nment were then no part of Cambridge education, and if his book was explained and commented on there or at London, it must have been by individuals. In this work he
In 1576 he was chosen deputy to the states-general of
Blois, by the tiers-etat of Vermandois, and ably contended
for the rights of the people, and particularly opposed
those who would have all the king’s subjects constrained
to profess the Catholic religion, which we can easily suppose effectually prevented the king from being reconciled
to him. He after this appears to have resided at Laon,
where, in 1589, he persuaded that city to declare for the
league, and at the same time wrote to the president Brisson, a letter severely reflecting on Henry III. but this fault
he afterwards repaired by securing the allegiance of Laon
to Henry IV. He died of the plague at Laon, in 1596,
leaving a character more dubious than that of any man in
his time, and the light thrown upon it in his works is
certainly not of the most favourable kind. It may be said,
that although toleration was a word not known in his time,
he appears to have cherished some liberal notions on the
subject, but, as to religious principles, he had so little
steadiness, that he was by turns accounted, perhaps not
always justly, a Protestant, Papist, Deist, Sorcerer, Jew,
and Atheist; D'Aguessau, however, pronounces him a
worthy magistrate, a learned author, and a good citizen.
His first work was a commentary on Oppian’s “Cynogeticon,
” Paris, Methodus ad facilem Historiarum cognitionem,
” Paris, The Republic,
” a
work equally immethodical with the other, and abounding
in digressions and irrelevant matter, yet, for the time, an
extraordinary collection of facts and reflections on political government. It was soon translated into other languages, and was read with much interest in an age when
the principles of government were seldom discussed in
books. When in England with the duke of Alenc,on, we
are told that he found the English had made a Latin translation of it, bad enough, but, bad as it was, the subject
of lectures at London and Cambridge. Bodin reports
thus far himself; but that “it became a classic at Cambridge
” has been supplied by his biographers, who were
probably not aware that lectures on political government
were then no part of Cambridge education, and if his book
was explained and commented on there or at London, it
must have been by individuals. In this work he introduces
the influence of climate on the principles of government;
and as Montesquieu has done the same, La Harpe, the
French critic, terms Bodin’s book the “germ of the Spirit
of Laws,
” but this notion is far more ancient than either,
and not indeed of much consequence, whether old or new.
The first edition of these “Livres de la Republique
” was
printed at Paris, Juris Universi Distributio,
” were printed in to which was annexed
” A refutation of the book, de Lamiis,“of John Wier,
physician to the duke of Cleves, who had undertaken to
prove that the stories of witchcraft and sorcery have chiefly
arisen from imposture or delusions of fancy. The literary
character of Bodin, who defended this kind of superstition,
incurred reproach, and he himself was suspected of being
a magician. A work written by him, but never printed, and
entitled
” Heptaplomeron, sive de abditis rerum sublimium
arcanis,“is said to have been an attack upon religion, and
designed to invalidate the authority of revelation. By the
seeming advantages which he gave in this work to the
Jewish religion, he was suspected of being a convert to it;
but it is more probable that he was a sceptic with regard
to religion, and alike indifferent to all modes of faith. A
little while before his death he published a Latin treatise,
entitled
” Theatrum Universae Naturae," in which he professes to pursue the causes and effects of things to their
principles.
ery St. Mary, near Exeter. By his father’s side he descended from the ancient family of the Bodleys, or Bodleighs, of Dunscomb, near Crediton, in Devonshire. He was
, that illustrious benefactor to literature, from whom the public library at Oxford takes its name, was the son of Mr. John Bodley, of Exeter, and of his wife Joan, daughter and heiress of Robert Home, esq. of Ottery St. Mary, near Exeter. By his father’s side he descended from the ancient family of the Bodleys, or Bodleighs, of Dunscomb, near Crediton, in Devonshire. He was born at Exeter, March 2, 1544, and was about twelve years of age when his father was obliged to leave England on account of his religion, and settle at Geneva, where he lived during the reign of queen Mary. The English church at Geneva consisted, as he himself informs us, of some hundred persons; and here, the university having been newly erected, he frequented the public lectures of Chevalerius on the Hebrew tongue, of Beroaldus on the Greek, and of Calvin and Beza on divinity, and had also domestic teachers in the house of Philibertus Saracenus, a physician of that city, with whom he boarded, and where Robert Constantine, author of the Greek Lexicon, read Homer to him. Under such masters, we cannot doubt his proficiency, although we have no more particular detail of his early studies upon record. Whatever else he learned, he appears to have imbibed an uncommon love of books, to have studied their history, and to have prepared himself, although unconscious of the result, for that knowledge which, it is evident from his correspondence, he was perpetually increasing, and which at length, when the political prospects which once flattered his ambition were closed, enabled, as well as incited him, to re-found the public library at Oxford.
g of a Greek lecture in the hall of that college, which he continued for some time without expecting or requiring any stipend but afterwards the society of their own
Upon the accession of queen Elizabeth in 1558, he returned into England with his father 'and family, who
settled at London and soon after, he was sent to Magdalen college, in Oxford, under the tuition of Dr. Humphrey, afterwards president of that society. In 1563he took
the degree of B. A. and the same year was chosen probationer of Merton college, and the year following admitted
fellow. In 1565, by persuasion of some of the fellows,
he undertook the public reading of a Greek lecture in the
hall of that college, which he continued for some time
without expecting or requiring any stipend but afterwards
the society of their own accord allowed him a salary of
four marks per annum and from that time continued the
lecture to the college. In 1566 he took the degree of
M. A. and the same year read natural philosophy in the
public schools. In 1569 he was elected one of the proctors of the university and after that, for a considerable
time, supplied the place of university orator. Hitherto
Mr. Bodley applied himself to the study of various faculties, without the inclination to profess any one more than
the rest; but, in 1576, being desirous to improve himself
in the modern languages, and to qualify himself for public
business, he began his travels, and spent nearly four years
in visiting France, Germany, and Italy. Afterwards, returning to his college, he applied himself to the study of
history and politics. In 1583 he was made gentleman
usher to queen Elizabeth; and in 1585, married Anne,
daughter of Mr. Carew, of Bristol, and widow of Mr. Ball,
a lady of considerable fortune. Soon after, he was employed by queen Elizabeth in several embassies to Frederick king of Denmark, Julius duke of Brunswick, William landgrave of Hesse, and other German princes, to
erfgage them to join their forces with those of the English,
for the assistance of the king of Navarre, afterwards
Henry IV. of France and having discharged that commission, he was sent to king Henry III. at the time when
that prince was forced by the duke of Guise to quit Paris.
This commission, he tells us, he performed with extraordinary secrecy, not being accompanied by any one servant,
(for so he was commanded), nor with any other letters
than such as were written with the queen’s own hand to
the king, and some select persons about him. “The effect,
” he adds, “of that message it is fit I should conceal;
but it tended greatly to the advantage of all the Protestants
in France, and to the duke’s apparent overthrow, which
also followed soon upon it.
” Camden says nothing more
of this embassy than that queen Elizabeth “not only assisted the king of Navarre, when he was entangled in a
dangerous and difficult war, with money and other military
provisions, but sent over sir Thomas Bodley to support or
encourage the French king when his affairs seemed to be
in a very desperate condition.
”
motive -he had to set himself against me, in whatsoever might redound to the bettering of my state, or increasing my credit and countenance with the queen. When I”
After near five years residence in Holland, he obtained
leave to return to England to look after his private affairs,
but was shortly after remanded back to the Hague. About
a year after he came into England again, to communicate some private discoveries to the queen and presently
returned to the States for the execution of those councils
he had secretly proposed. At length, having succeeded
in all his negociations, he obtained his final recal in 1597.
After his return, finding his advancement at court obstructed by the jealousies and intrigues of the great men,
he retired from the court and all public business, and
never could be prevailed with to return and accept of any
new employment. His own account of his treatment at
this time is too amusing and characteristic to be omitted
“I cannot chuse,
” says he, “in making report of the
principal accidents that have befallen unto me in the course
of my life, but record among the rest, that from the very
first day 1 had no man more to triend, among the lords of
the council, than was the lord treasurer Burleigh for when
occasion had been ottered of declaring his conceit, as
touching my service, he would always tell the queen
(which I received from herself, and some other ear-witnesses) that there was not any man in England so meet as
myself to undergo the office of the secretary; and since,
his son the present lord treasurer hath signified unto me in
private conference, that, when his father first intended to
advance him to that place, his purpose was withal to make
me his colleague. But the case stood thus in my behalf:
Before such time as I returned from the Provinces United,
which was in the year 1597, and likewise after my return,
the earl of Essex did use me so kindly, both by letters and
messages, and other great tokens of his inward favour to
me, that, alihough I had no meaning but to settle in my
mind my chiefest dependance upon the lord Burleigh, as
one that I reputed to be both the best able, and therewithal the most willing, to work my advancement with the
queen; yet I know not how the earl, who sought by all
devices to divert her love and liking both from the father
and the son (but from the son in special), to withdraw my
affection from the one and the other, and to win me altogether to depend upon himself, did so often take occasion
to entertain the queen with some prodigal speephes of my
sufficiency for a secretary, which were ever accompanied
with words of disgrace against the present lord treasurer,
as neither she herself (of whose favour before I was thoroughly assured) took any great pleasure to prefer me the
sooner (for she hated his ambition, and would give little countenance to any of his followers); and both the lord
Burleigh and his son waxed jealous of my courses, as if
underhand 1 had been induced, by the cunning and kindness of the earl of Essex, to oppose myself against their
dealings. And though in very truth they had no solid
ground at all of the least alteration in my disposition towards either of them both (for I did greatly respect their persons and places, with a settled resolution to do them any service, as also in my heart I detested to be of any faction whatsoever) yet the now lord treasurer, upon occasion of some talk that I have since had with him of the
earl and his actions, hath freely confessed of his own accord to me, that his daily provocations were so bitter and
sharp against him, and his comparisons so odious, when he
put us in a balance, as he thought thereupon, he had very
great reason to use his best means to put any man out of
love of raising his fortune, whom the earl with sucn violence, to his extreme prejudice, had endeavoured to dignify. And this, as he affirmed, was all the motive -he had
to set himself against me, in whatsoever might redound to
the bettering of my state, or increasing my credit and
countenance with the queen. When I
” had thoroughly
now bethought me, first in the earl, of the slender holdfast he had in the queen; of an endless opposition of the
chiefest of our statesmen like still to wait upon him; of
his perilous, feeble, and uncertain advice, as well in his
own, as in all the causes of his friends; and when moreover for myself I had fully considered how very untowardly
these two counsellors were affected unto me, (upon whom before in cogitation I had framed all the fabric of my future prosperity); how ill it did concur with my natural
disposition, to become, or to be counted a stickler
or partaker in any public faction how well I was able,
by God’s good blessing, to live of myself, if I could
be content with a competent livelihood; how short a time
of farther life I was then to expect by the common course of
nature when I had, I say, in this manner represented to
my thoughts my particular estate, together with the earl’s,
I resolved thereupon to possess my soul in peace all the
residue of my days; to take my full farewell of state employments; to satisfy my mind with that mediocrity of
worldly living that I had of mine own and so to retire
me from the court, which was the epilogue and end of all
my actions, and endeavours of any important note, till I
came to the age of sixty three. Now although after this,
by her majesty’s directions, I was often called to the court
by the now lord treasurer, then secretary, and required by
him, as also divers times since, by order from the king, to
serve as an ambassador in France, to go a commissioner
from his highness for concluding the truce between Spain
and the Provinces, and to negotiate in other very honourable employments yet I would not be removed from my
former final resolution insomuch as at length to reduce
me the sooner to return to the court, I had an offer made
me by the present lord treasurer (for in process of time he saw, as he himself was pleased to tell me more than once, that all my dealing was upright, fair, and direct) that in
case I myself were willing unto it, he would make me his
associate in the secretary’s office And to the intent I
might believe that he intended it bonafide, he would get
me out of hand to be sworn of the council. And for the
better enabling of my state to maintain such a dignity,
whatsoever 1 would ask that might be fit for him to deal in,
and for me to enjoy, he woul'd presently solic.t the king to
give it passage. All which persuasions notwithstanding,
albeit I was often assaulted by him, in regard of my years,
and for that I felt myself subject to many indispositions,
besides some other reasons, which I reserve unto myself,
I have continued still at home my retired course of life,
which is now methinks to me as the greatest preferment
that the state can afford.“Mr. Camden mentions the affair of sir Thomas’s disappointment in regard to the office
of secretary in these words
” It raised in him (the earl of Essex) a greater and more apparent discontent, that sir
Robert Cecil was chosen secretary in his absence whereas
he had some time before recommended sir Thomas Bodley,
on the score of his great wisdom and experience in the affairs of the Low Countries, and had run very high in his
commendations; but with so much bitterness, and so little
reason, disparaged Cecil, that the queen (who had by this time a mean opinion of Essex’s recommendations) was the
more inclinable to refuse to make Bodley secretary; neither
would she let the lord treasurer join him in commission
with his son; both which honours were designed him, till
Essex, by too profuse and lavish praises, had rendered
him suspected as a creature of his own."
In the same year (1597) he began the munificent work of restoring, or rather founding anew, the public library at Oxford, which was
In the same year (1597) he began the munificent work
of restoring, or rather founding anew, the public library
at Oxford, which was completed in 1599. In his memoirs
he has admirably displayed his first thoughts, his first feelings, and his first precautions on this important undertaking. After adverting to the motives which induced him to
retire from court and chuse a private life, he goes on thus
“Only this I must truly confess of myself, that though I
did never yet repent me of those, and some other my often
refusals of honourable offers, in respect of emiching my
private estate yet somewhat more of late I have blamed
myself and my nicety that way, for the love that I bear to
my reverend mother the university of Oxon, and to the
advancement of her good, by such kind of means, as I
have since undertaken. For thus I fell to discourse and
debate in my mind tiiat although I might find it fittest
for me to keep out of the throng of court contentions, and
address my thoughts and deeds to such ends altogether, as
I myself could best affect yet withal I was to think, that
my duty towards God, the expectation of the world, and
my natural inclination, and very morality did require, that
I should not wholly so hide those little abilities that 1 had,
but that in some measure, in one kind or other, I should
do the true part of a profitable member of the state.
Whereupon examining exactly for the rest of my life what
course I might take, and having sought (as I thought) all
the ways to the wood, to select the most proper, I concluded at the last to set up my staff at the library door in
Oxon, being thoroughly persuaded, that in my solitude
and surcease from the commonwealth affairs, 1 could not
busy myself to better purpose, than by reducing that place
(which then in every part lay ruined and waste) to the
public use of students. For the effecting whereof I found
myself furnished, in a competent proportion, of such four
kinds of aids, as, unless I had them all, there was no hope
of good success. For without some kind of knowledge, as
well in the learned and modern tongues, as in sundry other
sorts of scholastical literature without some purse-ability
to go through with the charge without great store of honourable friends, to further the design and without special good leisure to follow such a work, it could but have
proved a vain attempt and inconsiderate. But how well I
have sped in all my endeavours, and how full provision I
have made for the benefit and ease of all frequenters of the
library, that which I have already performed in sight, that
which besides I have given for the maintenance of it, and
that which hereafter I purpose to add, by way of enlargement of that place (for the project is cast, an. I, whether I live or die, it shall be, God willing, put in full execution),
will testify so truly and abundantly for me, as I need not be
the publisher of the dignity and worth of my own institution.
” Camden, under the year 1598, tells us, that Bodley, being at present unengaged from affairs of state, set
himself a task, which would have suited the character of a
crowned head, the promotion and encouragement of
learning for he began to repair the public library at Oxford,
and furnished it with new books. It was set up, he adds,
by Humphrey duke of Gloucester, but through the iniquity
of the times was, in the reign of Edward VI. stripped of all
the books but he (Bodley) having made the choicest collection from all parts of the world of the most valuable
books, partly at his own cost, and partly by contributions
from others, he first stocked, and afterwards left it so well
endowed at his death, that his memory deserves to bear
a very lasting date amongst men of worth and letters.“The same author, in his
” Britannia,“tells us, duke
Humphrey’s library consisted of one hundred and twentynine volumes, procured from Italy at a great expence.
His translator adds, that they were valued at above a thousand pounds, and that the duke in 1440 gave one hundred
and twenty-six volumes more, and in 1443 a much greater
number, besides considerable additions at his death three
years after. But, before duke Humphrey’s time, Richard
de Bury, alias Aungervil, bishop of Durham, in 1295, gave
a great number of books to the university, which were kept
in a place for that purpose in the college, now Trinity college, which the monks of Durham had founded in the north
suburbs of Oxford; an account whereof may be gathered
from a book written by himself, called
” Philobiblos, sive
de amore librorum, et institutione Bibliothecae.“And
after him, in 1320, Thomas Cobham, bishop of Worcester, built another over the old Congregation-house in the
north coemetery of St. Mary’s. In 1597, sir Thomas Bodley, taking into his consideration the ruinous condition of
duke Humphrey’s library, and resolving to undertake the
restoration of it at his own expence, wrote a letter, dated
at London, Jan. 23, to Dr. Ravis, dean of Christ church,
then vice-chancellor, to be communicated to the university; offering therein to restore the fabric of the said
library, and to settle an annual income for the purchase of
books, and the support of such officers as might be necessary to take care of it. This letter was received with the
greatest satisfaction by the university, and an answer returned, testifying their most grateful acknowledgment and
acceptance of his noble offer. On this, sir Thomas immediately set about the work, and in two years time brought
it to a good degree of perfection. In 1601, the university
had such a sense of his services that he was voted a public
benefactor, and his name ordered to be included among
the other benefactors repeated in the public prayers. He
furnished it with a large collection of books, purchased in
foreign countries at a great expence and thi.-, collection
in a short time became so greatly enlarged by the generous
benefactions of several noblemen, bishops, and others, that
neither the shelves nor the room could contain them. &ir
Thomas then offering to make a considerable addition to
the building, the motion was readily embraced, and, on
July 19, 1610, the first stone of the new foundation was
laid with great solemnity, the vice-chancellor, Doctors,
masters of arts, &c. attending in their proper habits, a
speech being made upon the occasion. But sir Thomas
Bodley did not live to see this part of his design completed,
though he left sufficient means in trust, as he bestowed his.
whole estate (his debts, legacies, and funeral charges defrayed) to the noble purposes of this foundation. By this,
and the help of other benefactions, in procuring which sir
Thomas was very serviceable by his great interest with
many eminent persons, the university was enabled to add
three other sides to what was already built, forming a noble
quadrangle, and spacious rooms for schools of arts. By
sir Thomas’s’ will 200l. per annum was settled on the library
for ever out of whichhe appointed near forty pounds for
the head librarian, ten pounds for the sub-librarian, and
eight for the junior. He drew up likewise a body of excellent statutes for the government of the library. In this
library is a statue erected to the memory of sir Thomas
Bodley, by the earl of Dorset, chancellor of the university,
with the following inscription:
” Thomas Sackvillus Dorsettia? Comes, Summus Angliae Thesaurarius, et hujus
Academise Cancellarius, Thomse Bodleio Equiti Aurato,
qui Bibliothecam hanc instituit, honoris causa pie posuit
i. e. Thi.mas Sackvile, earl of Dorset, lord high treasurer of
England, and chancellor of this university, piously erected
this monument to the honour of sir Thomas Bodley, knt.
who founded this library.“King James I. we are told,
when he came to Oxford in 1605, and, among other edifices, took a view of this famous library, at his departure,
in imitation of Alexander, broke out into this speech
” If
I were not a king, I would be an university man and if it
were so that I must be a prisoner, if I might have my wish,
1 would have no other prison than that library, and be
chained together with so many good authors." A catalogue of the printed books in the Bodleian library was
published in 1674 by Dr. Thomas Hyde, then chief librarian
another of the manuscripts was printed in 1697; and a
more ample catalogue of the books was printed at Oxford,
in 1738, in two volumes, folio.
hed from the originals in the Bodleian library, by Hearne, under the title of “Reliquiae Bodleianse, or, some genuine remains of sir Thomas Bodley,” London, 1703, 8vo.
Dr. John Morris, canon of Christ- church, bequeathed by
his will to the university five pounds per annum, for a
speech to be made by a master of arts in praise of sir Thomas Bodley; the person who made the speech to be nominated by the dean of Christ-church, and confirmed by
the vice-chancelor for the time being. But this gift was
not to take place till the death of Dr. Morris’s widow;
which happening in November, 1681, the annuity then
fell to the university, and the year following, Dr. John
Fell, dean of Christ-church, nominated Thomas Sparke,
A. M. of his college who, being approved by the vicechancellor, made a solemn speech in the schools, the 8th
of November, 1682. This is continued annually on the
day when the visitation of the library is made. His
statutes for the regulation of the library were translated
out of English into Latin by Dr. John Budden, principal of
Broadgate-hall (now Pembroke college), and incorporated
with the university statutes. Sir Thomas wrote his own
life to the year 1609, which, together with the first draught of
his statutes, and a collection of his letters, were published
from the originals in the Bodleian library, by Hearne, under
the title of “Reliquiae Bodleianse, or, some genuine remains of sir Thomas Bodley,
” London,
if there should be occasion, with their shipping and other sea provisions, and to come to no accord or pacification with the Spaniard, unless with her consent; and
4 In a letter written to the queen on the 14th of May,
1595, just after his return, he inclosed the substance of
their overture, and alleged the reasons of his own coming
over in person, to be the winning of time, the clearing of
doubts, and the framing of the overture fully to her majesty’s satisfaction. Nevertheless, the queen continued so
exasperated with the proposal brought by him, that on the
24th of May, he wrote to Mr. Anthony Bacon, that he had
not stirred abroad for ten days past, nor knew when he
should, since he saw so little hope of better usage at
court “where,
” says he, “I hear for my comfort, that
the queen on Monday last did wish I had been hanged.
” And if withal I might have leave, that I should be discharged, I would say, Benedetto si el Giorno, el Mese, &
'lAnno." However, at length, Mr. Bodley was sent back
to the Hague, with new instructions, to demand of the
States a. hundred thousand pounds in ready money, and to
protest, that if they would not now determine to return
her majesty such an answer, as she might find they had
some feeling of her manifold deserts and present necessities, she would not only revoke her succours from thence
with all expedition, but make her grievances known by
some public declaration, whereby the world mi^ht take
notice of their want of conscience in their dealing. But
not being able to bring the States to a compliance with
the terms insisted upon, he was, at last, commanded to
effect the very same project, which he had before carried
to England, and for which he had endured so much bitterness and grief; and in conclusion he brought them to
these terms: that they would consent to a discharge of the
auxiliary entertainments, which would ease her majesty of
at least forty thousand pounds a year, upon condition
that her intention might be known two months before to
make an annual presentation of twenty thousand pounds,
to be paid every time by public legation on her majesty’s
birth-day; but not to be continued beyond her reign: to
assist her majesty, if there should be occasion, with their
shipping and other sea provisions, and to come to no accord or pacification with the Spaniard, unless with her
consent; and to discharge the sum of four hundred thousand pounds in four years, but payable only to her majesty’s
person.
s Bodley, under the privy seal, for any books, which that gentleman should like in any of his houses or libraries. However, his majesty amply supplied this loss, by
Among the other aids which sir Thomas Bodley received,
in his noble design of restoring the public library at Oxford, his great friend, the earl of Essex, made him a present of a considerable part of the very valuable library that
had belonged to the celebrated Jerom Osorius, successively bishop of Sylvas, and of Algarva, in which last see
he died in 1580. This library had fallen to the earl’s
share, among the booty which had been taken in the famous expedition against Cadiz, in 1596. King James I.
likewise, enriched the Bodleian library at Oxford at the
expence of his own for he gave a warrant to sir Thomas
Bodley, under the privy seal, for any books, which that
gentleman should like in any of his houses or libraries.
However, his majesty amply supplied this loss, by purchasing lord Lumley’s library, which contained not only
his own collection, but that of his father-in-law, Henry
Fitz-Alan, earl of Arundel, who had lived in the reign of
king Henry the eighth, when, upon the dissolution of the
monasteries, he had great opportunities of collecting manuscripts. Many of these manuscripts, as well as of the
printed books in the Royal library, have the name of Arundel and Lumley written in them and now constitute a part
of the noble collection in the British Museum. In Hearne’s
“Johannis Glastoniensis Historia de Rebus Glastoniensibus,
” are two letters to sir Robert Cotton, which peculiarly belong to this article, as one of them gave rise to
a very ridiculous report. They will be found in the
note .
glory of his library, that he forgot all other respects and duties almost of conscience, friendship, or good nature. Mr. Chamberlayne farther observes, as another argument
Though sir Thomas Bodley’s design, in re-founding the public library at Oxford, was so excellent and useful, and his bequeathing his estate for that purpose so commendable, some persons were dissatisfied at their not being remembered by him in his last will. This, at least, was the case with Mr. Chamberlayne, who, though not a relation of sir Thomas’s, yet having had a long acquaintance with him, complains of his conduct with no small degree of malignity. He says that sir Thomas Bodley was so carried away with the vanity and vain glory of his library, that he forgot all other respects and duties almost of conscience, friendship, or good nature. Mr. Chamberlayne farther observes, as another argument of sir Thomas’s vanity, that he had written his own life in seven sheets of paper, not leaving out the least minuteness, or omitting any thing that might tend to his own glory or commendation and that he had not so much as made mention of his wife, or that he was married by which it might be seen what a mind he carried, and what account he made of his best benefactors. It is easy to perceive, that these reflections are chiefly the result of spleen and disappointment.
to enumerate the many important additions made to the Bodleian library by its numerous benefactors, or to give even a superficial sketch of its ample contents in every
It would requirea volume to enumerate the many important additions made to the Bodleian library by its numerous benefactors, or to give even a superficial sketch of its ample contents in every branch of science. Among the earliest benefactors were, Robert Devereux, earl of Essex Thomas Sackville, lord Buckhurst and earl of Dorset Robert Sidney, lord Sidney of Penshurst viscount Lisle and earl of Leicester; George Carey,- lord Hunsdon William Gent, esq. Anthony Browne, viscount Montacute John lord Lumley Philip Scudamore, of London, esq. and Lawrence Bodley, younger brother to the founder. All these contributions were made before the year 16 Oo. In 1601, collections of books and manuscripts were presented by Thomas Allen, some time fellow of Trinity college Thomas James, first librarian Herbert Westphaling, bishop of Hereford sir John Fortescue, knt. Alexander Nowell, dean of St. Paul’s John Crooke, recorder of London, and chief justice of the Common Pleas and Nicholas Bond, D. D. president of Magdalen college. The most extensive and prominent collections, however, are those of the earl of Pembroke, Mr. Selden, archbishop Laud, sir Thomas Roe, sir Kenelm Digby, general Fairfax, Dr. Marshall, Dr. Barlow, Dr. Rawlinson, Mr. St. Amand, Dr. Tanner, Mr. Browne Willis, T. Hearne, and Mr. Godwin. The last collection bequeathed, that of the late eminent and learned antiquary, Richard Gough, esq. is perhaps the most perfect series of topographical science ever formed, and is particularly rich in topographical manuscripts, prints, drawings, and books illustrated by the manuscript notes of eminent antiquaries. Since 1780, a fund of more than 4001. a year has been esablished for the purchase of books. This arises from a small addition to the matriculation fees, and a moderate contribution annually from such members of the university as are admitted to the use of the library, or on their taking their first degree.
orn at Zurich, July 19, 1693, and notwithstanding his father’s design to bring him up to the church, or for trade, he seemed born for the sciences, and particularly
, a voluminous writer, and one of the, revivers of literature in Germany, was born at Zurich, July 19, 1693, and notwithstanding his father’s design to bring him up to the church, or for trade, he seemed born for the sciences, and particularly the belles lettres. He concealed his dislike, however, for the ministry, until the time when he might have been admitted, and then declined proceeding any farther. His father then would have him pursue trade, and in 1717 sent him to Bergamo for that purpose. This being of course as disagreeable to him as the study of divinity, he returned home after two years, his predilection for poetry growing more and more upon him. Ovid’s Metamorphoses, a translation of which fell in his way, filled his head with poetical images, and the English Spectator formed his morals, while he studied his philosophy in Bayle and Montaigne. The German language was at this time in a barbarous state; literature was at a low ebb, and the pedantic studies of the schools were not to the liking of such a youth as Bodmer. Finding nothing, therefore, to read in his own language, he confined himself to the classics of antiquity, and gave up every other employment, except the study of the history and politics of Swisserland. In history, however, he looked only for men, manners, and language; and was desirous of forming from it a system of psychology.
fountain of the German language, 1768; a magnificent edition, already noticed, of the '^Minnisinger,“ or Old German Bards, 1758. He also wrote parodies on Lessing’s
His other works were, a German translation of Milton,
Zurich, 1769; and of Homer, ibid. 1769; of Apollonius
Rhodius, ibid. 1779; Collections for the history of the Allies,
ibid. 1739 Dissertation on the wonderful in poetry, 1749;
Critical observations on portraits in poetry Letters on
Criticism A collection of all his smaller epic poems, entitled Calliope; A collection of critical and poetical works,
the fountain of the German language, 1768; a magnificent edition, already noticed, of the '^Minnisinger,“or
Old German Bards, 1758. He also wrote parodies on
Lessing’s Fables, and the Tragedies of Weiss, both very
inferior, to his other works. In 1767 his
” Noah“was
translated by Mr. Collier, and partakes of all the faults of
such compositions as the
” Death of Abel." Bodmer’s
great fault, indeed, was that inflated and bombast style,
which has been since his time so popular in Germany, and
which, in the dramatic form, some years ago, threatened
to debase the taste of this country. His imagination is
fertile, and occasionally bursts into something like sublimity, but is rarely under the guidance of judgment or
taste. Having something of both, however, at the time
his countrymen had neither, he cannot be denied the
merit of giving a more favourable direction to their studies but it was his misfortune to acquire fame when there
was none to dispute it, and as his country increased in its
number of scholars and critics, he in vain endeavoured to
preserve his superiority by being jealous of rising merit.
The first critic when German criticism was in its infancy,
he would also be the first when she was advanced to maturity but he outlived his authority, and was no longer
the first, although he might rank among the best. He died
Jan. 2, 1783.
vours, pursued his studies with unremitting ardour, until his death in 1692. He published with notes or commentaries, editions of Herodian, Strasburgh, 1644, 8vo Suetonius,
, an eminent German critic
and historian, and counsellor to the emperor and to the
elector of Mentz, was born in 1611, at Cronheim in Franconia, and was during a long life reputed one of the ablest
men Germany had produced, particularly in Greek, Latin,
and Hebrew, in history, and political and legal knowledge. He was only twenty when thought worthy of being
appointed professor of eloquence at Strasburgh, and in
1640 was made a canon of St. Thomas. Christina, queen of
Sweden, invited him to Upsal in 1648, to be professor of
eloquence, and the following year conferred on him the
place of historiographer of Sweden, with a pension of eight
hundred crowns, which she generously continued when
his health obliged him to return to Strasburgh. He was
then elected professor* of history at Strasburgh, and in
1662 the elector of Mentz appointed him his counsellor.
The year after, the emperor Ferdinand III. bestowed the'
same honour upon him, with the title of count Palatine.
Louis XIV. offered him a pension pf two thousand livres,
but the court of Vienna, unwilling to lose him, induced
him to decline it, and made up his loss by another pension
of six hundred rix-dollars. Boeder, honoured and enriched by so many favours, pursued his studies with unremitting ardour, until his death in 1692. He published
with notes or commentaries, editions of Herodian, Strasburgh, 1644, 8vo Suetonius, ibid. 1647, 4to Manilius,
ibid. 1655, 4to Terence, ibid, 1657, 8vo Cornelius
Nepos, Utrecht, 1665, 12mo; Polybius, 1666, 1670,
1681, 4to; part of Tacitus, Velleius Paterculus, Virgil,
Herodotus, and Ovid. His other works were 1 “De
Jure Galliae in Lotharingiam,
” Strasburgh, Annotationes in Hippolytum a Lapide,
”
ibid. De ratione status imperii Romano-Germanici,
” by Chemnitz or
James de Steinberg. 3. “Dissertatio de scriptoribus
Graecis et Latinis, ab Homero usque ad initium XVI seculi,
” ibid. 1674, 8vo, and reprinted by Gronovius in the
tenth vol. of his Grecian antiquities. 4. “Bibliographia
historico-politico-philologica,
” Historia
Belli Sueco-Danici annis 1643 1645,
” Stockholm, Historia universalis ab orbe
comlito ad J. C. nativitatem,
” ibid. Notitia sacri imperii
Romani,
” ibid. De rebus saeculi
post Christum XVI. liber memorialis,
” Kiel, 1697, 8vo:
10. “Historia universalis IV saeculorum post Christum,
”
1699, 8vo, reprinted at Rostock, 4to, with a life of the
author, by J. Theophilus Moller. 11. Various “Letters
”
in Jaski’s collection, Amsterdam, Commentatio in Grotii librum de jure belli ac pacis,
” Strasburgh, Bibliographia critica,
” Leipsic,
Dissertations, and smaller pieces,
” published by J. Fabricius, ajt
Strasburgh,
charity. Dr. Watts said of him, that he feared there were but few such men then in England, British or German, Episcopal or Non -conformist. His original works are
, minister of the German chapel at St. James’s, London, the son of Anthony
Boehm, minister at Oeetorff, in the county of Pyrmont,
in Germany, who died 1679, was born June 1, 1673, and
after his father’s death was sent to school at Lemgo, and
afterwards at Hameln, whence, after making proficiency
in Greek and Latin, he was removed to the newly-erected
university at Halle. Having finished the usual course of
studies here, and taken orders, he was for some time employed as tutor to the sons of noblemen and gentlemen.
About the year 1701, some German families in London
requested of the university of Halle to send over a proper
person as schoolmaster to their children. Boehm was invited to accept this situation, and arrived at London in
November of that year, where his first object was to acquire the English language. In 1702 he opened a school
in Bedfordbnry, but met with so little encouragement,
although invited hither for the purpose, that he must have
returned to his own country, if, in 1705, he had not been
appointed by prince George of Denmark, queen Anne’s
husband, to be one of his chaplains, and officiate at his
chapel, which he did for some time alternately with his
colleague Crusius, and gave so much satisfaction, not only
to the prince, but to the queen, that after his highness’s
death, in 1708, the queen ordered the same service to be
continued, and gave him access to her presence, which
he improved occasionally in the promotion of acts, of
charity and humanity. On one occasion, particularly, by
his intercession, the queen prevailed on the king of France
to release many of th French Protestants condemned to
the gallies for religion. When king George I. came to
the crown, Mr. Boehm was confirmed in his station, which
beheld to his death, May 27, 1722. He was buried in
Greenwich church-yard, with a characteristic epitaph.
He appears to have been a man of unfeigned and fervent
piety, and remarkably zealous in promoting works of piety
and charity. Dr. Watts said of him, that he feared there
were but few such men then in England, British or German, Episcopal or Non -conformist. His original works
are 1. “Enchiridion Precum, cum introductione de natura Orationis,
” A volume of
discourses and tracts,
” in English. 3. “The duty of Reformation,
” The doctrine of godly sorrow,
”
Plain directions for reading the Holy Bible,
”
Various pious tracts, in the German language. He also translared the
” Pietas Hallensis,“a curious history of the rise and progress of the Orphan
school at Halle, 1705 6 7, and the first
” Account of
the Protestant mission at Tranquebar,“1709 11, some
parts of the works of bishop Hopkins, Dr. Barrow, &c.
Arndt’s
” True Christianity" and edited a Latin edition
of the same, and editions of some other pious treatises by
foreign divines. He left an unfinished history of the reformation in England from Henry VIII. to Charles II. and
some other manuscripts.
, or Behmen, a noted visionary, and founder of the sect of the Behmenists,
, or Behmen, a noted visionary, and founder of the sect of the Behmenists, was born in a village near Gorlitz, in Upper Lusatia, 1575. His education was suitable to the circumstances and views of his parents, who, designing him for a mechanic trade, took him from school as soon as he could read and write, and put him apprentice to a shoe-maker. He first began to use that occupation as a master at Gorlitz, in 1594, and getting into such business as enabled him to support a family, he entered after some time into matrimony, and had several children.
time possessed with a divine light, and by the sight of a sudden object brought to the inward ground or centre of the hidden nature yet somewhat doubting, he went out
In the mean time, being naturally of a religious turn
of mind, he was a constant frequenter of sermons from his
youth, and took all opportunities of reading books of divinity, but, not being able to satisfy himself about the differences and controversies in religion, he grew very uneasy, till, happening one day to hear from the pulpit that
speech of our Saviour, “Your heavenly Father will give
the holy spirit to them that ask it
” he was presently so
affected, that from this moment, as he tells us, he never
ceased asking, that he might know the truth. Upon this,
he says, by the divine drawing and will, he was in spirit
rapt into the holy sabbath, where he remained seven whole
days, in the highest joy; after which, coming to himself,
he laid aside all the follies of youth, and was driven by
divine zeal earnestly to reprehend impudent, scandalous,
and blasphemous speeches, and in all his actions forbore
the least appearance of evil, continuing to earn a comfortable livelihood by diligent application to his trade. la
1600, he was a second time possessed with a divine light,
and by the sight of a sudden object brought to the inward
ground or centre of the hidden nature yet somewhat
doubting, he went out hi to an open field, and there beheld
the miraculous works of the Creator in the signatures,
figures, or shapes of all created things very clearly and
manifestly laid open; whereupon he was taken with exceeding joy, yet held his peace, in silence praising God.
But ten years after, in 1610, through the overshadowing
of the holy spirit, he was a third time touched by God,
and became so enlightened, that, lest so great grace bestowed upon him should slip out of his memory ^ and he
resist his God, he began to write privately for his own use
(without the help of any books except the holy scripture),
the truths which had been thus revealed to him. In this
spirit he first published his treatise, entitled “Aurora, or
the rising of the sun,
” in
ars of his life he wrote ahove twenty books, the last of which, entitled “A table of his principles, or a key of his writings,” was published in 1624. He did not long
Thus rebuked, he remained silent for seven years but
finding that the directors of the electoral laboratory had
recommended him to a great many persons of the court as a
good chemist, he lifted up his head, and boldly opposed Richterus and, taking up his pen again, was resolved to redeem the time he had lost; insomuch that in the remaining five years of his life he wrote ahove twenty books, the
last of which, entitled “A table of his principles, or a key
of his writings,
” was published in if he
also heard that excellent music
” To which being answered
in the negative, he ordered the door to be set open, that
the music might be the better heard. He asked afterwards
what o'clock it was and being told it had struck two, he
said, “It is not yet my time, my time is three hours
hence.
” In the interim he was heard to speak these words,
“O thou strong God of hosts, deliver me according to thy
will O thou crucified Lord Jesus, have mercy upon me,
and receive me into thy kingdom.
” When it was near six
o'clock, he took leave of his wife and sons, and blessed
them, and said, “Now I go hence to paradise
” then
bidding his son turn him, he immediately expired in a
deep sigh.
The titles of these writings will be perhaps sufficient, without entering farther into their merits, or that of their author. 1. Aurora, or the rising of the sun, 1612.
A great number of persons have been inveigled by the visions of this fanatic; among others the famous Quirinus Kahlman in Germany, who says, that he had learned more, being alone in his study, from Boehmen, than he could have learned from all the wise men of that age together: and that we may not be in the dark as to what sort of knowledge this was, he acquaints us, that amidst an infinite number of visions it happened, that being snatched out of his study, he saw thousands of thousands of lights rising round about him. But our author is better known among ou-rselves, where he has hundreds of admirers and no wonder, since, as Dr. Henry More observes, the sect of the Quakers have borrowed a great many of their doctrines from our Teutonic philosopher of whom we shall venture to say, from a perusal of some of his writings, that he possessed the grand arcanum of mysterizing plain truths by an inextricably oenigmatical expression. He has still many disciples in England and we are sorry to add, met with a warm advocate and industrious disciple in the late pious Mr. William Law, who employed many years in preparing an edition and translation of Bcehmen’s works, and which were published after his decease in 2 vols. 4to, to which two others were afterwards added. The titles of these writings will be perhaps sufficient, without entering farther into their merits, or that of their author. 1. Aurora, or the rising of the sun, 1612. 2. Of the three principles, together with an appendix of the threefold life of man, 1619. 3. Of the threefold life of man, 1620. 4. An answer to the forty questions of the soul, propounded by Dr. Walter, &c. ibid. 5. Three books; the first, of the incarnation of Jesus Christ; the second, of the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ; the third, of the tree of faith, ibid. 6. Of six parts, ibid. 7. Of the heavenly and earthly mysterium, ibid. 8. Of the last times, to P. K. ibid. 9. De signatura rerum, or the signature of all things, 1621. 10. A consolatory book of the four complexions, ibid. 11. An apology to Balthazar Tilken, in two parts, ibid. 12. A consideration upon Esaias Steefel’s book, ibid. 13. Of true repentance, 1622. 14. Of true resignation, ibid. 15. Of regeneration, ibid. 16. Of predestination and election of God; at the end of which is a treatise, entitled, 17. A short compendium of repentance, 1623. 18. The mysterium magnum upon Genesis, ibid. 19. A table of the principles, or key of his writings, to G. F. and J. H. 20. Of the supersensual life, ibid. LM. Of the two testaments of Christ, viz. baptism and the supper of the Lord, ibid. 22. A dialogue between the enlightened and unenlightened soul, ibid. 23. An apology upon the book of true repentance, directed against a pasquil of the principal minister of Gorlitz, called Gregory Rickter, ibid. 24. An epitome of the mysterium magnum, ibid. 25. A table of the divine manifestation, or an exposition of the threefold world, to J. S. V. S. and A. V. F. ibid. The following are without date. 26. Of the errors of the sects of Ezekiel Meths, to A. P. A. or an apology to Esaias Steefel. 27. Of the last judgment. 28. Certain letters to diverse persons, written at diverse times, with certain keys for some hidden words. Besides these our author left unfinished, 29. A little book of divine contemplation. 30. A book of one hundred and seventy-seven theosophic questions. 3 1 The holy weeks, or the prayerbook.
which was a recommendation of the study of Hippocrates: apprehending that, either through indolence or arrogance, this founder of physic had been shamefully neglected
His progress in physic hitherto was without any assistance from lectures, except those mentioned in anatomy,
and a few by professor Drelincourt on the theory; nor had
he yet any thoughts of declining the priesthood: amidst
mathematical, philosophical, anatomical, chemical and medical researches, he still earnestly pursued divinity. He
went to the university of Harderwick in Guelderland, and
in July 1693 was created there M. D. Upon his return to
Leyden, he still persisted in his design of engaging in the
ministry, but found an invincible obstruction to his intention. In a passage-boat where he happened to be, some
discourse was accidentally started about the doctrine of
Spinosa, as subversive of all religion and one of the passengers, who exerted himself most, opposing to this philosopher’s pretended mathematical demonstrations only the
loud invective of a blind zeal, Boerhaave asked him calmly,
“Whether he had ever read the works of the author he
decried
” The orator was at once struck dumb, and fired
with silent resentment. Another passenger whispered the
person next him, to learn Boerhaave’s name, and took it
down in his pocket-book; and as soon as he arrived at
Leyden, gave it out every where, that Boerhaave was become a Spinosist. Boerhaave, finding that such prejudices
gained ground, thought it imprudent to risque the refusal
of a licence for the pulpit, when he had so fair a prospect
of rising by physic. He now therefore applied wholly to
physic, and joined practice with reading. In 1701, he
took the office of lecturer upon the institutes of physic
and delivered an oration the 18th of May, the subject of
which was a recommendation of the study of Hippocrates:
apprehending that, either through indolence or arrogance,
this founder of physic had been shamefully neglected by
those whose authority was likely to have too great weight
with the students of medicine. He officiated as a professor,
with the title of lecturer only, till 1709, when the professorship of medicine and botany was conferred on him:
his inaugural oration was upon the simplicity of true medical science, wherein, exploding the fallacies and ostentation of alchemistical and metaphysical writers, he reinstates
medicine on the ancient foundation of observation and experiments. In a few years he enriched the physic-garden
with such a number of plants, that it was found necessary
to enlarge it to twice its original extent. In 1714, he arrived to the highest dignity in the university, the rectorship; and, at its expiration, delivered an oration on the
method of obtaining certainty in physics. Here, having
asserted our ignorance of the first principles of things, and
that all our knowledge of their qualities is derived from
experiments, he was thence led to reprehend many systems
of the philosophers, and in particular that of Des Cartes,
the idol of the times. This drew upon him the outrageous
invectives of Mr. R. Andala, a Cartesian, professor of divinity and philosophy at Franeker, who sounded the alarm,
that the church was in danger; and that the introduction
of scepticism, and even Spinosism, must be the
consequence of undermining the Cartesian system by such a
professed ignorance of the principles of things his virulence was carried to such a degree, that the governors of
the university thought themselves in honour obliged (notwithstanding Boernaave’s remonstrances to the contrary) to
insist upon his retracting his aspersions. He accordingly
made a recantation, with offers of further satisfaction to
which Boerhaave generously replied, that the most agreeable satisfaction he could receive was, that so eminent a
divine should have no more trouble on his account. In
1728, he was elected of the academy of sciences at Paris;
and, in 1730, of the royal society of London. In 1718,
he succeeded Le Mort in the professorship of chemistry
and made an oration on this subject, “That chemistry was
capable of clearing itself from its own errors.
” August
An imposthumation of
the lungs, which has daily increased for these last three
months, almost suffocates me upon the least motion if it
should continue to increase without breaking, I must sink
under it; if it should break, the event is still' dubious
happen what may, why should I be concerned since it
cannot be but according to the will of the Supreme Being,
what else should 1 desire God be praised In th mean
time, I am not wanting in the use of the most approved
remedies, in order to mitigate the disease, by promoting
maturation, but am no ways anxious about the success of
them I have lived to upwards of sixty-eight years, and
always cheerful.
” Finding also unusual pulsations of the
artery in the right side of the neck, and intermissions of
the pulse, he concluded there were polypous concretions
between the heart and lungs, with a dilatation of the vessels. Sept. 8, 1738, he wrote his case to Dr. Mortimer,
secretary of the royal society and for some days there
were flattering hopes of his recovery but they soon vanished, and he died the 23d, aged almost seventy.
effects which the infirmities of his body had upon his facilities; which yet they did not so oppress or vanquish, but that his soul was always master of itself, and
Not long before he died, he told his friends, that he
had never doubted of the spiritual and immaterial nature
of the soul but that in a very severe illness with which he
was afflicted, he had a kind of experimental certainty of
the distinction between corporeal and thinking substances,
which mere reason and philosophy cannot supply, and had
opportunities of contemplating the wonderful and inexplicable union of soul and body. “This,
” says Dr. Johnson,
in his exquisite life of him, “he illustrated by the effects
which the infirmities of his body had upon his facilities;
which yet they did not so oppress or vanquish, but that his
soul was always master of itself, and always resigned to the
pleasure of its author.
”
the first, consisting of those which he acknowledged; the second, of those either attributed to him, or emanating from his school; and the third, of those to which
The works of Boerhaave are divided into three classes: the first, consisting of those which he acknowledged; the second, of those either attributed to him, or emanating from his school; and the third, of those to which he only performed the office of editor.
Under the first of these classes we have, 1 Various discourses, or “Orationes;” as “Oratio de commendando studio Hippocratico”
Under the first of these classes we have, 1 Various discourses, or “Orationes;
” as “Oratio de commendando studio Hippocratico
” and “Oratio de usu ratiocinii mechanici
in Medicina,
” reprinted Oratio qua repurgatas
Medicinse facilis asseritur sirnplicitas decomparandocerto
in physicis de chemia suos errores expurgante de vita
et obitu Bernhardi Albini,
” Leyden, Oratio
quain habuit cum botanicam et chemicam professionem
publice poneret,
” ibid. de honore medici servitute
” all these are among his “Opuscula.
” 2. “Institutiones medicae in usus exercitationis annuae domesticos,
”
Leyden, Institutions et Aphorismes,
” Paris,
Aphorisini de cognoscendis et
curandis morbis, in usum doctritirc Medicinse,
” Leyden,
De Lue Venerea;
” in English, Index plantarum qnae in horto academico LugJuuoBatavo reperiuntur,
” Leyden, Index alter, &c.
” Leyden,
Libellus de materia
medica et remediorum formulis,
” London, De
viribus medicamentorum,
” improperly attributed to Boerhaave. 6. “Epistolae ad Ruischium clarissimum, pro sententia Malpighiana de glandulis,
” Amst. Atrocis nee descripti prius morbi histoia, secundum medicae
artis leges conscripta,
” Leyden, Atrocis,
rarissimique morbi historia altera,
” Leyden, Elementa Chemise quae anniversario labore uocnit in
publicis, privatisque scholis,
” Paris, Opuscula,
” and translated into French
and English, the latter by Shaw and Chambers, 1727, 4to
and again by Oallowe, 1735, 4to.
Among the works attributed to him, without sufficient authority, or proceeding from his school, being compilations by his students
Among the works attributed to him, without sufficient
authority, or proceeding from his school, being compilations by his students from his lectures, are 1. “Tractatus
de Peste,
” published with other treatises respecting the
plague at Marseilles. Boerhaave was himself infected at
that melancholy period, and in this lays down a mode of
cure. 2. “Consultationes medicse, sive sylloge epistolarum cum responsis,
” Hague, Prselectiones publicae de morbis oculorum,
” dictated by Boerhaave in Introductio in praxin clinicam,
” Leyden, Praxis medica,
” London, De
viribus medicamentorum,
” collected from his lectures in
Experimentet institutiones chemicaV' Paris, 1728, 2 vols. 8vo.
8.
” Methodus discendi Medic-mam,“Amst. 1726, 1734,
8vo; Lend. 1744, the best edition by Haller, Amst. 1751,
2 vols. 4to, under the title of
” Herman ni Boerhaave, viri
summi, suique praeceptoris, methodus studii medici emendata et accessionibus locupletata.“9.
” Historia plantarum quae in horto academico Lugd. Batav. crescunt,“Leyden, 1717, 2 vols. 12mo (under the name of Rome),
Lond. 1731, 1738. 10.
” Prselectiones de calculo,“Lond.
1748, 4to. 13.
” Praelectiones academics?, de morbis
Nervorum," Leyden, 1761, 2 vols. 8vo; Francfort, 1762.
This was edited by James van Eeems, from various manuscript copies of Boerhaave’s lectures. In fact, all the
works enumerated in this list were produced in the same
manner, some in his lifetime, but mostly after his death.
Such was the very extensive reputation of Boerhaave, that
to be his pupil was in some degree accounted a qualification for future honours and practice, and every pupil was
glad to bring away as much as he could in manuscript, to
testify his diligence. The booksellers, very naturally desirous of profiting by the popularity of our author, employed many of these pupils in collating different transcripts, and publishing what was conceived to be the best
text. In this way, doubtless, his reputation might occasionally suffer by the incorrectness or misapprehension
of these transcribers yet even Haller and other eminent
physicians were glad to avail themselves of such assistance,
to extend /the Boerhaavian school, and promote the salutary revolution in medical science which this illustrious
writer had begun. The celebrated medical school of
Edinburgh was the first branch from it which introduced
Boerhaave to this country, all the original founders and
professors of that school having been his pupils.
by the weignt of gold it could alone be accomplished. Without a douceur it was hard for anystranger or foreigner to gain admittance. Linnæus was quite unacquainted
“Linnæus, when at Ley den, had particularly wished to
see and converse with Boerhaave, but in vain. No minister could be more overwhelmed with intreaties and invitations, nor more difficult in granting an au[ >nce, than
Boerhaave. His menial servants reaped ad ant a ^es from
this circumstance for them an audience was always a profitable money-job by the weignt of gold it could alone be
accomplished. Without a douceur it was hard for anystranger or foreigner to gain admittance. Linnæus was
quite unacquainted with this method, and had it not in his
power to make presents. Owing to Boerhaave’s infinite
occupations, and the strict regularity which he observed,
ambassadors, princes, and Peter the Great himself, were
obliged to wait several hours in his anti-chamber, to obtain an interview. How much more difficult must it have
been for the young northern doctor, allowing him his
usual spirit of liberality, to aspire at the honour of admittance. Notwithstanding all these obstacles, he obtained it at last. He sent Boerhaave a copy of his newpublished system. Eager to know the author of this work,
who had likewise recommended himself by a letter, he appointed Linnæus to meet him on the day before his intended departure, at his villa, at the distance of a quarter
of a league from Leyden, and charged Gronovius to give
him notice of his intention. This villa contained a botanical garden, and one of the finest collections of exotics.
