian; and their education, with the management of her fortune, became her only employment. She
had put her domestic affairs into such order, as shewed an
uncommon capacity; when of a sudden she was struck with
an impulse to abandon every worldly care, and give herself
up to serious meditation, in which she thought the whole
of religion was comprised.
, a French historian, was born in 1701 at Lous-le-Saunier in Fi'unche-comte,
, a French historian, was born
in 1701 at Lous-le-Saunier in Fi'unche-comte, and entered
the congregation of the oratory, which he afterwards
quitted, and came to Paris, and passed his days in literary
labours. He died here in 1771. His principal works are,
1. A continuation of “Echard’s Roman History,
” from
Constantine to the taking of Constantinople by Mahomet II.
10 vols. 12mo, which Voltaire has thought proper to undervalue; but others say that in point or style and accuracy,
it may rank among the best productions of the kind from
the French press. 2. “Histoire des empires et des republiques,
” Histoire des Amazones ancienneset modernes,
” Paris, Histoire des Indes,
” 3 vols. 12mo, inferior in every respect.
5. “Oracle des nouveaux philosophes,
” not so remarkable
for style, as for an able confutation of the new philosophy
of his time, and the uneasiness it gave Voltaire. 6. “Bibliotheque ecclesiastique,
”
, an agreeable French writer, was born at Marseilles in 1720, and became a merchant
, an agreeable French writer,
was born at Marseilles in 1720, and became a merchant of
distinguished probity. Having often had occasion to visit
Constantinople, Smyrna, &c. in the course of business, he
conceived the idea of comparing the ancient and modern
Greeks, and endeavouring to trace among the latter what
was yet to be found of the grandeur, spirit, and institutions
of their ancestors. For this purpose he made frequent excursions from Constantinople, where he lived under the
immediate protection of the king of France, into Greece,
with Homer in his hand; and how extensive and minute
his observations were, appeared in his “Voyage Litteraire
de la Grece,
” on which his fame chiefly rests, and which
was first published in 1771, 2 vols. 12mo; in 1783, 4 vols.
8vo. He was taking another voyage in order to correct
and enlarge a new edition of this work, when he died at
Zante in 1799. This work procured him a very considerable name in the literary wprld; but in whatever reputation it was held in Europe, he afforded such satisfaction to
the subjects of his inquiry) that the modern Greeks, to testify to him their gratitude for his having so well defended
them from their detractors, unanimously offered him the
diploma of citizen of Athens; reviving^ in his favour, an
ancient ceremony fallen into desuetude for a great many
centuries. Some years before, he had received a similar
compliment from a northern power. This true philosopher,
without ceasing to serve his country, knew how to extend
his beneficent views beyond the limits of his country. The
“Voyage Litteraire de la Grece,
” however, is the chief
work of C. Guys. His other pieces are, a “Relation Abrege*e de ses Voyages en Italic et dans le Nord;
” and a translation in verse of the elegies of Tibullus, an essay upon the
antiquities of Marseilles his native place, and the eloge of
Duguay-Trouin. A translation of his Journey was published
in English in 1772, 3 vols. 12mo, with the improper title
of a “Sentimental Journey.
”
ined leave of the college in 1595, to attend sir Henry Union, ambassador from queen Elizabeth to the French court, and continued with him during his absence abroad.
, an English physician of considerable eminence in his day, was the son of Edward Gwinne, descended from an ancient family in Wales, who at this time resided in London. His son was educated at Merchant Taylors’ school, whence in 1574 he was elected a scholar of St. John’s college, Oxford, took the degree of B. A. May 14, 1578, and was afterwards perpetual fellow of the college. It was the custom at that time in Oxford for the convocation to appoint a certain number of regent masters, to read each of them upon some one of the liberal arts two years, for which they received a small stipend, levied upon the younger scholars. This provision was made, before the public professorships were settled and supported by fixed salaries. Agreeably to this practice, Mr. Gwinne was made regent-master in July 1582, and appointed to read upon music, and there is extant a manuscript oration of his upon that subject, spoken Oct. 15, of that year, in which he calls himself prelector musica publicus. When he had taken his degrees in arts, he studied physic, and practised in and about Oxford for several years. In 1588 he was chosen junior proctor of the university, and in 1592 distinguished himself in a disputation at Oxford before queen Elizabeth. On July 17, 1593, he was created doctor of physic. He obtained leave of the college in 1595, to attend sir Henry Union, ambassador from queen Elizabeth to the French court, and continued with him during his absence abroad.
611, 4to, against Dr. Francis Anthony’s” Aurum potabile, 77 a quack medicine. 6. “Verses in English, French, and Italian. 77 7.” A Book of Travels.“8.” Letters concerning
He published the following works: 1. “Epicedium in
Obitum illustr. Herois, Henrici Comitis Derbiensis, 77 Oxon.
1593. 2.
” Nero, Tragcedia nova, 77 Lond. 1603. 3. “Orationes duag, Londini habitas in Ædibus Greshamiis, 77 1605.
4.
” Vertumnus, sive Annus recurrens, 77 1607. 5. “Aurum non Aurum, 77 &c. 1611, 4to, against Dr. Francis Anthony’s
” Aurum potabile, 77 a quack medicine. 6. “Verses
in English, French, and Italian. 77 7.