Linnæus punctually attended to the invitation. Boerhaave,
who was then sixty-seven years old, received him with
gladness, and took him into his garden, for the purpose
of judging of his knowledge. He shewed him, as a rarity,
the Crategus Aria, and asked him if he had ever seen that
tree before, as it had never been described by any botanist. Linnæus answered that he had frequently met with
it in Sweden, and that it had been already described by
Vaillant. Struck with the young man’s reply, Boerhaave
denied the latter part of his assertion, with so much more
confidence, as he had himself published Vaillant’s work,
with notes of his own, and firmly believed that tree had
not been described in it. To remove all doubts, and to
give all possible sanction to what he advanced, Boerhaave
immediately produced the work itself from his library, and
to his extreme surprise, found the tree fully described in
it, with all its distinctive marks. Admiring the exact and
enlarged knowledge of Linnæus in botany, in which he
seemed even to excel himself, the venerable old man advised
him to remain in Holland, to make a fortune, which could
not escape his talents. Linnoeus answered that he would
fain follow this advice, but his indigence prevented him
from staying any longer, and obliged him to set out next
day for Amsterdam, on his return to Sweden; but nevertheless this visit to Boerhaave unexpectedly became the
source of his fortune and of his eminence.
”
of his time, but as one of the most industrious nor can we be surprised that Linnæus, then unknown, or any stranger, should find access difficult to one whose time
7. “Prosper Alpinus de presagienda vita et morte,
” Aretaeus de causis signisque morborum,
” Leyd.
and of one of the members of the imperial academy. By Portal and Blumenbach he is called archiater, or aulic counsellor, and first physician to the empress, confounding
, professor of medicine
in the university of Petersburg, was born at the Hague in
1715. He was the son of James Kaan, and of Margaret, the
daughter of Herman Boerhaave. After receiving a good
classical education, he went to Leyden, where, applying
to the study of medicine under the celebrated Albinus
Gaubius, and other masters, he was admitted to the degree
of doctor in 1738. He iiad before obtained an honorary medal from the university for his discourse “De gaudiis Alcheimstarum,
” though he was more particularly attached to
anatomy, which he cultivated with great success. The year
following he took the name of Ins uncle Boerhaave. In
1740 he went to Petersburgh, where his talents soon procured him the situation of professor in medicine in the
university there, and of one of the members of the imperial academy. By Portal and Blumenbach he is called
archiater, or aulic counsellor, and first physician to the
empress, confounding him with his brother Herman Kaan B.
who about the same time enjoyed that honour. In the
course of a severe and tedious illness, from which he with
difficulty recovered, he lost his hearing. This happened
1749. He died in 1753. His works are: “Perspiratio
dicta Hippocrati, per universum corpus anatomice illustrata,
” Lugd. B. Impetum faciens
dictum Hippocrati per corpus consentiens, philologice et
physiologice illustratum,
” Lugd. Bat.
l works of Plutarch and Xenophon, of political discourses, pieces of poetry, &c. His “Authenoticon,” or voluntary slavery, was published in 1575, at the time of the
, of Sarlat, in Perigord,
counsellor of the parliament of Bourdeaux, was born
Nov. 1, 1530, and cultivated both Latin and French
poetry with success. He was an author at the age of Sixt
teen, and died at thirty-two, in 1563, at Germignan, two
leagues from Bourdeaux. Montagne, his friend, to whom
he left his library, collected his works in 1571, 8vo. They
consist of translations of several works of Plutarch and
Xenophon, of political discourses, pieces of poetry, &c.
His “Authenoticon,
” or voluntary slavery, was published
in
whole attention. This year, as he informs us himself, he wrote his commentary upon the Predicaments, or the Ten Categories of Aristotle. In imitation of Cato, Cicero,
Boethius was advanced a second time to the dignity of consul, in the eighteenth year of the reign of king Theodoric. Power and honour could not have been conferred upon a person more worthy of them for he was both an excellent magistrate and statesman, as he faithfully and assiduously executed the duties of his office and employed, upon every occasion, the great influence he had at court, in protecting the innocent, relieving the needy, and in procuring the redress of such grievances as gave just cause of complaint. The care of public affairs did not however engross his whole attention. This year, as he informs us himself, he wrote his commentary upon the Predicaments, or the Ten Categories of Aristotle. In imitation of Cato, Cicero, and Brutus, he devoted the whole of his time to the service of the commonwealth, and to the cultivation of the sciences. He published a variety of writings, in which he treated upon almost every branch of literature. Besides the commentary upon Aristotle’s Categories, he wrote an explanation of that philosopher’s Topics, in eight books; another, of his Sophisms, in two books; and commentaries upon many other parts of his writings. He translated the whole of Plato’s works: he wrote a commentary, in six books, upon Cicero’s Topics: he commented also upon Porphyry’s writings he published a discourse on Rhetoric, in one book a treatise on Arithmetic, in two books and another, in five books, upon Music he wrote three books upon Geometry, the last of which is lost he translated Euclid and wrote a treatise upon the quadrature of the circle neither of which performances are now extant he published also translations of Ptolomy of Alexandria’s works and of the writings of the celebrated Archimedes: and several treatises upon theological and metaphysical subjects, which are still preserved.
Boethius shewed him several curious mechanical works of his own invention, particularly two watches or time-keepers, one of which pointed out the sun’s di'irnal and
The learning displayed in these works procured Boethius such reputation that he was frequently visited by persons of the first rank. Among these Gondebald, king of the Burgundians, who had married a daughter of Theodoric, came to Rome for the purpose of conversing with so eminent a philosopher. Boethius shewed him several curious mechanical works of his own invention, particularly two watches or time-keepers, one of which pointed out the sun’s di'irnal and annual motion in the ecliptic, upon a moveable sphere and the other indicated the hours of the day, by the expedient of water dropping out of one vessel into another: and so fond was Gondebald of these pieces of mechanism, that upon his return to his own country, be dispatched ambassadors to Theodoric, praying that he would procure for him the two wonderful time-keepers he had seen at Rome.
on parchment in the British Museum. Few books have been more popular, especially in the middle ages, or have passed through a greater number of editions in almost all
His most celebrated production, his ethic composition
“De Consolatione Philosophise,
” has always been admired
both for the style and sentiments. It is an imaginary conference between the author and philosophy personified,
who endeavours to console and soothe him in his afflictions.
The topics of consolation contained in this work, are deduced from the tenets of Plato, Zeno, and Aristotle, but
without any notice of the sources of consolation which are
peculiar to the Christian system, which have led many to
think him more of a Stoic than a Christian. It is partly in
prose, and partly in verse; and was translated into Saxon
by king Alfred, and illustrated with a commentary by Asser, bishop of St. David’s and into English, by Chaucer
artel queen Elizabeth. It was also translated into English
verse by John Walton, in 1410, of which translation there
is a correct manuscript on parchment in the British Museum. Few books have been more popular, especially in
the middle ages, or have passed through a greater number
of editions in almost all languages. It has been observed
by Mr. Harris, in his “Hermes,
” that “with Boethius the
Latin tongue, and the last remains of Roman dignity, may
be said to have sunk in the western world.
” To the same
purpose, Gibbon says, “that the senator Boethius is the
last of the Romans whom Cato or Tully would have acknowledged for their countryman.
”
n tells us, that in the first six books there are a great many particulars not to be found in Fordun or any other writer now extant and that, “unless the authors which
, a celebrated Scotch historian, was born at Dundee, in the shire
of Angus, about 1470. After having studied at Dundee
and Aberdeen, he was sent to the university of Paris, where
he applied to philosophy, and became a professor of it
there. There also he contracted an acquaintance with several eminent persons, particularly with Erasmus, who kept
a correspondence with him afterwards. Elphinston, bishop
of Aberdeen, having founded the king’s college in that
city about 1500, sent for Boeis from Paris, and appointed
him principal. He took for his colleague Mr. William
Hay, and by their joint labour the kingdom was furnished
with several eminent scholars. Upon the death of his patron, he undertook to write his life, and those of his predecessors in that see. The work is in Latin, and entitled
“Vitae Episcoporum Murthlacensium et Aberdonensium,
”
Paris, unless the authors which he pretends to have seen be hereafter discovered, he will continue to be shrewdly suspected
for the contriver of almost as many tales as Jeoffrey of
Momnouth.
” His 18th book, however, is highly commended by Ferrerius, who says, “that he has treated of
things there in so comprehensive a manner, that he believes no one could have done it more fully or significantly
on the same subject.” His stylo, says another writer, has
all the purity of Caesar’s, and is so nervous both in the
reflections and diction, that he seems to have absolutely
entered into the spirit of Livy, and made it his own. Erasmus, who was intimately acquainted with him, says, in
one of his epistles, “that he was a man of an extraordinary happy genius, and of great eloquence.
” “He was
certainly,
” says another writer, “a great master of polite
learning, well skilled in divinity, philosophy, and history;
but somewhat credulous, and much addicted to the be->
lief of legendary stories. With regard to his other accomplishments, he was discreet, well-bred, attentive, generous,
affable, and courteous.“Dr. Johnson in his Tour in Scotland observes that Hector Boethius may be
” justly reverenced as one of the revivers of elegant learning. The
style of Boethins, though, perhaps, not always rigorously
pure, is formed with great diligence upon ancient models,
and wholly uninfected with monastic barbarity. His history is written with elegance and vigour, but his fabulousness and credulity are justly blamed. His fabulousness,
if he was the author of the fictions, is a fault for which no
apology can be made; but his credulity may be excused
in an age when all men were credulous. Learning was
then rising on the world; but ages, so long accustomed to
darkness, were too much dazzled with its light to see any
thing distinctly. The first race of scholars, in the fifteenth
century, and some time after, were, for the most part,
learning to speak, rather than to think, and were therefore more studious of elegance than of truth. The contemporaries of Boethius thought it sufficient to know what
the ancients had delivered. The examination of tenets
and of facts was reserved for another generation.”
e, he took the degree of doctor in medicine at Basle in Swisserland, in 1652, and at the end of four or five years, passed principally with Bartholine, to whom he was
, a favoured pupil of T. Bartholine, and strenuous defender of his fame
and opinions, was born at Dresden, about the year 1630.
After visiting France, England, and other parts of Europe,
to improve himself in knowledge, he took the degree of
doctor in medicine at Basle in Swisserland, in 1652, and at
the end of four or five years, passed principally with Bartholine, to whom he was strongly attached, he settled at
Bern. His works are principally controversial, defending
the priority of the discovery of the lymphatics by Bartholine, against Rudbeck the Swede, who claimed it and
ivho, if he did not discover them, Haller says, has the
merit of having more fully and accurately described them
than- Bartholine had done. Bogden, in this contest, displayed much learning, but equal roughness and ill-humour.
The titles of his works are, “liudbekii insidise structae
vasis lymphaticis Thomas Bartholini,
” 4to, and “Apologia
pro vasis lymphaticis Bartholini, adversus insidias secundo
structas ab Olao Rudbek.
” Haffnice, 1654, 12mo. “Simeonis Seth, tie alimentorum facultatibus,
” Gr. and Lat.
Observationes Meclicae ad Thomam Bath.
”
The observations, twelve in number, are published in the
“Culter Anatomicus
” of Lyser Copenh.
, or Boha-Eddyn, an Arabian historian of great note, born March 1145,
, or Boha-Eddyn, an Arabian historian of great note, born March 1145, was celebrated for his Life of Saladin, in whose court he flourished in the twelfth century. What makes his history particularly valuable, is his being contemporary to the events he writes and his being also a favourite of Saladin’s, constantly about his person, and high in office. He is very accurate in his account of the crusades, and Saladin’s taking of Jerusalem and mentions our Richard I. who made such a figure as Saladin’s antagonist. The accurate Schultens has published a very excellent edition in folio, with much erudition, Leyden, 1732 the same was published in 1755, but only with a new title of that date. It has been observed by an able critic, that this historian, Abulpharagius, and Abulfeda, bear much resemblance to Plutarch; as they have enriched their histories with so many striking anecdotes and curious information on the progress and state of literature in their respective ages and countries.
ibid. 1685, 8vo. 6. “A Geographical Dictionary,” ibid. 1688, 8vo. 7. “The History of the Desertion; or an account of all the public affairs of England, from the beginning
, a voluminous political and miscellaneous writer of the seventeenth century, was born at
Ringsfield, in Suffolk, the only son of Baxter Bohun, who
with his ancestors, had been lords of the manor of Westhall, in that county, from the 25th Henry VIII. In 1663,
he was admitted fellow-commoner of Queen’s college,
Cambridge, and continued there till the latter end of 1666,
when the plague obliged him and others to leave the university. In 1675 he was made a justice of peace for Suffolk, and continued in that office till the second of James
II. when he was discharged, but was restored to that office
in the first of William and Mary. The time of his death
is not mentioned, but he was alive in 1700. He wrote,
1. “An Address to the Freemen and Freeholders of the
nation, in three parts, being the history of three sessions
of parliament in 1678, 1682,and 1683,
” 4to. 2. “A Defence of the Declaration of king Charles II. against a
pamphlet styled, A just and modest Vindication of the
proceedings of the two last Parliaments.
” This was printed
with and added to the Address. 3. “A Defence of Sir
Robert Filmer, against the mistakes and representations of
Algernon Sydney, esq. in a paper delivered by him to the
sheriffs upon the scaffold on Tower-hill, on Friday, Dec.
7, 1683, before his execution there,
” Lond. The
Justice of Peace’s Calling, a moral essay,
” Lond. A Preface and Conclusion to Sir Robert Filmer’s
Patriarcha,
” ibid. A Geographical Dictionary,
” ibid. The History of the Desertion; or an account of all the public affairs of England,
from the beginning of Sept. 1688 to Feb. 12 following,
”
ibid. 1689, 8vo. 8. “An Answer to a piece called The
Desertion discussed (by Jeremy Collier),
” printed at the end
of the “History of the Desertion.
” 9. “The Doctrine of
Passive Obedience and Non-Resistance no way concerned
in the controversies now depending between the Williamites
and the Jacobites,
” ibid. The Life of John Jewell, bishop of Salisbury,
” prefixed to a translation of his Apology, Three
Charges delivered at the general quarter sessions holden at
Ipswich, for the county of Suffolk, in 1691, 1692, and
1693,
” 4to. 12. “The great Historical, Geographical,
and Poetical Dictionary,
” Lond.
first of the Italian sovereigns who entertained the court with a magnificent theatre on which Greek or Latin comedies, translated into Italian, were performed. For
, count of Scandiano, an
Italian poet, was born at the castle of Scandiano, near
Reggio in Lombardy, about the year 1434. He studied at
the university of Ferrara, and remained in that city the
greater part of his life, attached to the ducal court. He
was particularly in great favour with the duke Borso and
Hercules I. his successor. He accompanied Borso in a
journey to Rome in 1471, and the year following was selected by Hercules to escort to Ferrara, Eleonora of Aragon, his future duchess. In 1481 he was appointed governor of Reggio, and was also captain-general of Modena.
He died at Reggio, Dec. 20, 1494. He was one of the
most learned and accomplished men of his time, a very
distinguished Greek and Latin scholar, and at a time when
Italian poetry was in credit, one of those poets who added
to the reputation of his age and country. He translated
Herodotus from the Greek into Italian, and Apuleius from
the Latin. He wrote also Latin poetry, as his “Carmen
Bucolicum,
” eight eclogues in hexameters, dedicated to
duke Hercules I. Reggio, 1500, 4 to Venice, 1528; and
in Italian, “Sonetti e Canzoni,
” Reggio, Timon,
” taken from a dialogue of Lucian, which
may be accounted the first comedy written in Italian. The
first edition of it, according to Tiraboschi, was that printed
at Scandiano, 1500, 4to. The one, without a date, in
8vo, he thinks was the second. It was afterwards reprinted
at Venice, 1504, 1515, and 1517, 8vo. But Boiardo is
principally known by his epic romance of “Orlando Innamorato,
” of which the celebrated poem of Ariosto is not
only an imitation, but a continuation. Of this work, he did
not live to complete the third book, nor is it probable that
any part of it had the advantage of his last corrections, yet
it is justly regarded as exhibiting, upon the whole, a
warmth of imagination, and a vivacity of colouring, which
rendered it highly interesting: nor is it, perhaps, without
reason, that the simplicity of the original has occasioned
it to be preferred to the same work, as altered or reformed
by Francesco Berni (See Brrni). The “Orlando Innamorato
” was first printed at Scandiano, about the year
great chamber, and Ann de Nielle, his second wife; but it is uncertain whether he was born at Paris or Crone. In his early years, he was the reverse of those infantine
, an eminent French
poet, usually called by his countrymen Despreaux, was
born on November 1, 1636. His parents were Gilles
Boileau, register of the great chamber, and Ann de Nielle,
his second wife; but it is uncertain whether he was born
at Paris or Crone. In his early years, he was the reverse
of those infantine prodigies who often in mature age scarcely
attain to mediocrity; on the contrary, he was heavy and
taciturn; nor was his taciturnity of that observing kind
which denotes sly mischief at the bottom, but the downright barren taciturnity of insipid good-nature. His father,
on comparing him with his other children, used to say,
“as for this, he is a good-tempered fellow, who will never
speak ill of any one.
” In his infancy, however, he ap“pears to have been of a very tender constitution, and is
said to have undergone the operation for the stone at the
age of eight. Through compliance with the wishes of his
family, he commenced with being a counsellor; but the
tlryness of the Code and Digest soon disgusted him with
this profession, which, his eulogist thinks, was a loss to
the bar. When M. Dongois, his brother-in-law, register
of parliament, took him to his house in order to form him
to the style of business, he had a decree to draw up in an
important cause, which he composed with enthusiasm,
while he dictated it to Boileau with an emphasis which
shewed how much he was satisfied with the sublimity of
his work; but when he had finished, he perceived that
Boileau was fallen asleep, after having written but few
words. Transported with anger, he sent him back to his
father, assuring him he
” would be nothing but a blockhead all the rest of his life." After this he began to study
scholastic divinity, which was still less suited to his taste,
and at length he became what he himself wished to be a
Poet; and, as if to belie, at setting out, his father’s prediction, he commenced at the age of thirty, with satire,
which let loose against him the crowd of writers whom he
attacked, but gave him friends, or rather readers, among that very numerous class of the public,
attacked, but gave him friends, or rather readers, among
that very numerous class of the public, who, through an
inconstancy cruelly rooted in the human heart, love to see
those humbled whom even they esteem the most. But
whatever favour and encouragement so general a disposition might promise Boileau, he could not avoid meeting
with censurers among men of worth. Of this number was
the duke de Montausier, who valued himself upon an inflexible and rigorous virtue, and disliked satire. But, as
it was of the greatest importance to Boileau to gain over
to his interest one of the first persons about court, whose
credit was the more formidable, as it was supported by
that personal consideration which is not always joined to
it, he introduced into one of his pieces a panegyrical notice of the duke de Montausier, which was neither flat nor
exaggerated, and it produced the desired effect. Encouraged by this first success, Boileau lost no time in giving
the final blow to the tottering austerity of his censurer,
by confessing to him, with an air of contrition, how humiliated he felt himself at missing the friendship of “the
worthiest man at court.
” From that moment, the
worthiest man at court became the protector and apologist
of the most caustic of all writers. Though we attach
less value to the satires of Boileau than to his other
works, and think not very highly of his conduct to his
patron, yet it must be allowed that he never attacks bad
taste and bad writers, but with the weapons of pleasantry;
and never speaks of vice and wicked men but with indignation. Boileau, however, soon became sensible that in
order to reach posterity it is not sufficient to supply some
ephemeral food to the malignity of contemporaries, but
to be the writer of all times and all places. This led him
to produce those works which will render his fame perpetual. He wrote his “Epistles,
” in which, with delicate
praises, he has intermixed precepts of literature and morality, delivered with the most striking truth and the happiest precision; and in 1674 his celebrated mock-heroic, the
“Lutrin,
” which, with so small a ground of matter, contains
so much variety, action, and grace; and his “Art of Poetry,
”
which is in French what that of Horace is in Latin, the
code of good taste. In these he expresses in harmonious
verse, full of strength and elegance, the principles of
reason and good taste; and was the first who discovered
and developed, by the union of example to precept, the
highly difficult art of French versification. Before Boileau, indeed, Malherbe had begun to detect the secret,
but he had guessed it only in part, and had kept his knowledge for his own use; and Corneille, though he had written “Cinna
” and “Polieucte,
” had no other secret than
his instinct, and when this abandoned him, was no longer
Corneille. Boileau had the rare merit, which can belong
only to a superior genius, of forming by his lessons and
productions the first school of poetry in France; and it
may be added, that of all the poets who have preceded
or followed him, none was better calculated than himself
to be the head of such a school. In fact, the severe and
decided correctness which characterizes his works, renders
them singularly fit to serve as a study for scholars in poetry.
In Racine he had a disciple who would have secured him
immortality, even if he had not so well earned it by his
own writings. Good judges have even asserted, that the
pupil surpassed the master; but Boileau, whether inferior
or equal to his scholar, always preserved that ascendancy
over him, which a blunt and downright self-love will ever
assume over a timid and delipate self-love, such as that of
Racine. The author of “Phaedra
” and of “Athaliah
”
had always, either from deference or address, the complaisance to yield the first place to one who hoasted of
having been his master. Boileau, it is true, had a merit
with respect to his disciple, which in the eyes of the latter
must have been of inestimable value, that of having early
been sensible of Racine’s excellence, or rather of what he
promised to become; for it was not easy, in the author of
the “Freres Ennemis,
” to discover that of “Andromache
”
and “Britannicus,
” and doubtless perceiving in Racine’s
first essays the germ of what he was one day to become,
he felt how much care and culture it required to give it
full expansion.
was particularly attentive, while bestowing praises on all those whose interest might either support or injure him, to reserve the first place, beyond comparison, for
Boileau knew how to procure a still more powerful protection at court than the duke de Montausier’s, that of
Lewis XIV. himself. He lavished upon this monarch
praises the more flattering, as they appeared dictated by
the public voice, and merely the sincere and warm expression of the nation’s intoxication with respect to its
king. To add value to his homage, the artful satirist had
the address to make his advantage of the reputation of
frankness he had acquired, which served as a passport to
those applauses which the poet seemed to bestow in spite
of his nature; and he was particularly attentive, while bestowing praises on all those whose interest might either
support or injure him, to reserve the first place, beyond
comparison, for the monarch. Among other instances,
he valued himself, as upon a great stroke of policy, for
having contrived to place Monsieur, the king’s brother,
by the side of the king himself, in his verses, without hazard of wounding the jealousy of majesty; and for having
celebrated the conqueror of Cassel more feebly than the
subduer of Flanders. He had however the art, or more
properly the merit, along with his inundation of praises,
to convey some useful lessons to the sovereign. Lewis
XIV. as yet young and greedy of renown, which he mistook for real glory, was making preparations for war with
Holland. Colbert, who knew how fatal to the people is
the most glorious war, wished to divert the king from his
design. He engaged Boileau to second his persuasions,
by addressing to Lewis his first epistle, in which te proves
that a king’s true greatness consists in rendering his subjects happy, by securing them the blessings of peace. But
although this epistle did not answer the intentions of the
minister or the poet, yet so much attention to please the
monarch, joined to such excellence, did not remain unrecompensed. Boileau was loaded with the king’s favour,
admitted at court, and named, in conjunction with Racine,
royal historiographer. The two poets seemed closely occupied in writing the history of their patron; they even
read several passages of it to the king; but they abstained
from giving any of it to the public, in the persuasion that
the history of sovereigns, even the most worthy of eulogy,
cannot be written during their lives, without running the risk
either of losing reputation by flattery, or incurring hazard
by truth. It was with repugnance that Boileau had undertaken an office so little suited to his talents and his
taste. “When I exercised,
” said he, “the trade of a
satirist, which I understood pretty well, I was overwhelmed
with insults and menaces, and I am now dearly paid for
exercising that of historiographer, which I do not understand at all/' Indeed,
” far from being dazzled by the favour he enjoyed, he rather felt it as an incumbrance. He
often said, that the first sensation his fortune at court inspired in him, was a feeling of melancholy. He thought
the bounty of his sovereign purchased too dearly by the
Joss of liberty a blessing so intrinsically valuable, which
all the empty and fugitive enjoyments of vanity are unable to compensate in the eyes of a philosopher. Boileau
endeavoured by degrees to recover this darling liberty, in
proportion as age seemed to permit the attempt; and for
the last ten or twelve years of his life he entirely dropped
his visits to court. “What should I do there?
” said he,
“I can praise no longer.
” He might, however, have
found as much matter for his applauses as when he lavished
them without the least reserve. While he attended at
court^ he maintained a freedom and frankness of speech,
especially on topics of literature, which are not common
among courtiers. When Lewis asked his opinion of some
verses which he had written, he replied, “Nothing,
sire, is impossible to your majesty; you wished to make
bad verses, and you have succeeded.
” He also took
part with the persecuted members of the Port-royal; and
when one of the courtiers declared that the king was
making diligent search after the celebrated Arnauld, in
order to put him in the Bastile, Boileau observed, “His
majesty is too fortunate; he will not find him:
” and when
the king asked him, what was the reason why the whole
world was running after a preacher named le Tourneux, a
disciple of Arnauld, “Your majesty,
” he replied, “knows
how fond people are of novelty: this is a minister who
preaches the gospel.
” Boileau appears from various circumstances, to have been no great friend to the Jesuits,
whom he offended by his “Epistle on the Love of God,
”
and by many free speeches. By royal favour, he was admitted unanimously, in 1684, into the French academy,
with which he had made very free in his epigrams; and
he was also associated to the new academy of inscriptions
and belles-lettres, of which he appeared to be a fit rnember, by his “Translation of Longinus on the Sublime.
”
To science, with which he had little acquaintance, he
rendered, however, important service by his burlesque
“Arret in favour of the university, against an unknown
personage called Reason,
” which was the means of preventing the establishment of a plan of intolerance in matters of philosophy. His attachment to the ancients, as
the true models of literary taste and excellence, occasioned
a controversy between him and Perrault concerning the
comparative merit of the ancients and moderns, which was
prosecuted for some time by epigrams and mutual reproaches, till at length the public began to be tired with
their disputes, and a reconciliation was effected by the
good offices of their common friends. This controversy
laid the foundation of a lasting enmity between Boileau
and Fontenelle, who inclined to the party of Perrault.
Boileau, however, did not maintain his opinion with the
pedantic extravagance of the Daciers; but he happily
exercised his wit on the misrepresentations of the noted
characters of antiquity, by the fashionable romances of the
time, in his dialogue entitled “The Heroes of Romance,
”
composed in the manner of Lucian. In opposition to the
absurd opinions of father Hardouin, that most of the classical productions of ancient Rome had been written by the
monks of the thirteenth century, Boileau pleasantly remarks, “I know nothing of all that; but though I am not
very partial to the monks, I should not have been sorry
to have lived with friar Tibullus, friar Juvenal, Dom Virgil, Dom Cicero, and such kind of folk.
” After the death
of Racine, Boileau very much retired from court; induced
partly by his love of liberty and independence, and partly
by his dislike of that adulation which was expected, and
for which the dose of Lewis’s reign afforded more scanty
materials than its commencement. Separated in a great
degree from society, he indulged that austere and misanthropical disposition, from which he was never wholly
exempt. His conversation, however, was more mild and
gentle than his writings; and, as he used to say of himself, without “nails or claws,
” it was enlivened by occasional sallies of pleasantry, and rendered instructive by
judicious opinions of authors and their works. He was religious without bigotry; and he abhorred fanaticism and
hypocrisy. His circumstances were easy; and his prudent economy has been charged by some with degenerating
into avarice. Instances, however, occur of his liberality
and beneficence. At the death of Colbert, the pension
which he had given to the poet Corneille was suppressed,
though he was poor, old, infirm, and dying. Boileau interceded with the king for the restoration of it, and offered
to transfer his own to Corneille, telling the monarch that
he should be ashamed to receive his bounty while such a
man was in want of it. He also bought, at an advanced
price, the library of Patru, reduced in his circumstances,
and left him in the possession of it till his death. He gave to
the poor all the revenues he had received for eight years
from a benefice he had enjoyed without performing the
duties of it. To indigent men of letters his purse was
always open; and at his death he bequeathed almost all
his possessions to the poor. Upon the whole, his temper,
though naturally austere, was on many occasions kind and
benevolent, so that it has been said of him, that he was
“cruel only in verse;
” and his general character was
distinguished by worth and integrity, with some alloys of
literary jealousy and injustice. Boileau died of a dropsy
in the breast, March 11, 1711, and by his will left almost
all his property to the poor. His funeral was attended by
a very numerous company, which gave a woman of the
lower class occasion to say, “He had many friends then I
yet they say that he spoke ill of every body.
”
740, 2 vols. 4to; that of Durand, 1745, 5 vols. 8vo; and lastly, a beautiful edition in 3 vols. 8vo. or 3 vols. 12mo, Paris, 1809, with notes by Daunou, a member of
Of the numerous editions of Boileau’s works, the best are, that of Geneva, 1716, 2 vols. 4to, with illustrations by Brossette; that of the Hague, with Picart’s cuts, 1718, 2 vols. fol. a.nd 1722, 4 vols. 12mo; that by Allix, with Cochin’s cuts, 1740, 2 vols. 4to; that of Durand, 1745, 5 vols. 8vo; and lastly, a beautiful edition in 3 vols. 8vo. or 3 vols. 12mo, Paris, 1809, with notes by Daunou, a member of the Institute.
He manifested a contempt of fanaticism, as well as of decorum, by his “Historia Flagellantium, &c.” or, an account of the extravagant, and often indecent, practice
He is well known by a number of works in a peculiar style,
some of which were not remarkable for decency; but these
he wrote in Latin, “lest the bishops,
” he said, “should
condemn them.
” He was not more a friend to the Jesuits
than his brother; and he described them as “men who
lengthened the creed, and shortened the commandments.
”
As dean of the chapter of Sens, he was appointed to
harangue the celebrated prince of Conde, when he 'passed
through the city. This great commander took particular
pleasure on these occasions in disconcerting his panegyrists; but the doctor, perceiving his intention, counterfeited great confusion, and addressed him in the following
manner: “Your highness will not be surprised, I trust,
at seeing me tremble in your presence at the head of a
company of peaceful priests; I should tremble still more,
if I was at the head of 30,000 soldiers.
” He manifested a
contempt of fanaticism, as well as of decorum, by his
“Historia Flagellantium, &c.
” or, an account of the extravagant, and often indecent, practice of discipline by
flagellation, in the popish church. It was translated
into French; and not many years ago (viz. 1777, 4to. and again in 1782, 8vo.) by M. de Lolme, into English. In
his treatise “De antiquo jure presbyterorum in regimine
ecclesiastico,
” he endeavours to shew, that in the primitive times the priests participated with the bishops in the
government of the church. He was also the author of several other publications, displaying much curious learning
and a satirical turn, which are now consigned to oblivion.
. See Dubois and Boys or Boyse.
. See Dubois and Boys or Boyse.
s, who would readily have relieved him; but they were never made acquainted with his real condition, or had not that friendly impetuosity which forces assistance on
, a celebrated French comic writer of native wit and genuine humour, was born at Vic in Auvergne in 1694. He came early to Paris, and began to write for the stage. The rest of his life is a moral. As has often been the fate of extraordinary favourites of the muses, though he laboured incessantly for the public, his works procured him only a competency of fame he wanted bread, and while the theatres and coffee-houses of Paris were ringing with plaudits on his uncommon talents to promote their mirth, he was languishing, with a wife and child, under the pressures of the extremest poverty. Yet, melancholy as his situation was, he lost nothing of that pride, which forbid him to creep and fawn at the feet of a patron. Boissi had friends, who would readily have relieved him; but they were never made acquainted with his real condition, or had not that friendly impetuosity which forces assistance on the modest sufferer. He at length became the prey of distress, and sunk into despondency. The shortest way to rid himself at once of his load of misery seemed to him to be death, on which he speculated with the despair of a man who has none of the consolations of religion. His wife, who was no less weary of life, listened with participation as often as he declaimed, in all the warmth of poetic rapture, on the topic of deliverance from this earthly prison, and the smiling prospects of futurity; till at length she took up the resolution to accompany him in death. But she could not bear to think of leaving her beloved son, of five years old, in a world of misery and sorrow; it was therefore agreed to take the child along with them, on their passage into another and a better, and they made choice of starving. To this end, they shut themselves up in their solitary and deserted apartment, waiting their dissolution with immovable fortitude. When any one came and knocked, they fled trembling into a corner, for fear of being discovered. Tneir little boy, who had not yet learned to silence the calls of hunger by artificial reasons, whimpering and crying, asked for bread; but they always found means to quiet him.
April, 1658, complaining in his last moments, that his misery was not shortened by an earlier death, or his felicity extended by longevity.
This transaction made much noise in Paris, and at length
reached the ears of the marchioness de Pompadour. Boissi’s
deplorable situation moved her. She immediately sent
him a hundred louis-d'ors, and soon after procured him
the profitable place of editor of the Mercure de France,
with a pension for his wife and child, if they outlived him.
His “Œuvres de Theatre
” are in 9 vols. 8vo. His Italian
comedy, in which path he is the author of numerous pieces,
has not the merit of the above. His early satires, of which
he had written many, being remembered, prevented his
admission into the French academy till he was sixty years of
age, though he was well entitled to that honour, by his
labours and talents, twenty years sooner. He died April,
1658, complaining in his last moments, that his misery
was not shortened by an earlier death, or his felicity extended by longevity.
the farmer’s fire-side; in the summer, in his own room. At Midsummer, he borrowed a horse for a day or two, to pay short visits beyond a walking distance. He visited
, a pious and useful clergyman of Leicestershire, was born at Leicester in 1679, and at the age of fifteen had made such progress in letters as to be matriculated at St. John’s college, Cambridge. Having taken the degree of B. A. in 1698, he retired to Hinckley in Leicestershire, where he engaged in teaching a small endowed school, and retained that employment until 1732, at the humble salary of 10l. per annum. At the usual age, he was admitted into holy orders to serve the curacy of Stoney Stanton near Hinckley. It appears from the parish register, that he commenced his parochial duties in May 1702; and the care of the parish was confided to him, his rector then residing on another benefice. His stipend was only 30l. a year, as the living was a small one, being then in the open-field state. Nor does it appear that he had made any saving in money from the profits of his school all the property he seems to have brought with him to his curacy was, his chamber furniture, and a library, more valuable for being select than extensive. When Mr. Bold was examined for orders, his diocesan (Dr. James Gardiner, bishop of Lincoln) was so much pleased with his proficiency in sacred learning, that he had determined to make Mr. Bold his domestic chaplain: but the good bishop’s death soon after closed his prospect of preferment as soon as it was opened in that quarter; and Mr. Bold framed his plan of life and studies upon a system of rigid ceconomy and strict attention to his professional duties, which never varied during the fifty years he passed afterwards on his curacy. Remote from polished and literary society, which he was calculated both to enjoy and to adorn, he diligently performed the duties of an able and orthodox divine; a good writer; an excellent preacher, and an attentive parish priest. He appears, from the early age of 24 years, to have formed his plan of making himself a living sacrifice for the benefit of his flock; and to have declined preferment (which was afterward offered to him) with a view of making his example and doctrine the more striking and effective, by his permanent residence and labours in one and the same place. He appears to have begun his ecclesiastical labours in a spirit of self-denial, humility, charity, and piety. He had talents that might have rendered him conspicuous any where, and an impressive and correct delivery. His life was severe (so far as respected himself); his studies incessant; his spiritual labours for the church and his flock, ever invariably the same. His salary, we have already mentioned, was only ZOl. a year, which was never increased, and of which he paid at firsts/, then J2l. and lastly 16l. a year, for his board. It needs scarcely be said that the most rigid ceconomy was requisite, and practised, to enable him to subsist; much more to save out of this pittance for beneficent purposes. Yet he continued to give away annually, 5l.; and saved 5l. more with a view to more permanent charities: upon the rest he lived. His daily fare consisted of water-gruel for his breakfast; a plate from the farmer’s table, with whom he boarded, supplied his dinner; after dinner, one half pint of ale, of his own brewing, was his only luxury; he took no tea, and his supper was upon milk-pottage. With this slender fare his frame was supported under the labour of his various parochial duties. In the winter, he read and wrote by the farmer’s fire-side; in the summer, in his own room. At Midsummer, he borrowed a horse for a day or two, to pay short visits beyond a walking distance. He visited all his parishioners, exhorting, reproving, consoling, instructing them.
the deficiency from his savings. Mr. Bold’s previous saving of 5l. annually, for the preceding four or five and forty years (and that always put out to interest) enabled
The last six years of his life he was unable to officiate
publicly; and was obliged to obtain assistance from the
Rev. Charles Cooper, a clergyman who resided in the
parish on a small patrimonial property, with whom he divided his salary, making up the deficiency from his savings.
Mr. Bold’s previous saving of 5l. annually, for the preceding four or five and forty years (and that always put out to interest) enabled him to procure this assistance, and to
continue his little charities, as well as to support himself,
though the price of boarding was just doubled upon him
from his first entrance on the cure, from 8l. to 16l. a year.
But, from the annual saving even of so small a sum as 5l.
with accumulating interest during that term, he not only
procured assistance for the last years of his life, but
actually left by his will securities for the payment of bequests to the amount of between two and three hundred
pounds: of which 100l. was bequeathed to some of his
nearest relations; 100l. to the farmer’s family in which he
died, to requite their attendance in his latter end, and with
which a son of the family was enabled to set up in a little
farm; and 40l. more he directed to be placed out at interest, of which interest one half is paid at Christmas to the
poorer inhabitants who attend at church; and the other,
for a sermon once a year, in Lent, “on the duty of the
people to attend to the instructions of the minister whom
the bishop of the diocese should set over them.
”
ion, entertained the greatest hopes from her protection, as they knew she favoured them. On the 13th or 14th of September following, she brought forth a daughter, christened
, second wife of king
Henry VIII. was born in 1507. She was daughter of sir
Thomas Bolen, afterwards earl of Wiltshire and Ormonde,
by Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Howard, duke of Norfolk. When she was but seven years of age, she was carried
over to France with the king’s sister Mary, who was married to Lewis XII. And though, upon the B'rench king’s
death, the queen dowager returned to England, yet Anne
Bolen was so highly esteemed at the court of France, that
Claude, the wife of Francis I. retained her in her service
for some years; and after her death in 1524, the duchess
of Alenzon, the king’s sister, kept her in her court during
her stay in that kingdom. It is probable, that she returned
from thence with her father, from his embassy in 1527; and
was soon preferred to the place of maid of honour to the
queen. She continued without the least imputation upon
her character, till her unfortunate fall gave occasion to
some malicious writers to defame her in all the parts of it.
Upon her coming to the English court, the lord Percy,
eldest son of the earl of Northumberland, being then a
domestic of cardinal Wolsey, made his addressee to her,
and proceeded so far, as to engage himself to marry her;
and her consent shews, that she had then no aspirings to
the crown. But the cardinal, upon some private reasons,
using threats and other methods, with great difficulty put
an end to that nobleman’s design. It was prohably about
1528, that the king began to shew some favour to her,
which caused many to believe, that the whole process with
regard to his divorce from queen Catherine was moved by
the unseen springs of that secret passion. But it is not reasonable to imagine, that the engagement of the king’s affec
tion to any other person gave the rise to that affair; for so
sagacious a courtier as Wolsey would have infallibly discovered it, and not have projected a marriage with the
French king’s sister, as he did not long before, if he had
seen his master prepossessed. The supposition is much
more reasonable, that his majesty, conceiving himself in a
manner discharged of his former marriage, gave a full
liberty to his affections, which began to settle upon Mrs.
Bolen; who, in September 1532, was created marchioness
of Pembroke, in order that she might be raised by degrees
to the height for which she was designed; and on the 25th
of January following was married to the king, the office
being performed by; Rowland Lee, afterwards bishop of
Coventry and Lichfield, with great privacy, though in the
presence of her uncle the duke of Norfolk, her father,
mother, and brother. On the 1st of June, 1533, she was
crowned queen of England with such pomp and solemnity,
as was answerable to the magnificence of his majesty’s
temper; and every one admired her conduct, who had so
long managed the spirit of a king so violent, as neither to
surfeit him with too much fondness, nor to provoke with too
much reserve. Her being so soon with child gave hopes of
a numerous issue; and those, who loved the reformation,
entertained the greatest hopes from her protection, as they
knew she favoured them. On the 13th or 14th of September following, she brought forth a daughter, christened
Elizabeth, afterwards the renowned queen of England,
Cranmer, archbishop of Canterb ry, being her god-father.
But the year 1536 proved fatal to her majesty; and her
ruin was in all probability occasioned by those who began
to be distinguished by the name of the Romish party. For
the king now proceeding both at home and abroad in the
point of reformation, they found that the interest which
the queen had in him was the grand support of that cause.
She had risen, not only in his esteem, but likewise in that
of the nation in general; for in the last nine months of
her life, she gave above fourteen thousand pounds to the
poor, and was engaged in several noble and public designs.
But these virtues could not secure her against the artifices
of a bigoted party, which received an additional force
from several other circumstances, that contributed to her
destruction. Soon after queen Catharine’s death in Jan.
1535-6, she was brought to bed of a dead son, which was
believed to have made a bad impression on the king’s mind;
and as he had concluded from the death of his sons by
his former queen, that the marriage was displeasing to
God, so he might upon this misfortune begin to have the
same opinion of his marriage with queen Anne. It was
also considered by some courtiers, that now queen Catharine was dead, his majesty might marry another wife, and
be fully reconciled with the pope and the emperor, and
the issue by any other marriage would never be questioned;
whereas, while queen Anne lived, the ground of the controversy still remained, and her marriage being accounted
null from the beginning, would never be allowed by the
court of Rome, or any of that party. With these reasons
of state the king’s own passions too much concurred; for
he now entertained a secret love for the lady Jane Seymour, who had all the charms of youth and beauty, and
an humour tempered between the gravity of queen Catharine, and the gaiety of queen Anne. Her majesty therefore perceiving the alienation of the king’s heart, used all
possible arts to recover that affection, the decay of which
she was sensible of; but the success was quite contrary to
what she designed. For he saw her no more with those
eyes which she had formerly captivated; but gave way to
jealousy, and ascribed her caresses to some other criminal
passion, of which he began to suspect her. Her chearful
temper indeed was not always limited within the bounds of
exact decency and discretion; and her brother the lord
Rochford’s wife, a woman of no virtue, being jealous of
her husband and her, possessed the king with her own apprehensions. Henry Norris, groom of the stole, William
Brereton, and sir Francis W'eston, who were of the king’s
privy chamber, and Mark Smeton, a musician, were by
the queen’s enemies thought too officious about her; and
something was pretended to have been sworn by the lady
Wingfield at her death, which determined the king; but
the particulars are not known. It is reported likewise,
that when the king held a tournament at Greenwich on the
1st of May, 1536, he was displeased at the queen for
letting her handkerchief fall to one, who was supposed a
favourite, and who wiped his face with it. Whatever the
case was, the king returned suddenly from Greenwich to
Whitehall, and immediately ordered her to be confined to
her chamber, and her brother, with the four persons abovementioned, to be committed to the Tower, and herself to
be sent after them the day following. On the river some
privy counsellors came to examine her, but she made deep
protestations of her innocence; and as she landed at the
Tower, she fell down on her knees, and prayed Heaven
so to assist her, as she was free from the crimes laid to
her charge.“The confusion she was in soon raised a storm
of vapours within her; sometimes she laughejj, and at
other times wept excessively. She was also devout and
light by turns; one while she stood upon her vindication,
and at other times confessed some indiscretions, which
upon recollection she denied. All about her took advantage from any word, that fell from her, and sent it immediately to court. The duke of Norfolk and others, who
came to examine her, the better to make discoveries, told
her, that Morris and Smeton had accused her; which,
though false, had this effect on her, that it induced her to
own some slight acts of indiscretion, which, though no ways
essential, totally alienated the king from her. Yet whether even these small acknowledgments were real truths,
or the effects of imagination and hysterical emotions, is
very uncertain. On the 12th of May, Morris, Brereton,
Weston, and Smeton, were tried in Westminster-hall.
Smeton is said by Dr. Burnet to have confessed the fact;
but the lord Herbert’s silence in this matter imports him to
have been of a different opinion; to which may be added,
that Cromwell’s letter to the king takes notice, that only
some circumstances were confessed by Smeton. However,
they were all four found guilty, and executed on the 17th
of May. On the 15th of which month, the queen, and her
brother the lord Rochford, were tried by their peers in
the Tower, and condemned to die. Yet all this did not
satisfy the enraged king, who resolved likewise to illegitimate his daughter Elizabeth; and, in order to that, to annul his marriage with the queen, upon pretence of a precontract between her and the lord Percy, now earl of Northumberland, who solemnly denied it; though the queen
was prevailed upon to acknowledge, that there were some
just and lawful impediments against her marriage with the
king; and upon this a sentence of divorce was pronounced
by the archbishop, and afterwards confirmed in the convocation and parliament. On the 19th of May, she was
brought to a scaffold within the Tower, where she was
prevailed upon, out of regard to her daughter, to make no
reflections on the hardships she had sustained, nor to say
any thing touching the grounds on which sentence passed
against her; only she desired, that
” all would judge the
best." Her head being severed from her body, they were
both put into an ordinary chest, and buried in the chapel
in the Tower.
entitles him to notice here, is the share he had in that voluminous work, the “Lives of the Saints,” or “Acta Sanctorum.” The history of this work is not uninteresting,
, a learned Jesuit, was born at
Tillemont, in the Netherlands, Aug. 13, 1596, and at
sixteen, a very usual age, entered the society of the Jesuits, and soon became distinguished as a teacher, both in
the Netherlands, and in other countries. What entitles
him to notice here, is the share he had in that voluminous
work, the “Lives of the Saints,
” or “Acta Sanctorum.
”
The history of this work is not uninteresting, although the
work itself, otherwise than for occasional consultation,
defies time and patience. The design of this vast collection was first projected by father Hesibert Koseweide, a
Jesuit of the age of sixty, and consequently too far advanced to execute much of his plan, winch was to extend
no farther than eighteen volumes folio, a trifle in those
days, had he begun earlier. In 1607, however, he began
by printing the manuscript lives of some saints, which he
happened to find in the Netherlands; but death put an
end to his labours in 1629. It was then entrusted to Bollandus, who was about this time thirty-four years of age,
and who removed to Antwerp for the purpose. After examining Roseweide’s collections, he established a general
correspondence over all Europe, instructing his friends to
search every library, register, or repository of any kind,
where information might be found; but becoming soon
sensible of the weight of his undertaking, he called in the
assistance of another Jesuit, Henschemus of Gueiderland,
younger than himself, more healthy, and equally qualified
in other respects. With this aid he was enabled in 1641
to publish the tirst two volumes, folio, which contain the
lives of the saints of the month of January, the order of
the Kalendar having been preferred. Jn 1658 he published those of February; and two years after, his labours
still entreasmg, he had another associate, father Daniel
Paperbroch, at that time about thirty-two years old, whom
he sent with Henschenius to Italy and France to collect
manuscripts, but he died before the publication of another
volume, Sept. 12, 1665. After his death the work was
continued by various hands, called Bollandists, until it
amounted to forty-two folio volumes, the last published
1753, which, after all, bring down the lives only to the
fourteenth of September. In such an undertaking, much
legendary matter must be expected, and many absurdities
and fictions. Dupiri allows that Bollandus was more partial to popular traditions than Henschemus and Paperbroch,
yet it would appear that they found it difficult to please
the taste of the different orders of monks, &c. who were
to be edified by the work. Bollandus published separately:
1. “Vita S. Liborii Episcopi,
” Antwerp, Brevis Notitia Italiae,
” ibid. Breves Notitice triplici status, Ecclesiastici, Monastici et Saecularis,
”
ibid.
as so fortunate, that though he could not get a determination upon his doctrine, whether it was true or false, yet Bolsec was ordered to quit the country.
, a writer, whose whole merit was
inventing abominable lies and absurdities against the first
reformers in the sixteenth century; and, by this means
supplying popish missionaries with matter of invective
against them, he was often quoted, and became respected.
He was a Carmelite of Paris, who, having preached somewhat freely in St. Bartholomew’s church, forsook hiaonier,
and fled into Italy, where he set up for a physician,
and married; but soon after committed some crime, for
which he was driven away. He set up afterwards in
Geneva as a physician; but not succeeding in that
protession, he studied divinity. At first he dogmatized privately on the mystery of predestination, according to the principles of Pelagius; and afterwards
had the boldness to make a public discourse against
the received opinion. Upon this, Calvin went to see
him, and censured him mildly. Then he sent for him
to his house, and endeavoured to reclaim him from his
error; but this did not hinder Bolsec from delivering in
public an insulting discourse against the decree of eternal
predestination. Calvin was among his auditors; but,
hiding himself in the crowd, was not seen by Bolsec,
which made him the bolder. As soon as Bolsec had ended
his sermon, Calvin stood up, and confuted all he had been
saying. “He answered, overset, and confounded him,
”
says Beza, “with so many testimonies from the word of
God, with so many passages, chiefly from St. Augustine
in short, with so many solid arguments, that every body
was miserably ashamed for him, except the brazen-faced
monk himself.
” On this, a magistrate who was present
in that assembly, sent him to prison. The cause was discussed very fully, and at last, with the advice of the Swiss
churches, the senate of Geneva declared Bolsec convicted
of sedition and Pelagian ism; and as such, in 1551, banished him from the territory of the republic, on pain of
being whipped if he should return thither. He retired
into a neighbouring place, which depended on the canton
of Bern, and raised a great deal of disturbance there, by
accusing Calvin of making God the author of sin. Calvin,
to prevent the impressions which such complaints might
make upon the gentlemen of Bern, caused himself to be
deputed to them, and pleaded his cause before them. He
was so fortunate, that though he could not get a
determination upon his doctrine, whether it was true or false,
yet Bolsec was ordered to quit the country.
e exact transcripts of the pictures he engraved from. His best works, though not always equally neat or finished, are always beautiful, and manifest the hand of the
, an admirable engraver, was the brother of the preceding. The
time of his birth and of his death, and the name of the
master he studied under, are equally unknown. Bolswert,
like his brother, worked entirely with the graver. His
general character as an an artist is well drawn by Basan,
who says: “We have a large number of prints, which are
held in great esteem, by this artist, from various masters;
but especially from Rubens, whose pictures he has copied
with all possible knowledge, taste, and great effect. The
freedom with which this excellent artist handled the graver,
the picturesque roughness of etching, which he could
imitate without any other assisting instrument, and the
ability he possessed of distinguishing the different masses
of colours, have always been admired by the connoisseurs,
and give him a place in the number of those celebrated
engravers whose prints ought to be considered as models
by all historical engravers, who are desirous of rendering
their works as useful as they are agreeable, and of acquiring a reputation as lasting as it is justly merited.
” He
drew excellently, and without any manner of his own;
for his prints are the exact transcripts of the pictures he
engraved from. His best works, though not always
equally neat or finished, are always beautiful, and manifest the hand of the master. Sometimes we find his engravings are in a bold, free, open style; as the Brazen
Serpent; the Marriage of the Virgin, &c. from Rubens.
At other times they are very neat, and sweetly finished;
as, the Crowning with Thorns, and the Crucifixion, &c.
from Vandyck. Mr. Strutt observes, that his boldest engravings are from Rubens, and his neatest from Vandyck
and Jordan. How greatly Bolswert varied his manner of
engraving appears from some prints, which, like the
greater part of those of his brother Boetius, bear great resemblance to the free engravings of the Bloemarts, and to
those of Frederic Bloemart especially; and form a part of
the plates for a large folio volume entitled “Academic de
l'Espée,
” by Girard Thibault of Antwerp, where it was
published A.D. 1628; and to these he signs his name
“Scheltius,
” and sometimes “Schelderic Bolswert,
” adding the word Bruxelle. His works are pretty numerous,
and his name is usually affixed to his plates in this manner:
“S. A. Bolswert.
”
n the Cottonian library. 4. An English translation of Lucius Florus’s Roman History. 5. “Nero Cæsar, or Monarchic depraved. An historicall worke, dedicated with leave
, an ingenious
writer and antiquary, in the beginning of the seventeenth
century, was a retainer to the great George Villiers, duke
of Buckingham, under whom he probably enjoyed some
office. He was a Roman catholic; and distinguished Himself by the following curious writings; l.“The Life of
king Henry II.
” intended to be inserted in Speed’s Chronicle; but the author being too partial to Thomas Becket,
another life was written by Dr. Barcham. 2. “The Elements of Armories,
” Lond. Prosopopoeia Basilica,
” a ms. in the Cottonian library. 4.
An English translation of Lucius Florus’s Roman History.
5. “Nero Cæsar, or Monarchic depraved. An historicall
worke, dedicated with leave to the duke of Buckingham,
lord-admiral,
” Lond. Vindiciae Britannicae, or London righted
by rescues and recoveries of antiquities of Britain in general, and of London in particular, against unwarrantable
prejudices, and historical antiquations amongst the learned;
for the more honour, and perpetual just uses of the noble
island and the city.
” It consists of seven chapters. In
the first, he treats “of London before the Britann rebells
sackt and fired it in hatred and defiance of Nero.
” In the
second he shows, that “London was more great and famous in Nero’s days, than that it should be within the
description, which Julius Cæsar makes of a barbarous Britann town in his days.
” In the third, he proves, “that
the credit of Julius Cæsar’s writings may subsist, and yet
London retain the opinion of utmost antiquity.