” A Book of Travels.“8.
” Letters concerning Chemical and Magical Secrets."
r to be arrested in London, and published in their own justification, all the intercepted letters in French and English. Gyllenborg was first sent to a house in the country,
, a Swedish states. man and a man of learning, was descended of an ancient and respectable family, one of the members of which was created a count in the reign of Charles XII. The display of count Gyllenborg 7 s political fame was first made at London, where he resided for several years in quality of ambassador from the court of Stockholm, and where his conduct brought upon him a very singular misfortune. In 1716, Charles XII. irritated against George I. for his purchasing of the king of Denmark the duchies of Bremen and Verdeii (conquered from the Swedish monarch) formed a project of invading Scotland from Gottenburg, with 16,000 men, and placing the Pretender on the throne of Great Britain. After the very recent defeat of a plan of this kind, this new one may appear somewhat romantic. It was conducted, however, in concert with the English malcontents and refugees, by count Gyllenborg at London baron Goertz, the Swedish envoy, at the Hague, and baron Sparre, at Paris. But the English ministry being apprized of it, intercepted, copied, and then forwarded their correspondence; and just as the plot was ripe for execution (the Habeas Corpus act having been purposely suspended) caused the Swedish ambassador to be arrested in London, and published in their own justification, all the intercepted letters in French and English. Gyllenborg was first sent to a house in the country, where he was strictly guarded, and was afterwards conveyed to a sea-port, and dismissed the kingdom, in July 1717. As soon as he arrived at Stockholm, the British ambassador was likewise liberated from confinement, as the Swedish court had thoyght proper to use reprisals.
, a French poet of the seventeenth century, was abbot of Notre Dame de
, a French poet of the seventeenth
century, was abbot of Notre Dame de Cerisy, one of the
first members of the French academy, and the most distinguished among the beaux esprits of his time. He died
in 1655, and left several poems; that entitled “Metamorphose des Yeux d'Iris changes en Astres,
” Life, or Panegyric of Cardinal de Berulle,
” Le Temple de la Mort,
” written
on the death of M. de la "Meilleraye’s first wife, which
was once much admired.
, a French historian, of an ancient family, was born at Bourdeaux about
, a French
historian, of an ancient family, was born at Bourdeaux about
1535. He went to court at twenty years of age, and in
1556 and 1557 was secretary to Francis de Noailles, bishop
of Acqs, in his embassies to England and Venice. After
that, his first appearance in the republic of letters was in
the quality of a poet and translator. In 1559, he published
a poem, entitled “The Union of the Princes, by the Marriages of Philip King of Spain and the Lady Elizabeth of
France, and of Philibert Emanuel Duke of Savoy, and the
Lady Margaret of France;
” and another entitled “The
Tomb of the most Christian King Henry II.
” In 1560 he
published an abridged translation of “Tully’s Offices, 7 '
and of
” Eutropius’s Roman History;“and, in 1568, of
” The Life of JEmilius Probus.“He applied himself
afterwards to the writing of history, and succeeded so well,
that by his first performances of this nature, he obtained
of Charles IX. the title of Historiographer of France 1571.
He had published the year before at Paris a book entitled
” Of the State and Success of the Affairs of France;“which
was reckoned very curious, and was often reprinted. He
augmented it in several successive editions, and dedicated it
to Henry IV. in 1594: the best editions of it are those of
Paris 1609 and 1613, in 8vo. He had published also the
same year a work entitled
” Of the Fortune and Power of
France, with a Summary Discourse on the Design of a History of France:“though Niceron suspects that this may be
the same with
” The Promise and Design of the History of
France," which he published in 1571, in order to let
Charles IX. see what he might expect from him in support
of the great honour he had conferred of historiographer of
France. In 1576, he published a history, which reaches
from Phararnond to the death of Charles VII. and was the
first who composed a body of the French history in French.
Henry III. shewed his satisfaction with this by the advantageous and honourable gratifications he made the author.
The reasons which induced de Haillan to conclude his
work with Charles Vllth’s death were, that the event beingrecent, he must eitlier conceal the truth, or provoke the
resentment of men in power, but he afterwards promised
Henry IV. to continue this history to his time, as may be
seen in his dedication to him of this work in 1594; nothing
however of this kind was found among his papers after his
death: the booksellers, who added a continuation to his
work as far as to 1615, and afterwards as far as to 1627,
took it from Paulus Æmilius, de Comines, Arnoul Ferron,
du Bellay, &c.
, and adventures of all kinds, he found either extant in Greek^ Latin, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, or English. By such means he became so conspicuous in this
, an eminent naval historian, was descended from an ancient family at Eyton or Yetton, in Herefordshire, and born about 1553. He was trained up at Westminster school; and, in 1570, removed to Christ church college in Oxford. While he was at school, he used to visit his cousin Richard Hakluyt, of Eyton, esq. at his chambers in the Middle Temple, a gentleman well known and esteemed, not only by some principal ministers of state, but also by the most noted persons among the mercantile and maritime part of the kingdom, as a great encourager of navigation, and the improvement of trade, arts, and manufactures. At this gentleman’s chambers young Hakluyt met with books or' cosmography, voyages, travels, and maps; and was so pleased with them, that he resolved to direct his studies that way, to which he was not a little encouraged by his cousin. For this purpose, as soon as he got to Oxford, he made himself master of the modern as well as ancient languages; and then read over whatever printed or written discourses of voyages and discoveries, naval enterprizes, and adventures of all kinds, he found either extant in Greek^ Latin, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, or English. By such means he became so conspicuous in this new branch of science, that he was chosen to read public lectures on naval matters at Oxford, and was the first who introduced maps, globes, spheres, and other instruments of the art, into the common schools. The: zeal and knowledge he displayed made him acquainted with and respected by the principal sea-commanders, merchants, and manners of our nation; and^ though it was but a few years after that he went beyond sea, yet his fame travelled thither long before him. He held a correspondence with the learned in these matters abroad, as with Ortelius, the king of Spain’s cosmographer, Mercator, &c.
ry of Florida,” which had been discovered about twenty years before by captain Loudonniere and other French adventurers, he procured the publication of it at Paris at his
About 1584, he attended sir Edward Stafford as his
chaplain, when that gentleman went over ambassador to
France; and continued there some years with him, and
during his absence, being then master of arts and in orders
he was made a prebendary of Bristol. While at Paris, he
contracted an acquaintance with all the eminent mathematicians, cosmographers, and other persons of a similar taste
with himself. He inquired after every thing that had any
relation to our English discoveries; and prevailed with
some to search their libraries for the same. At last,
having met with a narrative in ms. containing “The notable
History of Florida,
” which had been discovered about
twenty years before by captain Loudonniere and other
French adventurers, he procured the publication of it at
Paris at his own expence in 1586; and in May 1587, he
published an English translation of it, which he dedicated
after the example of the French editor, to sir Walter
Raleigh. The same year he published a new edition of
Peter Martyr’s book, entitled “De Orbe Novo,
” illustrated
with marginal notes, a commodious index, a map of New
England and America, and a copious dedication, also, to
sir Walter Raleigh; and this book he afterwards caused to
be translated into English.
edition was published in 1731, followed afterwards by several others. This work was translated into French by Buffon in 1735, and into Italian by a Neapolitan lady named
Dr. Hales, having been elected a fellow of the royal society in 1717, communicated to that learned body his first
essay in Vegetable Physiology, containing an account of
some experiments concerning the effect of the sun’s heat
in raising the sap. In 1727 appeared the first edition of
his “Vegetable Staticks,
” in 8vo, illustrated by plates, of
which a second edition was published in 1731, followed
afterwards by several others. This work was translated
into French by Buffon in 1735, and into Italian by a Neapolitan lady named Ardinghelli, in 1756. There are also
German and Dutch editions. The original book was, in
fact, the first volume of a work entitled “Statical Essays,
”
of which the second, relating to the circulation of the
blood in animals, was called “Hemastaticks,
” and came out
in a friendly admonition to the drinkers of gin,
brandy, and other spirituous liquors,
” which has often
been reprinted and distributed gratis, by those who consider the temporal and eternal interests of their fellow subjects rather than the increase of the revenue. His invention of a ventilator for mines, prisons, hospitals, and the
holds of ships, laid before the royal society in 1741, and
applied also to the ventilation and consequent preservation
of corn in granaries, has proved one of the most extensively useful contrivances for the preservation of health
and human life. His philosophy was not a barren accumulation for the ignorant to wonder at, or for its professor
to repose on in sottish self-sufficiency and uselessness; but
an inexhaustible bank, on which his piety and his benevolence were continually drawing. Such philosophy and
such learning alone entitle their possessors to authority or
respect, and such are the best fruits of religion. In this
instance at least they were duly honoured, both at home
and abroad. The fame of Hales was widely diffused
throughout the learned world, of which he received a most
distinguished testimony, in being elected one of the eight
foreign members of the French academy of sciences, in
1753, in the place of sir Hans Sloane, who died that same
year. In 1732 he had been appointed, by the British government, a trustee for settling a colony in Georgia. He
was well acquainted with Mr. Ellis, and other naturalists of
his day, with whose views and pursuits of all kinds he ardently concurred; but it does not appear that his foreign
correspondence was extensive. His name does not occur
among the correspondents of Haller, who nevertheless held
him in the highest estimation, as a philosopher and a man.
As a vegetable physiologist, Dr. Hales is entitled to the
highest honour. His experiments and remarks led the
way to those of Du Hamel, Bonnet, and all that have followed. His accuracy of observation, and fidelity of relation, have never been impeached, and his ideas in physics,
in many instances, went before the knowledge of his day,
and anticipated future discoveries: such are his observations relative to airs, and to vegetable secretions. One of
his more able successors in the study of vegetable physiology has doubted the accuracy of one of his plates only,
tab. 11, in which three trees, having been united by engrafting their branches, the intermediate one, by the earth
being removed from its roots, is left hanging in the air,
but an experiment of the late Dr. Hope’s at Edinburgh,
upon three willows, of which Dr. Smith was an eye-witness,
and which was conducted with success in imitation of this
of Hales, puts his account beyond all doubt whatever.
ated him in their religion. He acquired the knowledge of seventeen languages, among the rest, of the French, English, and German, having had part of his education in these
, a Polander, of the seventeenth century,
whose original name was Albert Bobowski, was born a
Christian;but, being taken by the Tartars while a child,
was sold to the Turks, who educated him in their religion.