” In the
fourth, “the same fundamental assertion is upholden with
other, and with all sorts of arguments or reasons.
” The
fifth bears this title, “The natural face of the seat of
London (exactly described in this section) most sufficiently
proved, that it was most antiently inhabited, always presupposing reasonable men in Britain.
” The sixth contains
“a copious and serious disquisition about the old book of
Brute, and of the authority thereof, especially so far forth
as concerns the present cause of the honour and antiquity
of London, fundamentally necessary in general to our national history.
” The last chapter is entitled, <; Special, as
well historical, as other illustrations, for the use of the
coins in my Nero Cæsar, concerning London in and before
that time.“This ms. (for it never was printed) was in the
possession of Hugh Howard, esq and afterwards sold among
Thomas Rawiinson’s to Endymion Porter. Mr. Bolton was
also author of
” Hypercritica, or a rule of judgement for
writing or reading our histories. Delivered in four supercensorian addresses by occasion of a censorian epistle,
prefixed by sir Henry Savile, knt. to his edition of some
of our oldest historians in Latin, dedicated to the late
queen Elizabeth. That according thereunto, a complete
body of our affairs, a Corpus Rerum Anglicarum may at
last, and from among our ourselves, come happily forth in
either of the tongues. A felicity wanting to our nation,
now when even the name thereof is as it were at an end.“It was published by Dr. Hall, at the end of
” Triveti Annales,“Oxford, 1722, 8vo. Bolton likewise intended to
compose a
” General History of England, or an entire and
complete body of English affairs;“and there is in the
Cottonian collection, the outline of a book entitled
” Agon
Heroicus, or concerning Arms and Armories," a copy of
which is in the Biog. Britannica. The time and place of
his death are unknown.
obligation to reward his virtues by making him a cardinal the 29th of November, according to Moroti, or of December, according to Bertolot, in 1669. Upon the death
, an eminent cardinal of the church of
Rome, and author of several derotional pieces, was born
the 19th of October, 1609, at Mondovi, a little city in
Piedmont, of a noble family. Having finished his first
studies with great success, he entered himself in a monastery of the order of St. Bernard near Pignerol in July 1625,
when he was but fifteen years of age, and was professed
there the 2d of August the year following, according to
Bertolot, who wrote his Life; though Moroti, in “Cistercii
reflorescentis Historia,
” places this. in
He died at Rome the 20th of October, according to Bertolot, or the 28th of that month, according to Moroti, in 1674, being
He died at Rome the 20th of October, according to Bertolot, or the 28th of that month, according to Moroti, in
1674, being seventy-four years of age. He directed himself, that he should be interred in the monastery of his
own order, called St. Bernard at the Baths, with the following inscription upon his tomb: “D. O. M. Joannes
Bona Pedemontanus, Congreg. Sancti Bernardi Monachus
et hujus ecclesiae translate hue titulo S. Salvatoris in Lauro,
Primus Presbyter Cardinalis, vivens sibi posuit.
” Baillet,
Labbe, and Sallo, bestow high praises on his principal work,
“De Divina Psalmodia, deque variis ritibus omnium ecclesiarum in psallendis Divinis Officiis,
” Rome, never mounts to the origin of any use that has
been made of music in the church, or acquaints us in what
it consisted,
” and appears to have profited very little by
the information which at that time must have been within
his reach. His other distinguished work was “Rerum Liturgicarum, Lib. duo,
” Rome,
n many editions since, the best of which are that of the Elzevirs, 1678, 4to, those of London, 1725, or 1728, and of Glasgow, 1763, 8vo; but with all its merit it is
, was born December 25,
1563, at Urbino, of one of the most ancient and noble
families in the city of Ancona, and was sent into France
at the age of fifteen, to be educated suitably to his birth
and the customs of that time. Bonarelli was but nineteen
when he was offered a philosophical professorship of the
Sorbonne, in the college of Calvi; but, his father having
sent for him home, he was satisfied with having merited
that honour, and declined accepting it. He attached himself, for some time, to cardinal Frederick Borromeo (nephew of St. Charles Borromeo) who had a regard for men
of letters, and who founded the famous Ambrosian library
at Milan. He went afterwards to Modena, to which place
his father had removed. After his death, the duke Alphonso, knowing the merit of Bonarelli, employed him in
several important embassies, and the success of these negociations proved how well they had been carried on.
Bonarelli went to Rome with the hope of recovering the
marquisate of Orciano, of which his father had been deprived; but an attack of the gout obliged him to stop at
Fano, where he died January 8, 1608, aged forty-five,
with the character of an able politician, a distinguished
bel esprit, and a good philosopher for the age he lived in.
The pastoral poem for which he is best known is entitled
“Filli di Sciro,
” and was printed first at Ferrara, Discorsi in difesa del doppio amore della sua
Celia,
” but this was rather ingenious than conclusive. We
have likewise some academical discourses of his.
er great masters; and occasionally from his own designs. Mr. Strutt’s opinion is, that excepting one or two subjects, in which he called in the assistance of the point
, called sometimes Bolognese,
from the place of his birth, flourished in the sixteenth century, and is better known as an engraver than as a painter.
He is supposed, but without sufficient authority, to have
been a scholar of Sabbatini. Some remaining oil-pictures
of his, on canvas, which are, in general, weak, and of different styles, make it probable, says Lanzi, that he resolved to be a painter when he had passed youth. There
is, however, in the church of St. Stephano, in Bologna,
a Purgatory of his, which has great beauties, and is suspected to have been done with the assistance of Sabbatini.
As an engraver, he worked from the pictures of Raphael,
Julio Romano, and other great masters; and occasionally
from his own designs. Mr. Strutt’s opinion is, that excepting one or two subjects, in which he called in the
assistance of the point (the use of which, however, he never well understood), his plates are executed chiefly with
the graver, in a manner though much varied from that of
his tutor, Marc Antonio Raimondi, yet evidently founded
upon it, although neither so firm, clear, or masterly. His
drawing is often heavy, and the extremities of his figures
frequently neglected; the folds of his draperies are seldom
well expressed, and the back grounds to his prints, especially his landscapes, are extremely flat and stiff. However,
with all these faults (which are not always equally conspicuous), his best prints possess an uncommon share of
merit; and though not equal to those of his master, are
deservedly held in no small degree of estimation by the
greatest collectors. Bonasone has lately found an ingenious and able advocate in George Cumberland, esq. who,
in 1793, published “Some Anecdotes
” of his life, with a
catalogue of his engravings, &c.
eneral in 1377, on the death of Beauregard. Pope Urban VI. gave him a cardinal’s cap the year after, or as some say, in 1384. This engaging him to stand up for the
, a cardinal, was born in that city June 22, 1332, and descended from a noble and illustrious family. He studied divinity at Paris, where he distinguished himself by his uncommon parts and application, and afterwards taught divinity. He was of the order of St. Augustin, of which he was made general in 1377, on the death of Beauregard. Pope Urban VI. gave him a cardinal’s cap the year after, or as some say, in 1384. This engaging him to stand up for the rights of the church against Francis de Carrario of Padua, that petty tyrant contrived to have him murdered. He was dispatched with the shot of an arrow, as he was passing St. Angelo’s bridge at Rome. This event some place in 1385, others in 1389, 1396, and 1398. The manner of his death gave occasion to the following Latin distich, which cannot be translated so as to be intelligible to an English reader:
confirmed by parliament, but he declining the office, Dr. Bond was chosen, chiefly by the authority or interference of parliament, March, 1646. In 1649 he was chosen
, LL. D. was the son of Dennis Bond,
esq. of Dorchester, a violent adherent of the republican
party in the seventeenth century, and at whose death, a
little before that of the protector, the wits said Oliver
Cromwell had given the devil Bond for his appearance.
Our author was educated under John White, commonly
called the patriarch of Dorchester, and was afterwards entered, not of St. John’s college, Cambridge, as Wood reports, but of Catherine-hall, of which he was afterwards
chosen fellow, and took the degree of B. A. in 163 1, commenced M. A. in 1635, was nominated LL. D. in 1645,
and completed the year following, while he was yet a member of that society. But, although he took his doctor’s degree in law, he was by profession a divine, and had before
this preached for some years, first as a lecturer in Exeter,
and frequently afterwards before the long parliament at
Westminster. In 1643, both he and his tutor, Mr. White,
were chosen of the assembly of divines; and when Mr.
White took the rectory of Lambeth, Dr. Bond succeeded
him as minister of the Savoy, and on Dec. 11, 1645, hfc
was made master of the Savoy hospital under the great
seal. On the decease of Dr. Eden, master of Trinity-hall,
Cambridge, the fellows made choice of the celebrated
Selden, and the choice was confirmed by parliament, but
he declining the office, Dr. Bond was chosen, chiefly by
the authority or interference of parliament, March, 1646.
In 1649 he was chosen law professor of Gresham college,
and in 1654 was made assistant to the commissioners of
Middlesex and Wesminster, for the ejection of scandalous
and ignorant ministers; and in 1658 served as vice-chancellor of Cambridge. He held his mastership and law
professorship until the restoration, when he was ejected
from both for his adherence to the politics by which he
had obtained them. He then retired into Dorsetshire, and
died at Sandwich in the isle of Purbeck, July 1676.
Wood, who has committed several mistakes in his life,
corrected by Dr. Ward, gives a list of his works, which
are few: 1. “A Door of Hope,
” Lond. Holy and Loyal Activity,
” Lond.
, or Bonifazio, called Veneziano, whom Ridolfi believes to have been
, or Bonifazio, called Veneziano, whom Ridolfi believes to have been a scholar of Palma, but Boschini numbers among the disciples of Titian, and says he followed him as the shadow the body. He is, indeed, often his close imitator, but oftener has a character of his own, a free and creative genius, unborrowed elegance and spirit. The public offices at Venice abound in pictures all his own, and the ducal palace, amongst others, possesses an Expulsion of the Publicans from the Temple, which for copiousness of composition, colour, admirable perspective, might be alone sufficient to make his name immortal, had his own times and record not placed him with Titian and Palma. Lanzi ascribes ta Bonifazio, what he styles the celebrated pictures from the Triumphs of Petrarch, once at Naples in a private collection, and now, he says, in England; it matters little, says Mr. Fuseli, where they are: of powers, such as he ascribes to Bonifazio, those meagre, dry, and worse than Peruginesque performances, can never be the produce. He died in 1553, aged sixty-two.
e seats of diseases, minuting every deviation he observed from the natural structure of the viscera, or other parts of the body, and thus opening a new road for improving
, an eminent physician and medical writer, was born at Geneva, March 5,
1620, and following the steps of his father and grandfather,
early attached himself to the practice of physic. After visiting several foreign academies, he was admitted doctor
in medicine at Bologna, in 1643, and was soon after made
physician to the duke de Longueville. Though he soon
attained to high credit in his profession, and had a large
share of practice, he dedicated a considerable portion of
his time to reading, and to dissecting such subjects as the
hospital afforded him, with a view of discovering the seats
of diseases, minuting every deviation he observed from the
natural structure of the viscera, or other parts of the body,
and thus opening a new road for improving the science he
cultivated. He also appears to have made extracts of every
thing he deemed worthy of notice, from the various works
he read. His hearing from some accident becoming defective, he withdrew from practice, and employed the last
ten or twelve years of his life in arranging the materials he
had collected. The first fruit of his labour, which he gave
to the public in 1668, was “Pharos Medicoru in,
” 2 vols.
12mo. This was printed again, much improved and enlarged, in 1679, in 4to, under the title of “Labyrinthi
Medici, extricati,
” &c. compiled principally from Bellonius
and Septalius. In 1675, “Prodromus Anatomise practicas,
sive de abditis morborum causis,
” fol.; the precursor of
his principal work, “Sepulchretum, seu Anatome practica,
ex cadaveribus morbo denatis proponens historias et observationes,
” &c. Genev. De sedibus et causis Morborum,
” by which
the “Sepulchretum
” is in a great measure superseded.
The author begins with observations on the appearances of
the brain and other parts of the head; then of the contents of the thorax, abdomen, and pelvis; and lastly, of
the extremities; forming an immense body of dissections,
which he has illustrated by many pertinent and ingenious
observations. “Cours de medicine, et de la chirurgie,
”
Medicina
septentrionalis, collectitia,
” Mercurius compilatitius, seu index medico-practicus,
” Epitome operum Sennerti,
” J. D. Turqueti de
Mayerne, de Arthritide,
” Rohaulti tractatus physicus, e Gallico in Latinam versus,
”
for an unnatural crime, and being convicted, he was condemned to be first beheaded, and then burnt, or as some say, sentence of burning was changed into that of beheading.
, an elegant Italian scholar of the
sixteenth century, was born at Gorzano in the Brescian
territory, but in what year is not known. He was three
years secretary to cardinal Bari at Rome; but lost the
fruits of his services by the death of his master. He then
served cardinal Glinucci in the same capacity; but long
sickness made him incapable of that employment. When
he was recovered, he found himself so disgusted with the
court, that he resolved to seek his fortune by other means.
He continued a good while in the kingdom of Naples, then
went to Padua, and to Genoa; where he read public lectures on Aristotle’s politics. He was ordered to read some
likewise upon his rhetoric, which he did with great success to a numerous auditory. His reputation increasing
daily, the republic of Genoa made him their historiographer, and assigned him a handsome pension for that
office. He now applied himself laboriously to compose
the annals of that state, and published the five first books;
but by speaking too freely and satirically of some families,
he created himself enemies who resolved to ruin him, by a
prosecution for an unnatural crime, and being convicted,
he was condemned to be first beheaded, and then burnt,
or as some say, sentence of burning was changed into that
of beheading. Some have attributed this prosecution to
the freedom of his pen; but the generality of writers have
agreed that Bonfadio was guilty, yet are of opinion, that
he had never been accused, if he had not given offence by
something else. He was executed in 1560. Upon the
day of his execution he wrote a note to John Baptist Grimaldi, to testify his gratitude to the persons who had endeavoured to serve him, and recommended to them his
nephew Bonfadio, who is perhaps the Peter Bonfadio,
author of some verses extant in the “Gareggiamento poetico del confuso accademico ordito,
” a collection of verses,
divided into eight parts, and printed at Venice in 1611.
The first five books of Bonfadio’s history of Genoa were
printed at Padua, 1586, 4to, under the title “I. Bonfadii
annales Genuensium ab anno 1528, ubi desinit Folieta, ad
annum 1550,
” and was in Lettere famigliari, &c.
” 8vo, dedicated to
pope Benedict XIV. with a life of the unfortunate author,
and a curious Latin poem by Paul Manutius, in honour of
those persons who used their interest to save Bonfadio
from punishment.
, and usually styled the Apostle of Germany, was an Englishman, named Wilfrid, and born at C red ton or Kirton in Devonshire, about the year 680. He was educated from
, a celebrated saint of the eighth century, and usually styled the Apostle of Germany, was an Englishman, named Wilfrid, and born at C red ton or Kirton in Devonshire, about the year 680. He was educated from the age of thirteen in the monastery of Escancester or Exeter, and about three years after removed to Nutcell, in the diocese of Winchester, a monastery which was afterwards destroyed by the Danes, and was never rebuilt. Here he was instructed in the sacred and secular learning of the times; and at the age of thirty, was ordained priest, and became a zealous preacher. The same zeal prompted him to undertake the functions of a missionary among the pagans and with that view he went with two monks into Friezeland, about the year 716; but a war which broke out between Charles Martel, mayor of the French palace, and Radbod, king of Friezeland, rendering it impracticable to preach the gospel at that time, he returned to England with his companions. Still, however, zealously intent on the conversion of the pagans, he refused being elected abbot of Nutcell, on a vacancy which happened on his return; and having received recommendatory letters from the bishop of Winchester, went to Rome, and presented himself to the pope Gregory II. who encouraged his design, and gave him a commission for the conversion of the infidels, in the year 719. With this he went into Bavaria and Thuringia, and had considerable success: and Radbod, king of Friezeland, being now dead, he had an opportunity of visiting that country, where he co-Operated with Willibrod, another famous missionary, who would have appointed him his successor, which Wilfrid rt fused, because the pope had particularly enjoined him to preach in the eastern parts of Germany. Through Hesse, or a considerable part of it, even to the confines of Saxony, he extended his pious labours, and had considerable success, although he suffered many hardships, and was often exposed to danger from the rage of the infidels.
ions sent from England, he employed no means but what became a true missionary. These, instructions, or rather advice sent to him by Daniel, bishop of Winchester, about
After some time he returned to Rome, where Gregory II.
consecrated him bishop of the new German churches,
by the name of Boniface, a Roman name, which Gregory
probably thought might procure from the German converts more respect to the pope, than an English one.
Solicitous also to preserve his dignity, Gregory exacted
from Boniface an oath of subjection to the papal authority,
drawn up in very strong terms. Boniface then returned to
the scenes of his mission, and had great success in Hesse,
encouraged now by Charles Martel, the dominion of the
French extending at this time a considerable way into Germany. We do not, however, find that he derived any
other assistance from the civil authority, than personal
protection, which doubtless was of great importance. If
he complied with the instructions sent from England, he
employed no means but what became a true missionary.
These, instructions, or rather advice sent to him by Daniel,
bishop of Winchester, about the year 723, afford too
striking an instance of good sense and liberality in that
dark age, to be omitted. Daniel’s method of dealing with
idolaters was conceived in these words, “Do not contradict in a direct manner their accounts of the genealogy of
their gods; allow that they were born from one another
in the same way that mankind are: this concession will
give you the advantage of proving, that there was a time
when they had no existence. Ask them who governed the
world before the birth of their gods, and if these gods have
ceased to propagate? If they have not, shew them the
consequence; namely, that the gods must be infinite in
number, and that no man can rationally be at ease in worshipping any of them, lest he should, by that means, offend
one, who is more powerful. Argue thus with them, not
in the way of insult, but with temper and moderation: and
take opportunities to contrast these absurdities with the
Christian doctrine: let the pagans be rather ashamed than
incensed by your oblique mode of stating these subjects.
Shew them the insufficiency of their plea of antiquity; inform them that idolatry did anciently prevail over the
world, but that Jesus Christ was manifested, in order to
reconcile men to God by his grace.
” From this same prelate he received other instructions respecting reforming the
church, and exercising discipline 'with the refractory and
scandalous priests, who occasioned much obstruction to
his mission. In the mean time, the report of his success
induced many of his countrymen to join him, who dispersed
themselves and preached in the villages of Hesse and Thuringia.
ly in founding a new academy at Padua for the Venetian nobility, in 1636, and was the first director or president of it, and founded a similar establishment at Trevisa.
, the son of a lawyer of the
same name, was born at Crema, in the Venetian state
about 1584. In his thirtieth year he went to study at Padua,
and made such proficiency as to be created doctor of laws
at the age of eighteen. About two years after he was appointed law professor in the college of Rovigo, where he
first lectured on the institutes of Justinian. He afterwards
accompanied the pope’s nuncio Jerome Portia, as secretary, and was himself employed in some affairs of importance. On his return to Venice, he had several preferments, and among others that of archpriest of Rovigo. In
Oct. 1619, he was elected Greek and Latin professor at
Padua, but declined accepting the office. In 1620, he
assisted at Venice, in the establishment of an academy
for the education of the young nobility, and gave lectures
on the civil law. Pope Urban VIII. bestowed on him the
archdeaconry of Trevisa, which he held, with the office of
grand vicar of that diocese, under four successive bishops.
He assisted also very essentially in founding a new academy
at Padua for the Venetian nobility, in 1636, and was the
first director or president of it, and founded a similar establishment at Trevisa. In 1653 he was appointed bishop
of Capo d'Istria, which he held until his death in 165i).
He was a man of various learning, as appears by his “Historia Trevigiena,
” 4to, his “Historia Ludicra,
” Latin poems
” in
De Romanae Historian Scriptoribus excerpta ex Bodino, Vossio et aliis,
” Venice,
tudies, he composed some pieces for the theatre which were much approved. After marrying at Trevisa, or Trevigni, Elizabeth Martinagi, the daughter and heiress of Marc
, an eminent Italian lawyer, poet,
and historian, was born in 1547, at Rovigo in the state of
Venice, and educated at Padua, where, during his lawstudies, he composed some pieces for the theatre which
were much approved. After marrying at Trevisa, or Trevigni, Elizabeth Martinagi, the daughter and heiress of
Marc Antonio, he settled in that place, of which he wrote
the history, and acquired so much reputation that the republic of Venice bestowed on him the office of judge’s
counsellor or assessor, the duties of which he executed
with great probity; and during his holding it wrote his
law tracts. In 1588, he published his commentary on the
feudal law of Venice. After the death of his wife, he
married a lady of Padua, where he was admitted to the
rank of citizenship, and where he resided for the remainder of his life. He died June 23, 1635, at a very advanced age, and was buried in the church of St. James,
with a modest inscription written by himself in 1630. His
principal writings are, 1. “Storia Trevigiana,
” Trevisi,
Letiere Famigliari,
” Rovigo, Orazione
&c. per dirizzare una Statua a Celio Ricchiero Rodigino,
”
ibid. Lezione sopra im Sonetto del Petrarca,
” ibid. Lezione sopra un altro Sonetto del Petrarca,
” ibid. L'arte de
Cenni,
” Vicenza, Discorso del modo
di ben formare a questo tempo una Tragedia,
” Padua,
Discorso sopra la sua Impresa neli'
Accademia Filarmonica,
” ibid. La Re^
publica delle Api, con la quale si dimostra il modo di ben
formare un nuovo Governo Democratico,
” Rovigo, 1627,
4to. 10. “Comentario sopra la legge dell' Senato Veneta,
&c.
” ibid. Comment,
de Furtis, et de componendis Epitaphiis,
” but without
giving the exact titles or dates.
red letters. He was acquainted with almost all the oriental tongues, and especially with the Coptic, or ancient Egyptian. Actuated by a zeal for acquiring knowledge,
, a learned Augustin, was born
at Toulouse in 1670; and at Rome, whither he was sent
for by cardinal Norris in 1695, he became distinguished
by his learning and piety. He was employed by pope
Clement XI. in several matters of importance, and particularly in the examination of the Gregorian calendar.
Bonjour had also the superintendence of the seminary
established by cardinal Barbarigo at Montefiascone, and
denominated the academy of sacred letters. He was acquainted with almost all the oriental tongues, and especially with the Coptic, or ancient Egyptian. Actuated by
a zeal for acquiring knowledge, and for propagating the
gospel, he visited China, where he died in February 1714,
whilst he was employed in forming a map of that empire,
which he undertook to conciliate the favour of the emperor, and thereby promote the objects of his mission. He
published, 1. “Dissertatio de nomine patriarch! Joseph! a
Pharaone imposito, in defensionem vulgatoe editionis, et
patrum qui Josephum in Serapide adumbratuni tradiderunt,
” &c. Rome, Select dissertationes
in Sac. Scripturam,
” Rome, In monumenta Coptica, seu
Ægyptiacæ bibliothecæ Vatican brevis exercitatio,
” ibid.
Calendarium Romanum chronologorum
causa constructum, &c.
” ibid.
, or Bonnefonius, a Latin poet, was born in 1554, at Clermont in
, or Bonnefonius, a Latin poet,
was born in 1554, at Clermont in Auvergne, and rilled the
post of lieutenant-general of Bar-sur-Seine. His “Paricharis,
” in the style of Catullus, is of all modern performances, the nearest to the graces, the easy pencil, the
delicacy and softness of that ancient poet. La Bergerie
has translated the Pancharis into French verse, very inferior to the Latin. The poems of Bonnefons are at the end
of those of Beza, in the edition of that author given at
Paris by Barbou, 1757, 12mo. There is also one of
London, 1720 and 1727, 12mo. Bonnefons died in 1614,
leaving a son, who likewise cultivated Latin poetry, but
his performances, enumerated by Moreri, are in less request.
ntageous, and furnished him with ample means of doing good, yet either the weight of the employment, or his ill state of health, or perhaps his desire of entering into
After this son, the object of the present article, had
been instructed in the first rudiments of learning at Dublin,
he was sent to Trim school, where he was eminent for
sweetness of temper, and for a most innocent, gentle, and
religious behaviour. At fourteen years of age he left that
place, and was sent to a private philosophy school at Nettlebed in Oxfordshire, kept by Mr. William Cole, who had
formerly been principal of St. Mary Hall in Oxford, and
remained there two years and a half. But finding his
master was too remiss in matters of morality and religion ,
a thing quite unsuitable with his strict temper; and observing there were in that place all the dangers and vices
of the university, without the advantages, he removed to
Catherine-hall in Cambridge, where he prosecuted his
studies with indefatigable diligence, and performed all his
exercises with general approbation. After taking the degrees of A.B. in 1672, and A. M. 1676, he removed into
the family of Ralph Freeman of Aspenden-hall in Hertfordshire, esq. as tutor to his eldest son, and there continued till 1678, when, going with his pupil into Holland,
he stayed about a year in sir Leoline Jenkyns’s family at
Nimeguen. From Nimeguen he went, in the ambassador’s
company, through Flanders and Holland: and returning
to England, continued with his pupil till 16S5, when Mr.
Freeman was sent into France and Italy. In 1684, Mr.
Bonnell went into France, and met Mr. Freeman at Lyons,
and in his company visited several parts of that country.
From thence, however, he went directly to Ireland, and
took his employment of accountant-general into his own
hands, which had, since his father’s death, been managed
by others for his use. In the discharge of it he behaved
with so much diligence and fidelity, that he soon acquired
the esteem of the government, and the love of all who
were concerned with him. During the troublesome reign
of king James II. he neither deserted his employment, as
others did, nor countenanced the arbitrary and illegal measures of the court, and yet was continued in his office,
which proved a great advantage to the protestant interest
in Ireland, for whatever he received out of his office, he
liberally distributed among the poor oppressed protestants.
He also took every opportunity to relieve the injured, and
boldly to plead their cause with those who were in power.
But though his place was very advantageous, and furnished
him with ample means of doing good, yet either the weight
of the employment, or his ill state of health, or perhaps
his desire of entering into holy orders, which he had long
designed, but never effected, made him resolve to quit it;
and he accordingly parted with it to another person in
1693. In the whole course of his life he behaved in so
upright and worthy a manner, that he was courted by his
superiors and reverenced by his equals. In piety, justice, charity, sobriety, and temperance, few have excelled
him. His devotion was confined within the strictest bounds
of sobriety and reason, and free from the least appearance
of affectation. He commonly gave away the eighth part
of his yearly income to the poor, and his charity was not
only extensive but impartial. His learning was very considerable; he thoroughly digested the Greek and Roman
authors, understood French perfectly, and had made great
progress in the Hebrew language. In philosophy and
oratory he exceeded most of his contemporaries in the
university, and applied himself with success to mathematics and music. In the course of his studies he read
several of the fathers, and translated some parts of Synesius into English. There is nothing, however, of his
published, but some Meditations and Prayers inserted in
his Life, and a “Harmony of the Gospels,
” written by
another hand, but “improved by James Bonnell, esq. for
his own use,
” Lond. 1705, 8vo. This excellent man died
of a malignant fever, April 23, 1699, and was buried in
St. John’s church in Dublin. In 1693 he married Jane,
daughter of sir Albert Conyngham, by whom he had three
children, of whom only one daughter survived him a very
short time. A neat monument was erected to his memory
by his relict. “Such a character,
” says Mr. Granger,
“may, perhaps, be overlooked by some, because there is
nothing remarkably striking in it. But the man who is
uniformly good, and that to such a degree as Mr. Bonnell
was, ought to stand high in our opinion, and to be esteemed what he certainly was, a great man.
”
he was excessively angry because the bells did not ring at his coming, nor was the rood-loft decked, or the sacrament hung up. He swore and raged in the church at Dr.
On the accession of queen Mary, Bonner had an opportunity of shewing himself in his proper character, which indeed had been hitherto but faintly-concealed. He was restored to his bishopric by a commission read in St. Paul’s cathedral the 5th of September 1553; and in 1554, he was made vicegerent, and president of the convocation, in the room of archbishop Cranmer, who was committed to the Tower. The same year he visited his diocese, in order to root up all the seeds of the Reformation, and behaved in the most furious and extravagant manner; at Hadham, he was excessively angry because the bells did not ring at his coming, nor was the rood-loft decked, or the sacrament hung up. He swore and raged in the church at Dr. Bricket, the rector, and, calling him knave and heretic, went to strike at him; but the blow fell upon sir Thomas Joscelyn’s ear, and almost stunned him. On his return he set up the mass again at St. Paul’s, before the act for restoring it was passed. The same year, he was in commission to turn out some of the reformed bishops. In 1555, and the three following years, he was the occasion of above two hundred of innocent persons being put to death in the most cruel manner, that of burning, for their firm adherence to the Protestant religion. On the 14th of February 1555-6, he came to Oxford (with Thirlby bishop of Ely), to degrade archbishop Cranmer, whom he used with great insolence. The 29th of December following he was put into a commission to search and raze all registers and records containing professions against the pope, scrutinies taken in religious houses, &c. And the 8th of February 1556-7, he was also put in another commission, or kind of inquisition, for searching after and punishing all heretics.
ion. The character of bishop Bonner is so familiar to our readers as to require little illustration, or any addition to the preceding account from the former edition
Upon queen Elizabeth’s accession, Bonner went to meet
her at Highgate, with the rest of the bishops; but she
looked on him as a man stained with blood, and therefore
would shew him no mark of her favour. For some months,
however, he remained unmolested; but being called before the privy council on the 30th of May 1359, he
refused to take the oath of allegiance and supremacy: for
which reason only, as it appears, he was deprived a second
time of his bishopric the 29th of June following, and committed to the Marshalsea. After having lived in confinement some years, he died September 5, 1569, and three
days after he was buried at midnight, in St. George’s churchyard, Southwark, to prevent any disturbances that might
have been made by the citizens, who hated him extremely.
He had stood excommunicated several years, and might
have been denied Christian burial; but of this no advantage was taken. As to his character, he was a violent, furious,
and passionate man, and extremely cruel in his nature;
in his person he was very fat and corpulent, the consequence of excessive gluttony, to which he was much addicted. He was a great master of the canon law, being
excelled in that faculty by very few of his time, and well
skilled in politics, but understood little of divinity. Several pieces were published under his name, of which the
following is a list 1. Preface to the Oration of Stephen
Gardiner, bishop of Winchester, concerning true Obedience. Printed at London, in Latin, 1534, 1535, and at
Hamburgh in 1536, 8vo. Translated into English by Mi-,
chael Wood, a zealous Protestant, with a bitter preface to
the reader, and a postscript, Roan, 1553, 8vo. It is also
inserted in J. Fox’s book of Martyrs. In the preface Bonner speaks much in favour of king Henry the VHIth’s
marriage with Ann Boleyn, and against the tyranny exercised by the bishop of Rome in this kingdom. 2. Several
letters to the lord Cromwell. 3. A declaration to lord
Cromwell, describing to him the evil behaviour of Stephen
(bishop of Winchester), with special causes therein contained, wherefore and why he misliked of him. 4. Letter
of his about the proceedings at Rome concerning the king’s
divorce from Catherine of Arragon. 5. An admonition and
advertisement given by the bishop of London to all readers
of the Bible in the English tongue. 6. Injunctions given
by Bonner, bishop of London, to his clergy (about preaching, with the names of books prohibited). 7. Letter to
Mr. Lechmere. 8. Responsum & exhortatio, Lond. 1553,
8vo. Answer and exhortation to the clergy in praise of
priesthood: spoken by the author in St. Paul’s cathedral,
the 16th October, 1553, after a sermon preached before
the clergy, by John Harpesfield. 9. A letter to Mr.
Lechmere, 6th September, 1553. 10. Articles to be enquired
of in the general visitation of Edmund bishop of London,
exercised by him in 1554, in the city and diocese of London, &c. To ridicule them, John Bale, bishop of Ossory,
wrote a book, entitled, A declaration of Edmund Bonner’s
articles, concerning the clergy of London diocese, whereby
that execrable anti-christ is in his right colours revealed,
1554, and 1561, 8vo. 11. A profitable and necessary doctrine, containing an exposition on the Creed, seven Sacraments, ten Commandments, the Pater Noster, Ave Maria,
with certain homilies adjoining thereto, for the instruction
and information of the diocese of London, Lond. 1554-5,
4to. This book was drawn up by his chaplains John
Harpesfield and Henry Pendleton; the former part of it,
which is catechism, is mostly taken out of the Institution
of a Christian man, set out by king Henry VIII. only varied in some points. 12. Several letters, declarations, arguings, disputes, &c. of his are extant in John Fox’s
book of Martyrs, vol. last. 13. His objections against the
process of Robert Horn, bishop of Winchester, who had
tendered the oath of supremacy to him a second time, are
preserved by Mr. Strype in his Annals of the Reformation.
The character of bishop Bonner is so familiar to our readers as to require little illustration, or any addition to the
preceding account from the former edition of this Dictionary; yet some notice may be taken of the defence set up
by the Roman Catholic historians. Dodd, alluding to his
cruelties, says, that “Seeing he proceeded according to
the statutes then in force, and by the direction of the legislative power, he stands in need of no apology on that
score.
” But the history of the times proves that Bonner’s
character cannot be protected by a reference to the statutes, unless his vindicator can likewise prove that he had
no hand in enacting those statutes; and even if this were
conceded, his conduct will not appear less atrocious, because, not content with the sentence of the law carried into
execution by the accustomed officers, Bonner took frequent opportunities to manifest the cruelty of his disposition by anticipating, or aggravating, the legal punishments.
He sometimes whipped the prisoners with his own hands,
till he was tired with the violence of the exercise; and on
one occasion he tore out the beard of a weaver who refused
to relinquish his religion; and that he might give him a
specimen of burning, he held his hand to a candle, till
the sinews and veins shrunk and burst . The fact is, that
Bonner was constitutionally cruel, and delighted in the
sufferings he inflicted. Granger very justly says, that
“Nature seems to have designed him for an executioner,
”
and as, wherever he could, he performed the character, how
can he be defended by an appeal to the statutes? The
most remarkable circumstance in his history is the lenity
shown to him after all this bloody career. There seems
no reason to think that he would have even been deprived of his bishopric, had he consented to take the oaths
of allegiance and supremacy, a circumstance which is
surely very extraordinary. His compliance, had he taken,
that step, could have been only hypocritical, and what an
object it would have been to have seen the duties and
power of a protestant prelate intrusted to such a monster,
and in that diocese, where so many families preserved the
bitter remembrance of his cruelty.
on the respiration of caterpillars and butterflies, which he discovered to be effected by stigmata, or lateral pores; to an examination of the construction of the
Animated by such distinguished marks of approbation,
he diligently employed every moment he could steal from
the study of jurisprudence to the completion of his natural
history of the tree-louse; to experiments on the respiration of caterpillars and butterflies, which he discovered to
be effected by stigmata, or lateral pores; to an examination of the construction of the tinea, or tapeworm; in frequent correspondence with Reaumur; and in assisting
Trembley in his discoveries and publication concerning
millepedes, &c. Having, in 1743, obtained the degree
of doctor of laws, he relinquished a pursuit which he had
commenced with so much reluctance. In the same year
he was admitted a member of the royal society of London, to which he had communicated a treatise on insects.
Bonnet being now liberated from his other pursuits, applied himself, without intermission, to collecting together
his experiments and observations concerning the tree-louse
and the worm, which he published in 1744, under the
title of “Insectology.
” This work acquired deserved
approbation from the public, and was honoured by the commendation of the celebrated B. de Jussieu. He was reproached, however, as some other naturalists have deserved, with having paid too little attention to the delicacy
of his reader, though his patience and accuracy were acknowledged to be deserving of praise. Such unremitted
application and labour could not fail of becoming injurious
to his health. Inflammations, nervous fever, sore eyes, &c.
compelled him to relinquish the use of the microscope and
the study of insects. This prevention was so extremely
mortifying to a man of his taste and activity of mind, that
he was thrown into a deep melancholy, which could only
be subdued by the resolution inspired by philosophy, and
the consolations of religion; these gradually roused him
from a dejected state of mind. About the end of 1746,
he was chosen member of the literary institution at Bologna, which introduced him to a correspondence with the
celebrated Zanotti, who may be deemed the Fontenelle of
Italy.
ts of Spallanzani, concerning the reproduction of the head of the Snail; a dissertation on the Pipa, or Surinam Toad; and different treatises on Bees.
Of his publications in natural history, those deemed the most excellent, are, his Treatise on the best means of preserving Insects and Fish in cabinets of Natural History; a dissertation on the Loves of the Plants; sundry pieces on the experiments of Spallanzani, concerning the reproduction of the head of the Snail; a dissertation on the Pipa, or Surinam Toad; and different treatises on Bees.
ployed in revising his works, of which a complete edition was published at Neuchatel in 9 vols. 4to, or 18 vols. 8vo, containing, besides these already noticed, several
As a demonstration of the high value placed upon his labours and talents, by the literati, we have only to add, that he was member of most of the learned societies of Europe. The latter part of his life was employed in revising his works, of which a complete edition was published at Neuchatel in 9 vols. 4to, or 18 vols. 8vo, containing, besides these already noticed, several smaller pieces in natural history and metaphysics. Notwithstanding the high praises bestowed on Bonnet by his countrymen, there are many parts of his works which must be read with caution, nor, where there is not much danger in his speculations, is he always a very conclusive reasoner.
retirement agreeable to his wishes, but did not long enjoy it, being sent for back, and made topigi or master of the ordnance, a post of great honour and profit. He
, count, known in the latter part of his life by the name of Osman Bashaw, descended from a family related to the blood royal of France, was born in 1672, and entered himself at the age of sixteen, in the service of that crown, and married the daughter of marshal de Biron. He made the campaign in Flanders in 1690, but soon after left the French army, and entered into the Imperial service under prince Eugene, who honoured him with an intimate friendship. The intrigues of the marquis de Prie, his inveterate enemy, ruined his credit however at the court of Vienna, and caused him to be banished the empire. He then offered his service to the republic of Venice, and to Russia; which being de^ clined, his next tender was to the grand Signior, who gladly received him: it was stipulated that he should have a body of 30,000 men at his disposal; that a government should be conferred on him, with the rank of bashaw of three tails; a salary of 10,000 aspers a day, equal to 45,000 livres a year; and that in case of a war, he should be commander in chief. The first expedition he engaged in after his arrival at Constantinople, was to quell an insurrection in Arabia Petraea, which he happily effected; and at his return, had large offers made him by Kouli Khan, which he did not choose to accept. Some time after, he commanded the Turkish army against the emperor, over whose forces he gained a victory on the banks of the Danube. But success does not always protect a person against disgrace; for Bonneval, notwithstanding his service, was first imprisoned, and then banished to the island of Chio. The sultan, however, continued his friend; and the evening before his departure made him bashaw general of the Archipelago, which, with his former appointment of beglerbeg of Arabia, rendered him one of the most powerful persons in the Ottoman empire. In this island, he found a retirement agreeable to his wishes, but did not long enjoy it, being sent for back, and made topigi or master of the ordnance, a post of great honour and profit. He died in this employment, aged 75, in 1747; and wrote the memoirs of his own life, which were published in London in 1755, 2 vols. 12 mo, and give but an indifferent idea of his personal character.
ical friends, had a great quarrel with him, which occasioned his publishing “MercurioCrelico Mastix; or an Anti-caveat to all such as have heretofore had the misfortune
, one of those impostors who amused
the public in the seventeenth century, was born at Manchester in 1601, and was bred a haberdasher in Lawrencelane, London, but quitted this employment and followed
that of a writing-master at Hadley in Middlesex, and was
afterwards for some time clerk to the sitting aldermen at
Guildhall. He in a few years rendered himself so eminent,
that he was appointed licenser of mathematical books, under
which were included all those that related to the celestial
sciences. Lilly tells us, that he once thought him the
greatest astrologer in the world; but it appears that he
afterwards sunk in his esteem, and that he thought himself
a much greater man. We are told by the same author,
that “he had a curious fancy in judging of thefts, and
was as successful in resolving love questions,
” which was
a capital branch of his trade. George Wharton, who was
formerly one of his astrological friends, had a great quarrel
with him, which occasioned his publishing “MercurioCrelico Mastix; or an Anti-caveat to all such as have heretofore had the misfortune to be cheated and deluded by
that great and treacherous impostor John Booker; in an
answer to his frivolous pamphlet, entitled Mercurius Coelicus, or a Caveat to all the people of England;
” Oxon.
Bloody Irish Almanac,
” which contains some memorable particulars relative to the war in Ireland. He
died April 1667, and his books were sold to Elias Ashmole,
who, as Lilly informs us, and we may readily believe, gave
more for them than they were worth.
ng to understand perfectly whatever it was his part to speak, and judgment to know how far it agreed or disagreed with his character. Hence arose a peculiar grace,
His character as an actor has been celebrated by some
of the best judges. Mr. Aaron Hill, a gentleman, who by
the share he had in the management of the play-house,
could not but have sufficient opportunities of becoming
well acquainted with his merit, has given us a very high
character of him. “Two advantages (says this gentleman)
distinguished him in the strongest light from the rest of his
fraternity; he had learning to understand perfectly whatever it was his part to speak, and judgment to know how
far it agreed or disagreed with his character. Hence arose
a peculiar grace, which was visible to every spectator,
though few were at the pains of examining into the cause
of their pleasure. He could soften, and slide over with a
kind of elegant negligence, the improprieties in a part he
acted; while, on the contrary, he would dwell with energy
upon the beauties, as if he everted a latent spirit, which
had been kept back for such an occasion, that he might
alarm, awaken, and transport in those places only where
the dignity of his own good sense could be supported by
that of his author. A little reflection upon this remarkable
quality will teach us to account for that manifest languor,
which has sometimes been observed in his action, and
which was generally, though I think falsely, imputed to
the natural indolence of his temper. For the same reason,
though in the customary rounds of his business he would
condescend to some parts in comedy, he seldom appeared
in any of them with much advantage to his character.
The passions which he found in comedy were not strong
enough to excite his fire, and what seemed want of qualification, was only absence of impression. He had a talent
at discovering the passions, where they lay hid in some
celebrated parts, by the injudicious practice of other actors,
which when he had discovered, he soon grew able to express: and his secret for attaining this great lesson of the
theatre was an adaption of his look to his voice, by which
artful imitation of nature, the variations in the sound of his
words gave propriety to every change in his countenance.
So that it was Mr. Booth’s peculiar felicity to be heard and
seen the same whether as the pleased, the grieved, the
pitying, the reproachful, or the angry. One would almost be
tempted to borrow the aid of a very bold figure, and, to express this excellence the more significantly, beg permission,
to affirm, that the blind might have seen him in his voice,
and the deaf have heard him in his visage. His gesture,
or, as it is commonly called, his action, was but the result
and necessary consequence of his dominion over his voice
and countenance; for having, by a concurrence of two
such causes, impressed his imagination with such a stamp
and spirit of passion, he ever obeyed the impulse by a
kind of natural dependency, and relaxed or braced successively into all that fine expressiveness, with which he
painted what he spoke without restraint or affectation.
”
Mr. Gibber has also taken particular notice of Booth, nor has he omitted either his excellencies or defects: this writer, speaking of Wilks and him, says, “they
Mr. Gibber has also taken particular notice of Booth,
nor has he omitted either his excellencies or defects: this
writer, speaking of Wilks and him, says, “they were actors so opposite in their manner, that if either of them
could have borrowed a little of the other’s fault, they
would both have been improved by it. If Wilks had sometimes too great a vivacity, Booth as often contented himself with too grave a dignity. The latter seemed too
much to heave up his words, as the other to dart them to
the ear with too quick and sharp a vehemence. Thus
Wiiks would too frequently break into the time and measure of the harmony by too many spirited accents in one
line; and Booth, by too solemn a regard to harmony, would
as often lose the necessary spirit of it: so that (as I have observed) could we have sometimes raised the one and
sunk the other, they had both been nearer the mark.
Yet this could not be always objected to them; they had
their intervals of unexceptionable excellence, that more
than balanced their errors. The master-piece of Booth
was Othello; then he was most in character, and seemed
not more to animate and please himself in it than his spectators. It is true he owed his last and highest advancement to his acting Cato; but it was the novelty and critical
appearance of that character, that chiefly swelled the torrent of his applause; for, let the sentiments of a declaiming patriot have all the sublimity of poetry, and let them
be delivered with all the utmost grace and elocution, yet
this is but one light wherein the excellence of an actor
can shine; but in Othello we may see him in the variety
of nature. In Othello, therefore, I may safely aver, that
Booth shewed himself thrice the actor that he could in
Cato, and yet his merit in acting Cato need not be diminished by this comparison. Wilks often regretted, that
in tragedy he had not the full and strong voice of Booth,
to command and grace his periods with. But Booth used
to say, that if his ear had been equal to it, Wilks had
voice enough to have shewn himself a much better tragedian. Now, though there might be some truth in this, yet
these two actors were of so mixed a merit, that even in
tragedy the superiority was not always on the same side.
In sorrow, tenderness, or resignation, Wilks plainly had
the advantage, and seemed more pathetically to feel, look,
and express his calamity. But in the more turbulent transports of the heart, Booth again bore the palm, and left
all competitors behind him.
”
r original poems, which were very far from injuring his reputation. He was also the author of a mask or dramatic entertainment called “Dido and JEneas,” that was very
Besides his professional merit, Booth was a man of letters, and an author in more languages than one. He had
a taste for poetry, which discovered itself when he was
very young, in translations from several Odes of Horace;
and in his riper years, he wrote several songs and other
original poems, which were very far from injuring his reputation. He was also the author of a mask or dramatic
entertainment called “Dido and JEneas,
” that was very
well received upon the stage; but his best performance
was a Latin inscription to the memory of a celebrated
actor, Mr. William Smith, one of the greatest men of his
profession, and of whom Mr. Booth always spoke in raptures. This short elogy has much strength, beauty, and
elegance. In his private life he had many virtues, and
few of the failings so common to his profession. He had
no envy in his composition, but readily approved, and as
readily rewarded, merit, as it was in his power. He was
something rough in his manner, and a little hasty in his
temper, but very open and free to speak his sentiments,
which he always did with an air of sincerity, that procured
him as much credit with people at first sight, as he had
with those to whom he had been long known. He was
kind to all the players whose circumstances were indifferent,
and took care not to make them uneasy, either in point of
salary or of usage. He was no great speaker in company,
but when he did, it was in a grave lofty way, not unlike
his pronunciation on the stage. He had a great veneration for his parents while they were living, and was also
very useful to his brother and sister after their decease.
Booth was twice married; first in 1704, to Miss Frances
Barkham, daughter of sir William Barkham, of Norfolk,
bart. who died in 1710, without issue; and secondly, to
Mrs. Santlowe, an actress, who. survived him forty years,
and in 1772, erected a monument to his memory in Westminster abbey. In 1737 she married Mr. Goodyer,a
gentleman of fortune in Essex.
ussels, Aug. 9, the same year, but sir George did not openly profess to act by the king’s authority, or with a view to his restoration, but only in opposition to the
, Lord Delamer, the son of William
Booth, esq. and grandson of sir George Booth, bart. rendered himself remarkable by heading an insurrection in
Cheshire, about a year after the death of Oliver Cromwell.
He received a commission from king Charles II. under his
signet and sign-manual, bearing date July 22, 1659, by
which he was constituted commander in chief of all forces
to be raised for his majesty’s service in Cheshire, Lancashire, and North Wales. A duplicate of this was dated
at Brussels, Aug. 9, the same year, but sir George did
not openly profess to act by the king’s authority, or with
a view to his restoration, but only in opposition to the
tyranny of the parliament. He assembled about four thousand men, took possession of Chester, and was joined by
the earl of Derby, sir Thomas Middleton, and major Brook.
Bui the parliamentary forces pursued sir George and his
adherents so closely, that they could not avoid coming to
an action; and, after a sharp contest, on the 19th of August, 1659, Lambert totally routed sir George Booth’s
troops, pursued them a considerable way, and killed and
took many of them. Ludlow informs us, that “Sir George
Booth, after his defeat, put himself into a woman’s habit,
and with two servants hoped to escape to London, riding
behind one of them. The single horseman going before,
went to an inn on the road; and, as he had been ordered,
bespoke a supper for his mistress, who, he said, was
coming after. The pretended mistress being arrived,
either by alighting from the horse, or some other action,
raised a suspicion in the master of the house, that there
was some mystery under that dress. And thereupon resolving to make a full inquiry into the matter, he got together some of his neighbours to assist him, and with them
entered the room vyhere the pretended lady was. But sir
George Booth suspecting their intentions, and being unwilling to put them to the trouble of a farther search, discovered himself. Whereupon they took him into their
custody, and sent him up to London, where the parliament committed him prisoner to the Tower.
” Sir George
made applications to many of the parliament and council,
by his friends, for favour; was examined by Haselrig and
Vane, who referred his examination to the council of state;
and applications were made from the lord Say, and others,
to save his life.
ich these prostituted senators should be rendered incapable of serving in parliament for the future, or of enjoying any office, civil or military; and that they should
As he was solicitous for frequent parliaments, so he was also anxious that they should be preserved incorrupt. He was, therefore, desirous of procuring an act for the punishment of those who had received bribes from the court, as members of that parliament which was styled the pensionparliament. He proposed, that a bill should be brought in, by which these prostituted senators should be rendered incapable of serving in parliament for the future, or of enjoying any office, civil or military; and that they should be obliged, as far as they were able, to refund all the money that they had received for secret services to the crown.
corruption of the judges, in which he affirmed, that, in a variety of cases, they had sold, denied, or delayed justice. “Our Judges,” said he, “have been very corrupt
He made likewise a speech in parliament against the
corruption of the judges, in which he affirmed, that, in a
variety of cases, they had sold, denied, or delayed justice.
“Our Judges,
” said he, “have been very corrupt and
lordly, taking bribes, and threatening juries and evidence;
perverting the law to the highest degree, turning the law
upside down, that arbitrary power may come in upon their
shoulders.
” He therefore recommended, that an inquiry
should be made into their conduct, and that such of them
as were found guilty might receive the punishment they
merited.
ave made this declaration: “I am of opinion, that when the nation is delivered, it must be by force, or miracle: it would be a great presumption to expect the latter;
After this he lived for some time in a retired manner,
at his seat at Dunham-Massey; but matters being at length
ripe for the revolution, he exerted himself in the promotion of that great event. Upon the prince of Orange’s
landing, he raised, in a very few days, a great force in
Cheshire and Lancashire, with which he marched to join
that prince. On his first appearance in arms, besides assigning other reasons for his conduct, he is said to have
made this declaration: “I am of opinion, that when the
nation is delivered, it must be by force, or miracle: it
would be a great presumption to expect the latter; and,
therefore, our deliverance must be by force; and I hope
this is the time for it.
” After he had joined the prince,
he was sent by his highness, together with the marquis of
Halifax, and the earl of Shrewsbury, on the 17th of December, 1688, with a message to king James, intimating
to him, that he must remove from Whitehall. Lord Delamer, though little attached to that prince in his prosperity,
was too generous to insult him in his distress; and therefore, on this occasion, treated him with respect. And
James was so sensible of this instance of his lordship’s civility to him, that, after his retirement into France, he said,
that <c the lord Delamer, whom he had used ill, had then
treated him with much more regard than the other two
lords, to whom he had been kind, and from whom he
might better have expected it."
against the rejection of the bill for incapacitating persons in office under the crown, either civil or military, from sitting in the house of commons. Two other protests
Though lord Delamer was removed from the administration, it was thought necessary to confer on him some mark
of royal favour. Accordingly, by letters-patent, bearing
date at Westminster, April 17, 1690, he was created earl
of Warrington, in the county of Lancaster, to continue to
him and the heirs-male of his body. A pension likewise of
two thousand pounds per annum was granted to him, for
the better support of that dignity. And it was said, in the
preamble of the patent for his earldom, that it was conferred on him, “for his great services in raising and bringing great forces to his majesty, to rescue his country and
religion from tyranny and popery.
” On the 3d of January,
1692-3, the earl of Warrington signed a protest against
the rejection of the bill for incapacitating persons in office
under the crown, either civil or military, from sitting in
the house of commons. Two other protests were also
signed by him on different occasions. But this patriotic
peer did not live long to enjoy his new dignity; for he
died at London on the 2d of January, 1693-4, having not
quite completed the forty-second year of his age. He was
interred in the family vault in Bowdon church, in the
county of Chester, on the 14th of the same month. Mr.
Granger says, that lord Delamer was “a man of a generous and noble nature, which disdained, upon any terms,
to submit to servitude; and whose passions seemed to
centre in the love of civil and religious liberty.
” In every
part of his life, indeed, he appears to have been actuated
by the same principles; and in his “Advice to his Children,
” printed in his works, he says, “There never yet
was any good man who had not an ardent zeal for his
country.