He acquired the knowledge of seventeen languages, among
the rest, of the French, English, and German, having had
part of his education in these countries; and became interpreter to the grand seignior. He translated into the
Turkish language the catechism of the church of England,
and all the Bible. He composed a Turkish grammar and
dictionary, and other things which were never printed.
His principal work is, “A Treatise upon the Liturgy of
the Turks, their pilgrimages to Mecca, their circumcision,
and manner of visiting the sick,
” which he was induced to
write by Dr. Smith, chaplain to the English embassy at the
Porte, and who gave the ms. to Dr. Hyde, by whom it was
published in Latin, in the appendix of the “Itinera muncli ab Abrahamo Peritsol,
” Oxford, The State of the Ottoman Empire.
”
mself from the world. Mr. Bonnet informed Mr. Coxe that Haller wrote with equal facility the German, French, and Latin tongues; that he was so well acquainted with all
In person Haller was tall and majestic, and of a serious
and expressive countenance; he had at times an open
smile, always a pleasing tone of voice, usually low, and
seldom elevated, even when he was most agitated. He
was fond of unbending himself in society, and was on those
occasions remarkably cheerful, polite, and attentive; he
would converse with the ladies on fashions, modes of dress,
and other trifles, with as much ease as if he had never
secluded himself from the world. Mr. Bonnet informed
Mr. Coxe that Haller wrote with equal facility the German,
French, and Latin tongues; that he was so well acquainted
with all the European languages, except the Russian, Polish, and Hungarian, as to speak with the natives in their
respective idioms. When he conversed on any science or
subject of literature, his knowledge was so extensive, that
he seemed to have made that his particular study. His
profound erudition in every branch of science is well
known to all who are conversant with his works: but the
variety of his information, and the versatility of his talents,
are thus delineated by Tscharner Lobrede, who was his
particular friend “He possessed a fundamental knowledge
of natural history was well read in history, both ancient
and modern, universal and particular; and uncommonly
versed in the state of agriculture, manufactures, trade,
population, literature, and languages of the respective
nations of Europe he had read with attention the most
remarkable voyages and travels and was particularly
conversantin the late discoveries which tend to illustrate the
geography of the globe. He had even perused many
thousand novels and plays; and possessed such an astonishing memory, that he could detail their contents with the
utmost precision. As it was his custom to make extracts,
and to give his opinion of every book which came into his
hands, as well for his own private use, as for the Gottingen Review (in which his department embraced history, medicine, anatomy, natural history, and several miscellaneous works, especially those which appeared in Italy),
he read most new publications; and so eager was he usually
in the perusal, that he laid them upon the table even when
he was at dinner, occasionally looking into them, and
marking those parts with a pencil which he afterward extracted or commented upon. He was accustomed to make
his remarks on small pieces of paper, of different sizes,
which he placed in order and fastened together; a method
he learned from Leibnitz.
” It may be added, as one
weakness in this great character, that he was always impatient under sickness, as well from his extreme susceptibility of pain, as because he was precluded in that situation from his literary occupations. He was fond, therefore,
of taking violent remedies, more calculated to remove the
immediate effects of pain, and to check his disorder, than
to cure it radically. In his latter years he accustomed himself to opium, which, Zimmerman informs us, he took in
so large a dose as eight grains, and which operated as a
temporary palliative, but increased his natural impatience.
This restlessness of temper, which occasionally disturbed
his tranquillity even in his younger clays, and in the full
flow of his health and spirits, was considerably heightened
by the advances of age, and the disorders which shattered
his frame toward the close of his days.
ons respecting the properties of sensibility and irritability in living bodies; they were written in French (of which language he had a perfect commarjd), under the title
His scientific works form an imperishable monument to
his memory. The most of his various dissertations on anatomical and physiological subjects, published during his
residence at Gottingen, were collected, revised, and reprinted in 1751, under the title of“Opuscula Anatomica,
de respiratione, de rnonstris, aliaque minora, quae recensuit,
emendavit, auxit. Addidit alia inedita, et novas icones,
”
Gottingae, 8vo. The principal publications within the period just mentioned were, his great work on the botany of
Switzerland, the first edition of which appeared in 1742,
under the title of “Enurneratio methodica Stirpium Helvetise indigenarum, &c.
” folio which, after undergoing considerable corrections and augmentations, was given under
its perfect form, entitled “Historia Stirpium Helvetiae indigenarum,
” in Commentarii ad Hermanni Boerhaave Praelectiones
Academicas, &c.
” appeared in seven successive volumes,
8vo, between Prelections,
” from a ms copy of
his own, collated with others. In 1743, he began to publish fasciculi of anatomical plates in folio, particularly relative to the blood-vessels in situ, which are among the
most valuable of these helps to the study of the human
frame. They were entitled “Iconum Anatomicarum,
quibus praecipuae partes corporis humani delineate continentur, Fascic.
” The plates amount to thirty-six in number. The first edition of his excellent little work “PrimsB
Lmese Physiologic in usum Praelectionum Academicarum
” was published in Methodus Studii Medici,
” with so many additions, that by
much the greater part was his own; it may be considered
as a prelude to his later “Bibliothecae.
” He delivered two
academical discourses in Dissertation sur les parties sensibles et
irritables des Animaux,
” Lausanne, 12mo. Besides these
works, he printed a catalogue of plants growing in the
botanic garden, and in the district, of Gottingen; observations made in a journey to the Hercynian forest in 1738,
and an “Iter Helveticum, anni 1739;
” and likewise a number of botanical papers, which were collected in his
“Opuscula Botanica,
”
wards, with others, in settling the longitude of the Cape of Good Hope against the objections of the French astronomers.
, an eminent English philosopher and astronomer, was born at Haggerston, in the parish of St. Leonard, Shoreditch, near London, October 29, 1656. His father, a wealthy soap-boiler in Winchester-street, put him to St. Paul’s school, under the learned Dr. Thomas Gale, but his h'rst tutor is said to have been his father’s apprentice, who taught him writing and arithmetic at nine years old. At school he not only excelled in all parts of classical learning, but made such uncommon progress in mathematics, that, as Wood says, he had perfectly learnt the use of the celestial globe, and could make a complete dial; and we are informed by Halley himself, that he observed the change of the variation of the magnetic needle at London, in 1672, that is, one year before he left school. In 1673 he was entered a commoner of Queers-college, in Oxford, where he applied himself to practical and geometrical astronomy, in which he was greatly assisted by a curious apparatus of instruments which his father, willing to encourage his son’s genius, had purchased for him. At nineteen he began to publish new observations and discoveries, and continued to do so to the end of a very long life; nor did he distinguish himself less in the practical part of the science. Several observations made by him concerning a spot in the sun, seen at Oxford in July and August 1676, were published, with others by Flamsteed upon the same subject, in the Philosophical Transactions. By these the motion of the sun round its own axis, a phenomenon till then not well ascertained, was finally determined. The same year he likewise observed there, on Aug. 21, a.n occultation of Mars by the Moon, which he made use of afterwards, with others, in settling the longitude of the Cape of Good Hope against the objections of the French astronomers.
, a celebrated French bishop, was born in 1595. He rose to be doctor and professor
, a celebrated French bishop, was
born in 1595. He rose to be doctor and professor of the
Sorboune, archdeacon of Dinan, prebendary of Chartres,
syndic of the faculty of divinity at Paris, and, at length,
bishop of Cavaillon in 1656. He travelled into Greece,
Italy, and England. Urban VIII. had so great a value for
him, that he twice nominated him to the bishopric of Toul;
and wishing to create two cardinals, one of which should
be a Frenchman, the other a Spaniard, proposed him, with
father de Lugo, for that dignity; but a strong faction, and
some reasons of state, placed the hat designed for M. Hallier on the head of the commander of Valencey. M. Hallier appeared with great distinction, as proctor, at the
assembly of the French clergy, 1645, in which the rules
concerning the regulars were revived, which he explained
by a learned “Commentary.
” On his second visit to
Kome in Cum occasione
” against them. He died in Defence of a censure of the faculty of theology at
Paris respecting the Bishops of England against the Jesuits;
” “Treatise on the Hierarchy;
” and a “Treatise
on Elections and Ordinations,
”
, a very learned French philosopher and divine, was born at Vire in Lower Normandy,
, a very learned French
philosopher and divine, was born at Vire in Lower Normandy, 1624. He passed through his first studies at Caen,
and his course of rhetoric and philosophy at Paris. At
eighteen he wrote a treatise, in which he explained, in a,
very simple manner, and by one or two figures, Theodosius’s three books upon spherics; to which he added a tract
upon trigonometry, extremely short, yet perspicuous, and
designed as an introduction to astronomy. In one of his
latter works he observes, that he was prompted by the vanity natural to a young man to publish this book: but, as
Fontenelle remarks, there are few persons of that age
capable of such an instance of vanity. At nineteen he entered himself in the congregation of the oratory, where he
continued ten years, and left it in order to be curate of
Neuilli upon the Marne. He applied in the mean time intensely to study, and acquired much reputation' by publishing works upon astronomy and philosophy. In 1666,
Colbert proposed to Lewis XIV. a scheme, which was approved by his majesty, for establishing a royal academy of
sciences; and appointed our author secretary of it. In
1668, he attended M. Colbert de Croissy, plenipotentiary
for the peace at Aix la Chapelle; and, upon the conclusion of it, accompanied him in his embassy to England,
where he formed an acquaintance with the most eminent
persons of this nation, particularly with Boyle, Hay, and
Willis. Thence he went over to Holland, and returned to
France, having made a great number of useful observations
in his travels. In 1678 his “Philosophia Vetus etNova, ad
usum scholae aceommodatain regia Burgundia pertractata,
”
was printed at Paris in 4 vols. 12mo; and, in 1681, enlarged and reprinted there in six. This work, which was
done by the order of M. Colbert, contains a judicious collection of the ancient and modern opinions in philosophy.