” He was not only illustriously distinguished by
his public spirit, and his noble ardour in defence of the
liberties of his country; but in his private life he appears
to have been a man of strict piety, and of great worth, honour, and humanity. He married Mary, sole daughter
and heiress to sir James Langham, of Cottesbrooke, in the
county of Northampton, knight and baronet, by whom he
had four sons, and two daughters. His first son died an
infant, and his second son, George, upon the death of his
father, became earl of Warrington. He died on the 2d
of August, 1758, and leaving no heirs male, the earldom
became extinct, but was revived in his daughter’s husband.
rning the force and obligation of the marriage contract; wherein is considered, how far divorces may or ought to be allowed. By a gentleman. Humbly submitted to the
The son of the preceding, who, we have just mentioned,
died in 1758, has obtained a place among the royal and
noble authors, for having published, but without his name,
“Considerations upon the institution of Marriage, with
some thoughts concerning the force and obligation of the
marriage contract; wherein is considered, how far divorces
may or ought to be allowed. By a gentleman. Humbly
submitted to the judgment of the impartial,
” Lond. printed for John Whiston, Tetrachordon,
” and would, if we may conjecture from the effects of the experiment in a neighbouring nation, create more dissoluteness and misery than it
was intended to remove. He also wrote a letter to the
writer of the “Present state of the Republic of Letters
” in,
August History of his own times.
”
His only daughter married Henry earl of Stamford, in
whose son, the title of Earl of Warrington was revived in
1796.
, or Boquinus, a French divine, and one of the contributors to the
, or Boquinus, a French divine, and one of the contributors to the reformation, was
born in Aquitaine, and educated in a monastery at Bourges,
of which he became prior, and in high estimation with his
brethren. Having, however, perused some of the writings
of Luther, Bucer, &c. he imbibed their sentiments, and
went to Wittemberg, where he became acquainted with
Luther and Melancthon, and at Basil he attended the lectures of Myconius, Carlostadt, and Sebastian Muncer.
Melancthon afterwards recommended him as a proper person to supply Calvin’s place at Strasburgh, who had gone
back to Geneva; and there he gave lectures on the epistle
to the Galatians, and soon after had for his coadjutor
Peter Martyr. Boquine being at some distance of time
invited by his brother, who was a doctor in divinity, and
not an enemy to the reformation, removed to Bourges, in.
hopes that the French churches were friendly to his doctrine, and there he publicly read and expounded the Hebrew Bible. About this time, Francis, king of France,
being dead, the queen of Navarre came to Bourges, when
Boquine presented her with a book he had written on the
necessity and use of the Holy Scriptures, which she received very graciously, allowed him a yearly stipend out
of her treasury, and appointed him to preach a public lecture in the great church of Bourges, with the consent of
the archbishop. He remained in like favour with her successor, king Henry’s sister; but the enemies of the reformation threatening his life, he was obliged to desist
from his labours, and went back to Strasburgh, where he
was appointed pastor to the French church. This office,
however, he filled only about four months, and in 1557
went into Heidelberg, at the invitation of Otho Henry,
prince elector Palatine, who was carrying on the reformation in his churches. Here he was appointed professor of
divinity, and continued in this office about twenty years,
under Otho and Frederic III. After the death of the latter in 1576, the popish party again prevailing, drove him
and the rest of the reformed clergy from the place, but
almost immediately he was invited to Lausanne, where he
remained until his death in 1582. He left various works,
the dates of which his biographers have not given, except
the following “Oratio in obitum Frederici III. Comit.
Palatini,
” Leyden, 1577, 4to; but their titles are, 1. “Defensio ad calumnias Doctoris cujusdam Avii in Evangelii
professores.
” 2. “Examen libri quern Heshusius inscripsit.de praesentia corporis Christi in coena Domini.
”
3. “Theses in ccena Domini.
” 4. “Exegesis divinsc
communicationis.
” 5. “Adsertio veteris, ac veri Christianismi adversus novum et fictum Jesuitismum.
” This
appears to have been one of his ablest works, and was
translated into English under the title, “A defence of the
old and true profession of Christianitie against the new
counterfeite sect of Jesuites, by Peter Boquine, translated
by T. G.
” London, Notatio praecipuarum causarum diuturnitatis controversial de crena Domini,
” &c.
, or as he styles himself in Latin, Andreas Perforatus, was a very
, or as he styles himself in Latin, Andreas Perforatus, was a very singular
character, and the reputation he acquired among his contemporaries must be considered in a great measure as a
proof of the ignorance and credulity of the times. He was
born at Pevensey in Sussex about 1500, and was educated
at Oxford; but before he had taken a degree, entered
among the Carthusians in or near London. He afterwards
left them, and studied physic at Oxford; and then travelled over most parts of Europe and Africa. On his return he settled at Winchester, where he practised physic
with considerable reputation, and in this capacity he is said
to have served Henry VIII. In 1541 and 1542 he was at
Montpellier, where he probably took the degree of doctor,
in which he was soon after incorporated at Oxford. He
lived then for some time at Pevensey, and afterwards returned to Winchester, still observing all the austerities of
the order to which he formerly belonged; though he has
been accused of many irregularities. It is certain that his
character was very odd and whimsical, as appears from the
books he wrote; yet he is said to have been a man of great wit
and learning, and an “especial physician.
” That he was not
of consequence eminent enough to rank with the first of his
profession, may be inferred from his dying insolvent in the
Fleet, April 1549. Bale intimates that he hastened his end
by poison on the discovery of his keeping a brothel for his
brother bachelors. His works are very various in their
subjects; one of the most considerable is intituled, “A
book of the introduction of knowledge,
” black letter, imprinted by William Coplande, without date. He there professes to teach all languages, the customs and fashions of
all countries, and the value of every species of coin. This
is a motley piece, partly in verse and partly in prose; and
is divided into thirty-nine chapters, before each of which is
a wooden cut, representing a man in the habit of some particular country. His well known satire on the Englishman,
who, to express the inconstancy and mutability of his
fashions, is drawn naked with a cloth and a pair of sheers in
his hand, is borrowed from the Venetians, who characterised
the French in that manner. Before the 7th chapter is the
effigies of the author, under a canopy, with a gown, a laurel on his head, and a book before him. The title of this
chapter shews how the author dwelt in Scotland and other
islands, and went through and round about Christendom.
An edition of this singular work was printed in London in
1542. His “Breviary of Health,
” which is a very trifling,
coarse, and weak performance, was published in 1.547, and
is supposed by Fuller to be the first medical piece written
in English. As a specimen of the style, take what follows,
which is the beginning of the Prologue, addressed to physicians: “Egregious doctors and maisters of the eximious
and arcane science of physicke, of your urbanity exasperate
not yourselves against me for making this little volume.
”
This work, with a second part called the “Extravagants,
”
was reprinted in 4to, Compendyouse Regimente, or Dietary of
Healthe made in Mounte Pyllor,
” an edition of which was
printed several years after his death, in 1562. A famous
jest book called the “Merrye tales of the madmen of Gotham;
” “The historye of the miller of Abingdon and the
Cambridge scholars,
” the same with that related by
Chaucer in his Canterbury Tales; a book of “Prognostics,
”
and another of Urines, &c. It is said that the phrase
“Merry Andrew
” is derived from him.
also in 1757 made some experiments to illustrate Haller’s opinion on the difference between sensible or irritable parts, and wrote a work in defence of that celebrated
, regius professor and director of the academy of surgery, veteran associate of the
academy of sciences of Paris, and member of the imperial
academy of Florence, was born at Paris April 10, 1728.
His father, who was also a surgeon, destined him for the
same profession, which had long been followed by the
branches of his family, but began with giving him the ordinary course of a learned education that he might acquire
the languages in which the most celebrated anatomists of
former ages wrote, and some of those principles of philosophy which are the foundation of all sciences and arts.
Young Bordenave’s proficiency fully answered his father’s
expectations, and he soon fdled the distinguished situations
already mentioned, and contributed many valuable papers
to the Memoirs of the academy of surgery, on extraordinary
cases which occurred in his practice: the treatment of gunshot wounds, and anatomical subjects. He also in 1757
made some experiments to illustrate Haller’s opinion on the
difference between sensible or irritable parts, and wrote a
work in defence of that celebrated anatomist’s opinion on
the formation of the bones, against that of Duhamel. He
also, in 1768, translated Haller’s Elements of Physiology
for the use of his students, but he had previously, in 1756,
published a new work on the same subject, admired for
precision of method. Bordenave had long wished for a
place in the academy of sciences, and in 1774 was elected
a veteran associate. This title, it seems, indicates that the
party has been chosen contrary to the statutes, and that the
academy did not choose him of their own will; but for this he
was not to blame, as such an election was totally contrary to
his wish. In a short time, however, the academicians were
reconciled, and Bordenave enriched their memoirs with
some important papers. Bordenave also became echevin,
or sheriff, of Paris, an office never before conferred on a
surgeon, but. which he filled in a manner highly creditable,
and directed his attention, as a magistrate, chiefly to the
health of the city. On the birth of Louis XVII. he was honoured with the ribbon of the order of St. Michael, in consideration of his talents and services, but did not long enjoy
this honour, being seized with an apoplexy, which after
eight days proved fatal, March 12, 1782. Besides the
works already noticed, he published, “Dissertations sur
les Antiseptiques,
” Memoires sur le
danger des Caustiques pour la cure radicale des Hernies,
”
ue with him many years; especially as he observed that Titian was not so communicative as he wished, or indeed had just reason to expect, and he lamented that Giorgione
, an Italian artist, was born at Trevigi,
in 1513, and at eight years of age was conducted to Venice,
where he was carefully educated by one of his relations.
At a proper age he was placed as a disciple with Titian,
under whom he made so happy a progress, that he did not
continue with him many years; especially as he observed
that Titian was not so communicative as he wished, or indeed had just reason to expect, and he lamented that
Giorgione was not then alive to instruct him, because he
preferred the manner of that master to all others. However, to the utmost of his power, he studied and imitated
the style of Giorgione, and very soon rose into such reputation, that he was appointed to paint a picture in the
church of St. Nicholas, when he was only eighteen years
of age. Some time after he received an invitation to Vincenza, to adorn a gallery with paintings in fresco, part of
which had been formerly enriched by the hand of Titian,
with a design representing the “Judgment of Solomon.
”
Bordone engaged in the undertaking with an inward satisfaction, as his work was to be contrasted with the work of
his master; and he composed the history of “Noah and
his Sons,
” which he finished with his utmost care; nor
was it esteemed inferior to the work of Titian, both performances seeming to have been the product of one pencil.
He likewise finished several considerable works at Venice
and Trevigi, and in each city painted many portraits of the
nobility and persons of distinction. But, in the year 1538,
he entered into the service of Francis I. of France, and
added continually to his reputation, by every historical
subject and portrait which he finished, as they were excellently designed, and had a charming tone of colour to
recommend them. On his quitting France, he visited the
principal cities of Italy, and left a number of memorable
works, as monuments of his extraordinary abilities. His
colouring has all the appearance of nature, nor can any
thing be more lively or more admired than the portraits of
Bordone. Several of them are still preserved in the Palazzo Pitti, at Florence, of which the colouring is excessively clear, fresh, and truly beautiful. He died in 1588
according to Vasari, but in 1578 according to Felibien
and Argenville.
scovered that the force exerted within the body prodigiously exceeds the weight to be moved without, or that nature employs an immense power to move a small weight.
, a celebrated philosopher
and mathematician, was born at Naples the 28th of January, 1608. He was professor of philosophy and mathematics in some of the most celebrated universities of Italy,
particularly at Florence and Pisa, where he became highly
in favour with the princes of the house of Medici. But
having been concerned in the revolt of Messina, he was
obliged to retire to Rome, where he spent the remainder
of his life under the protection of Christina queen of Sweden, who honoured him with her friendship, and by her
liberality towards him softened the rigour of his hard fortune. He continued two years in the convent of the regular clergy of St. Pantaleon, called the Pious Schools, where
he instructed the youth in mathematical studies. And thi’s
study he prosecuted with great diligence for many years
afterward, as appears by his correspondence with several
ingenious mathematicians of his time, and the frequent
mention that has been made of him by others, who have
endeavoured to do justice to his memory. He wrote a letter to Mr. John Collins, in which he discovers his great
desire and endeavours to promote the improvement of those
sciences: he also speaks of his correspondence with, and
great affection for, Mr. Henry Oldenburgh, secretary of
the royal society; of Dr. Wallis; of the then late learned
Mr. Boyle, and lamented the loss sustained by his death to
the commonwealth of learning. Mr. Baxter, in his “Enquiry into the Nature of the Human Soul 3
” makes frequent
use of our author’s book “De Motu Animalium,
” and
tells us, that he was the first who discovered that the force
exerted within the body prodigiously exceeds the weight
to be moved without, or that nature employs an immense
power to move a small weight. But he acknowledges that
Dr. James Keil had shewn that Borelli was mistaken in his
calculation of the force of the muscle of the heart; but
that he nevertheless ranks him with the most authentic writers, and says he is seldom mistaken: and, having remarked
that it is so far from being true, that great things are
brought about by small powers, on the contrary, a stupendous power is manifest in the most ordinary operations of nature, he observes that the ingenious Borelli first
remarked this in animal motion; and that Dr. Stephen
Hales, by a course of experiments in his “Vegetable
Statics,
” had shewn the same in the force of the ascending sap in vegetables. After a course of unceasing labours,
Borelli died at Pantaleon of a pleurisy, the 31st of December 1679, at 72 years of age, leaving the following
works: 1. “Delle cagioni dellefebri maligni,
” Euclides restitutus,
” &c. Pisa, Apollonii Pergaei conicorum, libri v. vi. & vii. paraphraste Abalphato Aspahanensi nunc primum editi,
” &c. Floren. Theoriæ Medicorum Planetarum ex causis physicis deductae,
” Flor. De Vi Percussionis,
”
Bologna, De Motu Animalium,
” and that “De
Motionibus Naturalibus,
” in Osservazione intorno alia virtu ineguali degli occhi.
” This piece was inserted in the Journal of Rome for the year 1669. 7. “De
motionibus naturalibus e gravitate pemlentibus,
” Regio
Julio, 1670, 4to. 8. “Meteorologia Ætnea,
” &c. Regio Julio, Osservazione dell' ecclissi lunare, fatta in Roma,
” Elementaconica Apollonii Pergoei et Archimedis opera nova et breviori methodo demonstrata,
” Rome, De Motu Animaiium:
pars prima, et pars altera,
” Romae, 12. At Leyden, 1686, in 4to,
a more correct and accurate edition, revised by J. Broen,
M. D. of Leyden, of his two pieces
” De vi percussionis,
et de motionibus de gravitate pendentibus,“&c. 13.
” De
renum usu judicium:“this had been published with Bellini’s book
” De structura renum," at Strasburgh, 1664,
8vo.
d in November, 1675, at Greenwich, where he was buried. He published, I. “The Churchman’s Catechism: or the Church’s plea for Tithes,” Lond. 1651, 4to. 2. “The Triumphs
, D. D. a pious and learned divine of the seventeenth century, and brother to sir William
Boreman, clerk of the green cloth to Charles II. was fellow of Trinity college, Cambridge, S. T. P. per literas
regias, 1661, and afterwards rector of St. Giles’s in the
Fields, London. He died in November, 1675, at Greenwich, where he was buried. He published, I. “The
Churchman’s Catechism: or the Church’s plea for Tithes,
”
Lond. The Triumphs of learning over
ignorance, and of truth over falsehood; being an answer
to four queries, first, whether there be any need of universities,
” &c. ibid. A Panegyrick and
Sermon at the funeral of Dr. Comber, master of Trinity
college, and dean of Carlisle,
” Life and
death of Freeman Sonds, esq.
” and “Relation of sir
George Sonds’ narrative of the passages on the death of
his two sons,
” ibid. 4to. This Freeman Sonds was executed for the murder of his brother. 5. “Life and death
of Alice dutchess Dudley,
” ibid.
directly to Rome, where Alexander received him with formality and coldness, but whether it was real or but affected, is not easy to determine. Cscsar, however, took
, a monster of ambition and cruelty, was a natural son of pope Alexander VI. What year he was born in, we do not find: but he was at his studies in the university of Pisa, when Alexander was elected pope, in August 1492. Upon the news of his father’s advancement, he banished all thoughts of his former private condition of life; and, full of ambition, as if himself was to be made emperor of the world, he hastened directly to Rome, where Alexander received him with formality and coldness, but whether it was real or but affected, is not easy to determine. Cscsar, however, took it to be real; and, greatly disgusted as well as disappointed, went immediately and complained to his mother Vanozza, who bid him not be cast down; and told him, that she knew the pope’s mind better than any body, and for what reasons his holiness had given him that reception. In the mean time the courtflatterers solicited the pope to make Cæsar a cardinal, which he absolutely refused; but, that he might not seem altogether forgetful of him, he created him archbishop of Valenza, a benefice which his holiness had enjoyed in his younger days. This preferment was by no means acceptable to Cæsar, yet he affected to be content, since the pope, he found, Was determined to confer the best of his secular dignities on his eldest son Francis, who at that time was made duke of Gandia by Fertlinand king of Castile and Arragon.
useful instrument in executing all the schemes of that wicked pope, as he had no scruples of honour or humanity, nor was there any thing too atrocious for him to perpetrate,
Alexander VI. had five children by his mistress Vanozza; Francis and Cæsar, already mentioned, two other sons,
and a daughter named Lucretia. Francis was a gentleman
of good disposition and probity, and in every respect opposite to his brother Cæsar; but Cæsar seems to have possessed abilities superior to those of Francis: which made a
certain historian say, “that Cæsar was great among the
wicked, and Francis good among the great.
” Cæsar however was the mother’s favourite, as having a temper and
principles more conformable to hers: for which reason, at
the time when Alexander was undetermined on which of
these brothers he should bestow the cardinal’s cap, Vanozza declared herself in favour of Cæsar, who was accordingly made a cardinal in the second year of Alexander’s
pontificate. From this time he acted in concert with his
father, and was an useful instrument in executing all the
schemes of that wicked pope, as he had no scruples of
honour or humanity, nor was there any thing too atrocious
for him to perpetrate, to promote his insatiable ambition.
This is said to have even incited him to the murder of his
elder brother Francis, duke of Gandia. All the secular
dignities, which then were much more coveted than the
ecclesiastical, were heaped upon Francis, which obstructed
Cæsar’s projects so entirely, that he was resolved at all adventures to remove him. TJjfle story is, that in 1497, hiring assassins, he caused him to be murdered, and thrown
into the Tiber; where his body was found some days after,
full of wounds and extremely mangled. The pope was
afflicted to the last degree; for though he made use of
Cæsar as the abler, he loved Francis as the better man. He
caused therefore strict inquiry to be made after the murderers; upon which Vanozza, who for that and other reasons
was justly suspected to be privy to the affair, went privately
to the pope, and used all the arguments she could, to dissuade him from searching any further. Some say, that she
went so far as to assure his holiness, that if he did not desist,
the same person who took away his son’s life would not spare
his own. The whole of this story, however, appears doubtful;
nor, indeed, is there any positive proof that Borgia was even
privy to his brother’s death. Gordon, only, has asserted
it with accompanying proofs, but the latter -appear to be
historic fictions. It cannot be necessary to add to Cesar’s
crimes. He now, however, succeeded to his brother’s
fortunes and honours, began to be tired of ecclesiastical
matters, and grew quite sick of the cardinalate, and therefore determined to throw it off as soon as possible, that he
might have the greater scope for practising the excesses,
to which his natural ambition and cruelty prompted him:
for cruel as well as ambitious he was in the highest degree.
Numbers he caused to be taken off by poison or the sword;
and it is recorded, that assassins were constantly kept in
pay by him at Rome, for the sake of removing all who
were either obnoxious or inconvenient to him. Getting
rid of the cardinalate, he was soon after made duke of Valentinois by Lewis XII. of France: with whom he entered
into a league for the conquest of the Milanese. From this
time he experienced various turns of fortune, being sometimes prosperous, sometimes unfortunate. He very narrowly escaped dying of poison in 1503; for, having con-,
certed with the pope a design of poisoning nine newly
created cardinals at once (or, as some say, only one cardinal), in order to possess their effects, the poisoned wine
destined for the purpose was by mistake brought to themselves and drank. The pope died of it; but Cæsar, by
the vigour of his youth, and the force of antidotes, after
many struggles, recovered. He only recovered, however,
to outlive his fortune and grandeur, to see himself depressed, and his enemies exalted; for he was soon after
divested of all his acquisitions, and sent a prisoner to
Spain, in order to free Italy from an incendiary, and the
Italian princes from those dangers which his turbulent and
restless spirit made them fear, even though he was unarmed. From Spain he escaped to Navarre to king John
his brother-in-law, where he met with a very friendly reception. From hence he designed to go into France; and
there, with the assistance of Lewis, to try if he could once
more re-establish his fortune, but Lewis refused to receive
him, not only because he and Spain had concluded a
truce, but because they were also at enmity with the king
of Navarre. The French king also, in order to gratify
Spain, had confiscated Cæsar’s duchy of Valentinois, and
taken away the yearly pension which he had from France.
So that this fallen tyrant, in a poor and abandoned condition, without revenue or territory, was forced to be dependent upon his brother-in-law, who was then at war
with his subjects. Borgia served as a volunteer in that
war; and, while the armies were engaged in battle, and
fighting under the walls of Viana, was wounded, and
died in consequence, March 12, 1507. On his death-bed
he is said to have exclaimed, “I had provided in the course
of my life for every thing but death; and now, alas! I am
to die, though completely unprepared for it.
” Cæsar
Borgia took these words for his device, “Aut Cæsar aut
nihil;
” which gave occasion to the following epigrams:
“Cæsar or nothing, let me be,” exclaim'd.
Cæsar or nothing, let me be,
” exclaim'd.
e, and perseverance, were equal to the greatest attempts. la the pursuit of his object he overlooked or overleaped all other considerations: when force was ineffectual,
“Of this extraordinary character,
” says Mr. Roscoe,
“it may with truth be observed, that his activity, courage,
and perseverance, were equal to the greatest attempts. la
the pursuit of his object he overlooked or overleaped all
other considerations: when force was ineffectual, he had
recourse to fraud; and whether he thundered in open hostility at the gates of a city, or endeavoured to effect his
purpose by negociation and treachery, he was equally irresistible. If we may confide in the narrative of Guicciardini, cruelty, rapine, injustice, and lust, are the only particular features in the composition of this monster: yet it
is diificult to conceive that a man so totally unredeemed by
a single virtue, should have been enabled to maintain
himself at the head of a powerful army: to engage in so
eminent a degree the favour of the people conquered: to
form alliances with the first sovereigns of Europe: to destroy or overturn the most powerful families of Italy, and
to lay the foundations of a dominion, of which it is acknowledged that the short duration is to be attributed rather to his ill-fortune and the treachery of others, than
either to his errors or his crimes. If, however, he has
been too indiscriminately condemned by one historian, he
has in another met with as zealous and as powerful an encomiast, and the maxims of the politician are only the
faithful record of the transactions of his hero. On the
principles of Machiavelli, Borgia was the greatest man of
the age. Nor was he, in fact, without qualities which in.
some degree compensated for his demerits. Courageous,
magnificent, eloquent, and accomplished in all the exercises of arts and arms, he raised an admiration of his endowments which kept pace with and counter-balanced the
abhorrence excited by his crimes. That even these crimes
have been exaggerated, is highly probable. His enemies
were numerous, and the certainty of his guilt in some instances gave credibility to every imputation that could be
devised against him. That he retained, even after he had
survived his prosperity, no inconsiderable share of public
estimation, is evident from the fidelity and attachment
shewn to him on many occasions. After his death, his
memory and achievements were celebrated by (Strozza)
one of the most elegant Latin poets that Jtaly has produced. The language of poetry is not indeed always that
of truth; but we may at least give credit to the account
of the personal accomplishments and warlike talents of
Borgia, although we may indignantly reject the spurious
praise, which places him among the heroes of antiquity,
and at the summit of fame.
”
um at Velletri, which, before 1780, exhibited no less than eighty ancient Egyptian statues in bronze or marble, many Etruscan and Greek idols, numerous coins, inscriptions,
, a learned Roman cardinal, was
born of a noble family at Velletri, in 1731; and as the second son of the family, was from his birth destined for the
clerical dignities. In youth he appears to have been studious, and particularly attentive to historic and diplomatic
science, and modern and ancient languages. In 1770, he
was appointed secretary to the congregation of Propaganda, the purposes of which are to furnish missionaries to
propagate Christianity, on popish principles; and into this
college children are admitted from Asia and Africa, in
order to be instructed in religion, and to diffuse itj on
their return, through their native countries. A more fit
person could not be selected than Borgia, as he had both
zeal and learning. In 1771, the abbe Amaduzzi, director
of the printing-house of the college, procured the casting
of the Malabar types, and published some works in that
language, as well as in those of the Indians of Ava and of
Pegu. By the care of this new secretary also, an Etruscan
alphabet was published, which soon proved of the highest
benefit to Passeri: for, by its means, this celebrated antiquary, in the latter part of his life, could better explain
than he had ever done some Etruscan monuments of the
highest interest. About this time he began to lay the
foundation of the family museum at Velletri, which, before 1780, exhibited no less than eighty ancient Egyptian
statues in bronze or marble, many Etruscan and Greek
idols, numerous coins, inscriptions, &c. To form some
idea of the total of this museum, it may be observed that
only a small part of it, relative to Arabic antiquity, was the
subject of the description which, in 1782, was published
under the title of “Musaeum Cusicum.
” He had long
before this published “Monumento di Giovanni XVI.
summo Pontifice illustrate,
” Rome, 1750, 8vo. “Breve
Istoria dell‘ antica citta di Tadino nell’ Umbria, &c.
” ibid.
Dissertatione sopra un‘ antica Iscrizione
rinuentanelP Isoladi Malta nell’ anno 1749,
”Fermo, Dissertatione FUologica sopra un' antica gemma in
tagliata.
”
motions, he continued to be the liberal patron of all who had any connection either with his offices or with his literary pursuits, until Italy was inTaded by the French,
In 1788 he published his “Vindication of the rights of
the Holy See on the kingdom of Naples,
” 4to, a work now
of little importance, and relating to a dispute which will
probably never be revived. On the 30th of March, 1789,
he was promoted to the rank of cardinal, and about the
same time was appointed prefect of the congregation of
the Index; and, what was more analogous to his pursuits,
he held the same office in the Propaganda, and in the
congregation for the correction of the books of the oriental
churches. After these promotions, he continued to be the
liberal patron of all who had any connection either with
his offices or with his literary pursuits, until Italy was inTaded by the French, when, like the greater part of his
colleagues, he was involved in losses and dangers, both
with respect to his fortune and to his pursuits. He forfeited all his benefices, and was near witnessing the destruction of all the establishments committed to his care,
especially the Propaganda. He was soon, however, extricated from his personal difficulties; and, by his timely
measures, the invaluable literary treasures of the Propaganda were also saved. He was allowed a liberal pension
from the court of Denmark, and he soon obtained the removal of the establishment of the Propaganda to Padua, a
city which, being then under the dominion of the emperor
<?f Germany, was thought to be sheltered from robbery.
Here he remained till the death of pope Pius VI. after
which he repaired, with his colleagues, to Venice, to attend the conclave; and, a new pope being elected, he
returned to Rome. When the coronation of the emperor
of France was ordered, cardinal Borgia was one of those
individuals who were selected by the pope as the companions of his intended journey to Paris, but having caught
a, violent cold on his way, he died at Lyons, Nov. 23, 1804.
Cardinal Stephen Borgia was not much favoured by nature with respect to person. He was so clumsy, and his
motions so much embarrassed, as to have little of the appearance of a person of birth and rank. He was far, also,
from being nice in his house or equipage. These little
defects, however, were compensated by the superior qualities of his mind. From, the time of Alexander Albani,
no Roman cardinal had so many distinguished connections
and correspondents in every part of Europe: and a great
similarity (elegance of manners excepted) was remarked
between the character of that illustrious prelate and his
own. The Borgian ms. so called by Michaelis, is a fragment of a Coptic-Greek manuscript, brought by a monk
from Egypt, consisting of about twelve leaves, and sent to
cardinal Borgia. The whole of it is printed in “Georgii
Fragmentum Graeco-Copto-Thebaicum,
” Rome,
, folio. Wood tells us, that much of this book is taken from another, entitled “The Irish Rebellion; or, The History of the beginnings and first progress of the general
, son of sir John Borlace,
master of the ordnance, and one of the lords justices of
Ireland, was born in the seventeenth century, and educated
at the university of Dublin. Then he travelled to Leyden,
where he commenced doctor of physic in 1650, and was
afterwards admitted to the same degree at Oxford. At
last he settled at Chester, where he practised physic with
great reputation and success; and where he died in 1682,
Among several books which he wrote and published, are,
1. “Latham Spaw in Lancashire: with some remarkable
cases and cures effected by it,
” Loud. The Reduction of
Ireland to the Crown of England: with the governors
since the conquest by king Henry II. anno 1172, and some
passages in their government. A brief account of the rebellion, ann. Dom. 1641. Also the original of the university of Dublin, and the college of physicians,
” Lond. 1675,
a large octavo. 3. “The History of the execrable Irish
Rebellion, traced from many preceding acts to the grand
eruption, Oct. 23, 1641; and thence pursued to the act of
settlement, 1672,
” Lond. The
Irish Rebellion; or, The History of the beginnings and
first progress of the general rebellion raised within the
kingdom of Ireland, Oct. 23, 1641,
” Lond. Brief Reflections on the
earl of Castlehaven’s Memoirs of his engagement and
carriage in the War of Ireland. By which the government of
that time, and the justice of the crown since, are vindicated from aspersions cast upon both,
” Lond. 1682, 8vo.
active and vigorous; and his mind being of an inquisitive turn, he could not survey with inattention or indifference the peculiar objects which his situation pointed
When Mr. Borlase was fixed at Ludgvan, which was a
retired, but delightful situation, he soon recommended
himself as a pastor, a gentleman, and a man of learning.
The duties of his profession he discharged with the most
rigid punctuality and exemplary dignity. He was esteemed
and respected by the principal gentry of Cornwall, and
lived on the most friendly and social terms with those of
his neighbourhood. In the pursuit of general knowledge
he was active and vigorous; and his mind being of an inquisitive turn, he could not survey with inattention or
indifference the peculiar objects which his situation pointed
to his view. There were in the parish of Ludgvan rich
copper works, belonging to the late earl of Godolphin.
These abounded with mineral and metallic fossils, which
Mr. Borlase collected from time to time; and his collection increasing by degrees, he was encouraged to study
at large the natural history of his native county. While
he was engaged in this design, he could not avoid being
struck with the numerous m'onuments of remote antiquity
that are to be met with in several parts of Cornwall; and
which had hitherto been passed over with far less examination than they deserved. Enlarging, therefore, his plan,
he determined to gain as accurate an acquaintance as possible with the Druid learning, and with the religion and
customs of the ancient Britons, before their conversion to
Christianity. To this undertaking he was encouraged by
several gentlemen of his neighbourhood, who were men of
literature and lovers of British antiquities; and particularly by sir John St. Aubyn, ancestor of the present baronet of that family, and the late rev. Edward Collins,
vicar of St. Earth. In the year 1748, Mr. Borlase, happening to attend the ordination of his eldest son at Exeter,
commenced an acquaintance with the Rev. Dr. Charles
Lyttelton, late bishop of Carlisle, then come to be installed into the deanry, and the Rev. Dr. Milles, the late
dean, two eminent antiquaries, who, in succession, have
so ably presided over the society of antiquaries in London.
Our author’s correspondence with these gentlemen was a
great encouragement to the prosecution of his studies; and
he has acknowledged his obligations to them, in several
parts of his works. In 1750, being at London, he was
admitted a fellow of the royal society, into which he had
been chosen the year before, after having communicated
an ingenious Essay on the Cornish Crystals. Mr. Borlase
having completed, in 1753, his manuscript of the Antiof Cornwall, carried it to Oxford, where he finished
the whole impression, in folio, in the February following.
A second edition of it, in the same form, was published
at London, in 1769. Our author’s next publication was,
“Observations on the ancient and present state of the
Islands of Scilly, and their importance to the trade of
Great Britain, in a letter to the reverend Charles Lyttelton, LL. D. dean of Exeter, and F. R. S.
” This work,
which was printed likewise at Oxford, and appeared in
1756, in quarto, was an extension of a paper that had
been read before the royal society, on the 8th of February
1753, entitled, “An Account of the great Alterations
which the Islands of Scilly have undergone, since the time
of the ancients, who mention them, as to their number,
extent, and position.
” It was at the request of Dr. Lyttelton, that this account was enlarged into a distinct
treatise. In 1757, Mr. Borlase again employed the Oxford press, in printing his “Natural History of Cornwall,
” for which he had been many years making collections, and which was published in April 1758. After this,
he sent a variety of fossils, and remains of antiquity, which
he 'had described in his works, to be placed in the Ashmolean museum; and to the same repository he continued
to send every thing curious which fell into his hands.
For these benefactions he received the thanks of the university, in a letter from the vice-chancellor, dated November 18, 1758; and in March, 1766, that learned body conferred on him the degree of doctor of laws, by diploma,
the highest academical honour.
ed men and artists of Bohemia and Moravia.” He was likewise concerned in the “Literary transactions, or Acta Litteraria, of Bohemia and Moravia,” and the editor of
During his residence in Bohemia, his active disposition
induced him to seek for opportunities of extending knowledge, and of being useful to the world. He took a part
in the work, entitled “Portraits of the learned men and
artists of Bohemia and Moravia.
” He was likewise concerned in the “Literary transactions, or Acta Litteraria, of
Bohemia and Moravia,
” and the editor of the latter pubr
licly acknowledges in the preface, how much Bohemian literature is indebted to him. Prague and Vienna were
both without a public cabinet for the use of the students:
it was at his instigation that government was induced tq
form one, which he assisted by his contributions and his
labours. In 1775, he laid the foundation of a literary society, which published several volumes under the title of
“Memoirs of a private Society in Bohemia.
” His fame
reaching the empress Mary Theresa, in
s the lameness was accompanied by pain. But his feet by degrees withered, and he was obliged to sit, or lie, or lean upon a sopha; though sometimes he was so well as
The consequences of his misfortune at Felso-Banya began now to be felt in the severest manner; he was attacked with the most excruciating cholics, which often threatened a speedy termination of his life and miseries. In this depth of torment, he had recourse to opium, and a large portion of this being placed by his side, which he was ordered only to take in small doses, on one occasion, through the intensity of his pain, he swallowed the whole, which brought on a lethargy, of four and twenty hours; but when he awoke he was free of his pains. The disorder now attacked his legs and feet, particularly his right leg, and in this he was lame for the rest of his life, and sometimes the lameness was accompanied by pain. But his feet by degrees withered, and he was obliged to sit, or lie, or lean upon a sopha; though sometimes he was so well as to be able to sit upon a stool, but not to move from one room to the other without assistance.
government was equally averse. At their meetings, dissertations on some subject of history, ethics, or moral philosophy, were read by the members; and commonly something
His free and active genius led him to interest himself in
all the occurrences of the times, and to take an active
part in all the institutions and plans which professed to
enlighten and reform mankind. With these benevolent
intentions he formed connexions with the free-masons,
whose views in this part of the world occasioned the laws
and regulations made against masonry by the emperor Joseph. Under Theresa, this order was obliged to keep itself very secret in Austria; but Joseph, on his coming to
the throne, tolerated it, and the baron founded in the
Austrian metropolis, a lodge called the “True Concord,
”
a society of learned men, whose lodge was a place of rendezvous for the literati of the capital. The obstacles these
gentlemen found, to the progress of science and useful knowledge, had the tendency to draw their attention
to political subjects; and subjects were really discussed
here which the church had forbidden to be spoken of, and
to which the government was equally averse. At their
meetings, dissertations on some subject of history, ethics,
or moral philosophy, were read by the members; and
commonly something on the history of ancient and modern
mysteries and secret societies. These were afterward published in the Diary for Free-masons, for the use of the initiated, and not for public sale. In the winter they met
occasionally, and held more public discourses, to which
the members of the other lodges were allowed access. Aa
most of the learned of Vienna belonged to this lodge, it
was very natural to suppose, that many of the dissertations
read here, were not quite within the limits of the original
plan of the society. It was these dissertations which gave
rise to another periodical work, which was continued for
some time by the baron, and his brother masons. He was,
likewise active in extirpating what he reckoned superstitions of various kinds, which had crept into the other
lodges, and equally zealous in giving to these societies
such an organization, as might render them useful to the
public.
y were the improvement of mankind, not the destruction of society. Such institutions are only useful or dangerous, and to be approved of or condemned, according to
The baron, and many others of his lodge, belonged to the society of the illuminated. This, says his biographer, was no dishonour to him: the views of this order, at least at first, seem to have been commendable; they were the improvement of mankind, not the destruction of society. Such institutions are only useful or dangerous, and to be approved of or condemned, according to the state of society; and this was before the French revolution, and in a country less enlightened than almost any other part of Germany. But this was before the French revolution as a cause is before its effect, and there can be no doubt that much of the misery inflicted on Europe is to be traced to these societies. So zealous, however, was the baron in favour of the illuminati, that when the elector of Bavaria ordered all those in his service to quit this order, he was so displeased that he returned the academy of Munich the diploma they had sent him on their receiving him among them, publicly avowed his attachment to the order, and thought it proper to break off all further connexion with Bavaria, as a member of its literary society. The freemasons did not lung retain the patronage of their sovereign: the emperor Joseph soon became jealous of their influence, and put them under such restrictions, and clogged them with such incumbrances, as to amount almost to a prohibition; and the society found it necessary to dissolve.
lf the wood commonly used for that purpose. Whilst he was engaged in writing the “Fasti Leopoldini,” or a history of the reign of Leopold II. in classical Latin, and
What raised the baron more justly high in the public
opinion, was his knowledge of mineralogy, and his successful experiments in metallurgy, and principally in the progress of amalgamation. The use of quick-silver in extracting the noble metals from their ores, was not a discovery
of the baron’s, nor of the century in which he lived; yet
he extended so far its application in metallurgy as to form
a brilliant epoch in this most important art. After he had
at great expence made many private experiments, and was
convinced of the utility of his method, he laid before the
emperor an account of his discovery, who gave orders that
a decisive experiment on a large quantity of ore should be
made at Schemnitz, in Hungary, in the presence of Charpentier from Saxony, Ferber from Russia, Elhujar from
Spain, Poda, and other celebrated chemists, which met
with universal approbation, and established the utility of
his discovery. In 1786, Born published, at the desire of
the emperor, his treatise on Amalgamation; and in the following year, a farther account of it was published by his
friend Ferber. As a considerable saving in wood, time,
and labour, attended his process, the emperor gave orders
that it should be employed in the Hungarian mines; and
as a recompence to the inventor, a third of the sum that
should be saved by adopting his method was granted to
him for ten years, and for ten years more the interest of
that sum. Such, however, was the hospitality of Born,
and his readiness to admit and entertain all travellers, and
to patronize distressed talents of every kind, that his expences exceeded his income, and he was at last reduced to
a state of insolvency. Amidst all his bodily infirmities and
pecuniary embarrassments, and notwithstanding the variety
of his official avocations, he was indefatigable in his literary
pursuits; and in 1790, he published in two volumes, a
“Catalogue methodique raisonné,
” of Miss Raab’s collection of fossils, which is regarded as a classical work on that
subject. He employed himself also in bleaching wax by a
new chemical process, and in boiling salt with half the
wood commonly used for that purpose. Whilst he was engaged in writing the “Fasti Leopoldini,
” or a history of
the reign of Leopold II. in classical Latin, and a work on
Mineralogy, his disease rapidly advanced, and being attended with violent spasms, terminated his life on the 28th
of August, 1791. His treatise on Amalgamation was translated into English, and published by R. E. Raspe, Lond.
1791, 4to, and his travels through the Bannat of Temeswar,
&c. were published in 1787.
hat skilled in chemical preparations, had some knowledge in metals, some methods of imitating pearls or jewels, and some purgative and stomachic remedies: but that
Some pieces were printed at Geneva in 1681, which are
ascribed to him; as, 1. “Letters concerning Chemistry;
”
and 2. “Political reflections.
” The first of these works is
entitled, “La chiave del gabinetto;
” the second, “Istruzioni politichi.
” We learn from the life of Borri, that when
he was at Strasburg, he published a letter, which went all
over the world. Two other of his letters are said to have
been printed at Copenhagen in 1699, and inscribed to Bartholinus; one of them, “De ortu cerebri, et usu medico;
”
the other, “De artificio oculorum humores restituendi.
”
The Journal des Savans, of the 2d of September, 1669,
speaks fully of these two letters. Konig ascribes also another piece to him, entitled, “Notitia gentis Burrhorum.
”
Sorbiere saw Borri at Amsterdam, and has left us a description and character of him. He says, that “he was a
tall black man, well shaped, who wore good clothes, and
spent a good deal of money: that he did not want parts,
and had some learning, was without doubt somewhat skilled
in chemical preparations, had some knowledge in metals,
some methods of imitating pearls or jewels, and some purgative and stomachic remedies: but that he was a quack,
an artful impostor, who practised upon the credulity of
those whom he stood most in need of; of merchants, as
well as princes, whom he deluded out of great sums of
money, under a pretence of discovering the philosopher’s
stone, and other secrets of equal importance: and that,
the better to carry on this scheme of knavery, he had assumed the mask of religion.
”
, or Borch, a very learned physician, son of a Lutheran minister
, or Borch, a very learned physician, son of a Lutheran minister in Denmark, was born 1626, and sent to the university of Copenhagen in 1644, where he remained six years, during which time he applied himself chierly to physic. He taught publicly in his college, and Acquired the character of a man indefatigable in labour, and of excellent morals. He gained the esteem of Caspar Brochman, bishop of Zealand, and of the chancellor of the kingdom, by the recommendation of whom he obtained the canonry of Lunden. He was offered the rectorship of the famous school of Heslow, but refused it, having formed a design of travelling and perfecting his studies in physic. He began to practise as a physician during a most terrible plague in Denmark, and the contagion being ceased, he prepared for travelling as he intended; but was obliged to defer it for some time, Mr. Gerstorf, the first minister of state, having insisted on his residing in his house in the quality of tutor to his children. He continued in this capacity five years, and then set out upon his travels; but before his departure, he was appointed professor in poetry, chemistry, and botany. He left Copenhagen in November 1660, and, after having visited several eminent physicians at Hamburgh, went to Holland, the Low Countries, to England, and to Paris, where he remained two years. He visited also several other cities of France, and at Angers had a doctor’s degree in physic conferred upon him. He afterwards passed the Alps, and arrived at Rome in October 1665, where he remained till March 1666, when he was obliged to set out for Denmark, where he arrived in October 1666. The advantages which Borrichius reaped in his travels were very considerable, for he had made himself acquainted with all the learned men in the different cities through which he passed. At his return to Denmark he resumed his professorship, in the discharge of which he acquired great reputation for his assiduity and universal learning. He was made counsellor in the supreme council of justice in 1686, and counsellor of the royal chancery in 1689. This same year he had a severe attack of 'the stone, and the pain every day increasing, he wss obliged to be cut for it; the operation however did not succeed, the stone being so big that it could not be extracted. He bore this affliction with great constancy and resolution till his death, which happened in October 1690.
that among their secrets they possessed the art of transmuting metals. But either from infatuation, or a desire of victory, he cites several manuscripts, since known
Borrichius died rich, and made a most liberal use of his money. After satisfying his relations (who were all collateral, as he had no family) with bequests to the amount of fifty thousand crowns, he left twenty-six thousand crowns to found
a college for poor students, consisting of a house, completely furnished for sixteen students, with library, chemical laboratory, garden, &c. to be called the Medicean
college. His principal medical productions consist of observations published in the Acta Haffniensia, and other
similar collections, and of the letters sent by him while on
his travels, to F. Bartholine, under whom he had been
educated. The letters are the most valuable of those published by Bartholine in his “Epistolas Medicse;
” but the
works by which he acquired his principal celebrity, were
“De ortu et progressu Chemise,
” published in Hermetis Ægyptiorum et Chemicorum sapientia,
ab H. Conringio vindicata,
” Conspectus prcestantiorum
scriptorum linguæ Latinæ;
” Cogitationes de
variis linguae Latinas cetatibus,
” Analecta
philologica, et judicium de lexicis Latinis Graecisque,
”
animated to study and to virtue. Each of them was to write upon some chosen subject, either in prose or verse, and to communicate to each other in frequent conferences
, an eminent Romish saint and
cardinal, was born the 2d of October 1538, of a good family, in the castle of Arona, upon lake Major in the Milanese. He addicted himself at an early period to retirement
and study. His maternal uncle, Pius IV. sent for him to
the court of Rome, made him cardinal in 1560, and afterwards archbishop of Milan. Charles was then but 22
years of age, but conducted the affairs of the church with
disinterested zeal and prudence. The Romans were at
that time ignorant and lazy: he therefore formed an academy composed of ecclesiastics and seculars, whom, by his
example and his liberality, he animated to study and to
virtue. Each of them was to write upon some chosen subject, either in prose or verse, and to communicate to each
other in frequent conferences the fruits of their studies.
The works produced by this society have been published in
many volumes, under the title of “Noctes Vaticanas,
”
their assemblies being held in the Vatican, and at night,
after the business of the day was over. About the same
time he also founded the college at Pavia, which was dedicated to St. Justina.
taste; which have induced some to compare his style in architecture to the literary style of Seneca or Marini. With his talents, had he studied the great masters in
, an eminent French architect,
was born at Bissona in the diocese of Como in 1599, and
acquired great reputation at Rome, where he was more
employed than any architect of his time. A great number of his works are seen in that city, but the major part
are by no means models for young artists. Thjey abound
in deviations from the received rules, and other singularities; but, at the same time, we cannot fail of perceiving
in them talents of a superior order, and strong marks of
genius. It was in his violent efforts to outdo Bernini, whose
fame he envied, that he departed from that simplicity
which is the true basis of the beautiful, in order to give extravagant ornaments in that taste; which have induced some
to compare his style in architecture to the literary style of
Seneca or Marini. With his talents, had he studied the great
masters in their greatest perfections, he would have been
the first architect of his time, merely by following their
track; but he unfortunately deviated into the absurdities of
singularity, and has left us only to guess from the college
of the Propaganda, and a few other buildings at Rome,
what he might have been. Even in his own time, his false
taste was decried, and it is supposed that the mortifications
he met with brought on a derangement of mind, in one of
the fits of which he put an end to his life in 1667. From a
vain opinion of his superiority, he is said to have destroyed
all his designs, before his death, lest any other architect
should adopt them. There was published, however, in
1725, at Rome, in Italian and Latin, his “Description of
the church of Vallicela,
” which he built, with the plans
and designs, and a plan of the church of Sapienza, at
Rome.
, a learned philologist, was born at Worcum in Friesland, Nov. 23, 1670. His father who was rector or principal regent of the schools, and accustomed to mark the
, a learned philologist, was born at
Worcum in Friesland, Nov. 23, 1670. His father who
was rector or principal regent of the schools, and accustomed to mark the early appearance of talents, soon discovered his son’s aptitude for learning, and taught him
Greek and Latin. His mother, a woman of abilities, and
aunt to Vitringa, when she saw the latter, then a very
young man, advanced to the professorship of Oriental languages, exclaimed with maternal fondness that she hoped
to see her son promoted to a similar rank. In this, however, she was not gratified, as she died before he had
finished his studies. When he had gone through the ordinary course of the classes in his father’s school, he continued adding to his knowledge by an attentive perusal of the
Greek and Latin authors, and had many opportunities for
this while he lived with a man of rank, as private tutor to
his children. Cicero, above all, was his favourite Latin,
author, whom he read again and again. In 1694 he went
to the university of Franeker, where his relation, Vitringa,
encouraged him to pursue the Greek and Latin studies, to
which he seemed so much attached. In October 1696 he
was permitted to teach Greek in the university, and in February of the following year, the curators honoured him
with the title of prelector in that language. In 1704, when
the Greek professorship became vacant by the death of
Blancard, Mr. Bos was appointed his successor, and on
taking the chair, read a dissertation on the propagation of
Greek learning by their colonies, “de eruditione Graecorum per Colonias eorum propagata.
” About the end of
1716 he was attacked with a malignant fever, ending in a
consumption, a disorder he inherited from his mother,
which terminated his life Jan. 6, 1717. Bos was a man of
extensive classical learning, a solid judgment, and strong
memory. In his personal character he was candid, amiable, and pious; in his studies so indefatigable that he cegretted every moment that was not employed in them.
About five years before his death he married the widow of
a clergyman, by whom he left two sons.
ourite subjects were flowers and curious plants, which he usually represented as grouped in glasses, or vases of chrystal, half filled with water, and gave them so
, an artist, was born at Bois-le-Duc, and having been carefully instructed in the art of painting by the artists of his native city, he applied himself entirely to study after nature, and rendered himself very eminent for truth of colouring and neatness of handling. His favourite subjects were flowers and curious plants, which he usually represented as grouped in glasses, or vases of chrystal, half filled with water, and gave them so lively a look of nature, that it seemed scarcely possible to express them with greater truth or delicacy. In representing the drops of dew on the leaves of his subjects, he executed them with uncommon tnnsparence, and embellished his subjects with butterflies, bees, wasps, and other insects, which, Sandrart says, were superior to any thing of that kind performed by his contemporary artists. He likewise painted portraits with very great success.
he has left us a prose translation, no less admirable than his poetry, of the famous II Cortegiano, or the Courtier of Castiglione. M. Conti, in his “Collecion de
, a Spanish poet, of a
noble family, was born at Barcelona, about the end of the
fifteenth century, and is supposed to have died about 1543.
He was bred to arms, and, having served with distinction,
was afterwards a great traveller. From the few accounts
we have of him, as well as from what appears in his works,
he seems to have been a very good classical scholar; and
he is said to have been highly successful in the education
of Ferdinand, the great duke of Alba, whose singular qualities were probably the fruit of our poet’s attention to him.
He married Donna Anna Giron di Rebolledo, an amiable
woman, of a noble family, by whom he had a very numerous offspring. Garcilaso was his coadjutor in his poetical
labours, and their works were published together, under
the title “Obras de Boscan y Garcilaso,
” Medina, Collecion de Poesias, &c.
” or collection of
Spanish poems translated into Italian verse, has given as
specimens of Boscan, two canzoni, six sonnets, and a
familiar epistle to Don Hurtado de Mendoza.
him that the fleet was now in sight. The admiral took his glass, and from his superior power of eye, or perhaps from previous information, said, that the sailor was
In some French memoirs, admiral Boscawen is represented as having, at the siege of Louisburgh, wholly given
himself up to the direction of a particular captain in that
arduous and enterprising business. This, however, was
not the case. Whoever knew Mr. Boscawen’s knowledge
in his profession, with his powers of resource upon every
occasion, his intrepidity of mind, his manliness and independence of conduct and of character, can never give the
least degree of credit to such an assertion. The admiral,
however, upon other occasions, and in other circumstances,
deferred to the opinions of those with whom he was
professionally connected. When once sent to intercept a
St. Domingo fleet of merchantmen, and while waiting near
the track which it was supposed they would take, one of
his seamen came to tell him that the fleet was now in sight.
The admiral took his glass, and from his superior power of
eye, or perhaps from previous information, said, that the
sailor was mistaken, and that what he saw was the grand
French fleet. The seaman, however, persisted. The admiral desired some others of his crew to look through the
glass; who all, with their brains heated with the prospect
of a prize, declared, that what they saw was the St. Domingo fleet. He nobly replied, “Gentlemen, you shall
never say that I have stood in the way of your enriching
yourselves: I submit to you; but, remember, when you
find your mistake, you must stand by me.
” The mistake
was soon discovered; and the admiral, by such an exertion
of manffiuvres as the service has not often seen, saved his
ship.
is paintings rose to a most extravagant price, and were at that time more dear than those of Teniers or Ostade. Some of his works have true merit, being very good in
, an artist, was born at Antwerp, in 1675, and was placed under the care of one Thomas, whose subjects were apartments with figures, in the manner of Teniers; and he decorated the insides of those apartments with bustos, vases, pictures, and other curiosities, which sort of subjects were at that time in great request. Bosch studied the same manner of painting, and with great success; but the connoisseurs and his friends advised him to employ his pencil on subjects of a more elegant and elevated kind; because it seemed a little absurd, to see apartments designed with so much magnificence, and so richly ornamented, occupied by persons so mean and vulgar in their appearance as the figures generally represented. Bosch profited by the advice, and soon acquired a different style of design and elegance in his composition, which afforded more pleasure to the eye, and more value to his productions. He also painted portraits with a great deal of reputation, particularly a portrait of the duke of Marlborough on horseback, which gained him all the applause that he could possibly desire. The horse was painted by Van Bloemen. His paintings rose to a most extravagant price, and were at that time more dear than those of Teniers or Ostade. Some of his works have true merit, being very good in the composition and design, and also in respect of the colouring; and the forms of his figures were more elegant than most of his contemporaries. His subjects were judiciously chosen, and for the most part they were sculptors or painters, surrounded with pictures or bustos of marble, brass, or plaster, to which he gave abundance of variety, and a great degree of truth. His pencil is light, his touch spirited, and his figures are dressed in the mode of the time. However, notwithstanding he possessed so much merit, as is generally and justly ascribed to him, his works cannot enter into competition with those of Ostade or Teniers; nor is he now esteemed as he formerly had been, even by hi own countrymen. He died of excess, in 1715.
ention. He was also an engraver; but the subjects of his plates are not specified either by Marolles or Florent le Comte. He died in 1606.