Several years after its publication, the Jesuits carried it
to the East-Indies, and taught it with success; and father
Bovet, a missionary in China, wrote to Europe, that when
his brethren and himself engaged in drawing up a system of
philosophy in the Tartarian language for the emperor, one
of their chief aids was Du Hamel’s “Philosophia e't Astronomia;
” and they were then highly valued, though the
improvements in philosophy since his time have rendered
them of little use. In 1697 he resigned his place of secretary of the royal academy of sciences, which by his recommendation he procured for M. de Fontenelle. He had
some years before this devoted himself to divinity, and
published various works in that science. However, he did
not entirely resign his former studies, but published at
Paris, in 1698, “Regiae Scientiarum Academiae Historia,
”
4to, in four books; which, being much liked, he afterwards augmented with two books more. It contains an
account of the foundation of the royal academy of sciences,
and its transactions, from 1666 to 1700, and is now the
most useful of any of his works relating to philosophy; as
perhaps the most useful which he published in theology is
his last work printed at Paris, 1706, in folio, and entitled
“Biblia Sacra Vulgatae editionis, una cum selectis ex optimis quib usque interpretibus notis, prolegomenis, novis
tabulis chronologicis et geographicis.
”
, an eminent French writer on rural ceconomy and vegetable physiology, was born
, an eminent French writer on rural ceconomy and vegetable physiology, was born at Paris in 1700. Being a member of
the academy of sciences, he published in the memoirs of
that body in 1728, “his first ceconomical essay, on a kind of
parasitical fungus which infests the roots of the cultivated
saffron, and is fatal to them. In the same year he published in that work his first treatise on a much more important subject, the propagation of trees by grafting,
where he hazarded some physiological opinions, and entered on a course of experiment and observation, subsequently pursued to an extent which has been of great service to science, and has justly rendered his name famous.
He continued from time to time to communicate to the
academy various papers relative to these matters. In 1750
he began to publish in 12mo, his
” Traite de la Culture
des Terres,“which was continued in following years till
1761, when the sixth volume came out. Our English
writer Tull was his first guide, but he subsequently profited widely by the experience of himself and of various
other people, aided by his physiological sagacity, of which
he made a far more cautious use than is general with farming philosophers, and deserves to be reckoned the father
of intelligent agriculture in France. His
” Elements d'Agriculture," in 2 vols. 12mo, published in 1764, may be considered as a sequel to the preceding work. These two
volumes have been translated into German, Spanish, and
English. Du. Hamel wrote also on the cultivation and preparation of Madder, in 1757, 4to.
ned with so important a victory in favour of the allies; and he made prisoners of war a body of 1300 French officers and 12,000 common soldiers, who had been posted in
, earl of Orkney, a brave officer, was the fifth son of William earl of Selkirk, and very early embraced the profession of arms. In March 1689-90 he was made a colonel, and distinguished himself with particular bravery at the battle of the Boyne, under king William, July 1, 1690; and those of Aghrim, July 12, 1691; of Steinkirk, Aug. 3, 1692, and of Lauden, July 19, 1693. Nor did he appear to less advantage at the sieges of Athlone, Limerick, and Namur. His eminent services in Ireland and Flanders through the whole course of the war, recommended him so highly to the favour of William III. that on Jan. 10, 1695-6, he was advanced to the dignity of a peer of Scotland, by the title of earl of Orkney. His lady, likewise, whom he married in 1695, and who was the daughter of sir Edward Villiers, knight-marshal, and a special favourite with the king, received a grant under the great seal of Ireland, of almost all the private estates of the abdicated king James, of very considerable value. Upon the accession of queen Anne, the earl of Orkney was promoted to the rank of majorgeneral March 9, 1701-2, to that of lieutenant-general Jan. 1, 1703-4, and in February following was made knight of the thistle. In 1704 his lordship was at the battle of Blenheim, which was crowned with so important a victory in favour of the allies; and he made prisoners of war a body of 1300 French officers and 12,000 common soldiers, who had been posted in the village of Blenheim. In July 1705, he was detached with 1200 men to march before the main body of the army, and to observe the march of a great detachment of the enemy, which marshal Villars had sent off to the Netherlands, as soon as he found the march of the allies was directed thither; and his lordship used such expedition, that he seasonably reinforced the Dutch, and prevented marshal Villeroy’s taking the citadel of Liege, about which his troops were then formed. The next month his lordship marched with fourteen battalionsof foot, and twenty-four squadrons of horse, to support the passage over the Dyle, which was immediately effected. In July 1706, he assisted at the siege of Menin; and on Feb. 12, 1706-7, was elected one of the sixteen peers for Scotland, to sit in the first parliament of Great Britain after the union. The same year he again served under the duke of Marlborough in Flanders; being in the latter end of May detached with seven battalions of foot from Meldart to the pass of Louvain, in order to preserve the communication with it, and on that side of Flanders; which his lordship did, and abode there during the time of the allied army’s encamping at Meldart. When they decamped on Aug. 1, to Nivelle, within two leagues of the French army, and a battle was expected, the earl, with twelve battalions of foot, and thirty squadrons of horse and dragoons, and all the grenadiers of the army, advanced a little out of the front of it, and lay all night within cannon-shot of the enemy; and the next morning charged their rear in their retreat for above a league and a half, and killed, disabled, and caused to desert, above 4000 of them. In the beginning of September following his lordship was again detached with another considerable body of troops to Turquony, under a pretence of foraging by the Scheld, but really with the design of drawing the enemy thither from Tournay to battle, and getting between them and the city. In November 1708, the earl commanded the van of the army at the passing of the Scheld; and in June the year following, assisted at the siege of Tournay, and took St. Amand and St. Martin’s Sconce; and on Aug. 20, was detached from the camp at Orchies towards St. Guilliampass, on the river Heine, towards the northward of Moms, in order to attack and take it, for the better passage of the army to Mons; and on the 30th of that month, was present at the battle of Malplaquet. In 1710 he was sworn of the privy-council; and made general of foot in Flanders, and in 1712 colonel of the royal regiment of foot-guards called the fuzileers, and served in Flanders under the duke of Ormond. In October, 1714, his lordship was appointed gentleman extraordinary of the bed-chamber to king George I. and on Dec. 17 following, governor of Virginia. He was likewise afterwards constable, governor and captain of Edinburgh castle, lord-lieutenant of the county of Clydesdale, and field-marshal. He died in London, at his house in Albemarle-street, Jan, 29, 1736-7.