, an historical painter, was born at Florence, in 1553, and educated under Santi di Titi. He was the first person who had a just notion of the chiaro scuro, and used it successfully in the Florentine school; where, though it had been happily practised by Giorgione, at Venice, and also by Titian, it was not well understood before his time. He possessed great freedom of hand, and gave a surprising force of colour; and both in design and composition the grandeur of his style resembled that of his master. He studied after nature; and in his travels he drew sketches of any particular objects that struck him; but pursuing this practice at Loretto, with regard to the fortifications of the city, he was seized by the officers of justice, and condemned to be hanged; but he happily escaped, within a few hours of execution, by the interposition of signior Bandini, who explained to the chief magistrate his innocent intention. He was also an engraver; but the subjects of his plates are not specified either by Marolles or Florent le Comte. He died in 1606.
t, he himself would propose his giving them private lessons, that so they might not lose their time; or he would propose to them proper books, with directions how to
After this he removed from the noviciate to the Roman college, in order to study philosophy, which he did for three years, and as geometry made part of that course, he soon discovered that his mind was particularly turned to this science, which he cultivated with such rapid success, as to excel all his condisciples, and had already begun to give private lessons in mathematics. According to the ordinary course followed by the Jesuits, their young men, after studying philosophy, were employed in teaching Latin and the belles lettres for the space of five years, as a step to the study of theology and the priesthood at a riper age; but as Boscovich had discovered extraordinary talents for geometrical studies, his superiors dispensed with the teaching of the schools , and commanded him to commence the study of divinity, which he did for four years, but without neglecting geometry and physics, and before that space was ended, he was appointed professor of mathematics, an office to which he brought ardent zeal and h'rst-rate talents. Besides having seen all the best modern productions on mathematical subjects, he studied diligently the antient geometricians, and from them learned that exact method of reasoning which is to be observed in all his works. Although he himself easily perceived the concatenation of mathematical truths, and could follow them into their most abstruse recesses, yet he accommodated himself with a fatherly condescension to the weaker capacities of his scholars, and made every demonstration clearly intelligible to thm. When he perceived that any of his disciples were capable of advancing faster than the rest, he himself would propose his giving them private lessons, that so they might not lose their time; or he would propose to them proper books, with directions how to study by themselves, being always ready to solve difficulties that might occur to them. He composed also new elements of arithmetic, algebra, plain and solid geometry, &c. and although these subjects had been well treated by a great many authors, yet Boscovich’s work will always be esteemed by good judges as a masterly performance, well adapted to the purpose for which ii was intended. To this be afterwards added a new exposition of Conic Sections, the only part of his works which lias appeared in English, It was within these few years translated, abridged, and somewhat altered, by the rev. Mr, Newton of Cambridge.
Boscovich in a quarto volume, full of illustration and minute details’, and with several opuscules, or detached essays, which display great ingenuity, conjoined with
Benedict XIV. who was a great encourager of learning,
and a beneficent patron of learned men, gave Boscovich
many proofs of the esteem he had for him; and both he
and his enlightened minister, cardinal Valenti, consulted
Boscovich on various important objects of public economy,
the clearing of harbours, and the constructing of roads and
canals. On one occasion, he was joined in a commission
with other mathematicians and architects, invited from different parts of Italy, to inspect the cupola of St. Peter’s,
in which a crack had been discovered. They were divided
in opinion; but the sentiments of Boscovich, and of the
marquis Poleni, prevailed. In stating, however, the result of the consultation, which was to apply a circle of
iron round the building, Poleni forgot to refer the idea to
its real author, and this omission grievously offended Boscovich, who was tenacious of fame, and somewhat irritable“in temper. About the same time other incidents had concurred to mortify his pride; and he became at last disgusted with his situation, and only looked for a convenient
opportunity of quitting Rome. While in this temper of
mind, an application was made by the court of Portugal to
the general of the Jesuits, for ten mathematicians of the
society to go out to Brazil, for the purpose of surveying
that settlement, and ascertaining the boundaries which divide it from the Spanish dominions in America. Wishing
to combine with that object the mensuration of a degree of
latitude, Boscovich offered to embark in the expedition,
and his proposition was readily accepted. But cardinal
Valenti, unwilling to lose his services, commanded him,
in the name of the pope, to dismiss the project, and persuaded him to undertake the same service at home in the
Papal territory. In this fatiguing, and often perilous operation, he was assisted by the English Jesuit, Mayer, an
excellent mathematician, and was amply provided with the
requisite instruments and attendants. They began the
work about the close of the year 1750, in the neighbourhood of Rome, and extended the meridian line northwards,
across the chain of the Appennines as far as Rimini. Two
whole years were spent in completing the various measurements, which were performed with the most scrupulous
accuracy. The whole is elaborately described by Boscovich in a quarto volume, full of illustration and minute
details’, and with several opuscules, or detached essays,
which display great ingenuity, conjoined with the finest
geometric taste. We may instance, in particular, the discourse on the rectification of instruments, the elegant synthetical investigation of the figure of the earth, deduce^
both from the law of attraction, and from the actual measurement of degrees, and the nice remarks concerning the
curve and the conditions of permanent stability. This last
tract gave occasion, however, to some strictures from
D'Alembert, to which Boscovich replied, in a note annexed to the French edition of his works. The arduous
service which Boscovich had now performed was but poorly
rewarded. From the pope he received only a hundred sequins, or about forty-five pounds sterling, a gold box, and
” abundance of praise." He now resumed the charge of
the mathematical school, and besides discharged faithfully
the public duties of religion, which are enjoined by his order.
A trifling circumstance will mark the warmth of his temper, and his love of precedence. He had recourse to the
authority of cardinal Valenti, to obtain admission into the
oratory of Caravita, from which his absence excluded him,
and which yet afforded only the bent-fit of a free, but frugal supper. In presiding at that social repast, the philosopher relaxed from the severity of his studies, and shone
by his varied, his lively, and fluent conversation.
ived from the senate of Lucca, for his zealous services, the handsome present of a thousand sequins, or abut 450l. Thus provided with the means of' gratifying his curiosity,
After a successful suit of eleven months at Vienna, Boscovich returned to Rome, and received from the senate of Lucca, for his zealous services, the handsome present of a thousand sequins, or abut 450l. Thus provided with the means of' gratifying his curiosity, he desired and obtained leave to travel. At Paris he spent six months, in the society of the eminent men who then adorned the French capital; and, during his stay in London, he was elected, in 1760, a fellow of the Royal Society, and he dedicated to that learned body his poem on eclipses, which contains a neat compendium of astronomy , and was published at London the same year. The expectation of the scientific world was then turned to the transit of Venus, calculated to happen in the following year. Boscovich, eager to observe it, returned through Holland and Flanders to Italy, and joined his illustrious friend, Correr, at Venice, from whence they sailed to Constantinople, having on their way, visited the famous plain of Troy. In Turkey, he scarcely enjoyed one day of good health, and his life was repeatedly despaired of by the physicians. After spending half a year in this miserable state, he returned in the train of sir James Porter, our ambassador at the Porte; and having traversed Bulgaria, Moldavia, and part of Poland, his intention was to penetrate into Russia, if the agitation which there prevailed, on the death of the emperor Peter, had not deterred him from executing the project. The diary of his journey, which he published in Italian and French, is inferior to any of his works, and contains many trifling and insipid remarks. The truth was, Boscovich began his travels at too late a period of life to profit much by them.
ronage from the French monarch; he was naturalized, received two pensions, amounting to 8000 livres, or 333l. and had an office expressly created for him, with the
The expulsion of the Jesuits from the dominions of
Spain prevented Boscovich from going to California, to
observe the second transit of Venus, in 1769, and which
expedition the royal society of London had strongly solicited him to undertake. And as his rivals began now to
stir themselves again, he sought to dispel the chagrin, by
a second journey into France and the Netherlands. At
Brussels he met with a peasant, famous for curing the
gout, and from whose singular skill he received most essential benefit. On his return to Italy in 1770, he was
transferred from the university of Pavia to the Palatine
schools at Milan, and resided with those of his order, at
the college of Brera, where he furnished, mostly at his
own expence, an observatory, of which he got the direction. But he was still doomed to experience mortification.
Some young Jesuits, who acted as his assistants, formed a
conspiracy, and, by their artful representations, prevailed
with the government to exclude his favourite pupil and
friend from holding a charge of trust. This intelligence
was communicated to him at the baths of Albano, and filled
him with grief and indignation. He complained to prince
Kaunitz, but implored his protection in vain. To the governor of Milan he wrote, that he would not return, unless things were restored to their former footing. He retired to Venice, where, having staid ten months in fruitless
expectation of obtaining redress, he meditated spending
the remainder of his days in honourable retirement at his
native city of Ragnsa. But while he waited for the opportunity of a vessel to convey him thither, he received the
afflicting news of the suppression of his order in Italy. He
now renounced his scheme, and seemed quite uncertain
what step he should take. Having come into the Tuscan
territory, he listened to the counsels and solicitation of
Fabroni, who held forth the prospect of a handsome appointment in the Lyceum of Pisa. In the mean time he
accepted the invitation of La Bord, chamberlain to Louis
XV. accompanied him to Paris in 1773, and through his
influence obtained the most liberal patronage from the
French monarch; he was naturalized, received two pensions, amounting to 8000 livres, or 333l. and had an office
expressly created for him, with the title of “Director of
optics for the marine.
” “Boscovich might now appear to
have attained the pinnacle of fortune and glory; but Paris
was no longer for him the theatre of applause, and his ardent temper became soured by the malign breath of jealousy and neglect. Such extraordinary favour bestowed
on a foreigner could not fail to excite the envy of the
sgavans, who considered him as rewarded greatly beyond
his true merit The freedom of his language gave offence,
his perpetual egotism became disgusting, and his repetition
of barbarous Latin epigrams was most grating to Parisian
ears. Besides, the name of a priest and a Jesuit did not
now command respect; and the sentiments of austere devotion, which he publicly professed, had grown unfashionable, and were regarded as scarcely befitting the character
of a philosopher
”.
was published under the title “Historia dell' ordine di S. Giovanni Gierosolimitano,” in three parts or volumes, the first two at Rome, 1594, and the third in 1602,
, a native of Milan, and servitor of the
order of Malta, lived about the end of the sixteenth century, when he was appointed agent for the religion of
Malta at Rome, and discharged the duties of this office
with fidelity. The knowledge he found it necessary to acquire, appears to have suggested the design of writing a
history of that celebrated order, which was published under
the title “Historia dell' ordine di S. Giovanni Gierosolimitano,
” in three parts or volumes, the first two at
Rome, 1594, and the third in 1602, a work in which he is
said to have been assisted by two monks, and which contains many curious facts, that have been highly serviceable to the subsequent historians of Malta. It happened
that Bosius resided with Petrochini at Rome, and when he
was made cardinal by Sixtus V. Bosius attached himself
to him, in hopes of being promoted to the same honour,
when Petrochini should be pope; but the latter being
overlooked at the next election for the papal chair, Bosius
went home and passed the remainder of his days, how
many we are not told, in exercises of devotion. He appears
to have had much of the superstition of his order, and of the
age in which he lived, as he wrote a history of the sacred
cross on which our Saviour suffered, from its discovery in
the reign of Constantine the great.; and decorated the
church of St. Blaise with this choice morsel of authentic
history. His nephew,
n the catacombs at Rome. For this purpose he investigated them with great care, often remaining five or six days together under ground, but he did not live to put the
, and the inheritor of his property,
was educated by him, studied law, and by his uncle’s interest was appointed agent to the order of Malta. He
was a very little man, of a dark countenance, resembling
that of his mother, who had been an African slave, whom
his father married. In his youth he was very wild, but reformed, lest his uncle should disinherit him, and addicted
himself to the study of antiquities, producing the “Roma
Sottefanea,
” Rome, 1632, fol. a description of the tombs
and the epitaphs of the early Christians which are found in
the catacombs at Rome. For this purpose he investigated
them with great care, often remaining five or six days
together under ground, but he did not live to put the finishing hand to the work, which was published by John
Severani, a priest of the oratory. Father Aringhi, another
of the oratory, translated and published it in Latin, 1651,
2 vols. fol. an edition in more request than the original, and
more full and correct.
greatest reputation as a teacher, while he employed his leisure ho-.irs in composing his own works, or editing some of those of the ancients, making considerable progress
, an eminent philologer and
historian, was born at Leipsic, June 17, 1626, and succeeded so rapidly in his first studies, that he was admitted
to his bachelor’s degree in the college of his native city
when he had scarcely attained his fifteenth year; and afterwards wrote and defended some theses, as is the custom
at Leipsic. In 1643 he went to study at Wittemberg,
lodging first with Balthasar Cellarius, and afterwards with
J. C. Seldius, two learned men, by whose assistance he
was enabled to improve what he heard from the public
lecturers. In 1645 he returned to Leipsic, and again attended some of the able professors under whom he was
first educated, particularly Muller and Rivinus; and the
following year, after a public disputation, in which he acquitted himself with great applause, he was admitted to
his master’s degree. In 1647 he went to Strasburgh, and
studied divinity and ecclesiastical history, and the modern
languages, until he was recalled to Leipsic, where, after
two disputations on the solar spots, he was, in 1655, admitted assessor of philosophy. The following year he was
invited to be professor of history at Jena, and acquired
the greatest reputation as a teacher, while he employed
his leisure ho-.irs in composing his own works, or editing
some of those of the ancients, making considerable progress in an edition of Josephus, and some of the Byzantine
historians. For five years he was dean, and, in 1661, rector of the college, and in 1672 he founded the society of
inquirers, “Societas disquirentium,
” at Jena. He died of
repeated attacks of the gout, which had undermined his
constitution, on April 29, 1674. Bosius was the particular
friend of Heinsius and Graevius, both of whom speak highly
of his talents. Among his works may be enumerated, 1.
“Dissertatio de veterum adoratione,
” Leipsic, Cornelius Nepos,
” Dissertatio de Pontificatu Maximo Imperatorum præcipue Christianorum,
”
Jena, De ara ignoti Dei ad Act. 17,
” Jena,
De Tiberio,
” ibid. Exercitatio historica de Clinicis Ecclesiae Teteris,
” ibid. De Vita Agricolae, Jena,
1664, 8vo. 8.
” Schediasma de comparanda notitia Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum,“ibid, 1673, 4to, reprinted by
Crenius in his
” Tractatus de eruditibne comparanda,“Leyden, 1699, 4to, and by J. G. Walch, Jena, 1723, 8vo.
After his death were published, 9.
” Introductio in notitiam rerum publicarum,“with his Essay on the stale of
Europe, Jena, 1676, 4to. 10.
” Dissertatio Isagogica de
comparanda prudentia civili, deque scriptoribus et libris
ad earn rem maxime aptis,“ibid. 1679, 4to, and reprinted
by Crenius. 11.
” Ejusdem et Reinesii Epistolae mutuse,“ibid. 1700, 12mo. 12.
” Petronii Satyriconpuritatedonatum
cum fragmento Traguriensi et Albas Graecas, &c.“ibid.
1701, 8vo. 13.
” Hispaniæ, Ducatus Mediolanensis, et
Regni Neapolitani Notitia," Helmstadt, 1702, 4to.
ologna, 1495. 2. “De veris et salutaribus animi gaudiis,” Florence, 1491. 3, “Epistolar. Lib. tres,” or rather three volumes, printed 1493, 1498, 1502. Some orations
, an Italian scholar and writer of
considerable eminence, was born at Verona in 1427, and
in 1451 entered the congregation of the regular canons of
St. John of Lateran, where he bore several employments,
as visitor of the order, procurator-general, and abbot of
Fiesole in Tuscany. Cosmo de Medici, who had a high
respect for him, spent seventy thousand crowns in the
repairs of that monastery, and it was in the church belonging to it that Bosso delivered the ensigns of the cardinalship to John de Medici, afterwards pope Leo X. Sixtus VI. also employed him in many important affairs, particularly in reforming the religious houses of Genoa, and
other neighbouring districts, and he thrice offered him a
valuable bishopric, which he refused. He vigorously opposed the decree of pope Innocent VIII. which ordered
all sorts of monks to pay part of their yearly revenues to
the clerks of the apostolic chamber. Hermolaus Barbarus
was his pupil and guest at Fiesole, and Picus of Mirandula,
his friend. He died at Padua in 1502. Mr. Roscoe says
he was a profound scholar, a close reasoner, and a convincing orator; and to these united a candid mind, an inflexible integrity, and an interesting simplicity of life and
manners. His literary productions were, l.“De Instituendo Sapientia animo,
” Bologna, De veris
et salutaribus animi gaudiis,
” Florence, Epistolar. Lib. tres,
” or rather three volumes, printed Recuperationes Fsesulanse,
” a rare and beautiful book, said to have been printed in 1483. His whole
works were published by P. Ambrosini, at Bologna, 1627,
with the exception of the third book, or volume, of letterS|
which, on account of its extreme rarity, was at that time
unknown to the editor. His moral writings were very
highly esteemed; and one of his pieces on female dress,
“de vanis mulierum ornamentis,
” excited a considerable
interest. The editor of Fabricius throws some doubts on
the date of the “Recuperationes,
” and if there be letters
in it dated
he made great proficiency, and took upon him priest’s orders in 1657; but, either from inclination, or in obedience to his superiors, he resumed the belles letters,
, a distinguished French critic, was
born at Paris, March 16, 1631. He began his studies at
Nanterre, where he discovered an early taste for polite
literature, and soon made surprising progress in all the
valuable parts of learning In 1649 he left Nanterre, was
admitted a canon regular in the abbey of St. Genevieve,
and after a year’s probation took the habit in this abbey.
Here he applied to philosophy and divinity, in which he
made great proficiency, and took upon him priest’s orders
in 1657; but, either from inclination, or in obedience to
his superiors, he resumed the belles letters, and taught
polite literature in several religious houses. After twelve
years, being tired of the fatigue of such an employment,
he gave it up, with a resolution to lead a quiet and retired
life. Here he published his “Parallel, or comparison
betwixt the principles of Aristotle’s natural philosophy, and
those of Des Cartes,
” Paris, epic poetry,
” which
gained him great reputation: Boileau says it is one of the
best compositions on this subject that ever appeared in the
French language. Bossu having met with a piece wrote
by St. Sorlin against this poet, he wrote a confutation of
it, for which favour Boileau was extremely grateful; and
it produced an intimate friendship betwixt them, which
continued till our author’s death, March 14, 1680. He
left a vast number of manuscript volumes, which are kept
in the abbey of St. John de Chartres.
for the present more refined state of public taste. His notion that Homer fixed on some moral truth or axiom, and then added a fable or story, in which it was of little
Bossu’s treatise on the epic was long thought a standard book, even in this country, being translated into
English in 1719, 2 vols. 8vo, and there are, undoubtedly,
many just remarks in it, but he is too visionary and fantastic for the present more refined state of public taste.
His notion that Homer fixed on some moral truth or axiom,
and then added a fable or story, in which it was of little
consequence whether men or beasts were the heroes and
speakers, has been acutely exposed by Drs. Blair and
Warton. The first edition of this “Traité de poeme
epique
” was published at Paris in
olic religion, and while he affected to dislike persecution, either submitted to the exercise of it, or promoted it by the asperity of his writings. We shall come nearer
In estimating the character of this celebrated prelate, we
must not be guided by d'Alembert’s desultory and artful
Eloge, who, however, struggles in vain to conceal the
truth, that Bossuet was, with all his taste and talents, a furious bigot in favour of the Catholic religion, and while he
affected to dislike persecution, either submitted to the exercise of it, or promoted it by the asperity of his writings.
We shall come nearer the truth by adopting Bossuet’s character as contrasted with that of Fenelon by the writer of
the “Letters concerning Mythology,
” who represents him
as a prelate of vast parts, learned, eloquent, artful, and
aspiring. By these qualities he rose to the first dignities in
the Gallican church: while another of finer fancy and
better heart (Fenelon), humble, holy, and sincere, was
censured at Rome, and disgraced at the French court.
Both were intrusted with the education of princes, and acquitted themselves of those duties in a very different manner. The one endeavoured to make his royal pupil noble,
virtuous, and just, a father to his people, ana a friend to
mankind, by the maxims of his inimitable Telemaque. The
other in his discourses upon universal history, is perpetually
turning his prince’s eyes from mankind to the church, as
the sacred object of his care, from whose everlasting stem
whoever separates is lost: and for whose interests, in the
extirpation of heresy, and aggrandizement of her ministers,
he is, like his father Lewis XIV. to exert all the power he
has received from God.
his principle. In the “Memoirs pour servira I'histoire des Refugies Francois dans les etats du Roi,” or Memoirs of the French refugees in the dominions of the king
Had the French press, however, remained open, the
controversy between the catholics and protestants might
have soon been brought to a conclusion: but other measures were to be adopted, more characteristic of the genius
of popery. Bossuet has been praised by most French
writers for his laudable attempts to promote an union between the catholic and reformed churches of France. The
basis of this union was not very promising. The reformed
were to give up every thing, the catholics nothing, and the
subsequent practice was worse than this principle. In the
“Memoirs pour servira I'histoire des Refugies Francois dans
les etats du Roi,
” or Memoirs of the French refugees in
the dominions of the king of Prussia, by Messrs. Erman
and Reclam, published at Berlin in 1782, we have a curious
developement of the plan of union, as detected by the
celebrated Claude. The reformed church of Paris, which
was a considerable edifice, was to be surrounded with
troops; the archbishop of Paris and the bishop of Meaux
(Bosquet) accompanied with a train of priests and the lieutenant of the police, were to march thither in procession,
during divine service: one of these prelates was to mount
the pulpit and summon the congregation to submit to the
mother church and re-unite; a number of Roman Catholics,
posted for the purpose in different parts of the church, as
if they belonged to it, were to answer the prelate’s summons, by crying out “re-union!
” after which the other
prelate was to give the congregation a public absolution
from the charge of heresy, and to receive the new pretended converts into the bosom of the church; and this
scandalous farce was to be imposed upon the world for an
actual re-union. This plan affords a tolerable specimen of
Bossuet as a prelate, and a man of candour; and it is worthy of notice, that his associate in this expedition, was the
libertine Harlai, archbishop of Paris, whose life and death
were so scandalous, that not a single curate could be found,
among the most unprincipled part of the Romish clergy,
who would undertake to preach his funeral sermon.
otch colleges, that remarkable predilection for their manners, which neither the force of education, or national prejudice, could ever eradicate. But his most intimate
, the friend and biographer of Dr. Johnson, was the eldest son of Alexander Boswell, lord Auchinleck, one of the judges in the supreme courts of session and justiciary in Scotland. He was born at Edinburgh, Oct. 29, 1740, and received the first rudiments of education in that city. He afterwards studied civil law in the universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow. During his residence in these cities, he acquired by the society of the English gentlemen who were students in the Scotch colleges, that remarkable predilection for their manners, which neither the force of education, or national prejudice, could ever eradicate. But his most intimate acquaintance at this period was the rev. Mr. Temple, a worthy, learned, and pious divine, whose well-written character of Gray has been adopted both by Dr. Johnson and Mason in the life of that poet. Mr. Boswell imbibed early the ambition of distinguishing himself by his literary talents, and had the good fortune to obtain the patronage of the late lord Somerville. This pobleman treated him with the most flattering kindness; and Mr. Bosvvell ever remembered with gratitude the friendship he so long enjoyed with this worthy peer. Having always entertained an exalted idea of the felicity of London, in the year 1760 he visited that capital; in the manners and amusements of which he found so much that was congenial to his own taste and feelings, that it hecanie ever after his favourite residence, whither he always returned from his estate in Scotland, and from his various rambles in different parts of Europe, with increasing eagerness and delight; and we find him, nearly twenty years afterwards, condemning Scotland as too narrow a sphere, and wishing to make his chief residence in London, which he calls the great scene of ambition and instruction. He was, doubtless, confirmed in this attachment to the metropolis by the strong predilection entertained towards it by his friend Dr. Johnson, whose sentiments on this subject Mr. Boswell details in various parts of his life of that great man, and which are corroborated by every one in pursuit of literary and intellectual attainments.
s and delightful. I know not whether I could name any narrative by which curiosity is better excited or better gratified.” This book has been translated into the German,
The politeness, affability, and insinuating urbanity of
manners, which distinguished Mr. Boswell, introduced him
into the company of many eminent and learned men, whose
acquaintance and friendship he cultivated with the greatest
assiduity. In truth, the esteem and approbation of learned
men seem to have been one chief object of his literary ambition; and we find him so successful in pursuing his end,
that he enumerated some of the greatest men in Scotland
among his friends even before he left it for the first time.
Notwithstanding Mr. Boswell by his education was intended
for the bar, yet he was himself earnestly bent at this period upon obtaining a commission in the guards, and solicited lord Auchinleck’s acquiescence; but returned, however, by his desire, into Scotland, where he received a regular course of instruction in the law, and passed his trials
as a civilian at Edinburgh. Still, however, ambitious of
displaying himself as one of the “manly hearts who guard
the fair,
” he visited London a second time in 1762; and,
various occurrences delating the purchase of a commission, he was at length persuaded by lord Auchinleck to relinquish his pursuit, and become an advocate at the Scotch
bar. In compliance, therefore, with his father’s wishes,
he consented to go to Utrecht the ensuing winter, to hear
the lectures of an excellent civilian in that university; after
which he had permission to make his grand tour of Europe.
The year 1763 may be considered the most important
epocha in Mr. Boswell’s life, as he had, what he thought a
singular felicity, an introduction to Dr. Johnson. This
event, so auspicious for Mr. Boswel!, and eventually so
fortunate for the public, happened on May 16, 1763.
Having continued one winter at Utrecht, during which
time he visited several parts of the Netherlands, he commenced his projected travels. Passing from Utrecht into
Germany, he pursued his route through Switzerland to Geneva; whence he crossed the Alps into Italy, having visited
on his journey Voltaire at Ferney, and Rousseau in the
wilds of Neufchatel. Mr. Bosweli continued some time in
Italy, where he met and associated with lord Mountstuart,
to whom he afterwards dedicated his Theses Juridicae.
Having visited the most remarkable cities in Italy, Mr.
Bosweli sailed to Corsica, travelled over every part of that
island, and obtained the friendship of the illustrious Pasquale de Paoli, in whose palace he resided during his stay
at Corsica. He afterwards went to Paris, whence he returned to Scotland in 1766, and soon after became an advocate at the Scotch bar. The celebrated Douglas cause
was at that time a subject of general discussion. Mr. Boswell published the “Essence of the Douglas cause;
” a
pamphlet which contributed to procure Mr. Douglas the
popularity which he at that time possessed. In 1768 Mr.
Bosweli published his “Account of Corsica, with memoirs
of General Paoli.
” Of this printed performance Dr. Johnson thus expresses himself: “Your journal is curious and
delightful. I know not whether I could name any narrative by which curiosity is better excited or better gratified.
”
This book has been translated into the German, Dutch,
Italian, and French languages; and was received with extraordinary approbation. In the following winter, the theatre-royal at Edinburgh, hitherto restrained by party -spirit,
was opened. On this occasion Mr. Bosweli was solicited
by David Ross, esq. to write a prologue.‘ The effect of
this prologue upon the audience was highly flattering to the
author, and beneficial to the manager; as it secured to the
latter, by the annihilation of the opposition which had
been till that time too successfully’exerted against him,
the uninterrupted possession of his patent, which he enjoyed till his death, which happened in September 1790.
Mr. Bosweli attended his funeral as chief mourner, and
paid the last honours to a man with whom he had spent
many a pleasant hour.
In 1769, was celebrated at Stratford on Avon the jubilee
in honour of Shakspeare. Mr. Boswell. an enthusiastic admirer of the writings of our immortal bard, a. id ever ready
to join the festive throng, repaired thither, and appeared
at the masquerade ay an armed Corsican chief; a character
he was eminently qualified to support. This year he married miss Margaret Montgomery, a lady who, to the advantages of a polite education, united admirable good
sense and a brilliant understanding. She was daughter of
David Montgomery, esq. related to the illustrious family
of Eglintoune, and representative of the antient peerage
of Lyle. The death of this amiable woman happened in
June 1790. Mr. Boswell has honoured her memory with
an affectionate tribute. She left him two sons and three
daughters; who, to use Mr. Boswell' s own words, “if
they inherit her good qualities, will have no reason to
complain of their lot. Dos magna parentum virtus.
” In
1782 lord Auchinleck died. In 1783, Mr. Boswell published his celebrated Letter to the People of Scotland;
which is thus praised by Johnson in a letter to the author;
“I am very much of your opinion your paper contains
very considerable knowledge of history and the constitution, very properly produced and applied.
” Mr. Boswell
communicated the pamphlet to Mr. Pitt, who naturally
gave it his approbation. This first letter was followed by
a second, in which I.Ii. Bosweil displayed his usual energy
and political abilities. In 1785, Mr. Boswell published
“A journal of a tour to the Hebrides
” with Dr. Johnson;
which met a success similar to his entertaining account of
Corsica, and to which we owe his life of that illustrious
character. This year Mr. Boswell removed to London,
and was soon after called to the English bar, but his professional business was interrupted by preparing his most
celebrated work, “The life of Samuel Johnson, LL. D.
”
which was published in 1790, and was received by the
world with extraordinary avidity. It is a faithful history
of Johnson’s life; and exhibits a most interesting picture
of the character of that illustrious mom list, delineated with
a masterly hand. The preparation of a second edition of
this work was the last literary performance of Mr. Boswell.
Mr. Boswell undoubtedly possessed considerable intellectual powers; as he could never have displayed his collection of the witticisms of his friend in so lively a manner as
he has done, without having a picturesque imagination,
and a turn for poetry as well as humour. He had a considerable share of melancholy in his temperament; and,
though the general tenor of his life was gay and active, he
frequently experienced an unaccountable depression of
spirits. In one of these gloomy moods he wrote a series
of essays under the title of “The Hypochondriac,
” which
appeared in the London Magazine, and end with No. 63
in 1732. These he had thoughts of collecting into a volume, but they would have added little to his reputation,
being in general very trifling. Soon after his return from
a visit to Auchinleck, he was seized with a disorder which
put an end to his life, at his house in Portland-street, on
the 19th of June 1795, in the 55th year of his age. Of
his own character he gives the following account in his
journal of the tour to the Hebrides: “I have given a
sketch of Dr. Johnson. His readers may wish to know a
little of his fellow-traveller. Think, then, of a gentleman
of ancient blood; the pride of which was his predominant
passion. He was then in his 33d year, and had been about
four years happily married: his inclination was to be a
soldier; but his father, a respectable judge, had pressed
him into the profession of the law. He had travelled a
good deal, and seen many varieties of human life. He
had thought more than any body supposed, and had a
pretty good stock of general learning and knowledge. He
had all Dr. Johnson’s principles, with some degree of relaxation. He had rather too little than too much prudence;
and, his imagination being lively, he often said things of
which the effect was very different from the intention. He
resembled sometimes * The best good maH, with the worstnatured muse.‘ He cannot deny himself the vanity of
finishing with the encomium of Dr. Johnson, whose friendly
partiality to the companion of this tour represents him as
one ’ whose acuteness would help my enquiry, and whose
gaiety of conversation, and civility of manners, are sufficient to counteract the inconveniencies of travel, in countries less hospitable than we have passed'.
”
such a master-piece in its particular species, as perhaps the literature of no other nation, ancient or modern, could boast. It did not indeed present its author to
His character in all its lights and shades is, however,
best delineated in his life of Dr. Johnson, a work of uncommon merit and of still increasing popularity. An
anonymous biographer has justly said of it, that it was
“found to exhibit an inimitably faithful picture of the
mingled genius and weakness, of the virtues and the vices,
the sound sense and the pedantry, the benignity and the
passionate harshness, of the great and excellent, although
not consummately perfect man, the train of whose life it
endeavoured to untold. It appeared to be filled with a
rich store of his genuine dictates, so eloquent and vvise^
that they need hardly shun comparison with the most elaborate of those works which he himself published. Johnson was seen in it^ not as a solitary figure, but associated
with those groupes of his distinguished contemporaries
with which it was his good fortune, in all the latter and
more illustrious years of his life, often to meet and to converse. It displayed many fine specimens of that proportion, in which, in the latter part of the eighteenth century,
literature and philosophical wisdom were liable to be carelessly intermingled in the ordinary conversation of the best
company in Britain. It preserved a thousand precious
anecdotical memorials of the state of arts, manners, and
policy among us during this period, such as must be invaluable to the philosophers and antiquaries of a future
age. It gave, in the most pleasing mode of institution,
and in many different points of view, almost all the elementary practical principles both of taste and of moral
science. It showed the colloquial tattle of Boswell duly
chastened by the grave and rounded eloquence of Johnson.
It presented a collection of a number of the most elaborate
of Johnson’s smaller occasional compositions, which might
otherwise perhaps have been entirely lost to future times.
Shewing Boswell’s skill in literary composition, his general
acquaintance with learning and science, his knowledge of
the manners, the fortunes, and the actuating principles of
mankind, to have been greatly extended and improved
since the time when he wrote his account of Corsica, it
exalted the character of his talents in the estimation of the
world; and was reckoned to be such a master-piece in its
particular species, as perhaps the literature of no other
nation, ancient or modern, could boast. It did not indeed
present its author to the world in another light than as a
genius of the second class; yet it seemed to rank him
nearer to the first than to the third. This estimation of the
character of Boswell’s life of Johnson, formed by the best
critics soon after its publication, seems to have been since
fully confirmed.
”
d in the cure of diseases, yet in his time it was nearly constantly superseded by purging medicines, or it was too sparingly used, and seldom repeated. Our author made
, an eminent physician of Piedmont, who flourished about the middle of the 16th century, was a disciple of Fallopius, and took his degree of
doctor in medicine at Padua. It appears by his writings,
that he was a diligent observer, and enjoyed a considerable share of practice. He was in succession physician and
aulic counsellor to Charles IX. Henry II. of France, and
to William prince of Orange. He was also skilled in the
practice of surgery, and published, “De curandis vulneribus sclopetorum,
” Venet. Commentarioli duo, alter
de medici, alter de aegvoti, munere,
” Lion. De curatione per sanguinis missione, de
incidendae venae, cutis scarificandae, et hirudinum arrigendarum modo,
” Antw. Opera Omnia,
” in
tness. They generally express the sunny light of the morning, breaking out from behind woods, hills, or mountains, and diffusing a warm glow over the skies, trees,
, were two eminent Dutch painters and engravers; John was born at Utrecht, in 1610, and was the disciple of Abraham Bloemart, who at the same time instructed Andrew; but to perfect themselves in a good taste of design, they went together to Rome, and resided there for a great many years. The genius of John directed him to the study of landscape, in which he rose almost to the highest perfection, making the style of Claude Lorraine his model; and by many his works are mentioned in competition even with those of Claude. The warmth of his skies, the judicious and regular receding of the objects, and the sweetness of his distances, afford the eye a degree of pleasure, superior to what we feel on viewing the works of almost any other artist. John and Andrew had very different talents, and each of them were admirable in their different way. The former excelled in landscape, the latter inserted the figures, which he designed in the manner of Bamboccio; and those figures are always so well adapted, that every picture seemed only the work of one master. The works of these associate brothers are justly admired through all Europe; they are universally sought for, and purchased at very large prices. Most of his pictures are, for size, between two and five feet long; but in those that are smaller, there is exquisite neatness. They generally express the sunny light of the morning, breaking out from behind woods, hills, or mountains, and diffusing a warm glow over the skies, trees, and the whole face of nature; or else a sun-set, with a lovely tinge in the clouds, every object beautifully partaking of a proper degree of natural illumination. And it is to be observed, that even the different hours of the day are perceptible in his landscapes, from the propriety of the tints which he uses. By some connoisseurs he is censured for having too much of the tawny in his colouring, and that the leafings of his trees are too yellow, approaching to saffron; but this is not a general fault in his pictures, though some of them, accidentally, may justly be liable to that criticism, for he corrected that fault; and many of his pictures are no more tinged with those colours, than truth and beautiful nature will justify; and his colouring obtained for him the distinction which he still possesses, of being called Both of Italy.
, or William Worcester, an ancient English writer, acquainted with
, or William Worcester, an
ancient English writer, acquainted with history, antiquities,
heraldry, physic, and astronomy, was born at Bristol
about 1415; his father’s name was Worcester, and his
mother’s Botoner, hence he often names himself William
Wyrcester, alias Botoner; and hence the error in Pits,
and others, of making two distinct persons of the two names.
He studied at Hart-hall, Oxford, 1434. He had been exercised in wars above 44 years; and had so faithfully served
sir John Fastolff that he left him one of his executors. He
wrote many books, the first of which, that was printed, was
his translation from the French, of “Cicero de Senectute,
” which he addressed to William Wainfleet, bishop of
Winchester. He tells us that he presented it to the bishop
at Asher [JSsher] August 10, 1475, but received no reward
(nullum regardum recepide episcopo). He wrote also “Antiquities of England;
” “Abbreviations of the Learned;
”
“Medicinal collections;
” a book of Astrology; another
of Astronomy; besides a particular treatise, gratefully preserving the life and deeds of his master, under the title of
“Acta Domini Johannis Fastolff;
” “the Acts of John duke
of Bedford;
” “Polyandrium Oxoniensium, or memoirs of
Oxford Students;
” and other lesser pieces; of which see
Tanner Bibl. Brit. p. 115. His “Annals of England
”
were printed by Hearne at the end of his “Liber Niger
Scaccarii,
” p. Itinerary
” was published
from a ms. not improbably the original, in the library at
Corpus Christi college, Cambridge, by Mr. James Nasmith, fellow of the said college, Cantab. 1778, 8vo. Fuller cites a book of Botoner’s, containing all the ancient
gentry of the county of Norfolk, long preserved in the
county, but not now extant. He also wrote something in
poetry, as that htimoroirs ballad in Nasmith’s edition of his
Itinerary, called " Comedia a<i Monasterium Hulme/' &c.
and a long chronographical epitaph in verse, on the lady
Milicent Fastoif; in the possession of Richard Poley, esq.
late prothonotary of the common pleas. He is supposed
to have died about 1490. The son of this Worcester,
among other things, also made a collection of several authentic instruments relating to the English wars and government in France; which he dedicated to king Edward
IV. containing a catalogue of the princes, dukes, earls,
barons, bannerets, knights, and other persons of eminence,
who were of the regent’s court. A copy of this collection,
in quarto, was some time in the custody of the late Brian
Fairfax, esq. one of the commissioners of the customs.
y discovered by their townsman Finiguerra. The curious edition of Dante printed at Florence in 1481 ( or 1488) and to which, according to some authors, Botticelli undertook
Mr Strutt has introduced him in chap. VI. of his “Origin and Progress of Engraving,
” to which we refer the
reader. Baldini, according to the general report, communicated to him the secret of engraving, then nt-wiy discovered by their townsman Finiguerra. The curious edition of Dante printed at Florence in 1481 (or 1488) and to
which, according to some authors, Botticelli undertook to
write notes, was evidently intended to have been ornamented with prints, one for each canto: and these prints
(as many of them as were finished) were designed, if not
engraved, by Botticelli. Mr. Roscoe, however, says, that
they were designed by Botticelli, and engraved by Baldini.
It is remarkable, that the first two plates only were printed
upon the leaves of the book, and for want of a blank space
at the head of the first canto, the plate belonging to it is
placed at the bottom of the pag'e. Blank spaces are left
for all the rest, that as many of them as were finished
might be pasted on. Mr. Wilbraham possesses the finest
copy of this book extant in any private library; and the
number of prints in it amounts to nineteen, the first
two, as usual, printed on the leaves, and the rest pasted
on; and these, Mr. Strutt thinks, were all that Botticelli
ever executed. Mr. Roscoe describes another copy as in
his possession, formerly in the Pinelli library.
s opulent enough to be responsible for such extensive engagements; and the nature of these societies or associations, and the various conventions, commercial a>id pecuniary
, a law-writer of
great reputation in France, was born at Paris, April 16,
1719, of an honourable family. His father, who was also
a lawyer, spared no expence in his education. From the
age of sixteen he studied jurisprudence with such perseverance and success as to be admitted to a doctor’s degree in
1747. Being employed to prepare the articles on jurisprudence and canon law for the Encyclopaedia, he wrote those
on council, decretals, &c. but, for what reason we are
not told, they gave offence to the encyclopedists, who became on that account his enemies, and prevented him for
some time from attaining the rank of professor, which wag
the object of his ambition. Bouchaud, however, consoied
himself by cultivating a taste for modem poetry. He
translated several of the dramas of Apostolo Zeno into
French, and published them in 1758, 2 vols. 12mo, and in
1764 he translated the English novel of “Lady Julia Mandeville.
” In the interval between these two, he published
“Essai sur la poesie rhythmique,
” Traité de Timpot
du vingtieme sur les successions, et de l'impot sur les marchandises chez les Romains,
” a very curious history of the
taxes which the ancient emperors imposed. In 1766, on
the death of M. Hardron, he was elected into the French
academy, notwithstanding the opposition of the encyclopedists, whose dislike seems not ill calculated to give us a favourable idea of the soundness of his principles. This was
followed by a law professorship, and some years after he
was advanced to the professorship of the law of nature and
nations in the royal college of France. He was nominated
to this by the king in 1774, and was the first professor, it
being then founded. On this he wrote in the memoirs of
the academy, a curious paper concerning the societies that
were formed hy the Roman publicans for the receipt of the
taxes. The body of the publicans was taken from the order of knights, and had great influence and credit. They
were called by Cicero “the ornament of the capital,
” and
the “pillars of the state.
” Th“knights, though rich, entered
into associations, when the taxes of a whole province were
farmed out by the senate, because no individual was opulent
enough to be responsible for such extensive engagements;
and the nature of these societies or associations, and the
various conventions, commercial a>id pecuniary engagements, occupations, and offices, to which they gave rise,
form the subject of this interesting paper, which was followed by various others on topics of the same nature. In
1777 he published his
” Theorie des traits de commerce
entre les nations,“the principles of which seem to be
founded on justice and reciprocal benefits. In 1784 appeared another curious work on the ancient Roman laws and
policy, entitled,
” Recherches historiques surla Police des
Romains, concernant les grands chemins, les rues, et les
marches.“His
” Commentaire sur les lois des clouze tables," first published in 1767, was reprinted in 1803, with
improvements and additions, at the expense of the French
government, and he was employed in some treatises intended for the national institute, when he died, Feb. 1,
1804, regretted as aprofound and enlightened law-writer. It
is remarkable that in his essay on commercial treaties abovementioned, he contends for our Selden’s Mare Clausum,
as the opinion of every man who is not misled by an immoderate zeal for his own country.
appiness of his fellow countrymen; and in many instances personally contributed, either by pecuniary or literary exertions, to meliorate the condition pf society. In
In 1784, long after his return to England, he was presented by the rev. John Parkhurst, editor of the Greek and
Hebrew Lexicons, to the vicarage of Epsom in Surrey; but
the same year he had the misfortune to lose his first wife,
who was a native of Maryland, of genteel connections, and
of the same name and family as the celebrated Joseph Addison, whom in many of the great points of his character
she resembled. Through life Mr. Boucher enjoyed the
society and friendship of men of erudition and science; and
on various occasions employed his pen, not only in defence
of those political principles on which the British monarchy
is founded, but in critical inquiries, and in theological duties. Of his discourses from the pulpit in Great Britain,
two Assize Sermons, preached in 1798, have been printed,
and fully justify the request of the Grand Juries to whom
we are indebted for their publication. He vas also an ample contributor to Mr. Hutchinson’s History of Cumberland.
The account of the parish of Bromfield, and the very interesting biographical sketches of eminent Cumberland men,
published in the same work, and marked “Biographia Cumbriensis,
” were written by him. Mr. Boucher was a patriot
in the best sense of the word: he was ever anxious to promote the happiness of his fellow countrymen; and in many
instances personally contributed, either by pecuniary or
literary exertions, to meliorate the condition pf society.
In 1792, he published an anonymous pamphlet, ^ubscribed
“A Cumberland Man,
” which was reprinted in the Appendix to sir Frederick Morton Eden’s “State of the Poor,
”
published in
ncouragement given to this specimen has not been sufficient to induce his relatives to publish more, or to encourage any gentleman of adequate talents to attempt the
During the last fourteen years of his life, Mr. Boucher’s
literary labours were chiefly dedicated to the compilation of
a Glossary of Provincial and Archaeological words, intended
as a “Supplement to Dr. Johnson’s Dictionary,
” the proposals for which he issued in Linguæ Anglican Veteris Thesaurus.
” The printed
aid which he collected for this work appeared sufficiently
by the library he left, and which was sold by auction after
his death. Few collections are more copious in early
printed literature. A part of this undertaking was published in 1807, containing words under the letter A. by
which it appeared that the author’s plan, including Scotch
words, was more extensive than originally intended. The
encouragement given to this specimen has not been sufficient to induce his relatives to publish more, or to encourage any gentleman of adequate talents to attempt the
completion of the work. Mr. Boucher died April 27, 1804,
leaving eight children by his second wife Mrs. James, widow of the rev. Mr. James, rector of Arthuret, &c. in Cumberland, whom he married in 1789.
ces. She was soon after chosen prioress, and then commenced her great work, the “Annee Benedictine,” or lives of the saints, the application to which, however, did
, a lady, who
merits some notice as a specimen of French female piety in
former days, was born Jan. 8, 1618. Her parents, who
were of noble rank, and distinguished for their piety, gave
her a suitable education, and from the age of five she was
brought up with one of her aunts in the abbey royal of the
Holy Trinity at Caen. When eleven, at her own earnest request, she was admitted to take the habit, and such was her
wise conduct, that only four years after, she was appointed
mistress of the novices. She was soon after chosen prioress, and then commenced her great work, the “Annee Benedictine,
” or lives of the saints, the application to which,
however, did not make her relax from the duties of her office. One of the consequences of her biographical labours,
was a more enlarged sense of what, in her opinion, she
ought to do, and to be, after the example of the Saints
whose lives she was writing. She blushed, we are told, to
praise and to record what she did not practise (not a common feeling among biographers), and although she knew
that the kingdom of heaven was not to be gained by abstinence from certain meats, yet she firmly believed that in
order to be the exact imitator of St. Benedict, she must
join that privation to her other rules: and had an occasion
to bring her principles to the test, when the duchess of
Mecklenburgh formed the design of a new establishment at
Chatillon of the female Benedictines of the Holy Sacrament, and requested her to be one of the number. Madame Bouette assented, although then sixty years old, and
from the rank of prioress in the abbey of St. Trinity, condescended to the humble state of a novice in this new establishment, and afterwards preferred the lowest place in it
to the rank of abbess which was afterwards offered to her.
In her last days, her strength, bodily and mental, decayed:
she became blind, and lame, and lost the use of speech,
in which state she died March 24, 1696, leaving the following momuments of her industry: 1. “L‘ Annie Benedictine, ou, Les Vies des Saints de l’ordre de St. Benoit,
”
Paris, 1667, 7 vols. 4to. 2. “Eloges de plusieurs personnes illustres en piete de l'ordre de St. Benoit,
” 2 vols.
4to. 3. “Vie de Fourrier de Matin court.
” 4. “Exercices de la Mort.
” 5. “Vies des Saintes,
” 2 vols. fol. 6.
“Monologue historique de la Mere de Dieu,
” Paris,
eft to himself the choice of his lieutenants; he set out that instant, without settling his affairs, or taking leave of his family, and chose for his officers a man
, peer and maréchal, distinguished in the French history, was born Jan.
10, 1644. His dispositions for the art of war having displayed themselves at a very early period, he was chosen
in 1669 to be colonel of a regiment of dragoons, at the
head of which he demonstrated his bravery under the
marechal de Crequi, and under Turenne. He received a
dangerous wound at the battle of Voerden; and another in
the affair of Entsheim, to the capture whereof he contributed much, by the confession of Turenne. After several
signal exploits, he gained immortal renown by the defence
of Lille in 1708. The siege lasted near four months.
Bouflers said to his officers, “Gentlemen, I trust to you;
but I answer for myself.
” Prince Eugene carried on the
siege with so much vigour that it was obliged to submit.
“I am very vain,
” said he to Bouflers, “on having taken
Lille; but I had rather still have the glory of having defended it like you.
” The king rewarded him for this service as if he had gained a battle. He was created a peer
of France; had the honours of first gentleman to the king,
and the reversion of the government of Flanders for his
eldest son. When he entered the parliament for his first
reception in it, turning to a crowd of officers who had
defended Lille with him, he said, “It is to you that I am
indebted for all the favours that are heaped upon me, and
on you I reflect them I have nothing to glory in but the
honour of having been at the head of so many brave men.
”
During the siege, one of his party having proved tojiim
that he could easily kill prince Eugene, “Your fortune is
made,
” returned Bouflers, “if you can take him prisoner:
but you shall be punished with the utmost severity if you
make an attempt on his life; and if I but suspected that
you had any such intention, I would have you shut up for
the rest of your life.
” This generosity, which formed a
part of his character, induced him to ask permission to
serve under the orders of marechal de Villars, though he
was his senior. At the battle of Malplaquet in 1709, he
made the retreat in such good order, that he left behind
him neither cannon nor prisoners. The marquis de Bouflers
united the virtues of a good citizen with the activity of a
general; serving his prince as the ancient Romans served
their republic; accounting his life as nothing when the
safety of his country was in question. The king having
ordered him to go and succour Lille, and having left to
himself the choice of his lieutenants; he set out that instant, without settling his affairs, or taking leave of his
family, and chose for his officers a man that had been disgraced, and a prisoner of the Bastille. His magnificence
was equal to his love for his country and his sovereign.
When Louis XIV. formed the camp of Compiegne, to
serve as a lesson to his grandson the duke of Burgundy,
and as a spectacle to the court, Bouflers lived there in
such a splendid style, that the king said to Livri, his
maitre-d'hotel, “The duke of Burgundy must not keep a
table; we cannot outdo the marechal; the duke of Burgundy shall dine with him when he goes to the camp.
”
This patriot general died at Fontainbleau, Aug. 22, 1711,
aged 68. “In him (writes madame de Maintenon) the
heart died last.
” We read in the continuation of the
history of England by Rapin, an anecdote too honourable
to the memory of this great man to be passed over here in
silence. King William having taken Namur, in 169,
made Bouflers prisoner, in violation of the articles that
had been agreed on. Surprised at so unjust a proceeding, the marechal, fresh from the glorious defence he
had made, demanded the reason of this perfidious treatment. He was answered that it was by way of reprisals
for the garrison of Dixmude and of Deinse, which the
French had detained contrary to capitulation. “If that be
the case (said Bouflers), then my garrison ought to be
arrested, and not I.
” “Sir (he was answered), you are
valued at more than ten thousand men.
”
e unction. He wrote, 1. A translation of the AntiLucretius of the cardinal de Polignac, 2 vols. 8vo, or one vol. 12mo, preceded by a very sensible preliminary discourse.
, born at Paris Dec. 1, 1722^ was educated with great care. His talents thus improved procured him celebrity at an early period, and obtained for him the places most flattering to literarymen at Paris. He became pensionary and secretary to the royal academy of inscriptions, member of the French academy, and some other foreign societies, censor-royal, keeper of the hall of antiquities at the Louvre, and one of the secretaries in ordinary to the duke of Orleans. His extraordinary industry impaired his health, and brought on premature old age, of which he died at the chateau de Loches, June 22, 1763, at the age of forty-one. His talents and personal virtues acquired him zealous patrons and affectionate friends. In his writings, as in his man'ners, all was laudable, and yet nothing shewed the desire of being praised. With the talents that contribute to fame, he principally aspired at the honour of being useful. Nevertheless, literary ambition, which is not the weakest of ambitions, found him not insensible. Accordingly he was desirous of being admitted of the French academy; he made vigorous application to Duclos, at that time secretary; mentioning, among other things, that he was afflicted with a disorder that was sapping his constitution, and that consequently his place would soon be vacant again; the secretaiy, an honest man, but of a hard and rough character, replied, with more wit than feeling, that it was not the business of the French academy to administer extreme unction. He wrote, 1. A translation of the AntiLucretius of the cardinal de Polignac, 2 vols. 8vo, or one vol. 12mo, preceded by a very sensible preliminary discourse. 2. Parallel between the expedition of Kouli Khan in the Indies, and that of Alexander, a work of great learning, abounding in ideas, flights of imagination and eloquence; but sometimes rather bombastic. He also wrote several papers of very superior merit in the Memoirs of the French Academy. In his twenty-fifth year he wrote a tragedy on the death of Philip, father of Alexander, which is said to evince considerable talents for poetry; and in the Magazin Encyclopedique was lately published a metrical translation by him of the Hymn of Cleanthes, which appears to have suggested to Pope his Universal Prayer.
, and the latter, for the most advantageous way of observing the declination of the magnetic needle, or the variation of the compass. In 1729, he gave an “Optical Essay
In 1727, at the age of twenty-nine, he obtained the
prize proposed by the academy of sciences, for the best
way of masting of ships. This first success of Bouguer was
soon after followed by two others of the same kind; he
successively gained the prizes of 1729 and 1731; the former, for the best manner of observing at sea the height of
the stars, and the latter, for the most advantageous way of
observing the declination of the magnetic needle, or the
variation of the compass. In 1729, he gave an “Optical
Essay upon the Gradation of Light;
” a subject quite
in which he examined the intensity of light, and determined its degrees of diminution in passing through different pellucid mediums, and particularly that of the sun
in traversing the earth’s atmosphere. JVIairati gave an extract of this first essay in the Journal des Savans, in 1730.
In this same year, 1730, he was removed from the port
of Croisic to that of Havre, which brought him into a
nearer connection with the academy of sciences, in which
he obtained, in 1731, the place of associate geometrician,
vacant by the promotion of Maupertuis to that of pensioner; and in 1735 he was promoted to the office of
pensioner-astronomer. The same year he was sent on the
commission to South America, along with messieurs Godin,
Condamine, and Jeussieu, to determine the measure of
the degrees of the meridian, and the figure of the earth.
In this painful and troublesome business, of ten years duration, chiefly among the lofty Cordelier mountains, our
author determined many other new circumstances, beside
the main object of the voyage such as the expansion and
contraction of metals and other substances, by the sudden
and alternate changes of heat and cold among those mountains; observations on the refraction of the atmosphere
from the tops of the same, with the singular phenomenon
of the sudden increase of the refraction, when the star can
be observed below the line of the level; the laws of the
density of the air at different heights, from observations
made at different points of these enormous mountains; a
determination that the mountains have an effect upon a
plummet, though he did not assign the exact quantity of
it; a method of estimating the errors committed by navigators in determining their route; a new construction of
the log for measuring a ship’s way; with several other
useful improvements. Other inventions of Bouguer, made
upon different occasions, were as follow: the heliometer,
being a telescope with two object-glasses, affording a good
method of measuring the diameters of the larger planets
with ease and exactness: his researches on the figure in
which two lines or two long ranges of parallel trees appear his experiments on the famous reciprocation of the
pendulum and those upon the manner of measuring the
force of the light &c. &c.
es his reader to understand, that there is no subject whatever, either of divinity, philosophy, law, or physic, &c. but may be introduced into conversation, provided
, a celebrated French critic,
was born at Paris in 1628; and has by some been considered as a proper person to succeed Malherbe, who died
about that time. He entered into the society of Jesuits at
sixteen, and was appointed to read lectures upon polite
literature in the college of Clermont at Paris, where he
had studied; but he was so incessantly attacked with the
head-ach, that he could not pursue the destined task. He
afterwards undertook the education of two sons of the duke
of Longueville, which he discharged to the entire satisfaction of the duke, who had such a regard for him, that he
would needs die in his arms; and the “Account of the
pious and Christian death
” of this great personage was the
first work which Bouhours gave the public. He was sent
to Dunkirk to the popish refugees from England; and, in,
the midst of his missionary occupations, found time to
compose and publish many works of reputation. Among
these were “Entretiens d‘Ariste & d’Eugene,
” a work of
a critical nature, which was printed no less than five times
at Paris, twice at Grenoble, at Lyons, at Brussels, at Amsterdam, at Leyden, &c. and embroiled him with a great
number of critics, and with Menage in particular; who,
however, lived in friendship with our author before and
after. There is a passage in this work which gave great
oifence in Germany, where he makes it a question,
“Whether it be possible that a German could be a wit
”
The fame of it, however, and the pleasure he took in reading it, recommended Bouhours so effectually to the celebrated minister Colbert, that he trusted him with the education of his son, the marquis of Segnelai. The Remarks
and Doubts upon the French language has been reckoned
one of the most considerable of our author’s works; and
may be read with great advantage by those who would perfect themselves in that tongue. Menage, in his Observations upon the French language, has given his approbation
of jt in the following passage: “The book of Doubts,
”
says he, “is written with great elegance, and contains
many fine observations. And, as Aristotle has said, that
reasonable doubt is the beginning of all real knowledge; so
we may say also, that the man who doubts so reasonably
as the author of this book, is himself very capable of deciding. For this reason perhaps it is, that, forgetting the
tide of his work, he decides oftener than at first he proposed.
” Bouhours was the author of another work, “The
art of pleasing in conversation,
” of which M. de la Grose,
who wrote the eleventh volume of the Bibliotheque Universelle, has given an account, which he begins with this
elogium upon the author “A very little skill,
” says he,
“in style and manner, will enable a reader to discover the
author of this work. He will see at once the nice, the
ingenious, and delicate turn, the elegance and politeness
of father Bouhours. Add to this, the manner of writing in
dialogue, the custom of quoting himself, the collecting
strokes of wit, the little agreeable relations interspersed,
and a certain mixture of gallantry and morality which is
altogether peculiar to this Jesuit. This work is inferior to
nothing we have seen of father Bouhours. He treats in
twenty dialogues, with an air of gaiety, of every thing
which can find a way into conversation; and, though he
avoids being systematical, yet he gives his reader to understand, that there is no subject whatever, either of divinity,
philosophy, law, or physic, &c. but may be introduced
into conversation, provided it be done with ease, politeness, and in a manner free from pedantry and affectation.
”
He died at Paris, in the college of Clermont, upon the
27th of May 1702; after a life spent, says Moreri, under
such constant and violent fits of the head-ach, that he had
but few intervals of perfect ease. The following is a list
of his works with their dates: 1. “Les Entretiens d‘Ariste
et d’Eugene,
” Remarques et Doutes
sur la langue Franchise,
” 3 vols. 12mo. 3. “La Manier
de bien penser sur les ouvrages d' esprit,
” Paris, Pensees ingenieuses des anciens et des modernes,
” Paris, You have, it is true, introduced me in your
new work, but in very bad company,
” alluding to the frequent mention of some Italian and French versifiers whom
Boileau despised. 5. “Pensees ingenieuses des Peres de
l'Eglise,
” Paris, too much of
his time Oh profane literature. 6.
” Histoire du grandmaitre d'Aubusson,“1676, 4to, 1679, and lately in 1780.
7. The lives of St. Ignatius, Paris, 1756, 12mo, and of
St. Francis Xavier, 1682, 4to, or 2 vols. 12mo. Both these
are written with rather more judgment than the same lives
by Ribadeneira, but are yet replete with the miraculous
and the fabulous. The life of Xavier was translated by
Dryden, and published at London in 1688, with a dedication to king James II. 's queen. Dryden, says Mr. Malone,
doubtless undertook this task, in consequence of the queen,
when she solicited a son, having recommended herself to
Xavier as her patron saint. 8.
” Le Nouveau Testament,"
translated into French from the Vulgate, 2 vols. 1697
1703, 12mo.
, the historian of the university of Paris, was born at St. Ellier or Helier, and became professor of rhetoric in the college of Navarre,
, the historian of the university of Paris, was born at St. Ellier or Helier, and became professor of rhetoric in the college of Navarre, and
afterwards register, historiographer, and rector of the university of Paris, where he died Oct. 16, 1678. Of all his
works, his history of the university of Paris, “Historia
Universitatis Parisiensis,
” 6 vols. 1665 1673, fol. contributed most to his fame. The publication of this vast undertaking was at first interrupted by some objections from
the theological faculty of Paris, who carried their remonstrances to the king; but the commissioners, whom his
majesty employed to inspect the work, having reported
that they saw no reason why it should not be continued, he
proceeded to its completion, and in 1667 published an answer to their objections, entitled “Notue ad censuram.
”
Not entirely satisfied with this triumph, he also published
a poetical satire against them, with the title of “Ad Zoilosycopuantam, sive Bulaeistarum obtrectatorem,
” a work of
considerable spirit and elegance of style. His history is
an useful repository of facts and lives of learned men connected with the revival of literature, and especially the progress of learning in that eminent university, and is blameable only for the fabulous accounts, in which our own university-historians have not been wanting, respecting the
early history of schools of learning. Boulai’s other writings are, 1. “Tresor des antiquues Romanies,
” Paris,
Speculum eloquentia?,
” ibid. De Patronis quatuor nationum universitatis Parisiensis,
” Paris, Remarques sur la dignite,
rang, preseance, autorite, et jurisdiction du recteur de Tuniversite de Paris,
” ibid. Recueil des Privileges de PUniversite de Paris accordes par les rois de
France depuis sa fondation., &c.
” ibid. Fondation de l'universite, &e,
”
it. At seventeen years of age he began to apply himself to mathematics and architecture; and,n three or lour years made such progress as to be usefrl to the baron of
, one of the earliest
French infidels, who assumed the name of philosophers
was born at Paris in 1722, and died therein 1759, aged
only thirty -seven. During his education, he is said to
have come out of the college of Beauvais almost as ignorant
as he went in; hut, struggling hard against his inaptitude
to study, he at length overcame it. At seventeen years of
age he began to apply himself to mathematics and architecture; and,n three or lour years made such progress
as to be usefrl to the baron of Thiers, whom he accompanied to thearmy in quality of engineer. Afterwards he
had the supervision of the highways and bridges, and executed severa public works in Champagne, Burgundy, and
Lorrain. Ii cutting through mountains, directing and
changing tie courses of rivers, and in breaking up and
turning ov<r the strata of the earth, he saw a multitude of
different substances, which (he thought) evinced the great
antiquity of it, and a long series of revolutions which it
must hav undergone. From the revolutions in the globe,
he passei to the changes that must have happened in the
manner?of men, in societies, in governments, in religion
and fomed many conjectures upon all these. To be farther saisfied, he wanted to know what, in the history of
ages, lad been said upon these particulars; and, that he
might be informed from the fountain-head, he learned
first latin, and then Greek. Not yet content, he plunged
into clebrew, Syriac, Chaldaic, and Arabic and from
these studies accumulated a vast mass of singular and paradoxical opinions which he conveyed to the public in the
followng works: 1. “Traite du Despotisme Oriental,
” 2
vols. 2mo, 2. “L'antiquite devoile, par ses usages,
” 3
vols. 12mo. This was posthumous. 3. Another work, entitle! “Le Christianisme demasqu6,
” 8vo, is attributed
to Hm, but it is not certain that he was the author of it.
4. le furnished to the Encyclopedic the articles Deluge,
C-rvde, and Societe. 5. A dissertation on Elisha and
Eioch. 6. He left behind him in ms. a dictionary, which
my be regarded as a concordance in antient and modern
Jjnguages. Voltaire, the baron D'Holbach, and other disgminators of infidelity, made much use of Boulanger’s
works, and more of his name, which, it is supposed, they
prefixed to some of their own compositions. Barruel gives
some reason for thinking that Boulanger retracted his
opinions before his death. His name, however, still remained of consequence to the party; and as late as 1791,
an edition of his works, entitled the Philosophical
Library, was published at the philosophic press in Swisserland.
the faces, hands, and all the naked parts of his figures very neatly with dots, instead of strokes, or strokes and dots. This style of engraving has been of late carried
, an engraver, who flourished
about the year 1657, was a native of France. His first
manner of engraving was partly copied from that of Francis
de Poilly; but he afterwards adopted a manner of his own,
which, though not original, he greatly improved; and,
accordingly, he finished the faces, hands, and all the naked
parts of his figures very neatly with dots, instead of strokes,
or strokes and dots. This style of engraving has been of
late carried to a high degree of perfection, particularly in
England. Notwithstanding several defects in the naked
parts of his figures, and in his draperies, his best prints
are deservedly much esteemed. Such are “A Holy Family,
” from Fran. Corlebet; “Virgin and Child,
” from
Simon Vouet; “The Pompous Cavalcade,
” upon Louis
the XlVth coming of age, from Chauveau; “The Virgin
with the infant Christ,
” holding some pinks, and therefore
called “The Virgin of the Pinks,
” from Raphael; “The
Virgin de Passau,
” from Salario;“” Christ carrying his
Cross,“from Nicolas Mignard;
” A dead Christ, supported by Joseph of Arimathea." He also engraved many
portraits, and, among others, that of Charles II. of England. He likewise engraved from Leonardo de Vinci,
Guido, Champagne, Stella, Coypel, and other great masters, as well as from his own designs.
, D. D. archbishop of Armagh, primate and metropolitan of all Ireland, was born in or near London, Jan. 4, 1671, of a reputable and opulent family,
, D. D. archbishop of Armagh, primate and metropolitan of all Ireland, was born in or near London, Jan. 4, 1671, of a reputable and opulent family, received his first rudiments] of learning at Merchant-Taylor’s school, and was admitted from thence a commoner of Christ-church, Oxford, some time before the Revolution. His merit became so conspicuous there, that immediately after that great event, he was elected a demi of Magdalencollege, with the celebrated Mr. Addison, and Dr. Joseph Wilcox, afterwards bishop of Rochester and dean of Westminster, from whose merit and learning Dr. Hough, who was then restored to the presidentship of that college (from which he had been unwarrantably ejected in the reign of king James II.) used to call this election by the name of the golden election, and the same respectful appellation was long after made use of in common conversation in the college*, Mr. Boulter was afterwards made fellow of Magdalen-college. He continued in the university till he was called to London, by the invitation of sir Charles Hedges, principal secretary of state in 1700, who made him his chaplain;
ppointed that the surplus should be a fund for setting out the children of such, widows apprentices, or otherwise to be disposed of for the benefit of such children,
* Dr. Welsted, a physician, was also The primate maintained a son of the
of this golden election, and when he doctor’s, as a commoner, at Hart-halt
became poor in the latter part of his in Oxford; and would effectually have
life, the archbishop, though he was no provided for him, if the young gentlerelation, gave him, at the least, two man had not died before he had taken
hundred pounds a year, till his death, a degree. Dr. Welsted was one of the
Nor did his grace’s kindness to the editors of the Oxford Pindar, and
doctor’s family end with his decease-, esteemed an excellent Greek scholar.
and some time after he was preferred to the same honour
by Dr. Thomas Tenison, archbishop of Canterbury. In
these stations he was under a necessity of appearing often
at court, where his merit obtained him the patronage of
Charles Spencer, earl of Sunderland, principal secretary
of state, by whose interest he was advanced to the rectory
of St. Olave in Southwark, and to the archdeaconry of
Surrey. The parish of St. Olave was very populous, and
for the most part poor, and required such a liberal and vigilant pastor as Dr. Boulter, who relieved their wants,
and gave them instruction, correction, and reproof. When
king George I. passed over to Hanover in 1719, Dr. Boulter was recommended to attend him in quality of his chaplain, and also was appointed tutor to prince Frederic, to
instruct him in the English tongue; and for that purpose
drew up for his use “A set of Instructions.
” This so recommended him to the king, that during his abode at
Hanover, the bishopric of Bristol, and deanery of Christchurch, Oxford, becoming vacant, the king granted to
him that see and deanery, and he was consecrated bishop
of Bristol, on the fifteenth of November, 1719. In this
last station he was more than ordinarily assiduous in the
visitation of his diocese, and the discharge of his pastoral
duty; and during one of these visitations, he received a
letter by a messenger from the secretary of state, acquainting him, that his majesty had nominated him to the archbishopric of Armagh, and primacy of Ireland, then vacant
by the death of Dr. Thomas Lindsay, on the 13th of July,
1724-, and desiring him to repair to London as soon as
possible, to kiss the king’s hand for his promotion. After
some, consultation on this affair, to which he felt great repugnance, he sent an answer by the messenger, refusing
the honour the king intended him, and requesting the secretary to use his good offices with his majesty, in making
his excuse, but the messenger was dispatched back to him.
by the secretary, with the king’s absolute commands that
he should accept of the post, to which he submitted,
though not without some reluctance, and soon after addressed himself to his journey to court. Ireland was at
that juncture not a little inflamed, by the copper-coin
project of one Wood, and it was thought by the king and
ministry, that the judgment, moderation, and wisdom of
the bishop of Bristol would tend much to allay the ferment.
He arrived in Ireland on the third of November, 1724,
had no sooner passed patent for the primacy, than he
appeared at all the public boards, and gave a weight and
vigour to them; and, in every respect, was indefatigable
in promoting the real happiness of the people. Among
his other wise measures, in seasons of great scarcity in,
Ireland, he was more than once instrumental in averting a
pestilence and famine, which threatened the nation. When
the scheme was set on foot for making a navigation, by a
canal to be drawn from Lough -Neagh to Newry, not only
for bringing coal to Dublin, but to carry on more effectually an inland trade in the several counties of the north
of Ireland, he greatlv encouraged and promoted the design, not only with his counsel but his purse. Drogheda
is a large and populous town within the diocese of Armagh,
and his grace finding that the ecclesiastical appointments
were not sufficient to support two clergymen there, and
the cure over-burthensome for one effectually to discharge,
he allotted out of his own pocket a maintenance for a second curate, whom he obliged to give public service every
Sunday in the afternoon, and prayers twice every day.
He had great compassion for the poor clergy of his diocese, who were disabled from giving their children a proper education, and maintained several of the sons of
such in the university, in order to qualify them for future
preferment, He erected four houses at Drogheda for the
reception of clergymen’s widows, and purchased an estate
for the endowment of them, after the model of primate
Marsh’s charity; which he enlarged in one particular: for
as the estate he purchased for the maintenance of the
widows, amounted to twenty-four pounds a year more than
he had set apart for that use, he appointed that the surplus
should be a fund for setting out the children of such,
widows apprentices, or otherwise to be disposed of for the
benefit of such children, as his trustees should think proper.
He also by his will directed, which has since been performed, that four houses should be built for clergymen’s
widows at Armagh, and endowed with fifty pounds a year.
During his life, he contracted for the building of a stately
market-house at Armagh, which was finished by his executors, at upwards of eight hundred pounds expence. He
was a benefactor also to Dr. Stevens’s hospital in the city
of Dublin, erected for the maintenance and cure of the
poor. His charities for augmenting small livings, and
buying of glebes, amounted to upwards of thirty thousand
pourids, besides what he devised by his will for the like
purposes in England. Though the plan of the incorporated society for promoting English protestant working
schools, cannot be imputed to primate Boulter, yet he
was the chief instrument in forwarding the undertaking,
which he lived to see carried into execution with consider,
able success. His private charities were not less munificent, but so secretly conducted, that it is impossible to
give any particular account of them: it is affirmed by
those who were in trust about him, that he never suffered
an object to leave his house unsupplied, and he often sent
them away with considerable sums, according to the judgment he made of their merits and necessities. With respect
to his political virtues, and the arts of government, when
his health would permit him he was constant in his attendance at the council-table, and it is well known what weight
and dignity he gave to the debates of that board. As he
always studied the true interest of Ireland, so he judged,
that the diminishing the value of the gold coin would be a
means of increasing silver in the country, a thing very
much wanted in order to effect which, he supported a
scheme at the council- table, which raised the clamours of
unthinking people, although experience soon demonstrated
its wisdom. He was thirteen times one of the lords justices,
or chief governors of Ireland; which office he administered
oftener than any other chief governor on record. He embarked for England June 2, 1742, and after two days illness died at his house in St. James’s place, Sept. 27, and
was buried in Westminster-abbey, where a stately monument has been erected to his memory. His deportment
was grave, his aspect venerable, and his temper meek and
humble. He was always open and easy of access both to
rich and poor. He was steady to the principles of liberty,
both in religion and politics. His learning was universal,
yet more in substance than shew; nor would his modesty
permit him to make any ostentation of it. He always preserved such an equal temper of mind that hardly any thing
could ruffle, and amidst obloquy and opposition, steadily
maintained a resolution of serving his country, embraced
every thing proposed for the good of it, though by persons
remarkable for their opposition to him: and when the most
public-spirited schemes were introduced by him, and did
not meet with the reception they deserved, he never took
offence, but was glad when any part of his advice for the
public good was pursued, and was always willing to drop
some points, that he might not lose all; often saying,
“he would do all the good to Ireland he could, though
they did not suffer him to do all he would.
” His life was
mostly spent in action, and therefore it is not to be expected that he should have left many remains of his learning behind him nor do we know of any thing he bath
written, excepting a few Charges to his clergy at his visitations, which are grave, solid, and instructive, and eleven
Occasional Sermons, printed separately. In 1769, however,
were published, at Oxford, in two volumes 8vo, “Letters
written by his excellency Hugh Boulter, D. D. lord primate of all Ireland, &c. to several ministers of state in
England, and some others. Containing an account of the
most interesting transactions which passed in Ireland from
1724 to 1738.
” The originals, which are deposited in the
library of Christ church, in Oxford, were collected by
Ambrose Philips, esq. who was secretary to his grace, and
lived in his house during that space of time in which they
bear date. They are entirely letters of business, and are
all of them in Dr. Boulter’s hand-writing, excepting some
few, which are fair copies by his secretary. The editor
justly remarks, that these letters, which could not be intended for publication, have been fortunately preserved,
as they contain the most authentic history of Ireland, for
the period in which they were written: “a period,
” he
adds, “which will ever do honour to his grace’s memory,
and to those most excellent princes George the first and
second, who had the wisdom to place confidence in so
worthy, so able, and so successful a minister; a minister
who had the rare and peculiar felicity of growing still
more and more into the favour both of the king and of the
people, until the very last day of his life,
” It is much to
be regretted that in some of his measures, he was opposed
by dean Swift, particularly in that of diminishing the gold
coin, as it is probable that they both were actuated by an
earnest desire of serving the country. In one affair, that
of Wood’s halfpence, they appear to have coincided, and
in that they both happened to encourage a public clamour
which had little solid foundation. The writer of archbishop'
Boulter’s Life in the Biog. Brit, seems to doubt whether
he assisted Ambrose Philips in the paper called the
“Freethinker;
” but of this we apprehend there can be no
doubt. It was published while he held the living of St.
Olave’s.
ed to the successful establishment of an extensive manufactory of ornaments, in what the French call or moulu; and these ornaments not only found their way into the
Impelled by an ardent attachment to the arts, and by the patriotic ambition of bringing his favourite Soho to the highest perfection, the ingenious proprietor soon established a seminary of artists, for drawing and modelling; and men of genius were sought for, and liberally patronized, which shortly led to the successful establishment of an extensive manufactory of ornaments, in what the French call or moulu; and these ornaments not only found their way into the apartments of his majesty, but also into those of the nobility and curious of this kingdom, France, and the greatest part of Europe.
he same blow, which strikes the face and reverse, the edge of the piece is also struck, either plain or with an inscription.
Amongst the various applications of the steam engine, that of coining seems to be of considerable importance, as by its powers, all the operations are concentrated on the same spot. It works a number of coining machines with greater rapidity and exactness by a few boys from twelve to fourteen years of age, than could be done by a great number of strong men, without endangering their fingers, as the machine itself lays the blanks upon the die perfectly concentral with it, and, when struck, displaces one piece and replaces another. The coining mill, which was erected in 1788, and has since been greatly improved, is adapted to work eight machines, and each is capable of striking from sixty to an hundred pieces of money in a minute, the size of a guinea, which is equal to between 30,000 and 40,000 per hour, and at the same blow, which strikes the face and reverse, the edge of the piece is also struck, either plain or with an inscription.
e medals which, for elegance of design and beauty of execution, have never yet been equalled in this or any other country, is a massy one of gold, impressed with a
Since the demise of the late empress Catherine of Russia, Mr. Boulton presented her successor, the late emperor Paul I. with some of the curious articles of his’manufactory, and in return received a polite letter of thanks and Approbation, together with a splendid collection of medals, minerals from Siberia, and specimens of all the modern money of Russia. Among the medals which, for elegance of design and beauty of execution, have never yet been equalled in this or any other country, is a massy one of gold, impressed with a striking likeness, it is said, of that monarch. This unrivalled piece was struck from a die engraved by the present empress dowager, who has, from her youth, taken great delight in the art of engraving on steel.
miscarried through the obstinacy of the famous Ducange (who would have the work done in his own way, or have nothing to do with it) and the modesty of Mabillon. Another
The first who attempted a collection of the kind was the
famous Peter Pithou. It was his intention to have published a complete body of French historians, extracted
from printed books and Mss. but he died in 1596, having
published only two volumes on the subject, one in 8vo,
the other in 4to. These carried the history no lower than
the year 1285. Nothing more was done till 1635, when
Du Chesne, who is called the Father of French history,
took up the subject again, and published a prospectus for
a history, to be comprised in fourteen volumes fol. and
end with the reign of Henry II. The first two volumes accordingly came out in 1636, but the author died whilst the
two next were in the press. These, however, were published in 1641, by his sou, who added a fifth volume, ending with the life of Philippe le Bel, in 1649. The next
attempts were vain, though made under the auspices of
such men as Colbert, Louvois, and chancellor D'Aguesseau:
the plan proposed by the first miscarried through the obstinacy of the famous Ducange (who would have the work done in his own way, or have nothing to do with it) and
the modesty of Mabillon. Another was, as we have just
mentioned, put a stop to by the death of Le Long, who,
having pointed out the materials in his “Bibliotheque
Historique de la France,
” was the fittest to have made use
of them. In this state of things the Benedictine congregation of St. Maur recommended Bouquet, who accordingly went to work under the inspection of a society of
teamed men named by the chancellor, in whose presence
the plan of the work, and the materials fit to be made use
of, were discussed. Bouquet was so assiduous in his labour, that about the end of the year 1729 he was ready
with two volumes; but, owing to his removal to the abbey
of St. John de Laon, they were not published until 1738,
when the chancellor D'Aguesseau called him to Paris, and
he then proceeded so rapidly, that the eighth was published
in 1752. He had begun the ninth, in which he hoped to
have completed what regarded the second race of the
French kings; but, in 1754, was seized with a violent disorder, which proved fatal in tour days, April 6. He was
a man of extensive learning, connected with all the learned
men and learned societies of his time, and beloved for his
personal virtues. For many years the work was continued
by the congregation of St. Maur, but without the name of
any editor. Seven more volumes have appeared since
Bouquet’s death, and the sixteenth is now in the press,
and almost ready for publication.
er very sevtfe penalties, the receiving the pope’s bull without the khg’s leave. Nevertheless, seven or eight years after, the see of Ely still continuing vacant, and
, archbishop of Canterbury in the successi^eio-ns of
Henry VI. Edward IV. Edward V. Richard III. tf Henry
VII. was son of William Bourchier earl of Ewe in Normandy, and the countess of Stafford, and brother of Henry
earl of Essex, and, consequently, related to the preceding
lord Berners. He had his education in Neville’s-inn at
Oxford, and was chancellor of that university three ears
viz. from 1433 to 1437. His first dignity in the church
was that of dean of the collegiate church of St. Martin’s in
London; from which, in 1433, he was advanced, by pope
Eugenius IV. to the see of Worcester but his consecration
was deferred to May 15, 1436, by reason (as is supposed)
of a defect in age. He had not sat a full year, before he
was elected by the monks of Ely bishop of that see, and
confirmed by the pope: but, the king refusing his consent,
Bourchier did not dare to comply with the election,' for
fear of incurriig the censure of the laws, which forbad,
under very sevtfe penalties, the receiving the pope’s bull
without the khg’s leave. Nevertheless, seven or eight
years after, the see of Ely still continuing vacant, and the
king consenting, he was translated thither, the 20th of
December 1443. The author of the “Historia Eliensis
”
speaks very disadvantageously of him, as an oppressor,
and neglectfi of his duty during his residence on that see,
which was ten years twenty-three weeks and five days. At
last he was elected archbishop of Canterbury, in the
room of John Kemp, the 23d of April 1454. This election
was the irre remarkable, as the monks were left entirely to trir liberty of choice, without any interposition
either frc the crown or the papal chair. On the contrary, pof Nicolas Vth’s concurrence being readily obtained, t> archbishop was installed with great solemnity.
In the m^th of December following, he received the red
hat from vome, being created cardinal-priest of St. Cyriacus in Ttemis, but Bentham thinks this was not till 1464,
The next ear, he was made lord high chancellor of England, but‘esigned that office in October the year following. So’ after his advancement to the see of Canterbury,
he be^aia visitation in Kent, and made several regulations fothe government of his diocese. He likewise
publish* 3 - constitution for restraining the excessive abuse
of papa'rovisions, but deserved most highly of the learned
world, r being the principal instrument in introducing
the no 2 art of printing into England. Wood’s account^
althou not quite correct, is worth transcribing. Bourchier being informed that the inventor, Tossan^ alias
John -ithenberg, had set up a press at Harlem, was extremely desirous that the English might be made masters
of s^ 6116 ^ ^ an art. To this purpose he persuaded
fcino Henry VI. to dispatch one Robert Tournour, belong to the wardrobe, privately to Harlem. This man,
f ur ed with a thousand marks, of which the archbishop
suried three hundred, embarked for Holland, and, to
disise the matter, went in company with one Caxton, a,
nnhant of London, pretending himself to be of the same
profession. Thus concealing his name and his business, he
went first to Amsterdam, then to Leyden, and at last settled
at Harlem where having spent a -great deal of time and
money, he sent to the king for a fresh supply, giving his
Highness to understand, that he had almost compassed the
enterprize. In short, he persuaded Frederic Corselli, one
of the compositors, to carry off a set of letters, and embark
with him in the night for London. When they arrived, the
archbishop, thinking Oxford a more convenient place for
printing than London, sent Corselli down thither. And,
lest he should slip away before he had discovered the whole
secret, a guard was set upon the press. And thus the mystery of printing appeared ten years sooner in the university
of Oxford than at any other place in Europe, Harlem and
Mentz excepted. Not long after, there were presses set up
at Westminster, St. Alhan’s, Worcester, and other monasteries of note. After this manner printing was introduced
into England, by the care of archbishop Bourchier, in the
year of Christ 1464, and the third of king Edward IV."
urt. On the revocation of the edict of Nantz, the king sent him into Languedoc to strengthen the new or pretended converts from the heresies of the protestant faith,
, a Jesuit, and one of the most
eloquent preachers France ever produced, was born at
Bourges, Aug. 20, 1632, and entered the society of the
Jesuits in 1648. After having passed some years in teaching grammar, rhetorick, philosophy, and divinity, his talents pointed him out for the office of preacher, and the extraordinary popularity of his sermons in the country, determined his superiors to call him to Paris in 1669, to take
the usual course of a year’s preaching in their church of St.
Louis, which soon became crowded with multitudes of both
sexes both from the court and city; nor was this a transient impression, as whoever heard him once wished to hear
him again, and even Louis XIV. listened with pleasure, although he appears to have introduced subjects in his discourses which could not be very acceptable in his court.
On the revocation of the edict of Nantz, the king sent him
into Languedoc to strengthen the new or pretended converts from the heresies of the protestant faith, and we are
told the effect of his eloquence was great. His eloquence
was undoubtedly superior to that of his contemporaries, and
he has justly been praised for introducing a more pure
style than was customary in the French pulpips. One effect of his preaching was, that great numbers of his hearers
requested him to take their souls into his hands, and be the
director of their consciences, in other words, to turn father
confessor, with which he complied, and frequently sat five
or six hours in the confessional, completing there, says his
biographer, what he had only sketched in the pulpit. He
was yet more admired for his charitable attentions and the
sick and poor, among whom he passed much of his time, in
religious conference and other acts of humanity. He died
at Paris May 13, 1704, universally lamented and long remembered as the most attractive and eloquent of preachers.
He had preached thirty -four years at court and in Paris.
Father Bretonneau published two editions of his works, the
first of 16 vols. 8vo. 1716, reckoned the best, or at least,
the most beautifully printed; and the second in 18 vols.
12rrio. Comparisons have been formed between him and
Massillon, but several are still inclined to give him the preference. There is warmth, zeal, and elegance in his style
and reasoning, but he is frequently declamatory and verbose. It is difficult, however, for English critics to appreciate the merits of his sermons, calculated as they were for
a class of hearers with whose taste we are unacquainted.
Of his catholic spirit we have an instance on record, that
in an interview with bishop Burnet at Paris, he told the
English prelate that he believed “all honest protestants
would be saved.
”
ortance in the eyes of their courtiers, which draws attention to all their actions; and that, sooner or later, the most secret of them are revealed to posterity. The
“Brantome,
” (says M. Anquetil) “is in the hands of
every body. All the world pretends to have read him; but
he ought particularly to be put into the hands of princes,
that they may learn how impossible it is for them to hide
themselves they they have an importance in the eyes of
their courtiers, which draws attention to all their actions;
and that, sooner or later, the most secret of them are revealed to posterity. The reflections that would occur, on
seeing that Brantome has got together all the little transactions, all the idle words that have escaped them, all the
actions pretended to be indifferent, which were thought to
be neglected and lost, and which nevertheless mark the
character, would render them more circumspect. In reading Brantome a problem forces itself on the mind, which
it is difficult to solve. It is very common to see that author
joining together the most discordant ideas in regard to morals. Sometimes he will represent a woman as addicted to
the most infamous refinements of libertinism, and then will
conclude by saying that she was prudent, and a good Christian. So likewise of a priest, of a monk, or any other ecclesiastic, he will relate anecdotes more than wanton; and
will tell us very gravely at the end, that this man lived regularly according to his station. Almost all his memoirs
are full of similar contradictions in a sort of epigram. On
which 1 have this question to propose: Was Brantome a libertine; who, in order to sport more securely with religion
and morals, affects in the expression a respect to which the
very matter of the recital gives the lie? or, Was he one of
those persons who generally go under the name of amiable
fops; who, without principles as without design, confound virtue and vice, making no real difference between one character
and another? Whatever judgment we may form of him, we
must always blame him for omitting to observe a proper reverence for decorum in his writings, and for frequently
putting modesty to the blush. We perceive in Brantome
the character of those young men, who, making a part of
the court by their birth, pass their lives in it without pretensions and without desires. They amuse themselves with
every thing: if an action has a ridiculous side, they seize
it; if it has not, they give it one. Brantome only skims
along the surface of a subject; he knows nothing of diving
into an action, and unfolding the motives that gave it birth.
He gives a good picture of what he has seen, relates in simple terms what he has heard; but it is nothing uncommon
to see him quit his main object, return to it, quit it a
and conclude by thinking no more of it. With all this irregularity he pleases, because he amuses.
”
, he being told that it was in the power of the trustees to dispose of what might appear superfluous or inferior. Such was his respect for his deceased friend, that
, knight of the Polish order of Merit, and an artist of distinguished reputation, was the descendant of a considerable family in Switzerland, but was born in London in 1756. His early destination was the army, under the patronage of lord Heathfield, who was his father’s - friend but having been instructedwhi|p a child in the rudiments of painting, by a foreigner of inconsiderable merit as a horse-painter, he became so attached to the study, as soon to relinquish the military profession, and devote himself wholly to the pencil. For this purpose he was placed under the tuition of Loutherbourg, and having, from his connexions and acquaintance, access to many of the most distinguished collections, he soon acquired considerable reputation by his landscapes and sea-pieces. In 1776, he travelled through Italy, France, and Holland, where his correct knowledge of the language of each country, added to the politeness of his address, and the pleasures of his conversation, procured him an introduction to the best society, and most valuable repositories of the arts on the continent. At his return to England, he exhibited several specimens of his studies at the royal academy, which obtained him reputation and patronage. In 1791 he was appointed painter to the king of Poland, whose brother, the prince primate, had been much pleased with his performances during his residence in this country; and at the same time he received the honour of knighthood of the order of Merit, which was afterwards confirmed by his present majesty, who, in 1794, appointed him landscapepainter to the king. Previous to this he had, in 1792, been elected a member of the royal academy. Some time before his death, by the will of the late Noel Desenfans, esq. an eminent picture-dealer, he became possessed of sufficient property to render a laborious application to his profession no longer necessary, and from that time he lived in the circle of his friends, highly respected for his talents and agreeable manners. He died Jan. 8, 1811, at his house in Portland- street, bequeathing his fine collection of pictures, and his fortune, to Dirlwich college. According to the terms of his will, he leaves the whole of these pictures, besides 10,000l. to keep them in due preservation, and 2,000/ for the purpose of repairing the gallery ki the college for their reception. He also bequeathed legacies of lOOOl. each to the master of the college, and to the chaplain and the fellows of the college are to be the residuary legatees, and are to possess, for its advantage, all the rest of his property, of every denomination. Most part of this will, however, does not take effect until after the death of Mrs. Desenfans, the widow of his benefactor; and after that event he directs that the body of the late Noel Desenfans, which is now deposited in a sarcophagus within a mausoleum in a chapel, attached to his late house in Charlotte-street, Portland-place, shall be removed, together with his own body (which has, by his desire, been deposited in the same mausoleum), and entombed in a sarcophagus, to be "placed in the chapel of Dulwich college. So singular a will, with respect at least to the place chosen for this collection, excited much surprise. The following circumstances, however, which have been communicated by an intimate friend of the testator, may in some measure account for it. After sir Francis became possessed of the Desenfans collection, by the owner’s friendly will in his favour, he wished to purchase the fee simple of his fine house in Charlotte-street, enlarge it, and endow it as a perpetual repository for the collection, easily accessible to the public, and particularly to students as a school of art; but unluckily, his landlord, a nobleman lately deceased, refused his consent, although he afterwards expressed an inclination to grant it, when too late. Sir Francis then conceived the design of hequeathing the collection to the British Museum, but did not execute it, from a fear that the pictures might not be kept entire and unmixed, he being told that it was in the power of the trustees to dispose of what might appear superfluous or inferior. Such was his respect for his deceased friend, that his only ambition was to discover a place where the collection might be kept together, and known in perpetuum, not as his, but as the Desenfans Collection. By whom Dulwich college, an hospital for poor men and women, remote from the residence of artists and men of taste, was suggested, we know not. It was a place sir Francis had probably never before seen; but, having once visited it, and been informed that his terms might be complied with there, without risk of alteration, he disposed of his property as we have related.
day, 1776) was occasioned by his unfortunate neglect of a hurt he got in his leg by falling down two or three steps in going from the hall to the cloister of the abbey
, was born at the village of Beaumains near Falaise, in the diocese of Seez, in 1724. He was educated at the grammar-school at Caen, whence he was removed to that university, and pursued his studies with great diligence and success till 1745, when he became a Benedictine monk of the abbey of St. Martin de Seez, then en regie, that is, under the direction of a conventual abbot. Some time after this, Dom Bourget was appointed prior claustral of the said abbey, and continued six years in that office, when he was nominated prior of Tiron en Perche; whence being translated to the abbey of St. Stephen at Caen, in the capacity of sub-prior, he managed the temporalities of that religious house during two years, as he did their spiritualities for one year longer; after which, according to the custom of the house, he resigned his office. His superiors, sensible of his merit and learning, removed him thence to the abbey of Bee, where he resided till 1764. He was elected an honorary member of the society of antiquaries of London, Jan. 10, 1765; in which year he returned to the abbey of St. Stephen at Caen, where he continued to the time of his death. These honourable offices, to which he was promoted on account of his great abilities, enabled him not only to pursue his favourite study of the history and antiquities of some of the principal Benedictine abbie.s in Normandy, but likewise gave him access to all their charters, deeds, register-books, &c. &c. These he examined with great care, and left behind him in ms. large and accurate accounts of the abbies of St. Peter de Jumieges, St. Stephen, and the Holy Trinity at Caen (founded by William the Conqueror and his queen Matilda), and a very particular history of the abbey of Bee. These were all written in French. The History of the royal abbey of Bee (which he presented to Dr. Ducarel in 1764) is only an abstract of his larger work. This ancient abbey, (which has produced several archbishops of Canterbury and other illustrious prelates of this kingdom) is frequently mentioned by our old historians. The death of this worthy Benedictine (which happened on new-year’s day, 1776) was occasioned by his unfortunate neglect of a hurt he got in his leg by falling down two or three steps in going from the hall to the cloister of the abbey of St. Stephen at Caen, being deceived by the ambiguous feeble light of a glimmering and dying lamp that was placed in that passage. He lived universally esteemed, and died sincerely regretted by all those who were acquainted with him and was buried in the church of the said abbey, Jan. 3, 1776.
y chaste, that, if her own word may be taken, she never had, in all her life, not even by temptation or surprise, the least thought unworthy of the purity of the virgin
, a famous female enthusiast, was born Jan. 13, 1616, at Lisle in Flanders. She came into the world so very deformed, that a consultation was held in the family some days about stifling her as a monstrous birth. But if she sunk almost beneath humanity in her exterior, her interior seems to have been raised as much above it. For, at four years of age, she not only took notice that the people of Lisle did not live up to the principles of Christianity which they professed, but earnestly desired to be removed into some more Christian country; and her progress was suitable to this beginning. Her parents lived unhappily together, Mr. Bourignon using his spouse with too much severity, especially in his passion: upon which occasions, Antoinette endeavoured to soften him by her infant embraces, which had some little effect; but 'the mother’s unhappiness gave the daughter an utter aversion to matrimony. This falling upon a temper strongly tinctured with enthusiasm, she grew a perfect devotee to virginity, and became so immaculately chaste, that, if her own word may be taken, she never had, in all her life, not even by temptation or surprise, the least thought unworthy of the purity of the virgin state: nay, she possessed the gift of chastity in so abundant a manner, that her presence and her conversation shed an ardour of continence over all who knew her.
he gave three reasons: first, that it might not come into the hands of those who had no right to it; or secondly, of those who would have made an ill use of it; thirdly,
Her father, however, to whom all this appeared unnatural, considered her as a mere woman and, having found an agreeable match, promised her in marriage to a Frenchman. Easter-day, 1636, was fixed for the nuptials; but, to avoid the execution, the young lady fled, under the disguise of a hermit, hut was stopped at Blacon, a village of Hainault, on suspicion of her sex. It was an officer of horse quartered in the village who seized her; he had observed something extraordinary in her, and mentioning her to the archbishop of Cambray, that prelate came to examine her, and sent her home. But being pressed again with proposals of matrimony, she ran away once more: and, going to the archbishop, obtained his licence to set up a small society in the country, with some other maidens of her taste and temper. That licence, however, was soon retracted, and Antoinette obliged to withdraw into the country of Liege, whence she returned to Lisle, and passed many years there privately in devotion and great simplicity. When her patrimonial estate fell to her, she resolved at first to renounce it; but, changing her mind, she took possession of it; and as she was satisfied with a few conveniences, she lived at little expence: and bestowing no charities, her fortune increased apace. For thus taking possession of her estate, she gave three reasons: first, that it might not come into the hands of those who had no right to it; or secondly, of those who would have made an ill use of it; thirdly, God shewed her that she should have occasion for it to his glory. And as to charity, she says, the deserving poor are not to be met with in this world. This patrimony must have been something considerable, since she speaks of several maid servants in her house. What she reserved, however, for this purpose, became a temptation to one John de Saulieu, the son of a peasant, who resolved to make his court to her; and, getting admittance under the character of a prophet, insinuated himself into the lady’s favour by devout acts and discourses of the most refined spirituality. At length he declared his passion, modestly enough at first, and was easily checked; but finding her intractable, he grew so insolent as to threaten to murder her if she would not comply. Upon this she had recourse to the provost, who sent two men to guard her house; and in revenge Saulieu gave out, that she had promised him marriage, and even bedded with him. But, in conclusion, they were reconciled; he retracted his slanders, and addressed himself to a young devotee at Ghent, whom he found more tractable. This, however, did not free her from other applications of a similar nature. The parson’s nephew of St. Andrew’s parish near Lisle fell in love with her; and as her house stood in the neighbourhood, he frequency environed it, in order to force an entrance. Our recluse threatened to quit her post, if she was not delivered f*om this troublesome suitor, and the uncle drove himrom his house upon which he grew desperate, and someimes discharged & musquet through the nun’s chamber, giung out that she was his espoused wife. This made a nose in the city; the devotees were offended, and threatined to affront Bourignon, if they met her in the streets. At length she was relieved by the preachers, who publisied from their pulpits, that the report of the marriage wis a scandalous falsehood.
s as natural labour, which was the case also with her other siritual children and she perceived more or less of thespains, according as the truths which she had declared
Some time afterwards she quitted her huse, and put herself as governess at the head of an hospitl, where she locked herself up in the cloister in 1658, havng taken the order and habit of St. Austin. But here agai, by a very singular fate, she fell into fresh trouble. Hetnospital was found to be infected with sorcery so much, hat even all the little girls in it had an engagement wit the devil. This gave room to suspect the governess; mo was accordingly taken up by the magistrates of LisU and examined but nothing could be proved against er. However, to avoid further prosecutions, she retire to Ghent in 1662 where she no sooner was, than she prdessed that great secrets were revealed to her. About thistime she acquired a friend at Amsterdam, who proved iithful to her as long as he lived, and left her a good esUe at his death his name was De Cordt he was one of te fathers of the oratory, and their superior at Mechlin, an was director also of an hospital for poor children. Th proselyte was her first spiritual birth, and is said to ha> given her the same kind of bodily pangs and throes as natural labour, which was the case also with her other siritual children and she perceived more or less of thespains, according as the truths which she had declared ojrated more or less strongly on their minds. Whence ancter of her disciples, a certain archdeacon, talking with D<Cordt before their mother on the good and new resolutionvhich they had taken, the latter observed, that her pain were much greater for him than for the former the archdicon, looking upon De Cordt, who was fat and corplent, whereas he was a little man himself, said, smiling, It is no wonder that our mother has had a harder labour fcyou than for me, since you are a great, huge child, wheas I am but a little one;" which discomposed the gravity of all the faces presei t: This has been recorded as a proof that our Antoinette’s disciples sometimes descended from the sublimity of ther devotion to the innocent raillery of people of the world
the church of Ailston. Besides some occasional sermons, he published, 1. “A Light from Christ, &c.” or a preparatory to the Sacrament, London, 1645, 8vo. 2. “Defence
, the son of a clergyman, was
born in Northamptonshire, Dec. 27, 1590, and was educated at Christ church, Oxford, where he took his master’s
degree in 1616. About that time he preached under Dr.
Piers, rector of St. Christopher’s, Threadneedle-street,
London, and was much encouraged in his studies and profession by sir Samuel Tryon, knt. and inhabitant of that
parish. In 1622, he got the living of Ashover, in Derbyshire, which he retained many years. During the rebel- 1 lion, he sided with the predominant party, and removed to
London, where he became preacher of St. Sepulchre’s,
and was much followed. In- 1656, he became rector of
Waltham in Leicestershire, and having conformed at the
restoration, was instituted to the rectory of Ailston in the
same county. Wood says he was well acquainted with
the fathers and schoolmen. He died Dec. 27, 1672, and
was buried in the chancel of the church of Ailston. Besides
some occasional sermons, he published, 1. “A Light from
Christ, &c.
” or a preparatory to the Sacrament, London,
Defence of Scriptures,
” ibid. Defence and justification of ministers’ maintenance
by tithes, &c.
” against the Anabaptists and Quakers, ibid.
A, Gold Chain of directions with twenty
Gold Links of love to preserve firm love between husband
and wife,
” ibid.
r, “the memory of Vinny Bourne. I think him a better Latin poet thaa Tibullus, Propertius, Ausonius, or any of the writers in his way, except Ovid, and not at all inferior
, an elegant Latin poet, and a
very amiable man, of whom we regret that our memoirs
are so scanty, was admitted a scholar of Westminsterschool in 1710, from whence he was elected to the university of Cambridge in 1714, where, in Trinity college, he
took his degree of A. B. 1717, and A.M. 1721, and obtained a fellowship. He was afterwards for several years
an usher in Westminster-school, and died of a lingering
disorder December 2, 1747. He married; and in a letter
which he wrote to his wife a few weeks before his death,
gives the following reasons why he did not take orders
“Though I think myself in strictness answerable to none
but God and my own conscience, yet, for the satisfaction
of the person that is dearest to me, I own and declare, that
the importance of so great a charge, joined with a mistrust
of my own sufficiency, made me fearful of undertaking it;
if I have not in that capacity assisted in the salvation of
souls, I have not been the means of losing any; if I have
not brought reputation to the function by any merit of
mine, I have the comfort of this reflection, I have given
no scandal to it, by my meanness and unworthiness. It
has been my sincere desire, though not my happiness, to
be as useful in' my little sphere of life as possible-: my own
inclinations would have led me to a more likely way of
being serviceable, if I might have pursued them: however,
as the method of education I have been brought up in was,
I am satisfied, very kindly intended, I have nothing to
find fault with, but a wrong choice, and the not knowing
those disabilities I have since been truly conscious of:
those difficulties I have endeavoured to get over; but found
them insuperable. It has been the knowledge of theee discouragements, that has been the chief subject of my sleeping, as well as my waking thoughts, a fear of reproach and
contempt.
” While we admire the conscientious motives
which induced him to contemplate, with reverential awe,
the duties of a clergyman, we must regret the concurrence
of events which, according to the conclusion of this letter,
seems to have led him into a way of life not agreeable to
his inclinations. Cowper, however, in one of his excellent
letters, throws some light on those peculiar habits, which
were not certainly very happily adapted to his situation as
a public teacher. “I love,
” says Cowper, “the memory
of Vinny Bourne. I think him a better Latin poet thaa
Tibullus, Propertius, Ausonius, or any of the writers in
his way, except Ovid, and not at all inferior to him. I
love him too, with a love of partiality, because he was usher
of the fifth form at Westminster when I passed through it.
He was so good-natured, and so indolent, that I lost more
than I got by him; for he made me as idle as himself. He
was such a sloven, as if he had trusted to his genius as a
cloak for every thing that could disgust you in his person; and indeed in his writings he has almost made amends
for all. His humour is entirely original he can speak of
a magpie or a cat, in terms so exquisitely appropriated to
the character he draws, that one would suppose him animated by the spirit of the creature he describes. And
with all his drollery, there is a mixture of rational, and
even religious reflection, at times, and always an air of
pleasantry, good nature, and humanity, that makes him, in
my mind, one of the most amiable writers in the world. It
is not common to meet with an author who can make you
smile, and yet at nobody’s expence; who is always entertaining, and yet always harmless; and who, though always
elegant and classical, to a degree not always found in the
classics themselves, charms more by the simplicity and
playfulness of his ideas, than by the neatness and purity of
his verse: yet such was poor Vinny. I remember seeing
the duke of Richmond set fire to his greasy locks, and box
his ears to put it out again.
”
egant expression, they are at least equal to the originals, and scarce inferior to any thing in Ovid or Tibullus.”
His writings, thus characterised, were published in 1772,
under the title of “Miscellaneous Poems, consisting of
originals and translations,
” 4to, and certainly will be a
lasting testimony of his talents. He was, perhaps, at the
jtirue he wrote, the best Latin poet in Europe. Most of
the pieces in this volume had been printed in his life-time,
if we mistake not, in a smaller volume. Dr. Beattie, after
noticing that Boileau did not know that there were any
good poets in England, till Add i son made him a present of
the “Musae Anglican*,
” remarks that “those foreigners
must entertain a high opinion of our pastoral poetry, who
have seen the Latin translations of Vincent Bourne, particularly those of the ballads of ‘ Tweedside,’ ‘ William
and Margaret,’ and Rowe’s * Despairing beside a clear
stream,' of which it is no compliment to say, that in sweetness of numbers, and elegant expression, they are at least
equal to the originals, and scarce inferior to any thing in
Ovid or Tibullus.
”
d to the stage. These two pieces and the following are an agreeable satire on the ridiculous manners or the several ages and conditions of life. His verse in general
, a French dramatic writer
and satirist, was born in 1638, at Mussi-l'évêque in Burgundy. He was not brought up at school, and could only
speak the rude provincial dialect of his country, when he
came to Paris in 1651, yet, by the perusal of good books,
with his good memory, he was soon able to converse and
to write elegantly in French. Having composed, by order of Louis XIV. a book of no great merit, entitled “Of
the proper study of sovereigns,
” Merry Muse;
” but it was again suppressed. He
afterwards got into favour once more, and was made receiver of the excise at Montlugon, where he died of a violent colic, aged 63, Sept. 5, 1701. He wrote several
theatrical pieces, and other works. The chief of them
are, “Æsop in the city,
” and “Æsop at court;
” which
long remained to the stage. These two pieces and the
following are an agreeable satire on the ridiculous manners
or the several ages and conditions of life. His verse in
general is harmonious, but his style sometimes negligent,
yet in general easy and suitable to the subject. 2. The
“Mercure galante,
” or “La comedie sans titre,
” in which
he ingeniously ridicules the rage for getting a place in the
Mercure galaut. 3. “La satyre des satyres,
” in one act.
Boiltau’s satirical notice of Boursault, to avenge Moliere,
with whom he had had a difference, gave occasion to this
piece, which Boileau had interest enough and meanness
enough to prevent being played. The satirist being some
years afterwards at the baths of Bourbon, Boursault, at that
time receiver of the excise at Montluc/>n, repaired thither
on purpose to offer him his purse and his services. At this
act of generosity Boileau was much affected; and they
immediately engaged in a mutual friendship, of which
Boursault was highly deserving by the gentleness of his
manners, and the cheerfulness of his disposition. He behaved with less tolerance, however, towards his other censors; and was able sometimes to chastise them with effect.