curacy and truth. Each plate was accompanied by concise and perspicuous explanations in English, and French. In the first volume, a large map was Also exhibited of the
The “Campi Phlegraei
” were chiefly calculated to exhibit the view of the several spots already described. The
drawings, by Mr. Fabris, were coloured with surprising
art and great force of expression, and represented nature
with the utmost accuracy and truth. Each plate was accompanied by concise and perspicuous explanations in
English, and French. In the first volume, a large map was
Also exhibited of the gulph of Naples and the country
contiguous, which is unrivalled for its beauty and splendour. And in the author’s letter to sir John Pringle, dated
Naples, May 2, 1776 (which may be considered as a dedication of the Work to the royal society), some additional
observations on the subject were communicated, which had
not been inserted either in the partial letters to the late
Mr. Maty, or in the 8vo edition of them in 1772. In short,
the publication was so accurate, so splendid, and so magnificent, as to have excited a surprise how such an invaluable performance could make its appearance in the south
of Italy.
omestic life, about this period, we fortunately have an account from the celebrated secretary of the French academy, Duclos, from which we shall here give an extract, the
Whilst at this period Mr. Hamilton so successfully indulged in scientific and literary pursuits, he had no opportunity of exerting himself to any advantage in his public and diplomatic capacity, nothing of importance being
then in agitation in the political world; and, with regard
to private connexions, it is still in the remembrance of his
old friends, that, till he became acquainted with some congenial characters, he found himself, in the midst of an
immense metropolis, as insulated as if he had been in a
village. Of his domestic life, about this period, we fortunately have an account from the celebrated secretary of
the French academy, Duclos, from which we shall here
give an extract, the more properly, as, with the alteration
of time and place, it is his characteristic picture in every
part of his life. “Mr. Hamilton,
” says he, “was in the
habit of taking his dinner at home with a select number of
friends, among whom I had the honour of being admitted.
He had also a weekly party of the most distinguished persons of Naples. In these parties, a concert was sometimes
given, in which Miss Hamilton played on the harpsichord
so eminently, that her talents were acknowledged in a town
decidedly superior in musical science to the rest of Italy.
Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton are the happiest couple I ever saw.
Both still in the vigour of youth, with good hearts and
cultivated minds, and tenderly attached to each other, they
presented to me the image of a patriarchal life. The lady,
mistress of a considerable fortune, enjoys the pleasure of
making that of her husband, who had nothing of his own
but an illustrious name. The gentleman, duly sensible of
what he owes to a beloved wife, is highly pleased to acknowledge it, and the sentiment of his gratitude increases
the happiness of his situation.
”
In December 1798, when the French attacked the kingdom of Naples, he accompanied his Sicilian
In December 1798, when the French attacked the kingdom of Naples, he accompanied his Sicilian majesty to Palermo, from whence, towards the close of 1800, he was recalled to England: where he died April 6, 1803, in the 72d year of his age.
flourishing state. It has been translated into Italian by Romusio, into Spanish by Campomanes, into French by Bougainville, and in I7U7 into English by the learned Mr.
, a Carthaginian general, who was employed
to sail round Africa, entered the ocean by what is now
called the Strait of Gibraltar; discovered several countries,
and would have continued his voyage, had he not been in
want of provisions. The “Periplus of Hanno,
” ascribed
to him, was published in Greek by Gelenius, 1533, and
there is a good edition of it in Greek and Latin, with notes,
Leyden, 1674, 12mo. It is also inserted in the “Geographi Veteres,
” Oxford, 4 vols. 8vo, but some suppose this
work is of much later date than the time of Hanno, there
being reason to suppose he was the famous Carthaginian
general who carried on the war against Agathocles, when
Carthage was in its most flourishing state. It has been
translated into Italian by Romusio, into Spanish by Campomanes, into French by Bougainville, and in I7U7 into
English by the learned Mr. Falconer of Corpus college,
Oxford, who has ably defended the authenticity of the
work against Dodwell and other writers.
, a French dramatist of the seventeenth century, remarkable for the fertility
, a French dramatist of the seventeenth century, remarkable for the fertility of his pen,
wrote an incredible number of pieces for the theatre, som
say six hundred, and some even more. Of these, however,
no more remain than thirty-four, which were published by
himself in six volumes, 8vo, Paris, 1625 1628. Among
these the only tolerable piece is “Marianne,
” so good, indeed, that his readers will wonder how it came there. All
his boast was a remarkable facility in writing; it was said
that he would write two thousand lines in twenty-four
hours: in three days his play was composed, and acted.