A cabal having prevented the success of the first representation of “Æsop in the city,
” the author added to it a
fable of the dog and the ox, applying the moral of it to
the pit; which so effectually silenced the cabal, that the
piece had a run of forty-three nights without interruption.
Thomas Cornell le had a sincere regard for Boursault, whom
he used to call his son, and insisted on his applying to be
admitted a member of the academy. Boursault desired to
be excused on account of his ignorance, adding with his
usual simplicity, “What would the academy do with an
ignorant and illiterate (ignare & non Lettre) member, who
knows neither Latin nor Greek?
” “We are not talking
(returned Corneille) of a Greek or Latin academy, but of
a French academy; and who understands French better
than you?
” There are likewise by him, 1. Some romances, “The marquis de Chavigny,
” “The prince de
Conde
” which are written with spirit “Artemisia and
Polyanthus and,
” We should only believe what we see.“2. A collection of letters on subjects of respect, obligation,
and gallantry; known under the name of
” Lettres a Babet;“now forgotten. 3.
” Lettres nouvelles,“with fables, tales, epigrams, remarks, bon-mots, &c. 3 vols. 12mo,
several times reprinted, though mostly written in a loose
and inelegant style: a miscellany, which was very popular when ii first came out; but is much less at present, as
the tales and bon-mots which Boursault has collected, or
put into verse, are found in many other books. His fables
have neither the simplicity of those of La Fontaine, nor
the elegant precision of Phaedrus. There is an edition of
the
” Theatre de Boursault," in 3 vols. 1746, 12mo.
n 1749, at the age of 70. He published, 1. “L'action de Dieu-sur les creatures,” Paris, 2 vols. 4to, or 6 vols. 12mo. This treatise, in which he endeavours to establish
, doctor of the Sorbonne, was born at Ecoven in the diocese of Paris, in
1679, and died at Paris in 1749, at the age of 70. He
published, 1. “L'action de Dieu-sur les creatures,
” Paris,
2 vols. 4to, or 6 vols. 12mo. This treatise, in which he
endeavours to establish physical premotion by argument,
was attacked by Malebranche; but it discovers the powers
of a profound metaphysician. 2. A memoir presented to
Peter the Great by the doctors of Sorbonne for the reunion of the Greek and Latin churches.- When the tzar
appeared in the Sorbonne, Boursier addressed him on the
subject of this memoir. The monarch immediately answered, that he Was but a soldier. Boursier replied, that
he was a hero and that, as a prince, he was a protector of
religion. “This re-union is not so easy a matter (said the tzar); there are three points that divide us: the pope, the
procession of the Holy Ghost
” As he had forgot the
third point, which is the unleavened bread and the cup,
Boursier recalled it to his mind. “As for that article,
” returned the emperor, “we shall have no difficulty in coming
to an agreement.
” At the end of the conversation, the
Russian sovereign asked for a memorandum of it: it was
given him; but nothing more was ever heard of it. 3. An
enormous quantity of publications on subjects of ecclesiastical controversy, enumerated by Moreri. There was
another of the name, almost a contemporary, Philip Boursier, deacon of Paris, where he was born in 1693, and died
in 1768, aged 77. He was the first author, in 1727, of
the “Nouvelles ecclesiastiques;
” in which work he had
several coadjutors, as Messrs. d'Etemare, de Fernanville,
Bergfer, de Russye, de Troya, Fontaine. But he alone
composed the greatest part of the discourses that annually
precede this periodical work.
to make very shortly, for which he was unprovided. Bouvart, without making any professions of sorrow or assistance, went immediately home and sent the money to his
, physician and doctor
regent of the faculty of Paris, and associate-veteran of the
academy of sciences, was born at Chartres Jan. 11, 1717.
Many of his ancestors having been physicians, he determined on the same profession, which he practised at Paris with so much success that no physician was more consulted; yet this did not prevent his being jealous of Tronchin, Bordeu, and some others, of whom he spoke very
illiberally, but he was a man otherwise of great kindness
and benevolence. One anecdote is recorded as characteristic. A banker, who had experienced some heavy losses,
was taken ill, and Bouvart, who was called in, suspected
that this weighed on his mind, but could not obtain the secret from him. The banker’s wife, however, was more
communicative, and told him that her husband had a payment of twenty thousand livres to make very shortly, for
which he was unprovided. Bouvart, without making any
professions of sorrow or assistance, went immediately home
and sent the money to his patient, who recovered surprisingly. Bouvart wrote only two or three small tracts: one a
critique on Tronchin’s book, “de colica Pictonum,
” 1758,
8vo; a “Consultation sur une naissance tardive,
” against
the anatomists Petit and Bertin, Memou/e au sujet de l'honoraire des medicines,
”
ery celebrated, but dubious character, was a native of Scotland, born on the 17th of January 1686 at or near Dundee, of an ancient family, by his own account, which
, a person of a very celebrated, but dubious character, was a native of Scotland, born on the 17th of January 1686 at or near Dundee, of an ancient family, by his own account, which had been for several hundred years possessed of an estate in the county of Angus in Scotland. In September 1702, at the age of sixteen, he was sent to the Scots college of Douay, where he studied until the year 1706, to the end of his tirst year of philosophy. From thence he was removed to Rome, and on the 9th day of December 1706, was admitted into the order of Jesus. After a noviciate of two years, he went, in the year 1712, to Fano, where he taught humanities during the space of two years. He then removed to Fermo, and resided there three years, until the year 1717, when he was recalled to Rome to study divinity in the Roman college. There he remained until the year 1721, when he was sent to the college of Arezzo, where he staid until the year 1723, and became reader of philosophy, and consultor to the rector of the college. He then was sent to Florence, where he remained but a short time, being in the same year removed to Macerata, at which place he continued until the year 1726. Between the two latter periods it seems probable that he made his last vows, his own account fixing that event in the month of March 1722, at Florence; though, as he certainly was that year at Arezzo, it is most likely to have been a year later.
gust at the enormities committed by the inquisition, in which he performed the office of counsellor; or, as his enemies assert, to his indulgence of his passions,
Having thus been confirmed in the order of the Jesuits,
and arrived at the age of almost forty years, it was reasonable to suppose that Mr. Bower would have passed through
life with no other changes than such as are usual with persons of the same order; but this uniformity of life was not
destined to be his lot. To whatever cause it is to be ascribed whether, according to his own account, to his disgust at the enormities committed by the inquisition, in
which he performed the office of counsellor; or, as his enemies assert, to his indulgence of his passions, particularly
with a nun to whom he was ghostly father; certain it is,
that in the year 1726 he was removed from Macerata to Pe-r
rugia, and from thence made his escape into England, where
he arrived at the latter end of June or July, after various
adventures, which it now becomes our duty to communicate
to the reader, and which we shall do in his own wards
premising, however, that the truth of the narrative has
been impeached in several very material circumstances.
Having determined to put into execution his design of
quitting the inquisition and bidding for ever adieu to
Italy, he proceeds: “To execute that design with seme
safety, I purposed to beg leave of the inquisitor to visit the
” Virgin of Loretto, but thirteen miles distant, and to pass
a week there; but in the mean time to make the best of
my way to the country of the Grisons, the nearest country
to Macerata, out of the reach of the inquisition. Having
therefore, after many conflicts with myself, asked leave to
visit the neighbouring sanctuary, and obtained it, 1 set out
on horseback the very next morning, leaving, as I purposed
to keep the horse, his full value with the owner. I took
the road to Loretto, but turned out of it at a small distance
from llecanati, after a most violent struggle with myself,
the attempt appearing to me, at that juncture, quite desperate and impracticable; anvl the dreadful doom reserved
for me, should I miscarry, presenting itself to my mind in
the strongest light. But the reflection that I had it in my
p.ower to avoid being taken alive, and a persuasion that a
man in my situation might lawfully avoid it, when every
other means failed him, at the expence of his life, revived
my staygered resolution and all my fears ceasing at once,
1 steered my course, leaving Loretto behind me, to Calvi
in the dukedom of Urbino, and from thence through the
Romania into the Boionese, keeping the by-roads, and at
a good distance from the cities of Fano, Pisaro, Rimini,
Forlu Faenza, and Imola, through which the high road
passed. Thus I advanced very slowly, travelling, generally
speaking, in very bad roads, and often in places where
there was no road at all, to avoid not only the cities and
jtowns, but even the- villages. In the mean time I^eldom
had any other support than some coarse provisions, and a
very small quantity even of them, that the poor shepherds,
the countrymen, or wood cleavers, I met in those unfrequented by-places, could spare me. My horse fared not
much better than myself; but in choosing my sleepingplace I consulted his convenience as much as my own;
passing the night where I found most shelter for myself,
and most grass for him. In Italy there are very few solitary farm-houses or cottages, the country people there all
living together in villages; and I thought it far safer to lie
where I could be any way sheltered, than to venture into
any of them. Thus I spent seventeen days before I got out
of the Ecclesiastical State; and I very narrowly escaped
being taken or murdered on the very borders of that state.
It happened thus:
placard all persons were forbidden, on the pain of the greater excommunication, to receive, harbour, or entertain me, to conceal or to screen me, or to be any way aiding
"I had passed two whole days without any kind of subsistence whatever, meeting nobody in the by-roads that would supply me with any, and fearing to come near any house, as I was not far from the borders of the dominions of the pope I thought I should be able to hold out till I got into the Modenese, where I believed I should be in less danger than while I remained in the papal dominions; but finding myself about noon of the third day extremely weak, and ready to faint, I came into the high road that leads from Bologna to Florence, at a few miles distance from the former city, and alighted at a post house that stood quite by itself. Having asked the woman of the house whether she had any victuals ready, and being told that she had, I went to open the door of the only room in the house (that being a place where gentlemen only stop to change horses), and saw, to my great surprise, a placard pasted on it with a most minute description of my whole person, and the promise of a reward of 800 crowns, about 200l. English money, for delivering me up alive to the inquisition, being a fugitive from the holy tribunal, and 600 crowns for my head. By the same placard all persons were forbidden, on the pain of the greater excommunication, to receive, harbour, or entertain me, to conceal or to screen me, or to be any way aiding and assisting to me in making my escape. This greatly alarmed me, as the reader may well imagine; but I was still more affrighted when entering the room I saw two fellows drinking there, who, fixing their eyes upon me as soon as I came, continued looking at me very steadfastly. I strove, by wiping my face, by blowing- my nose, by looking out at the window, to prevent their having a full view of me. But one of them saying, ‘ The gentleman seems afraid to be seen,’ I put up my handkerchief, and turning to the fellow said boklly, ‘ What do you mean, you rascal? Look at me; I am not afraid to be seen.’ He said nothing, but, looking again steadfastly at me, and nodding his head, went out, and his companion immediately followed him. I watched them; and seeing them with two or three more in close conference, and, no doubt, consulting whether they should apprehend me or not, I walked that moment into the stable, mounted my horse unobserved by them, and, while they were deliberating in an orchard behind the house, rode off full speed, and in a few hours got into the Modenese, where I refreshed both with food and with rest, as I was there in no immediate danger, my horse and myself. I was indeed surprised to find that those fellows did not pursue me; nor can I any other way account for it but by supposing, what is not improbable, that as they were strangers as well as myself, and had all the appearUnce of banditti or ruffians fly ing out of the dominions of the pope, the woman of the house did not care to trust them with her horses. From the Modenese I continued my journey more leisurely through the Parmesan, the Milanese, and part of the Venetian territory, to Chiavenna, subject, with its district, to the Grisons, who abhor the very name of the inquisition, and are ever ready to receive and protect all who, flying from it, take refuge, as many Italians do, in their dominions. However, as I proposed getting as soon as I could to the city of Bern, the metropolis of that great protestant canton, and was informed that my best way was through the cantons of Ury and Underwald, and part of the canton of Lucern, all three popish cantons, I carefully concealed who I was and from whence I came. For though no inquisition prevails among the Swiss, yet the pope’s nuncio, who resides at Lucern, might have persuaded the magistrates of those popish cantons to stop me as an apostate and deserter from the order.
employed in studies of a quite different nature, I was not yet determined to quit either that church or the order. Having therefore got safe into French Flanders, I
"And here I must inform the reader, that thogh the cruelties of the inquisition had inspired me with great horror at their being encouraged under the name of religion, and I had thereupon begun to entertain many doub concerning other doctrines that I had till that time implicitly swallowed, as most Italian catholics do, without examination; nevertheless, as I had not thoroughly examined them, nor had an opportunity of examining them, being employed in studies of a quite different nature, I was not yet determined to quit either that church or the order. Having therefore got safe into French Flanders, I there repaired to the college of the Scotch Jesuits at Douay and discovering myself to the rector, I acquainted him with the cause of of my sudden departure from Italy, and begged him to give immediate notice of my arrival, as well as the raot^s of my flight, to Michael Angelo Tamburini, general of e order, and my very particular friend. My repairing tig to a college of Jesuits, and putting myself in their power is a plain proof, as may be observed here by the way, thar it was not because I was guilty of any crime, or to avoid tl punishment due to any crime, that I had fled from Italy for, had that been the case, no man can think that instead of repairing to Holland or England, as I might have easily done, and bid the whole order defiance, I would have thus delivered myself up to them, and put it in their power to inflict on me what punishment soever they pleased.
till further-orders. I arrived at Douay early in May, and continued here till the latter end of June or the beginning of July, when the rector received a second letter
"The recor wrote, as I had desired him, to the general and the genral, taking no notice of my flight in his answer (for he could not disapprove it, and did not think it safe to appove it), ordered me to continue where I was till further-orders. I arrived at Douay early in May, and continued here till the latter end of June or the beginning of July, when the rector received a second letter from the general, acquainting him, that he had been commanded by the congregation of the inquisition to order me, wherever I was, back to Italy; to promise me in their name full pardon and forgiveness, if I obeyed; but if I did not obey, to treat ie as an apostate. He added, that the same order had bee transmitted soon after my flight to the nuncio* at the efferent Roman catholic courts; and he therefore advisedne to consult my own safety without farther delay. It’s to be observed here, that it is deemed apostacy in a prson of any religious order to quit his habit, and withdiw, without the knowledge of his superiors, from the c<lege, convent, or monastery, in which they have placechim; and that all bishops are not only impowered, but bind to apprehend such an apostate within the limits of tlir respective jurisdictions, and deliver him up to his supeors to be punished by them. As I had quitted the habi and withdrawn from the college of Macerata, without‘ave from my superiors who had placed me there, I shold have been treated as an apostate, had I been disco^red in my flight in a Roman catholic country, even wh’e no inquisition prevailed. But my returning voluntay, and resuming the habit, cleared me from the guilt oipostacy at the general’s tribunal, nay, and at that of tl inquisition itself. However, the congregation of the inquisition had it still in their power to oblige the general trecal me to Italy, and to treat me as an apostate if I d not obey; disobedience to an express command of a wful superior being deemed apostacy, and punished as ach with close confinement, and with bread and water for jod till the order is complied with. That order the geneal received; but his friendship forme, of which he had *iven me some remarkable instances, and his being fully convinced of my innocence, the inquisitor himself -having nothing to lay to my charge but my flight, prompted him to warn me of the danger that threatened me. Indeed I thought myself quite sate in the dominions of France; and should accordingly have lived there unmolested by the inquisition, what crime soever I had been guilty of cognizable by that tribunal alone; but as I had belonged to it, and was consequently privy to their hellish proceedings, they were apprehensive I should discover them to the world; and it was to prevent me from ever discovering them, that they obliged the general to order me back to Italy, and promise me, in their name, a free pardon if I complied, but to confine me for life it' I did not comply with the order.
d soon recover my native language, and be usefully employed, as soon as I recovered it, either there or in Scotland. I readily closed with the rector’s opinion, being
"Upon the receipt of the general’s kind letter, the rector was of opinion, that I should repair by all means, and without loss of time, to England, not only as the safest asylum I could fly to in my present situation, but as a place where I should soon recover my native language, and be usefully employed, as soon as I recovered it, either there or in Scotland. I readily closed with the rector’s opinion, being very uneasy in my mind, as my old doubts in point of religion daily gained ground, and new ones aroseupon my reading, which was my only employment, :the books of controversy I found in the library of the college. The place being thus agreed on, and it being at the same time settled between the rector and me that I should set out the very next morning, I solemnly promised, at his request and desire, to take no notice, after my arrival in England, of his having been any ways privy to my flight, or of the general’s letter to him. This promise I have faithfully and honourably observed; and I should have thought myself guilty of the blackest ingratitude if I had not observed it, being sensible that, had it been known at Rome that either the rector or general had been accessary to my flight, the inquisition would have resented it severely on both. For though a Jesuit in France or in Germany is out of the reach of the inquisition, the general is not; and the high tribunal not only have it in their power to punish the general himself, who resides constantly at Rome, but may oblige hiuri to inflict what punishment they please on any of the order obnoxious to them.
ause me to be apprehended in the Roman catholic countries through which I might pass, as an apostate or deserter from the order, I was under no small apprehension of
“The rector went that very night out of town and in
his absence, but not without his privity, I took one of the
horses of vhe college early next morning, as if I were
going for change of air, being somewhat indisposed, to
pass a few days at Lisle. But steering a different course,
I reached Aire that night, and Calais the next day. I was
there in no danger of being stopped and seized at the prosecution of the inquisition, a tribunal no less abhorred in
France than in England. But being informed by the general, that the nuncios at the different courts had been ordered, soon after my flight, to cause me to be apprehended
in the Roman catholic countries through which I might
pass, as an apostate or deserter from the order, I was
under no small apprehension of being discovered and apprehended as such even at Calais. No sooner, therefore,
did I alight at the inn, than I went down to the quay; and
there, as I was very little acquainted with the sea, and
thought the passage much shorter than it is, I endeavoured
to engage some fishermen to carry me that very night in
one of their small vessels over to England. This alarmed
the guards of the harbour; and I should certainly have
been apprehended, as guilty or suspected of some great
crime, flying from justice, had not lord Baltimore, whom
I had the good luck to meet at the inn, informed of my
danger, and pitying my condition, attended me that moment with all his company to the port, and conveyed me
immediately on board his yacht. There I lay that night,
leaving every thing I had but the clothes on my back in
the inn; and the next day his lordship set me on shore at
Dover, from whence I came in the common stage to London.
”
e who had formerly heard it, to the variations to which a tale frequently repeated is always liable, or to the neglect of veracity in the writer, it certainly differed
This is the narrative which, after thirty years, Mr. Bower gave the public as a genuine account. Whether owing to the inaccuracy of those who had formerly heard it, to the variations to which a tale frequently repeated is always liable, or to the neglect of veracity in the writer, it certainly differed from accounts which had been orally given by him too much not to furnish some suspicions of the author. On his arrival in England it appears to have been his first object to procure att introduction to some persons of respectability in the country destined for his’ future residence. He had heard of Dr. Aspinwall soon after his arrival; and that divine having formerly belonged to the order of Jesuits, he waited on him, and was kindly received. By this gentleman he was introduced to Dr. Clarke; and to them both he opened, as he says, his mind, without disguise, respecting his doubts relative to his faith. After several conferences with these gentlemen, and some with Berkeley, the bishop of Cloyne, then dean of Londonderry, added to his own reading and reasoning, he obtained, as he says, the fullest conviction that many of the favourite doctrines of Rome were not only evidently repugnant to scripture and reason, but wicked, blasphemous, and utterly inconsistent with the attributes of the supreme and infinite being. He therefore withdrew himself from the communion of the church without further delay, took leave of the provincial, quitted the order, and broke off all connection with those of the communion. This happened in the month of November, 1726.
l as with papists. It was with him I immediately dealt; as is manifest from the orders on his banker or cashier, Mr. Wright, in p. 72 of the libel, which were all signed
By the emoluments arising from his tuition and his writings, it appears that in the year 1740 he had saved the sum
of 1100l. in the Old South Sea annuities, with which he
had resolved to purchase a life-annuity. In the disposition
of this money he was engaged in a negociation for the loan
of it, which afterwards proved fatal to his character. We
shall again have recourse to Mr. Bower’s own account.
Having determined to purchase this annuity, he proceeds
in this manner: “This resolution I imparted to several of
my protestant friends; and, among the rest, to sir Thomas
Mostyn’s lawyer, and to sir Thomas himself, offering at
the same time the above-mentioned sum to him, as he well
remembers, and is ready to attest. But neither sir Thomas, nor any of my other protestant friends, caring to
burthen their estates with a life-rent, I left my money in
the funds till August 1741, when being informed that an
act of parliament had passed for rebuilding a church in the
city of London, St. Botolph’s Aldgate , upon life-annuities, at seven per cent I went upon that information into
the city, with a design to dispose of my money that way.
That this was my intention, Mr. Norris, eldest son to the
late sir John Norris, with whom I advised about it at the
time, still remembers, and is ready if required to declare.
But I came too late, and found the subscription was closed.
This disappointment I mentioned to Mr. Hill, whom I accidentally met in Will’s coffee-house, near the Royal Exchange; and upon his offering me the same interest that
was given by the trustees of the above-mentioned church,
the bargain was concluded in a few meetings, and the sum,
of 1100l. transferred, Aug. 21, 1741, not to Mr. Sbirburn,
as is said in the letter from Flanders, p. 64, but to Mr.
Wright, Mr. Hill’s banker, as appears from the books of
the Old South Sea annuities. Mr. Hill was a Jesuit, but
transacted money matters as an attorney, and was in that
way a very noted man, bore the character of a fair dealer,
and dealt very largely in affairs of that nature with protestants as well as with papists. It was with him I immediately dealt; as is manifest from the orders on his banker
or cashier, Mr. Wright, in p. 72 of the libel, which were
all signed by him, and by nobody else; and he paid me so
punctually, that some time after I added 2501. to the sum
already in his hands, and received for the whole 94l. 10.s.
a year. I afterwards resolved to marry; and it was chiefly
upon that consideration, though not upon that alone, I
applied to Mr. Hill to know upon what terms he would
return me the capital. The terms ho proposed were as easy
as I could expect: for he agreed' at once to repay it, only
deducting what I had received over and above the common interest of four per cent, during the time it had been
in his hands; and he did so accordingly, as soon as he
conveniently could. Thus did this money transaction begin
wth Mr. Hill, was carried on by Mr. Hill, and with Mr.
Hill did it end.
”
author was re-admitted in a formal manner into the order of Jesus, at London, about the end of 1744 or beginning of 1745.
The Account of this transaction given by his opponents is materially different. By them it is asserted, that after a time he wished to return into the arms of the church he had renounced, and therefore, in order to recommend himself to his superiors, he had recourse to a method which he thought would effectually prove his sincerity towards them. He proposed to father Shirburn, then provincial in England, to give up to him, as representative of the society, the money he then possessed, on condition of being paid for it, during his life, an annuity at the rate of seven per cent. This offer was accepted; and on the 2Ist of August 175-1, he paid to father Shirbwn liOOl.; and on the 27th of February 1741-2, he paid to the same person 150l. more upon the same conditions. Nor did his confidence rest here; for, on the 6th of August 1743, he added another 100l. to the above sums, now augmented to 1350l. when the several annuities were reduced into one, amounting to )4l. 10s. for which a bond was given. This negotiation had the wished effect; and our author was re-admitted in a formal manner into the order of Jesus, at London, about the end of 1744 or beginning of 1745.
Whether through the neglect of the work by the public, or his age, declining abilities, or to whatever other cause it
Whether through the neglect of the work by the public, or his age, declining abilities, or to whatever other cause it is to be ascribed, the remainder of his history did not make its appearance until just before the author’s death, when the sixth and seventh volumes were published together, and these in so hasty and slovenly a manner, that the whole period from 16OO to 1758 was comprehended in twenty-six pages. He died on the 3d September 1766, at the age of eighty years, and was buried in Mary-le-bone church-yard, with an inscription maintaining his purity and innocence. By his will, made on the 1st of August 1749, which does not contain, as might be expected, any declaration of his religious principles , he bequeathed all his property to his wife, who, some time after his death, attested his having died in the protestant faith
ious researches in antiquity, and varios other lucubrations in obscure literature. He had the honour or being one of the first detectors of Lauder’s forgeries, and
, an ingenious scholar, who, from his
Attachment to Spanish literature, was usually called by his
friends Don Bowle, was a descendant from Dr. John Bowle,
bishop of Rochester in the early part of the seventeenth
century. He was born in 1725, and educated at Oriel
college, Oxford, where he took his master’s degree in
1750, and having entered into holy orders, was presented
to the vicarage of Idmiston, Wiltshire. In 1776 he was
elected F. S. A. He was a man of great erudition, and
muca respected for his various researches in antiquity,
and varios other lucubrations in obscure literature. He
had the honour or being one of the first detectors of Lauder’s forgeries, and according to Dr. Douglas’s account,
had the juste-st claim to be considered as the original detector o! thai unprincipled impostor. In 1765, he was
editor of “Miscellaneous pieces of ancient English Poesie,
”
containing Shakspeare’s “King John,
” and some of the satires of Marston. To a very accurate and extensive fund
of classical learning, he had added a comprehensive knowledge of most of the modern languages, particularly of the
Spanish, Italian, and French; and in the course of his
reading contracted a fondness for Cervantes’ admirable
romance, which could scarcely be said to be kept within
reasonable bounds. Don Quixote himself did not sally
forth with more enthusiasm than Mr. Bowie, when in 1777
he published “A Letter to the rev. Dr. Percy, concerning
a new and classical edition of Historia del valoroso CavaU
lero Don Quixote de la Mancha, to be illustrated by
annotations and extracts from the historians, poets, and romances of Spain and Italy, and other writers ancient and
modern, with a glossary and indexes, in which are occasionally interspersed some reflections on the learning and
genius of the author, with a map of Spain adapted to the
history, and to every translation of it,
” 4to. He gave also
an outline of the life of Cervantes in the Gent. Mag. for
1731, and circulated proposals to print the work hy subscription at three guineas each copy. It appeared accordingly in 1781, in six quarto volumes, the first four consisting of the text, the fifth of the annotations, and the sixth
is wholly occupied by the index, but the work did not
answer his expectations. The literary journals were either
silent or spoke slightingly of his labours; and the public
sentiment seemed to be that annotations on Cervantes were
not quite so necessary as on Shakspeare. He appears,
however, to have taken some pains to introduce them to
the public in a favourable light. In 1784 (Gent. Mag. LIV. p. 565) we find him lamenting certain “unfair practices respecting the admission of an account of the work
into two periodical publications to which he had some
reason to think he was entitled.
” He adds, that the perpetrators of these practices were “a false friend, and
another, whose encomium he should regard as an affront
and real slander the one as fond of the grossest flattery,
as the other ready to give it, and both alike wholesale
dealers in abuse and detraction.
” Nor was this all; in
1785 he published “Remarks on the extraordinary conduct of the Knight of the Ten Stars and his Italian Squire,
to the editor of Don Quixote. In a letter to I. S. D. D.
”
8vo. This produced an answer from the “Italian Squire,
”
Baretti, not of the most gentleman-like kind, entitled
“Tolondron. Speeches to John Bowie, about his edition of
Don Quixote,
” 8vo, Le Roman de
la Rose;
” on parish registers; and on cards. He was also,
under various signatures, a frequent contributor to the
Gentleman’s Magazine, but as a divine he was not known
to the public. He died Oct. 26, 1788.
e the works printed by Mr. Bowyer, excepting when he himself contributed to them by prefaces, notes, or other additions, yet we shall mention his having been the printer,
Though it is not our intention to notice the works printed by Mr. Bowyer, excepting when he himself contributed to them by prefaces, notes, or other additions, yet
we shall mention his having been the printer, in 1742, of
the additional book of the Dunciad; as he received, on this
occasion, testimonies of regard both from the great poet
and his learned commentator. Among other friendly expressions of Dr. Warburton, he says, “I have never more
pleasure when there (in London), than when I loll and
talk with you at my ease, de qualibet ente, in your diningroom:
” And again, “The Greek I know will be well
printed in your edition, notwithstanding the absence of Senblerus
” The same celebrated writer had long before told
Mr. Bowyer, “No one’s thoughts will have greater weight
with me than your own, in whom I have experienced so
much candour, goodness, and learning.
” It is not, however, to be concealed, that a difference afterwards arose
between them, in which, as is commonly the case, each
party was confident that he was right. Mr. Bowyer, who
thought himself slighted, used often to remark, that, “after
the death of the English Homer, the letters of his learned
friend wore a different complexion.
” “But, perhaps,
”
as Mr, Nichols candidly and judiciously observes, “this
may be one of the many instances, which occur through,
life, of the impropriety of judging for ourselves in cases
which affect our interest or our feelings.
” Mr. Bowyer,
indeed, had a great sensibility of temper with regard to
any neglects which were shewed him by his literary friends,
in the way of his business. This did not proceed from a
principle of avarice, but from a consciousness of the respect
which was due to him from his acquaintance, as the first
of his profession: for he expressed his resentment as
strongly in cases where profit could be no material object,
as he did in more important instances. Dr. Squire, then,
dean of Bristol, not having appointed him to print a sermon
which had been preached before the house of commons,
on the general fast day, Feb. 13, 1761, Mr. Bowyer wrote
to the doctor, upon the occasion, an expostulatory letter.
Nor was this the only evidence he gave how much he was
offended, when he thought that a slight had been put upon
him from a quarter where he imagined he had a natural
claim to favour.
ost liberally bestowed by Dr. King, in his “Elogium Famse inserviens Jacci Etouensis, sive Gigantis: or, the Praises of Jack of Eaton, commonly called Jack the Giant.”
In 1744, Mr. Bowyer is supposed to have written a small
pamphlet on the present state of Europe, taken principally
from Pufendorff. In 1746, he projected, what during his
whole life he had in view, a regular edition of Cicero’s
Letters, in a chronological order, on a plan which it is to
be lamented that he did not complete; as an uniform series
thus properly arranged would have formed a real history of
Tully’s life, and those which cannot be dated might be
thrown to the end without any inconvenience. In the same
year he published “The Life of the Emperor Julian,
”
translated from the French of M. Bleterie, and improve^
with twelve pages of curious notes, and a genealogical
table. The notes were not entirely Mr. Bowyer’s, but
were drawn up, in part, by Mr. Clarke and other learned
men. The translation, by Miss Anne Williams (Dr. Johnson’s inmate), and the two sisters of the name of
Wilkinson, was made under Mr. Bowyr’s immediate inspection.
In this year also, he printed, and is supposed to have assisted in thp composition of, “A Dissertation, in which the
objections of a late pampinet (by bishop Ross) to the writings of the anci nits, after the mariner of Mr. Maryland,
are clearly answered: those passages in Tuily corrected,
on which some of the objections are founded; with
Amendments of a few pieces of criticism in Mr. Maryland’s
Epistola Critica,
” 8vo. On the 2d of August, 1747, Mr.
Bowyer entered a second time into the matrimonial state,
with a most benevolent and worthy woman, Mrs. Elizabeth
Bill, by whom he had no children. In 1750, he had the
honour of sharing, with Dr. Burton, in the invectives most
liberally bestowed by Dr. King, in his “Elogium Famse
inserviens Jacci Etouensis, sive Gigantis: or, the Praises
of Jack of Eaton, commonly called Jack the Giant.
” Dr.
King’s abuse was probably owing to his having heard that
our learned printer had hinted, in conversation, his doubts
concerning the doctor’s Latiriity. Mr. Bowyer drew up
strictures in his own defence, which he intended to insert
at the conclusion of a preface to Montesquieu’s Reflections, &c.; but, in consequence ol Mr. Clarke’s advice, they
were omitted. In the same year, a prefatory critical dissertation, and some valuable notes, were annexed, by our
author, to Kuster’s Treatise “De vero usu Verborum
Mediorum;
” a new edition of which work, with further
improvements, appeared in 1773. He wrote, likewise,
about the same time, a Latin preface to Leedes’s “Veteres
Poeta? citati, &c.
” Being soon after employed to print an
edition of colonel Bladen’s translation of Cæsar’s Commentaries, that work received considerable improvements from.
Mr. Bowyer’s hands, and the addition of such notes in it
as are signed Typogr. In the subsequent editions of this
work, though printed by another person, and in our author’s life-time, the same signature, contrary to decorum,
and even justice, was still retained. In 1751, he wrote a
long preface to Montesquieu’s “Reflections on the Rise
and Fall of the Rouian Empire;
” translated the Dialogue
between Sylla and Socrates; made several corrections to
the work from the Baron’s “Spirit of Laws,
” and improved
it with his own notes. A new edition, with many; new
notes, was printed in 1759. He gave likewise to the
public, in 1751, with a preface, the first translation that
was made of Rousseau’s paradoxical oration on the effects
of the arts and sciences, which gained the prize at the academy of Dijon, in 1750; and which first announced that
singular genius to the attention and admiration of Europe.
On the publication of the third edition of lord Orrery’s
“Remarks on the Life and Writings of Dr. Swift,
” in Two Letters from Dr. Bentley in the shades below, to
lord Orrery in a land of thick darkness.
” The notes
signed B, in the ninth quarto volume of Swift’s works, are
extracted from these Letters, which are reprinted at large
in his “Tracts.
” In Vindication of the Histories of the Old and New Testament, in answer to the Objections of Lord Bolingbroke,
”
Mr. Bowyer drew up an analysis of the same, with an intention of sending it to the Gentleman’s Magazine: it is now
printed in Mr. Nichols’s “Anecdotes.
” In Remarks on a Speech made in Common Council,
on the Bill for permitting persons professing the Jewish Religion to be naturalized, so far as Prophecies are supposed
to be affected by it.
” The design of this sensible little tract,
which was written with spirit, and well received by those
who were superior to narrow prejudices, was to shew, that
whatever political reasons might be alleged against the
Bill, Christianity would in no degree be prejudiced by
the indulgence proposed to be gVanted to the Jews. In
the same year, some of Mr. Bowyer’s notes were annexed
to bishop Clayton’s translation of “A Journal from Grand
Cairo to Mount Sinai, and back again.
” In Commentary on the Book of Wisdom,
” and enriched it with the remarks of Mr. Markland.
Upon the death of Mr. Richardson, in 1761, Mr. Bowyer,
through the patronage of the late earl of Macclesfield, was
appointed printer to the Royal Society; and, under the
friendship of five successive presidents, had the satisfaction
of continuing in that employment till his death. In the
same year (1761), appeared “Verses on the Coronation
of their late majesties, king George the Second and queen
Caroline, October 4, 1727, spoken by the Scholars of
Westminster school (some of them now the ornaments of the Nation) on January 15th following, being the Day of
the Inauguration of Queen Elizabeth, their foundress
with a Translation of all the Latin copies The whole
placed in order of the transactions of that important day.
Adorned with the Coronation Medals pf the Royal Pair,
and a bust of our present king. To which is subjoined
the Ceremonial of the august Procession, very proper to
be compared with the approaching one; and a Catalogue
of the Coronation Medals of the Kings and Queens of England.
” The original part of this pamphlet, in which a great
deal of humour is displayed, was entirely Mr. Bowyer' s:
the Latin verses were translated partly by him, but principally by Mr. Nichols. Our learned printer’s next publication was of a more serious and weighty nature, an excellent edition of the Greek Testament, in two volumes,
1763, 12mo, under the following title: “Novum Testamentum Greecum, ad Fidem GrascorUm solum Codicum
Mss. nunc primum expressum, adstipulante Joanne Jacobo Wetstenio, juxta Sectiones Jo. Albert! Bengelii divisum; et nova Interpunctione saepius illustratum. Accessere in altero Volumine Emendationes conjecturales virorum doctorum undecunque collectse.
” This sold with
great rapidity; though Mr. Bowyer, in his advertisements
of it in the public papers, was pleased to add, that it
boasted neither elegance of type nor paper, but trusted to
other merits. The conjectural emendations are a very
valuable addition to the Greek Testament, and were extremely well received by the learned. In a letter of thanks,
from the president and fellows of Harvard college, in Cambridge, New-England, to Mr. Bowyer, in 1767, for several benefactions of his to that college, they express themselves as follows: “It is a particular pleasure to us to
mention your very curious edition of the Greek Testament, in two volumes, with critical notes, and many happy
conjectures, especially as to the punctuation, an affair of
the utmost importance as to ascertaining the sense. This
work, though small in bulk, we esteem as a rich treasure
of sacred learning, and of more intrinsic value than many
large volumes of the commentators.
” A second edition of
the Conjectures on the New Testament, with very considerable enlargements, was separately published, in one
volume, 8vo, in 1772, a third in 4to, 1782, and a fourth
from the interleaved -copy of Dr. Owen, which he bequeathed to the honourable and right reverend Dr. Shute
Barrington, bishop of Durham, is just published (1812).
Bishop Wavbnrton having censured apassage in the first edition, Mr. Bowyer sent him a copy of the second, with a conciliatory letter. In 1765, at the request of Thomas Hollis,
esq. our learned printer wrote a short Latin preface to Dr.
Wallis’s “Grammatica Linguae Anglicanse.
” A larger English preface, which was written by him, and intended for
that work, is printed in his “Tracts.
” Some copies of this
book were sent by him to the rev. Edward Clarke, when,
chaplain to the earl of Bristol at Madrid, to be given to the
Spanish literati. Towards the latter end of the same year,
in consequence of overtures from a few respectable friends
at Cambridge, Mr. Bowyer had some inclination to have
undertaken the management of the University press, by
purchasing a lease of its exclusive privileges. He went,
accordingly, to Cambridge for this purpose; but the treaty
proved fruitless, and he did not much regret the disappointment. In the beginning of 1766, by engaging in a partnership with Mr. Nichols, he was again enabled to withdraw, in some degree, from that close application, which
had begun to be prejudicial to his health. His new associate had been trained by him to the profession, and had
assisted him several years in the management of business. He was very happy in this connection; and it is unnecessary to add how successfully Mr. Nichols has trod in
the steps of his worthy and learned friend and partner. In,
that year (1766) Mr. Bowyer wrote an excellent Latin preface to “Joannis Harduini, Jesuitae, ad Censuram Scriptorum veterum Prolegomena; juxta Autographum.
” In
this preface he gives an account of the nature of the work,
and of the manner in which it had been preserved. Mr. De
Missy’s remarks on the celebrated Jesuit’s extraordinary production were published about the same time, in a letter to
Mr. Bowyer, written in Latin. In 1767, he was appointed
to print the Journals of the House of Lords, and the Rolls
of Parliament. The noble peer to whom he was indebted
for this appointment, and his gratitude to whom is testified
in the inscription which he left behind him, to be placed in
Stationers Hall, was the earl of Marchmont. Mr. Bowyer
was now compelled, from the want of sufficient room, to
exchange White Fryars for Red Lion-passage; and it was
not without reluctance that he quitted a residence to which
he had been accustomed from his infancy. His new printing-house was opened with the sign of his favourite Cicero’s
Head: under which was inscribed, “M, T, Cicero, A Quo
Primordia Preli,
” in allusion to the well-known early editions of Tally’s Offices. Having printed this year Mr.
Clarke’s excellent and learned work on “The Connexion
of the Roman, Saxon, and English Coins,
” he wrote some
notes upon it, which are interspersed throughout the volume with those of the author. Part of the dissertation on
the Roman Sesterce was, likewise, Mr. Bowyer’s production; and the index, which is an uncommonly good one,
and on which he did not a little pride himself, was drawn up
entirely by him. On the 14th of January, 177 J, he lost
his second wife, who died at the age of seventy. His old
friend, Mr. Clarke, who had administered consolation to
him, on a similar occasion, nearly forty years before, again
addressed him with tenderness on this event. In the Philosophical Transactions for 1771, was printed a very ingenious “Enquiry intothe value of the antient Greek and Roman Money,
” by the late Matthew Raper, esq. The opinions advanced by this respectable gentleman, on these
subjects, not coinciding with those of Mr. Bowyer, he
printed a small pamphlet, entitled, “Remarks, occasioned
by a late Dissertation on the Greek and Roman Money.
” The pamphlet was intended as an appendix
to Mr. Clarke’s Treatise on Coins. The opinions of many
excellent writers in Germany and France having been ably
controverted in that elaborate work, Mr. Bowyer transmitted
a copy of it to the French king’s library, and inscribed his
little appendix,
ntion to the subjects there treated of; and ascribed them to the respective authors irom whose books or personal communication they were selected. He was much indebted,
He was very desirous that Mr. Clarke’s book should be
translated and reprinted in France; and he took some pains,
though without success, to get it accomplished. In 1773,
three little tracts were published by him, under the title of
“Select Discourses 1. Of the Correspondence of the Hebrew months with the Julian, from the Latin of Professor
Michaelis. 2. Of the Sabbatical years, from the same. 3.
Of the years of Jubilee; from an anonymous writer, in
Masson’s Histoire Critique de la Republique des Lettres.
”
In The Origin of Printing, in two essays. 1. The substance of Dr.
Middleton’s Dissertation on the Origin of Printing in England. 2. Mr. Meerman’s Account of the Invention of the
Art at Harlem, and its progress to Mentz, with occasional
remarks; and an appendix.
” (See Richard Atkins.) The
original idea of it was Mr. Bowyer’s; but it was completed
by Mr. Nichols. The two learned friends, whose assistance
is acknowledged in the preface, were the rev. Dr. Henry
Owen, and the late Mr. Cæsar de Missy. Though this
work appeared without a name, it was immediately judged
to be Mr. Bowyer’s, and was well received in the world of
letters, and justly spoken of in terms of great commendation, both at home and abroad. A second edition, with
very considerable improvements, was published in 1776,
and a Supplement in 1781. When Mr. Nichols was engaged
in printing the “Original Works of Dr. King of the Commons,
” and the “Supplement to Swift,
” Mr. Bowyer, by
suggesting useful hints, and adding some illustrations, assisted him in both these undertakings. Our eminent printer
now drew to the end of his literary career, which he closed
with a new edition, in 1777, of Dr. Bentley’s “Dissertation on the Epistles of Phalaris.
” Dr. Bentley was a writer
whom he had always held in the highest estimation. In the
republication of this great critic’s Dissertation, Mr. Bowyer
inserted the remarks which had occurred to him in the
course of many years attention to the subjects there treated
of; and ascribed them to the respective authors irom whose
books or personal communication they were selected. He
was much indebted, on this occasion, to the friendly assistance of Dr. Salter and Dr. Owen.
y and his wife one thousand pounds four per cent, consolidated annuities, to be transferred to them, or to the survivor of them; and which I hope they will take care
Mr. Bowyer had always been subject to a bilious colic;
and during the last ten years of his life, he was afflicted
with the palsy and the stone. But, notwithstanding these
infirmities, he preserved, in general, a remarkable cheerfulness of disposition; and received great satisfaction from
the conversation of a few literary friends, by whom he continued to be visited. The faculties of his mind, though
somewhat impaired, were strong enough to support the labour of almost incessant reading, which had ever been his
principal amusement; and he regularly corrected the
learned works, and especially the Greek books, which came
from his press. This he did till within a very few weeks of
his death; which happened on the 18th of November,
1777, when he had nearly completed his 78th year. The
publications of Mr. Bowyer are an incontrovertible evidence
of his abilities and learning; to which may be added that
he was honoured with the friendship and patronage of many
of the most distinguished ornaments of his age. We already have had occasion to mention the earls of Macclesfield and Marchmont, Dr. Wotton, Mr. Pope, Mr. Chishull,
Mr. Clarke, Mr. Markland, bishop Warburton, the right
honourable Arthur Onslow, Mr. Hollis, Dr. Salter, Mr,
De Missy, Dr. Owen, and Dr. Heberden. To these, among
other respectable names, might be added those of archbishop Seeker, bishop Kennett, bishop Tanner, bishop Sherlock, bishop Hoadly, bishop Lyttelton, bishop Pearce, bishop Lowth, bishop Barrington, bishop Hurd, bishop
Percy, lord Lyttelton, lord Sandys, dean Prideaux, doctors
Robert and John Freind, dean Freind, dean Milles, the very
learned Dr. Taylor, chancellor of Lincoln, Dr. Barnard, Dr.
Powell, Dr. Wilkins, Mr. Maittaire, Messrs. R. and S.
Gale, Mr. Browne Willis, Mr. Spelman, Mr. Morant, Dr.
Ducarel, Dr. Pegge, Mr. Garrick, and most of the distinguished scholars and antiquaries of his time. His connec^
tion with the late eminent and excellent Richard Gough,
esq. so well known by his acquaintance with British topography and antiquities, is apparent from his last will;
where his obligations to Dr. Jenkin, dean Stanhope, and
Mr. Nelson, are acknowledged. The late excellent Dr.
Robert Clayton, bishop of Clogher, so highly esteemed his
friendship, that he not only honoured him by a regular
epistolary intercourse, but presented him with the copy-right
of all his valuable writings. Mr. Bowyer stood unrivalled,
for more than half a century, as a learned printer; and
some of the most masterly productions of this kingdom have
undoubtedly appeared from his press. To his literary and
professional abilities, he added an excellent moral character.
His regard to religion was displayed in his publications, and
in the course of his life and studies; and he was particularly
distinguished by his inflexible probity, and an uncommon
alacrity in assisting the necessitous. His liberality in relieving every species of distress, and his endeavours to conceal
his benefactions, reflect great honour on his memory.
Though he was naturally fond of retirement, and seldom
entered into company, excepting with men of letters, he
was, perhaps, excelled by few in the talent of justly discriminating the real characters of mankind. He judged of the
persons he saw by a sort of intuition; and his judgments
were generally right. From a consciousness of literary superiority, he did not always pay that particular attention tQ
the booksellers which was expedient in the way of his business. Too proud to solicit the favours in that way which he
believed to be his due, he was often disappointed in his expectations. On the other hand, he' frequently experienced
friendships in cases where he had much less reason to have
hoped for them so that, agreeably to his own expression,
“in what he had received, and what he had fyeen denied,
he thankfully acknowledged the will of Heaven.
” The two
great objects of Mr. Bowyer’s view, in the decline of his
life, were to repay the benefactions his father had met
with, and to be himself a benefactor to the meritorious of
his own profession. These purposes are fully displayed in
his last will: for which reason, and because it illustrates
the turn of his mind in other respects, we shall insert it at
large. After a liberal provision for his son, among other
legacies are these “I likewise give to my son all my plate;
except the small silver cup which was given to my father
(after his loss by fire) by Mrs. James, and which I give to
the Company of Stationers in London, hoping they will
preserve it as a memorial. Having committed my body to
the earth, I would testify my duty and gratitude to my few
relations and numerous benefactors after my father’s loss by
fire. I give and bequeath to my cousin Scott, lately of
Westminster, brewer, and to his sister, fifty pounds each.
I give and bequeath to my relations Mr. Thomas Linley and
his wife one thousand pounds four per cent, consolidated annuities, to be transferred to them, or to the survivor of them;
and which I hope they will take care to settle, at their
deaths, for the benefit of their son and daughter. I give
to the two sons and one daughter of the late reverend Mr.
Maurice of Gothenburgh iuSweden, who married the only
daughter of Mr. Richard Williamson, bookseller (in return for her father’s friendship to mine), one thousand pounds
four per cent, consolidated annuities, to be divided equally
between them. Among my father’s numerous benefactors,
there is not, that I can hear of, one alive: to several of
them I made an acknowledgement. But one respectable
body I am still indebted to, the University of Cambridge;
to whom I give, or rather restore, the sum of fifty pounds,
in return for the donation of forty pounds made to my father
at the motion of the learned and pious master of Saint John’s
college, doctor Robert Jenkin: to a nephew of his I have
already given another fifty pounds, as appears by his receipt
of the thirty-first of May, one thousand seven hundred and
seventy. The benefactions which my father received from
Oxford I can only repay with gratiiude; as he received
them, not from the university as a body, but from particular members. I give thirty pounds to the dean and chapter
of Canterbury, in gratitude for the kindness of the worthy
doctor Stanhope (sometime dean of Canterbury) to my father; the remembrance of which amongst the proprietors of
his works I have long out-lived, as I have experienced by not
being employed to print them: the like I might say of the
works of Mr. Nelson, another respectable friend and patron of
my father’s, and of many others. I give to doctor William
Heberden my little cabinet of coins, with H ickes’s Thesau rus,
Tristan, and the odd volume, Spanheim’s Numismata, Harduin’s Opera Selecta, in folio, Nummi Populorum et Urbium, in quarto, and any other of my books he chooses to
accept: to the reverend doctor Henry Owen, such of my
Hebrew books and critical books on the New Testament,
as he pleases to take: to Richard Gough, esq. in like manner, my books on topographical subjects: to Mr. John
Nichols, all books that relate to Cicero, Livy, and the Roman
history, particularly the * Cenotaphia' of Noris and Pighius, my grammars and dictionaries, with Swift’s and
Pope’s works: to my son, whatever books (not described above) he thinks proper to take. And now I hope I may
be allowed to leave somewhat for the benefit of printing.
To this end, I give to the master and keepers or wardens
and commonalty of the mystery or art of a stationer of the
city of London, such a sum of money as will purchase two
thousand pounds three per cent, reduced Bank annuities,
upon trust, to pay the dividends and yearly produce thereof,
to be divided for ever equally amongst three printers, compositors or pressmen, to be elected from time to time by
the master, wardens, and assistants, of the said company,
and who at the time of such election shall be sixty-three
years old or upwards, for their respective lives, to be paid
half-yearly; hoping that such as sha.ll be most deserving
will be preferred. And whereas I have herein before given
to my son the sum of three thousand pounds four per cent,
consolidated annuities, in case he marries with the consent
of my executors: Now, I do hereby give and bequeath the
dividends and interest of that sum, till such marriage take
place, to the said company of stationers to be divided
equally between six other printers, compositors or pressmen, as aforesaid, in manner as aforesaid; and, if my said
son shall die unmarried, or married without such consent as
aforesaid, then I give and bequeath the said capital sum of
three thousand pounds to the company of stationers, the
dividends and yearly produce thereof to be divided for ever
equally amongst six other such old printers, compositors or
pressmen, for their respective lives, to be qualified, chosen,
and paid in manner as aforesaid. It has long been to me
matter of concern, that such numbers are put apprentices
as compositors without any share of school-learning, who
ought to have the greatest: in hopes of remedying this,
I give and bequeath to the said company of stationers such
a sum of money as will purchase one thousand pounds three
per cent, reduced bank annuities, for the use of one journeyman compositor, such as shall hereafter be described; with
this special trust, that the master, wardens, and assistants,
shall pay the dividends and produce thereof half-yearly to
such compositor: the said master, wardens, and assistants
of the said company, shall nominate for this purpose a compositor who is a man of good life and conversation, who shall
usually frequent some place of public worship every Sunday unless prevented by sickness, and shall not have worked
on a newspaper or magazine for four years at least before
such nomination, nor shall ever afterwards whilst he holds
this annuity, which may be for life, if he continues a journeyman; he shall be able to read and construe Latin, and at
least to read Greek fluently with accents; f which he shall
bring a testimonial from the rector of St. Martin’s Ludgate
for the time being: I could wish that he shall have been
brought up piously and virtuously, if it be possible, at Merchant Taylors, or some other public school, from seven
years of age till he is full seventeen, and then to serve seven years faithfully as a compositor, and work seven years
more as a journeyman, as I would not have this annuity bestowed on any one under thirty -one years of age: if after
he is chosen he should behave ill, let him be turned out,
and another be chosen in his stead. And whereas it may
be many years before a compositor may be found that shall
exactly answer the above description, and it may at some
times happen that such a one cannot be found; I would
have the dividends in the mean time applied to such person
as the master, wardens, and assistants, shall think approaches
nearest to what I have described. And whereas the above
trusts will occasion some trouble: I give to the said company, in case they think proper to accept the trusts, two
hundred and fifty pounds.
” It is almost superfluous to add,
that the trust was accepted, and is properly executed.
g and curiosity. It contained memoirs of several hundreds of eminent scholars who had been unnoticed or imperfectly notice;! in biographical compilations, and opened
Early in 1778, Mr. Nichols printed twenty copies of
some short “Biographical Memoirs of Mr. Bowyer,
” an octavo pamphlet of fifty-two pages, which were given in presents to his friends, and reprinted in the Gent. Mag. vol.
XLVIII. These memoirs, although interesting in themselves, were not sufficient to grat:fy the friends and contemporaries of Mr. Bowyer, who foresaw that, with continued
industry and research, Mr. Nichols might erect a more sumptuous monument to the memory of his learned predecessor.
Accordingly from many valuable materials in his possession,
and the aid of some literary friends, he produced in 1782,
in a handsome quarto volume, closely printed, “Biographical and Literary Anecdotes of William Bowyer, Printer,
F. S. A. and of many of his learned friends, containing au
incidental view of the progress and advancement of
literature in this kingdom from the beginning of the present century to the end of the year 1777.
” The importance of this
work was soon acknowledged by men of learning and curiosity. It contained memoirs of several hundreds of eminent
scholars who had been unnoticed or imperfectly notice;! in
biographical compilations, and opened so many new and rich
sources of information and inquiry, that the author was further urged to extend his labours, and improve upon his own
plan so as to include a larger portion of literary history.