He certainly had considerable talents, but, as he was very
necessitous, and compelled to write against time, his abilities had not fair scope. He was the first French dramatist
who introduced the custom of being paid for his pieces.
He died at Paris in 1630.
, a polite French writer, was born at Tours in 1686, and coming to Paris in 1704,
, a polite French writer, was born
at Tours in 1686, and coming to Paris in 1704, devoted
his time to the study of the belles lettres, and at the same
time cultivated a critical knowledge of the Greek language
under Boivin and Massieu, professors in the royal college.
In 1711, he was admitted as a pupil into the academy of
inscriptions, became an associate in 1715, and a pensionary
in 172S. For their Memoirs he wrote a great many curious
and interesting papers, and his general knowledge and reputation procured him at length the office of keeper of the
library and antiquities in the royal cabinet. In 1730 he
was chosen a member of the French academy, and the
following year began his “Histoire de l'origine et des progres de la Rhetorique dans la Grece.
” He had published
twelve dissertations on this subject, when, in 1748, the king
honoured him with the appointment of preceptor in history
and geography to madame Victoire, one of the princesses,
and he afterwards taught other illustrious females of that
family. It was for their use that he wrote his “Histoire
Poetique,
” with two treatises, one on French poetry, and
the other on rhetoric, Paris, 1751, 3 vols. 12mo, and his
universal history, “Histoire Universelle,
” 18 vols. 12mo,
to which Linguet added two others. All his works are
valued for elegance of style and the accuracy of his researches, and his personal character was not less admired,
as a man of integrity whom a court-life had not spoiled,
and who preserved the dignity of the literary character
amidst the cabals arrd intrigues by which he was surrounded.
Hardion died at Paris in September 1766. His dissertations in the Memoirs of the academy of inscriptions display
a profound knowledge of classical antiquities.
, a French Jesuit, eminent for his great parts, learning, and singularities
, a French Jesuit, eminent for his
great parts, learning, and singularities of opinion, was
born of obscure parents, at Kimper in Bretagne, in 1647.
He entered young in the society of Jesuits, and devoted
himself to the study of the belles lettres, the learned languages, history, philosophy, and divinity. In 1684, he
published in 4to, a work entitled “Nummi antiqui populorum & urbium illustrati
” in which he often gave explications very singular, and as contrary to truth as to good
sense. The same year he published, in conjunction with
Petavius, Themistii Orationes xxxiii. cum notis,“folio,;
and the year following, in 5 vols. 4to, for the use of the
dauphin,
” Plinii Historic Naturalis libri xxxvii, interpretatione & notis illustrati,“of which a much improved edition appeared at Paris in 1723, 3 vols. folio. Hitherto he
confined himself to profane learning, where his whimsies
were not supposed capable of doing much harm; but now
he began to tamper with religious subjects; and in 1687,
he published his book entitled
” De Baptismo qu<fistio triplex.“Two years after appeared his 4< Antirrheticus de
nummis antiquis colouiarum & municipiorum,
” in 4to; aud
also “S. Joannis Chrysostorni Epistola ad Cacsarium Monachum, notis ac clissertatione de sacramento altaris,
” in
4to. Le Clerc having made some reflections upon “St.
Chrysostom’s Letter to Cassarius,
” Hardouin replied, in a
piece printed in Defence de la l.ettre
de S. Jean Chrysostome, addressee a l'Auteur cle la Bibliotheque Universelle:
” to which Le Clerc returned an answer in the nineteenth volume of that work.
hequer. On the 8th of March following he was in great danger of his life; the marquis of Guiscard, a French papist, then under examination of a committee of the privy council
On April 17, 1704, he was sworn of her majesty’s privy
council; and, May 18th following, sworn in council one
of the principal secretaries of state, being also speaker of
the house of commons at the same time. In 1706 he was
appointed one of the commissioners for the treaty of union
with Scotland, which took effect; and resigned his place
of principal secretary of state in February 1707-8. August
10, 1710, he was constituted one of the commissioners of
the treasury, also chancellor and under-treasurer of the
exchequer. On the 8th of March following he was in great
danger of his life; the marquis of Guiscard, a French papist, then under examination of a committee of the privy
council at Whitehall, stabbing him with a penknife, which
he took up in the clerk’s room, where he waited before he
was examined. Guiscard was imprisoned, and died in
Newgate the 17th of the same month: and an act of parliament passed, making it felony, without benefit of clergy,
to attempt the life of a privy counsellor in the execution of
his office; and a clause was inserted “To justify and indemnify all persons, who in assisting in defence of Mr.
Harley, chancellor of the exchequer, when he was stabbed
by the sieur de Guiscard, and in securing him, did give
any wound or bruise to the said sieur de Guiscard, whereby
he received his death.
” The wound Mr. Harley had received confined him some weeks; but the house being informed that it was almost healed, and that he would in a
few days come abroad, resolved to congratulate his escape
and recovery; and accordingly, upon his attending the
house on the 26th of April, the speaker addressed him in
a very respectful speech, to which Mr. Harley returned as
respectful an answer. They had before addressed the
queen on this alarming occasion.