With this view, during the intervals he could spare from an
extensive business, and the publication of many useful
works, among which his elaborate ‘ History of Leicestershire’
stands prominent, amidst too his indefatigable attention to
the affairs of the corporation of London, of which he was
for many years a distinguished member, he was enabled in
the present year to publish a new edition of his Memoirs of
Bowyer, under the title of “Literary Anecdotes of the
Eighteenth Century; comprizing Biographical Memoirs
of William Bowyer,
” &c. extended to six copious and
closely printed volumes in octavo, illustrated by a series of engraved portraits. Of this work the editor of
this Dictionary, or of any compilation of the kind, cannot
speak without gratitude. It will appear, indeed, by our
references, that our obligations are numerous and important, nor should we be content with this brief acknowledgment, but from a motive of delicacy, it being known to
our readers that the author to whom we are so much indebted
is at the same time the medium of conveying our praises to
the public. We cannot help adding, however, that where
we refer to Mr. Nichols’s “Anecdotes,
” we wish it to be understood that it is for the purpose of more ample information
than we have usually extracted, and that no book has perhaps
ever been published in this or any country by which literary curiosity is so much excited, or so pleasingly gratified.
t to the friends of English music whenever it is performed. His next publication was “Twelve Sonatas or Trios for two violins and a base,” which were longer and more
, an eminent English musician, chapel-master and organist to George II. and III. was the son
of William Boyce, a joiner and cabinet-maker, and housekeeper of Joiners’-hall, where our musician was born, B'eb.
7, 1710. He was at first a singing-boy at St. Paul’s, and
afterwards apprenticed to the celebrated Dr. Greene, who
bequeathed to him his manuscripts. In 1734 he was a
candidate for the place of organist of St. Michael’s church,
Cornhill, with Froud, Young, James Worgan, and Kelway;
but though unsuccessful in this application, Kelway being
elected, he was appointee! the same year to the place of
organist of Oxford chapel and in 1736, upon the death
of Weltlon, when Kelway being elected organist of St.
Martin' sin the Fields, resigned his place at St. Michael’s
Cornhill, Boyce was not only elected organist of that
church, but organist and composer in the chapel royal.
The same year he set David’s “Lamentation over Saul and
Jonathan,
” which was performed at the Apollo Society.
About the year 1743, he produced his serenata of “Solomon,
” which was not only long and justly admired as a
pleasing and elegant composition, but still affords great
delight to the friends of English music whenever it is performed. His next publication was “Twelve Sonatas or
Trios for two violins and a base,
” which were longer and
more generally purchased, performed, and admired, than
any productions of the kind in this kingdom, except those
of CorelH. They were not only in constant use, as chamber music, in private concerts, for which they were originally designed, but in our theatres, as act-tunes, and
public gardens, as favourite pieces, during many years.
same stage the secular ode, written by Dryden, and originally set by Dr. Boyce for Hickford’s room, or the Castle concert, where it was first performed, in still life.
In 1749, he set the ode written by the rev. Mr. Mason,
for the installation of the late duke of Newcastle, as chancellor of the university of Cambridge, at which time he
was honoured with the degree of doctor in music by that
university. Soon after this event, he set the “Chaplet,
”
a musical drama, written by the late Mr. Mendez, for
Drury-lane theatre, which had a very favourable reception,
and long run, and continued many years in use. Not long
after the first performance of this drama, his friend Mr.
Beard brought on the same stage the secular ode, written
by Dryden, and originally set by Dr. Boyce for Hickford’s
room, or the Castle concert, where it was first performed,
in still life. This piece, though less successful than the
Chaplet, by the animated performance and friendly zeal
of Mr. Beard, was many times exhibited before it was
wholly laid aside. These compositions, with occasional
single songs for Vauxhall and Ranelagh, disseminated the
fame of Dr. Boyce throughout the kingdom, as a dramatic
and miscellaneous composer, while his choral compositions
for the king’s chapel, for the feast of the sons of the clergy
at St. Paul’s, and for the triennial meetings at the three
cathedrals of Worcester, Hereford, and Gloucester, at the
performances in all which places he constantly presided
till the time of his death, established his’ reputation as an
ecclesiastical composer, and able master of harmony. Dr.
Boyce was one of the few of our church composers, who
neither pillaged or servilely imitated Handel. There is an
original and sterling merit in his productions, founded as
much on the study of our own old masters, as on the best
models of other countries, that gives to all his works a peculiar stamp and character of his own, for strength, clearness, and facility, without any mixture of styles, or extraneous and heterogeneous ornaments. On the decease
of Dr Greene, in 1757, he was appointed by the duke of
Devonshire, master of the king’s band; and, in 1758, on
the death of Travers, organist of the chapel-royal. He
published, at a great expence to himself, three volumes
of cathedral music, being a collection in score of the most
valuable compositions for that service by the several English masters of the preceding two centuries, which was
designed to have been published by Dr. Greene: and in
this Dr. Boyce was assisted by the first Dr. Hayes, of Oxford, and by Dr. Howard. Dr. Boyce died, of repeated
attacks of the gout, Feb. 7, 1779, and was interred in St.
Paul’s cathedral. An anonymous biographer records a
very singular circumstance in Dr. Boyce’s history, namely,
that he was from his youth incurably deaf.
, for they could not tolerate his impetuous and unruly temper, and perhaps they were little inclined or little able to support him in a manner of life which had no
, a Scotch writer of considerable reputation in the sixteenth century, the son of
Robert Boyd, of Pinkill in Ayrshire, was born Jan. 13,
1562. Having lost his father early, he was educated under
the inspection of his uncle, Mr. James Boyd, of Trochrig,
who, with the then unpopular title of “Archbishop of
Glasgow,
” performed the offices of minister of the Barony
parish in that city. Young Boyd, in his nature lively
and headstrong, soon grew weary of academical discipline,
quarreled with his preceptors, renounced his studies, and,
eager to become a man of the world, presented himself at
court. It is not unlikely that in this scheme ae relied chit fly
on the patronage of liobert, fourth lord Boyd, who was
probably the cousin-gernran of Boyd’s father. All, however, that we learn of his proficiency at cm:;c is, that he
fought one duel, and was engaged in numberless broils.
His relations advised him to follow the profession of arms
in the Low Countries, for they could not tolerate his impetuous and unruly temper, and perhaps they were little
inclined or little able to support him in a manner of life
which had no determined object or aim. Boyd readily
consented to become a soldier; but he chose France rather
than the Low Countries, for the theatre of his future
achievements. He went therefore to Paris, furnished with
a small stock of money, all of which he soon lost at dice.
This the author of his life ascribes to some secret fate,
“occulto veluti fato
” but says his more recent biographer, lord Hailes, we may absolve fate, for when the raw
and self-sufficient go amongst sharpers, they ought to ascribe their ruin to folly.
ught it unworthy of a Christian, in a literary controversy, to throw out any thing, either in speech or writing, which should hurt the reputation of an adversary. In
In 1588, Boyd fixed his residence at Toulouse, and again applied himself to the study of the civil law under Fr. Rouldes, a celebrated professor. It appears that, about this time, he wrote some tracts on that science, and projected others; and that he even had it in view to compose a system of the law of nations. Toulouse having, about this time, by means of a popular insurrection, fallen into the hands of the faction of the league, Boyd, who had assisted the royal cause, was thrown into prison and, from the hatred of the Jesuits, was in great danger of his life. When he had obtained his liberty, which was granted him at the solicitations of the learned men of Toulouse, he went first to Bourdeaux, and thence to Rochelle. In this last journey he was attacked by robbers, and with difficulty escaped being assassinated by them, after having lost all the property he had with him. Disliking the air of Rochelle, he retreated to the borders of Poictou, where he enjoyed an agreeable rural retirement; devoting his time partly to polite literature, and partly to the aid of his friends, when they were occasionally exposed to the incursions of their enemies. He so equally applied himself te the study of learning and war, that it was not easy to say which he most preferred; but his character appears now to have been more decided than when in youth. Among men of the sword he appeared to be the accomplished soldier, and as eminently the scholar among those of the gown. In his person he was tall, compact, and well proportioned; his countenance was beautiful, sprightly, and engaging; and there was a singularly noble air in his discourse, aspect, voice, aud gesture. He was polite, pleasant, acute, courteous, a ready speaker, and entirely free from envy and avarice. He could easily bear with the boasting of the ignorant, but extremely disliked the abusive manner of writing which prevailed so much among the learned of his time. He thought it unworthy of a Christian, in a literary controversy, to throw out any thing, either in speech or writing, which should hurt the reputation of an adversary. In injuries of an atrocious nature, he chose to do himself justice by having recourse to the laws of arms. Among the ancients, Xenophon was his favourite as a philosopher, Cæsar as an historian, and Virgil as a poet. So admirably was he skilled in the Greek language, that he could write, dictate, and converse in it, with copiousness and elegance. He despised the centos, which were then not a little in fashion; and said, that however learned the authors of them might be, they were dull and ignorant men. Besides his epistles after the manner of Ovid, and his hymns, he wrote a variety of Latin poems, which have not been printed. He was the author of notes upon Pliny, and published an excellent little book, addressed to Lipsius, in defence of cardinal Bembo and the ancient eloquence. He translated, likewise, Cæsar’s Commentaries into Greek, in the style of Herodotus; but would not permit his translation to appear in public. He afterwards applied himself to the cultivation of poetry in his native Ianguage, and arrived at considerable excellence in it. In all his compositions, genius was more apparent than labour.
where he soon after died, of a slow fever, in April 1601, at Pinkill, his father’s seat, in the 38th or 39th year of his age; and was buried with his ancestors in the
Boyd, at length, returned into Scotland, where he soon
after died, of a slow fever, in April 1601, at Pinkill,
his father’s seat, in the 38th or 39th year of his age; and
was buried with his ancestors in the church of Dalie or
Darlie. Among the manuscripts which he left behind him,
the following were in sir Robert Sibbald’s possession:
“In Institutiones Imperatoris Commenta,
” L‘Estat du Royaume d’Escosse a present,
” foj. “
Politicus, ad Joannem Metellanum, cancellariutn Scotiae.
”
w Scriptum de Jurisconsulto, ad Franciscum Balduinum.“”Poeta, ad Cornelium Varum Florentinum.“” Poemata
varia.“” Epistolae.“But of these, the only works now
known are his
” Epistolae Heroidum,“and his
” Hymni.“These are inserted in the
” Delitiae Poetarum Scotorum,“Amst. 1637, in two volumes 12mo; and a great character
has been given of them by several authors. His biographer questions whether any of the ancients have excelled
him in elegiac poetry, and is positive that none of the
Latins have equalled his hymns. Olaus Borrichius, an
eminent critic, in his
” Dissertationes Academic de Poetis,“says,
” In Marco Alexandra Bodio, Scoto, redivivum
spectamus Nasonem; ea est in ejusdem Epistolis Heroidum, lux, candor, dexteritas." The same critic speaks as
highly of Boyd’s Hymns, but modern taste will not coincide with these praises. Boyd undoubtedly was a man of
genius and elegant accomplishments, yet we learn this
rather from his history than his writings.
ng his majesty to declare his own sense and pleasure thereupon, and that if he conceived any illwill or disgust against him for that journey, that he would openly declare
, a nobleman of Scotland, of whose early years we have no account, began to make a figure in public life towards the end of the reign of James II. of Scotland. Being a man of great penetration and sound judgment, courteous and affable, he acquired the esteem and confidence of all ranks of people, as well as of his prince, who created him a baron by the title of lord Boyd, of Kilmarnock. In 1459, he was, with several other noblemen, sent to Newcastle, with the character of plenipotentiary, to prolong the truce with England, which had just fhen expired. On the death of James II. who was killed at the siege of Roxburgh, lord Boyd was made justiciary, and one of the lords of the regency, in whose hands the administration was lodged during the minority of the young king. His lordship had a younger brother who had received the honour of knighthood, sir Alexander Boyd of Duncow, a man in great credit with the king, whom he was appointed to teach the rudiments of military discipline; and between them, the two brothers found means to engross most of the places and preferments about the court. Sir Alexander began to instil into the young king, then twelve years old, that he was now capable of governing without the help of guardians and tutors, and that he might free himself from their restraint. This advice was readily listened to, and the king resolved to take upon himself the government, which, however, was no other than transferring the whole power, from the other regents, to the Boyds. The king was at this time at Linlithgow, and it was necessary to remove him to Edinburgh, to take upon him the regal government, which the Boyds effected, partly by force, and partly by stratagem. Haying got the king- to Edinburgh, lord Boyd began to provide for his own safety, and to avert the danger which, threatened him and his friends, for what they had done in the face of an act of parliament; and accordingly prevailed upon the king to call a parliament at Edinburgh, in October 1466; in which lord Boyd fell down upon his knees before the throne, where the king sat, and in an elaborate harangue, complained of the hard construction put upon the king’s removal from Linlithgow, and how ill this was interpreted by his enemies, who threatened that the advisers of that affair should one day suffer punishment; humbly beseeching his majesty to declare his own sense and pleasure thereupon, and that if he conceived any illwill or disgust against him for that journey, that he would openly declare it. The king, after advising a little with the lords, made answer, that the lord Boyd was not his adviser, but rather his companion in that journey; and therefore that he was more worthy of a reward for his courtesy, than of punishment for his obsequiousness or compliance therein; and this he was willing to declare in a public decree of the estates, and in the same decree provision should be made, that this matter should never be prejudicial to the lord Boyd or his companions. His lordship then desired, that this decree might be registered in the acts of the assembly, and confirmed by letters patent under the great seal, which was also complied with. At the same time also the king, by advice of his council, gave him letters patent, whereby he was constituted sole regent, and had the safety of the king, his brothers, sisters, towns, castles, and all the jurisdiction over his subjects, committed to him, till the king himself arrived to the age of twenty-one years. And the nobles then present solemnly promised to be assistant to the lord Boyd, and also to his brother, in all their public actions, and that they would be liable to punishment, if they did not carefully, and with faithfulness, perform what they then promised, to which stipulation the king also subscribed. Lord Boyd next contrived to be made Jord great chamberlain, and after this had the boldness to procure the lady Mary Stewart, the late king’s eldest daughter, in marriage for his son sir Thomas Boyd, notwithstanding the care and precaution of the parliament. The lord Boyd’s son was a most accomplished gentleman, and this match and near alliance to the crown, added to his own distinguished merit, raised him to a nearer place in the affection as well as confidence of his sovereign, by whom he was soon after created earl of Arran, and was now himself considered as the fountain from whence all honours and preferments must flow. The lord chamberlain, by this great accession of honour to his family, seemed to have arrived at the highest pinnacle of power and grandeur; but what seemed to establish his power, proved the very means of its overthrow. About this time, a marriage having been concluded, by ambassadors sent into Denmark for that purpose, between the young king of Scotland, and Margaret, a daughter of the king of Denmark, the earl of Arran was selected to go over to Denmark, to espouse the Danish princess in the king his brother-in-law’s name, and to conduct her to Scotland. The earl of Arran, judging all things safe at home, willingly accepted this honour; and, in the beginning of the autumn of 1469, set sail for Denmark with a proper convoy, and a noble train of friends and followers. This was, however, a fatal step, for the lord chamberlain, the earl’s father, being now much absent from the court in the necessary discharge of his office, as well as through age and infirmities, which was the case also of his brother sir Alexander Boyd; the earl of Arran had no sooner set out on his embassy, than every endeavour was tried to alienate the king’s affection from the Boyds. Every public miscarriage was laid at their door; and the Kennedies, their ancient enemies, industriously spread abroad reports, to inflame the people likewise against them. They represented to the king, that the lord Boyd had abused his power during his majesty’s minority; that his matching his son, the earl of Arran, with the princess Mary, was staining the royal blood of Scotland, was an indignity to the crown, and the prelude to the execution of a plot they had contrived of usurping even the sovereignty itself; for they represented the lord chamberlain as an ambitious, aspiring man, guilty of the highest offences, and capable of contriving and executing the worst of villanies: with what justice, history does not inform us. Buchanan only says the Boyds were the occasion of the king’s degeneracy into all manner of licentiousness, by their indulgence of his pleasures. The king, however, young, weak, credulous, and wavering, and naturally prone to jealousy, began to be alarmed, and was prevailed on to sacrifice, not only the earl of Arran, but all his family, to the resentment of their enemies, notwithstanding their ancestors’ great services to the crown, and in spite of the ties of blood which united them so closely. At the request of the adverse faction, the king summoned a parliament to meet at Edinburgh, the 20th of November, 1469, before which lord Boyd, the earl of Arran, though in Denmark, and sir Alexander Boyd of Duncow, were summoned to appear, to give an account of their administration, and answer such charges as should be exhibited against them. Lord Boyd, astonished at this sudden blow, betook himself to arms; but, finding it im-r possible to stem the torrent, made his escape into England; but his brother, sir Alexander, being then sick, and trusting to his own integrity, was brought before the parliament, where he, the lord Boyd, and his son the earl of Arran, were indicted of high-treason, for having laid hands on the king, and carried him, against an act of parliament, and contrary to the king’s own will, from Linlithgow to Edinburgh, in 1466. Sir Alexander alleged in his defence, that they had not only obtained the king’s pardon for that'offence in a public convention, but it was even declared a good service by a subsequent act of parliament; but no regard was had to this, because it was obtained by the Boyds when in power, and masters of the king’s person: and the crime being proved against them, they were found guilty by a jury of lords and barons; and sir Alexander Boyd, being present, was condemned to lose his head on the Castle-hill of Edinburgh, which sentence was executed accordingly. The lord Boyd would have undergone the same fate, if he had not inade his escape into England, where, however, he did not long survive his great reverse of fortune, dying at Alnwick in 1470. The earl of Arran, though absent upon public business, was declared a public enemy, without being granted a hearing, or allowed the privilege of defending himself, and his estates confiscated. Things were in this situation, when he arrived from Denmark, with the espoused queen, in the Frith of Forth. Before he landed he received intelligence of the wreck and ruin of his family, and resolved to retire into Denmark; and without staying to attend the ceremonial of the queen’s landing, he took the opportunity of one of those Danish ships which convoyed the queen, and were under his command, and embarking his lady, set sail for Denmark, where he met with a reception suitable to his high birth. From thence he travelled through Germany into France, and went to pay a visit to Charles duke of Burgundy, who received him most graciously, and being then at war with his rebellious subjects, the unfortunate lord offered him his service, which the duke readily accepted, and finding him to be a brave and wise man, he honoured and supported him and his lady, in a manner becoming their rank. But the king their brother, not yet satisfied with the miseries of their family, wrote over to Flanders to recal his sister home; and fearing she would not be induced to leave him, he caused others to write to her, and give her hopes that his anger towards her husband might be appeased, and that if she would come over and plead for him in person, there was no doubt but she might prevail with her brother to restore him again to his favour. The countess of Arran, flattered with these hopes, returned, and was no sooner arrived in Scotland, than the king urged her to a divorce from her husband, cruelly detained her from going back to him, and caused public citations, attested by witnesses, to be fixed up at Kilmarnock, the seat of the Boyds, wherein Thomas earl of Arran was commanded to appear in sixty days, which he not doing, his marriage with the king’s sister was declared null and void, and a divorce made (according to Buchanan), the earl still absent and unheard; and the lady Mary was compelled, by the king, to marry James lord Hamilton, a man much inferior to her former husband both in point of birth and fortune. This transaction was in 1474; and the earl of Arran, now in the last stage of his miseries, and borne down with the heavy load of his misfortunes, soon al'ter, died at Antwerp, and was honourably interred there. The character of him and of his father is variously represented. That they were ambitious, and regardless of the means of gratifying that ambition, cannot well be denied, nor are we permitted to censure with great asperity their enemies who effected their ruin by similar measures and with similar motives. Their fall undoubtedly holds out an useful lesson, but the experience of others, especially of examples in history, seldom checks the progress of that ambition that has once commenced in success.
ttle of Preston Pans that he became a party in it, having, till then, neither influenced his tenants or followers to assist or abet the rebellion; but, on the contrary,
, a descendant of the preceding, and
fourth and last earl of Kilmarnock, was born in 1704, and
was but thirteen years old when his father died: he discovered early a genius not unequal to his birth, but found
the family estate pretty much encumbered, and great part
of the patrimony alienated, which was by no means answerable to his lordship’s generous and noble disposition.
It was also his misfortune to be too soon let loose among
the gaieties and pleasures of life. As he grew up, instead
of applying himself to study, he launched out into the
world in pursuit of pleasures which were more expensive
than his fortune could support, and by this means considerably reduced his estate, which, from the most probable
conjecture, was the true reason of his taking up arms against
the king. Indeed, his lordship himself owns in his confession to Mr. Foster (while under sentence), that his rebellion
was a kind of desperate scheme, proceeding originally from
his vices, to extricate himself from the distress of his circumstances; for he says, “the true root of all was his careJess and dissolute life, by which he had reduced himself to
great and perplexing difficulties; that the exigency of his
affairs was in particular very pressing at the time of the
rebellion; and that, besides the general hope he had of
mending his fortune by the success of it, he was also
tempted by another prospect of retrieving his circumstances, by following the Pretender’s standard.
” It does
not appear that his lordship was in the original design of
the rebellion: on the contrary, he declared both in his
speech at the bar of the house of lords, and in his petition
to the king after his sentence, that it was not tilt after the
battle of Preston Pans that he became a party in it, having,
till then, neither influenced his tenants or followers to
assist or abet the rebellion; but, on the contrary, influenced the inhabitants of the town of Kilmarnock,
and the neighbouring boroughs, to rise in arms for his
majesty’s service, which had so good an effect, that two
hundred men from Kilmarnock very soon appeared in
arms, and remained so all the winter at Glasgow and other
places. It is said, that when the earl joined the
Pretender’s standard, he was received by him with great marks
of esteem and distinction; was declared of his privy-council, made colonel of the guards, and promoted to the degree of a general (though his lordship himself says, he was far from being a person of any consequence among them).
How he behaved in these stations (quite new to him, and foreign from his former manner of life), we cannot determine; but common fame says, he displayed considerable
courage till the fatal battle of Culloden, when he was
taken, or rather surrendered himself, prisoner, to the king’s
troops, though involuntarily, and with a design to have
facilitated his escape: for he acknowledged to Mr. Foster,
whilst under sentence, that when he saw the king’s dragoons, and made towards them, he thought they had been
Fitz-James’s horse; and that if he could have reached
them by mounting behind one of the dragoons, his escape
would have been more certain, than when he was on foot.
Yet, in his speech to the house of lords, he made a merit
of having surrendered himself, at a time when he said he
could easily have made his escape, and in this he owned,
when in a state of repentance, that he had not spoken
truth. His lordship was brought to the Tower, and on
Monday the 28th of July, 174-6, was, together with the
earl of Cromartie, and lord Balmerino, conducted to Westminster-hall, and at the bar of the lord high-steward’s
court, arraigned, and pleaded guilty to his indictment,
submitting himself to his majesty’s mercy and clemency.
On the Wednesday following, the three lords were again
brought from the Tower to receive sentence, when the
lord Kilmarnock being asked by the lord high-steward, if
he had any thing to offer why sentence of death should not
be passed upon him, his lordship, addressing himself to
his grace and the whole august assembly, then consisting
of an hundred and thirty-six peers, delivered an eloquent
speech, after which, sentence of death was pronounced
upon him, and he returned to the Tower. After this, he
presented petitions to the king, the prince of Wales, and
duke of Cumberland, wherein he set forth his family’s
constant attachment to the revolution interest, and that of
the illustrious house of Hanover; his father’s zeal and
activity in support of both in the rebellion in 1715, and
his own appearing in arms (though then but young) under
his father, and the whole tenour of his conduct ever since
that time. But the services of his forefathers could not
satisfy the public demand for justice, nor avail him so far
as to procure him pardon. He was beheaded on Towerhill, August 18, 1746, and was interred in the Tower
church, with this inscription upon his coffin, viz. “Gulielmus Comes de Kilmarnock, decollat. 18 Augusti, 1746,
aetat. suae 42.
” His lordship’s whole deportment, from the
time he was condemned till his execution, was suitable to
one in his unhappy circumstances. He gave the most
lively marks of a sincere humiliation and repentance for
all his miscarriages, and his behaviour in the hour of death
was resigned, but strictly decent and awful. He had himself observed, with great truth, that for a man who had led
a dissolute life, and yet believed the consequences of
death, to put on an air of daringness and absolute intrepidity, must argue him either to be very stupid or very
impious. He was a nobleman of fine address and polite
behaviour; his person was tall and graceful; his countenance mild, but his complexion pale; and he had abilities, which, if they had been properly applied, might
have rendered him capable of bringing an increase of honour to his family, instead of ruin and disgrace. His
lordship lived and died in the public profession of the
church of Scotland, and left behind him a widow (who was the lady Anne Livingston, daughter of James earl of Linlithgow and Callander (attainted in 1715), with whom
he had a considerable fortune), and three sons, the eldest
of whom his lordship had educated in the principles of
duty and loyalty to his majesty, and in whose service he
fought against the rebels. He succeeded, upon the death
of Mary, countess of Errol, in 1758, to her estate and
honours, his mother having been undoubted heir of line of
that noble family, and he was the sixteenth earl of Errol.
He died June 3, 1778, leaving issue.
her, he bought from Mr. Toms the last year of his apprenticeship, and became his own master. In 1745 or 1746 he published six small landscapes, designed and engraved
His conduct during his apprenticeship was eminently
assiduous. Eager to attain all possible knowledge of an
art on which his mind was bent, and of every thing that
could be useful to him, and^impelled by an industry that
seemed inherent in his nature, he, whenever he could,
attended the academy in St. Martin’s-lane to perfect himself in drawing; his leisure hours in the evening were devoted to the study of perspective, and to the learning of
French without the aid of a master. After very steadily
pursuing his business for six years, and finding himself a
better artist than his teacher, he bought from Mr. Toms
the last year of his apprenticeship, and became his own
master. In 1745 or 1746 he published six small landscapes, designed and engraved by himself. This publication, from his having in most of the views chosen a situation in which a bridge formed part of the scenery, was
entitled “The Bridge book,
” and sold for a shilling.
Small as this sum was, he sometimes spoke with apparent
pleasure of a silversmith in Duke’s-court, St. Martin’s
lane, having sold so many, that when he settled his annual
account, he thought it would be civil to take a silver pint
mug in part of payment, and this mug he retained until
his dying day. He afterwards designed and engraved
many other views, generally of places in and about London, and published the greater part of them at the low
price of one shilling each. But even at this early period
he was so much alive to fame, that after having passed
several months in copying an historical sketch of Coriolanus by Sebastian Concha, he so much disliked his own
engraving, that he cut the plate to pieces. Besides these,
he engraved many prints from Brocking, Berchem, Salvator ilosa, &c. The manner in which many of them are
executed, is highly respectable; and, being done at a
time when the artist had much other business to attend to,
displays an industry rarely to be paralleled, and proves
that had he devoted all his time to engraving, he wcmld
have ranked high in the profession. His facility of execution, and unconquerable perseverance, having thus enabled him to complete one hundred and fifty-two prints,
tie collected the whole in one port-folio, and published it
at fi,ve guineas. He modestly allowed that he himself had
not at that time arrived at any eminence in the art of engraving, and that those prints are now chiefly valuable
from a comparison of them with the improved state of the
art within the last fifty years. In fact, there were at that
time no eminent engravers in England, and Mr. Boydell
saw the necessity of forcing the art by stimulating men of
genius with suitable rewards. With the profits of the folio
volume of prints above-mentioned, he' was enabled to pay
very liberally the best artists of his time, and thus presented the world with English engravings from the works of
the greatest masters. The encouragement that he experienced from the public was equal to the spirit and patriotism of his undertaking, and soon laid the foundation
of an ample fortune. He used to observe, that he believed
the book we have alluded to was the first that had ever
made a lord mayor of London; and that when the smallness of the work was compared with what had followed, it
would impress all young men with the truth of what he
had often held out to them, “that industry, patience, and
perseverance, if united to moderate talents, are certain
to surmount all difficulties.
” Mr. Boydell, though he
never himself made any great progress as an engraver, was
certainly the greatest encourager of the art that this country
ever knew. The arts were at the time he began, at a
very low ebb in this country. Wotton’s portraits of hounds
^nd horses, grooms and squires, with a distant view of the
dog-kennel and stable; and Hudson’s portraits of gentlemen in great coats and jockey caps, were in high repute.
Inferior prints from poor originals were almost the only
works our English artists were thought capable of performing; and, mortifying as it must be to acknowledge it,
yet it must be admitted, that (with the exception of the inimitable Hogarth, and two or three others) the generality of them were not qualified for much better things.
The powers of the artists were, however, equal to the
taste of a great majority of their customers; and the few
people of the higher order who had a relish for better
productions, indulged it in the purchase of Italian and
Flemish pictures and French prints; for which, even at
th?t time, the empire was drained of immense sums of
money. To check this destructive fashion, Mr. Boydell
sought for an English engraver who could equal, it not
excel them; and jn Woollett he found one. The Temple
of Apollo, from Claude, and two premium pictures from
the Smiths of Chichester, were amongst the first large
works which this excellent artist engraved; but the Niobe
and the Phaeton, from Wilson, established his fame. For
the first of them the alderman agreed to give the engraver
fifty guineas, and when it was completed paid him a
hundred. The second, the artist agreed to engrave for
fifty guineas, and the alderman paid him one hundred and
twenty. The two prints were published by subscription,
at five shillings each. Proof prints were not at that time
considered as having any particular value; the few that
were taken off to examine the progress of the plate were
delivered to such subscribers as chose to have them, at the
subscription price. Several of these have since that time
been sold at public auctions, at ten and eleven guineas
each. By these and similar publications he had the satisfaction to see in his own time the beneficial effects of his
exertions. We have before observed, that previous to his
establishing a continental correspondence for the exportation of prints, immense sums were annually sent out of
the country for the purchase of those that were engraved
abroad; but he changed the course of the current, and
for many of the later years of his life, the balance of the
print-trade with the continent was very much in favour of
Great Britain.
peare gallery,” in Pall Mall; and we believe there are few individuals possessed of the least taste, or even curiosity, who have not inspected and been delighted by
Having been so successful in promoting the art of engraving in this country, he resolved to direct his next
efforts to the establishing an English school of historical
painting; and justly conceiving that no subject could be
more appropriate for such a national attempt than England’s inspired poet, and great painter of nature, Shakspeare, he projected, and just lived to see completed, a
most splendid edition of the works of that author, illustrated by engravings from paintings of the first artists that
the country could furnish, and of which the expence was
prodigious. These paintings afterwards formed what was
termed “The Shakspeare gallery,
” in Pall Mall; and we
believe there are few individuals possessed of the least
taste, or even curiosity, who have not inspected and been
delighted by them.
every hundred pounds my -plates produced, I should not now have had occasion to trouble my friends, or appeal to the public; but, on the contrary, I flew with impatience
"You will excuse, I am sure, my clear Sir, some warmth in an old man on this subject, when I inform you that this unhappy revolution has cut tip by the roots that revenue from the continent which, enabled me to undertake such considerable works in this country. At the same time, as I am laying my case fairly before you, it should not be disguised, that my natural enthusiasm for promoting the fine arts (perhaps buoyed up by success) made me improvident. For had I laid by but ten pounds out of every hundred pounds my -plates produced, I should not now have had occasion to trouble my friends, or appeal to the public; but, on the contrary, I flew with impatience to employ some new artist, with the whole gains of my former undertakings. I see too late my error; for I have thereby decreased my ready money, and increased my stock of copper-plates to such a size, that ait the print-sellers in Europe could not purchase it, especially at these times, so unfavourable to the arts.
otally annihilated them. I certainly calculated on some defalcation of these rec- i;j!s, by a French or Spanish war, or both but with France or Spain I carried on but
"Having thus candidly owned my error, I have but one word to say in extenuation. My receipts from abroad had been so large, and continued so tegular, that I at all times found them fully adequate to support my undertakings at home. I could not calculate on the present crisis, which has totally annihilated them. I certainly calculated on some defalcation of these rec- i;j!s, by a French or Spanish war, or both but with France or Spain I carried on but little commerce. Flanders, Holland, and Germany, (and these countries no doubt supplied the rest of Europe) were the great marts; but, alas! they are now no more. The convulsion that has disjointed and ruined the whole continent I did not foresee I know no man that did. On that head, therefore, though it has nearly ruined me and mine, I can take but little blame to myself.
as constitutionally merciful; and when masters came before him with complaints of their apprentices, or husbands with complaints of their wives, he always attempted,
It yet remains to be added to the character of alderman Boydell, that in his magisterial capacity, though inflexibly just, he was constitutionally merciful; and when masters came before him with complaints of their apprentices, or husbands with complaints of their wives, he always attempted, and very often successfully, to accommodate their differences; and, when he could with propriety, usually recommended the complaining party to amend his own conduct, as an example to those whom he accused. Wishing to disseminate a taste for the fine arts, he has within these few years presented to the corporation of the city of London, several valuable pictures, which now ornament the council chamber at Guildhall. Some of them commemorate the actions of our military distinguished characters, and others are calculated to impress upon the minds of the rising generation, the sentiments of industry, prudence, and virtue. Several of these well-imagined allegorical delineations by Rigaud, Smirke, Westall, &c. he has had engraved, and in the dissemination of either prints or books which had a moral tendency he always appeared to take great pleasure .
, in the most arbitrary manner, forbad his prosecuting his suit, saying to him, “Call in your writs, or if you will not, I will clap you in the castle; for I tell you,
It is much to be regretted that so faithful a servant of
the public should have lived at variance with the earl
of Strafford, himself a man of virtue, talents, and patriotism, and afterwards a sacrifice to the fury of the republican party in England; yet it cannot be denied that
the earl of Strafford behaved in a very arrogant and
haughty manner to the earl of Cork; and that the conduct
of the lord deputy was such, as it could not reasonably be expected any man of spirit would patiently submit to, and especially a man of so much worth and
merit as the noble subject of this article. His lordship
gave evidence at Strafford’s trial, that when he had commenced a suit at law, in a case in which he apprehended
himself to be aggrieved, the earl of Strafford, in the
most arbitrary manner, forbad his prosecuting his suit,
saying to him, “Call in your writs, or if you will not,
I will clap you in the castle; for I tell you, I will not have
my orders disputed by law, nor lawyers.
” We have,
however, already seen that lord Cork had other enemies,
who took various opportunities of displaying their jealousy
of his power and talents. One singular opportunity was
taken on the death of his second lady, which we shall detail, as including some traits of the taste and prejudices of
the times. This lady was privately interred on the 27th of
February 1629-30, but her funeral was publicly solemnized
on the llth of March following; soon after which$ the
earl of Cork purchased from the dean and chapter of St.
Patrick’s church, the inheritance of the upper part of the
chancel where the vault was, in which the bodies of her
grandfather by the mother’s side, the lord chancellor Weston, and of her father sir Geoffry Fenton, were laid, over
which the earl her husband caused a fine marble tomb to
be erected. This presently gave offence to some people,
who suggested that it stood where the altar ought to stand,
of which they complained to the king, who mentioned it
to Dr. Laud, then bishop of London; who after the lord
Wentworth was made lord deputy of Ireland, and himself
archbishop of Canterbury, moved him that it might be
inquired into, as it was, and this affair made afterwards a
very great noise. The earl of Cork procured a letter from
Dr. Usher, then lord primate of Ireland, and also from Dr.
Launcelot Bulkeiey, then archbishop of Dublin, justifying,
that the tomb did not stand in the place of the altaf, and
that instead of being an inconvenience, it was a great ornament to the church; which letters archbishop Laud
transmitted to the lord deputy, and at the same time acquainted^ him that they did not give himself any satisfaction. The postscript to this letter, dated Lambeth, March
11, 1634, is very remarkable, and shews both the rise and
the falsehood of the common opinion, that it was the lord
deputy, afterwards earl of Strafford, who set this matter on
foot out of prejudice to the earl of Cork. “I had almost
forgot to tell you, that all this business about demolishing
my lord of Cork’s tomb is charged upon you, as if it were
done only because he will not marry his son to my lord
Clifford’s daughter, and that I do it to join with you;
whereas the complaint came against it to me out of Ireland,
and was presented by me to the king before I knew that
your lordship was named for deputy there. But jealousies
know no end.
” The archbishop afterwards wrote in very
strong terms to the earl of Cork himself, in which he affirms the same thing, and deals very roundly with his lordship upon that and other subjects, advising him to leave
the whole to the lord deputy and the archbishops. As to
the issue of the affair, it appears clearly from a letter of
the lord deputy Wentworth’s, dated August 23, 1634, to
the archbishop, in which he delivers himself thus: “I
have issued a commission, according to my warrant, for
viewing the earl of Cork’s tomb: the two archbishops and
himself, with four bishops, and the two deans and chapters, were present when we met, and made them all so
ashamed, that the earl desires he may have leave to pull it
down without reporting further into England; so as I am
content if the miracle be done, though Mohammed do it,
and there is an end of the tomb before it come to be entombed indeed. And for me that my lord treasurer do
what he please; I shall ever wish his ways may be those of
honour to himself, and dispatch to my master’s affairs; but
go it as it shall please God with me, believe me, my lord,
I will be still tlwrow and thorowout one and the same, and
with comfort be it spoken by myself, and your grace’s
commendations.
” It may be added that though the tomb
has been taken away above a century, yet the inscription
that was upon it is still extant.
rdship the command of a general officer, if he would serve in that war: that he should have no oaths or engagements imposed upon him, nor be obliged to draw his sword
, earl of Orrery, fifth son of Richard earl of Cork, was born April 25, 1621, and created baron Broghill in the kingdom of Ireland when but seven years old. He was educated at the college of Dublin, and about the year 1636, sent with his elder brother lord Kinalmeaky to make the tour of France and Italy. Afterhis return he married lady Margaret Howard, sister to the earl of Suffolk. During the rebellion in Ireland, he commanded a troop of horse in the forces raised by his father, and on many occasions gave proofs of conduct and courage. After the cessation of arms, which was concluded in 1643, he came over to England, and so represented to the king the Irish papists, that his majesty was convinced they never meant to keep the cessation, and therefore sent a commission to lord Inchiquin, president of Munster, to prosecute the rebels. Lord Broghill employed his interest in that county to assist him in this service; and when the government of Ireland was committed to the parliament, he continued to observe the same conduct till the king was put to death. That event shocked him so much, that he immediately quitted the service of the parliament; and, looking upon Ireland and his estate there as utterly lost, embarked for England, and returned to his seat at Marston in Somersetshire, where he lived privately till 1649. In this retirement, reflecting on the distress of his country, and the personal injury he suffered whilst his estate was held by the Irish rebels, he resolved, under pretence of going to the Spa for his health, to cross the seas, and apply to king Charles II. for a commission to raise forces in Ireland, in order to restore his majesty, and recover his own estate. He desired the earl of Warwick, who had an interest in the prevailing party, to procure a licence for him to go to the Spa. He pretended to the earl, that his sole view was the recovery of his health; but, to some of his friends of the royal party, in whom he thought he could confide, he discovered hi* real design; and having raised a considerable sum of money, came to London to prosecute his voyage. The committee of state, who spared no pains to get proper intelligence, being soon informed of his whole design, determined to proceed against him with the utmost severity. Cromwell, at that time general of the parliament’s forces, and a member of the committee, was no stranger to lord Broghill’s merit; and considering that this young nobleman might be of great use to him in reducing Ireland, he earnestly entreated the committee, that he might have leave to talk with him, and endeavour to gain him, before they proceeded to extremities. Having, with great difficulty, obtained this permission, he immediately dispatched a gentleman to lord Broghill, to let him know that he intended to wait upon him. Broghill was surprised at this message, having never had the least acquaintance with Cromwell, and therefore desired the gentleman to let the general know that he would wait upon his excellency. But while he was expecting the return of the messenger, Cromwell entered the room; and, after mutual civilities, told him in few words, that the committee of state were apprised of his design of going over, and applying to Charles Stuart for a commission to raise forces in Ireland; and that they had determined to make an example of him, if he had not diverted them from that resolution. The lord Broghill interrupted him, and assured him that the intelligence which the committee had received was false; that he was neither in a capacity, nor had any inclination, to raise disturbances in Ireland; and concluded with entreating his excellency to have a kinder opinion of him. Cromwell, instead of making any reply, drew some papers out of. his pocket, which were the copies of several letters sent by lord Broghill to those persons in whom he most confided, and put them into his hands. Broghill, finding it was to no purpose to dissemble any longer, asked his excellency’s pardon for what he had said, returned him, Vol. VI. y his humble thanks for his protection against the committee, and entreated his advice how he ought to behave in so delicate a conjuncture. Cromwell told him, that though till this time he had been a stranger to his person, he was not so to his merit and character; that he had heard how gallantly his lordship had already behaved in the Irish wars; and therefore, since he was named lord lieutenant of Ireland, and the reducing that kingdom was now become his province, that he had obtained leave of the committee to offer his lordship the command of a general officer, if he would serve in that war: that he should have no oaths or engagements imposed upon him, nor be obliged to draw his sword against any but the Irish rebels. Lord Broghill was infinitely surprised at so generous and unexpected an offer: he saw himself at liberty, by all the rules of honour, to serve against the Irish, whose rebellion and barbarities were equally detested by the royal party and the parliament: he desired, however, the general to give him some time to consider of what he had proposed to him. Cromwell briskly told him, that he must come to some resolution that very instant; that he himself was returning to the committee, who were still sitting; and if his lordship rejected their offer, they had determined to send him to the Tower. Broghill,' rinding that his life and liberty were in the utmost danger, and charmed with the frankness and generosity of Cromwell’s behaviour, gave him his word and honour, that he would faithfully serve him against the Irish rebels; upon which, Cromwell once more assured him, that the conditions which he had made with him should be punctually observed; and then ordered him to repair immediately to Bristol, to which place forces should be sent him, with a sufficient number of ships to transport him into Ireland.
any man, except Thurloe . In 1656, the protector, either suspecting Monk’s attachment to his person, or desirous of relieving the people of Scotland, who complained
He soon raised in that kingdom a troop and a regiment of 1500 men, with which he joined Cromwell on his arrival; and, acting in the course of the war conjointly with Cromwell and Ireton, contributed greatly to the reduction of the Irish. Cromwell was so exceedingly struck with his conduct and courage, that after he was declared protector, he sent for lord Broghill, made him one of his privy council, and allowed him as great a share of his conh'dence as any man, except Thurloe . In 1656, the protector, either suspecting Monk’s attachment to his person, or desirous of relieving the people of Scotland, who complained of this man’s severity, proposed to lord Broghill to go to that kingdom with an absolute authority; to which his lordship consented, upon condition that he should have a discretionary power to act as he should see proper; that no credit should be given to any complaints, till he had an opportunity of vindicating himself; and that he should be recalled in a year. Cromwell kept his word to him; for though the complaints against Broghill were more numerous than those against Monk, upon giving, at his return to London when the year was expired, an account of the reasons of his conduct, Cromwell conceived a higher esteem for him than ever.
give them a sufficient authority to act under him, they would either force his enemies to obey him, or cut them off. Richard, startled at this proposal, answered in
After the death of Cromwell, Broghill did his utmost to serve his son, to whom his lordship, in conjunction with lord Howard and some others, made an offer, that if he would not be wanting to himself, and give them a sufficient authority to act under him, they would either force his enemies to obey him, or cut them off. Richard, startled at this proposal, answered in a consternation, that he thanked them for their friendship, but that he neither had done, nor would do, any person any harm; and that rather than that a drop of blood should be spilt on his account, he would lay down that greatness which was a burden to him. He was so fixed in his resolution, that whatever the lords could say was not capable of making him alter it; and they found it to no purpose to keep a man in power who would do nothing for himself. Lord Broghill, therefore, finding the family of Cromwell thus laid aside, and not being obliged by any ties to serve those who assumed the government, whose schemes too he judged wild and ill-concerted, from this time shewed himself most active and zealous to restore the king, and for that purpose repaired forthwith to his command in Munster; where, finding himself at the head of a considerable force, he determined to get the army in Ireland to join with him in the design, to gain, if possible, sir Charles Coote, who had great power in the north, and then to send to Monk in Scotland. Whilst meditating this design, a summons came to him from the seven commissioners, sent over by the committee of safety to take care of the affairs of Ireland, requiring him to attend them immediately at the castle of Dublin. His friends advised him to be upon his guard, and not put himself in the power of his enemies; but, as he thought himself not strong enough yet to take such a step, he resolved to obey the summons. Taking, therefore, his own troop with him as a guard, he set out for Dublin. When he came to the city, leaving his troop in the suburbs, he acquainted the commissioners, that, in obedience to their commands, he was come to know their farther pleasure. Next day, on appearing before them, they told him, that the state was apprehensive he would practise against their government, and that therefore they had orders to confine him, unless he would give sufficient security for his peaceable behaviour. He desired to know what security they expected. They told him, that since he had a great interest in Munster, they only desired him to engage, on the forfeiture of his life and estate, that there should be no commotion in that province. He now plainly perceived the snare which was laid for him; and that, if he entered into such an engagement, his enemies themselves might raise some commotions in Munster. He saw himself, however, in their power, and made no manner of doubt but that if he refused to give them the security they demanded, they would immediately put him up in prison. He therefore desired some time to consider of their proposal; but was told, they could give him no time, and expected his immediate answer. Finding himself thus closely pressed, he humbly desired to be satisfied in one point, namely, whether they intended to put the whole power of Munster into his hands? if they did, he said, he was ready to enter into the engagement they demanded; but if they did not, he must appeal to all the world how cruel and unreasonable it was, to expect he should answer for the behaviour of people over whom he had no command. The commissioners found themselves so much embarrassed by this question, that they ordered him to withdraw; and fell into a warm debate in what manner to proceed with him. At last Steel, one of the commissioners, who was also lord chancellor of Ireland, declared himself afraid, that even the honest party in Ireland would think it rery hard to see a man thrown into prison, who had dons such signal services to the Protestants; but that, on the other hand, he could never consent to the increase of lord Broghill’s power, which the state was apprehensive might one day be employed against them. He therefore proposed that things should stand as they did at present; that his lordship should be sent back to his command in Munster in a good humour, and be suffered at least to continue there till they received further instructions from England. This proposal was agreed to by the majority of the board, and lord Broghill being called in, was told in the most obliging manner, that the board was so sensible of the gallant actions he had performed in the Irish wars, and had so high an opinion of his honour, that they would depend upon that alone for his peaceable behaviour.
umed the government of Ireland, finding themselves in the midst of two powerful parties, made little or no resistance; and lord Broghill and sir Charles Coote secured
Upon his return to Munster, he applied himself as closely as ever to form a party for the king’s restoration. After making sure of his own officers, the first person of weight he engaged in the design was colonel Wilson, governor of Limerick, in which place there was a garrison of 2000 men; and having now secured all Munster, he sent a trusty agent to sir Charles Coote, to persuade that gentleman to do in the north of Ireland, what he himself had done in the south. Sir Charles, who had taken disgust at the superiority of lieutenant-general Ludlow, and the parliament’s commissioners, and thought his eminent services not sufficiently rewarded by the presidency of Connaught, came readily into the design. Lord Broghill being empowered by most of the chief officers in Ireland under their hands, dispatched his brother, the lord Shannon, to the king, then in Flanders, with a letter quilted in the neck of his doublet, to acquaint his majesty with the measures he had taken, and inviting him to come into his kingdom of Ireland; assuring him that if he pleased to land at Cork, he should be received with a sufficient force to protect him against all his enemies. At the same time he dispatched a messenger to general Monk, then on his march from Scotland, to let him know what they were doing in Ireland, and to persuade him to do the like. Shannon was scarce embarked for Flanders, when lord Broghill received a letter from sir Charles Coote, to acquaint him that their design of declaring for the king had taken air, and that he had therefore been obliged to declare somewhat sooner than they had agreed upon; and to conjure his lordship to declare himself likewise; which Broghill did immediately. that he might not desert his friend, though he was a little apprehensive that sir Charles’s precipitancy might ruin their design. By this means those who had assumed the government of Ireland, finding themselves in the midst of two powerful parties, made little or no resistance; and lord Broghill and sir Charles Coote secured that kingdom for his majesty.
iceable Broghill had been to him, looked upon him with as gracious an eye as he could himself desire or expect. His lordship was soon after (Sept. 5, 1660 V) made earl
Upon the king’s restoration, lord Broghill came to England; but, instead of being thanked for his service in
Ireland, he was received with the utmost coldness. Upon
inquiry, he learnt that sir Charles Coote had assured the king
that he was the first man who stirred for him in Ireland; that
lord Broghill opposed his majesty’s return, and was not at
last brought to consent to it without much difficulty. His
lordship, recollecting that he had still by him sir Charles’s
letter, in which were these words, “Remember, my lord,
that you first put rne on this design; and I beseech you,
forsake me not in that which you first put me upon, which
was, to declare for king and parliament,
” desired his
brother Shannon to put it into the hands of the king; who
being fully convinced by it how serviceable Broghill had
been to him, looked upon him with as gracious an eye as
he could himself desire or expect. His lordship was soon
after (Sept. 5, 1660 V) made earl of Orrery, sworn of the
king’s privy- council, appointed one of the lords justices,
and lord president of Munster.
pher and chaplain, says that his patron drew up a very curious account of what was done in the court or camp, in which he had any part, or could speak of with certainty.
chief treasure, and only real strength, is the affections of
his people. 11. “A treatise upon the Art of War.
” 12.
Poems on the Fasts and Festivals of the Church.“His
posthumous works are: 1.
” Mr. Anthony, a comedy,“1692. 2.
” Guzman, a comedy,“1693. 3.
” Herod the
great, a tragedy,“1694. 4.
” Altemira, a tragedy,“brought upon the stage by Mr. Francis Manning, in 1702,
with a prologue by Henry St. John, esq. afterwards lord
viscount Boiingbroke, and an epilogue by the hon. Charles
Boyle, esq. the late earl of Orrery, who also interspersed
several songs in the work itself. 5.
” State letters," published in 1742, fol. Mr. Morrice the editor, who was his
biographer and chaplain, says that his patron drew up a
very curious account of what was done in the court or
camp, in which he had any part, or could speak of with
certainty. But this has never been published. The duke
of Ormond having by his majesty’s command consulted
with the earl of Orrery upon the propositions to be laid
before the parliament of Ireland in 1677, his lordship delivered to him five sheets of paper containing the most effectual methods of protecting the nation from foreign and
domestic enemies, advancing the Protestant interest, increasing the revenue, and securing private property. But
these, with other papers, were destroyed when lord Orrery’s house was burnt to the ground in 1690, by a party of
king James’s soldiers, with the duke of Berwick at their
head; Lionel, then earl of Orrery, and grandson to our
author, being a minor, and abroad on his travels.
enants. If a man was oppressed, no one more readily relieved him; if a farmer’s family was numerous, or his circumstances narrow, his assistance was never wanting;
It is more pleasing to recur to his private character,
which Dr. Campbell has described with more truth. He
was, says this biographer, a kind and good, as well as a
very well-bred and courteous husband: and lady Orrery
was esteemed one of the handsomest and most prudent
women about the court. He was a tender, and even a
fond parent; but very attentive to the education and behaviour of his children, by which the benefit they received was
not small. As a landlord, he was both attentive to his own
interest, and indulgent to his tenants. If a man was oppressed, no one more readily relieved him; if a farmer’s
family was numerous, or his circumstances narrow, his
assistance was never wanting; but he was in all cases solicitous that the people should thrive, as well as obtain
subsistence; and his saying was, “that the greatest charity consisted in keeping people from needing it.
” With
this view, he procured by the royal favour, grants of
fairs and markets for Rathgogran and Ballymaathra, two
villages of his, which by this means were so far improved
that he afterwards obtained charters, by which they were
erected into boroughs, each sending two members to the
Irish parliament, and established besides manufactures in
them for their better support. But in nothing his goodness and beneficence of heart appeared more than in his
treatment of his domestics. He was alike careful of their
bodies, estates, and minds; they lived in the utmost
plenty, but he suffered no waste; *nd for debauchery, he
had the utmost abhorrence. He provided for them according to their several capacities, that, having lived well
with him, they might not fall into indigence after they
Jeft him. He frequently observed, that the meanest of
them had a soul to be saved, as well as himself; and
therefore, he not only obliged his chaplain to have a due
attention to their spiritual concerns, but frequently inspected the discharge of his duty in this particular. His
lordship loved company, and kept always an open table,
to which all the gentlemen in the country were welcome;
and this was a public benefit, the conversation on such occasions being as delicate as the provisions.
fondness of those parents which made them breed their children so nice and tenderly, that a hot sun or a good shower of rain as much endangers them as if they were
, the most illustrious philosopher of
modern times, was the seventh son, and the fourteenth
child of Richard earl of Cork, and born at Lismore, in
the province of Munster, in Ireland, the 25th of Jan.
1626-7. He was committed to the care of a country nurse,
with instructions to bring him up as hardy as if he had
been her own son; for his father, he tells us, “had a perfect aversion for the fondness of those parents which made
them breed their children so nice and tenderly, that a hot
sun or a good shower of rain as much endangers them as
if they were made of butter or of sugar.
” By this he gained
a strong and vigorous constitution, which, however, he
afterwards lost, by its being treated too tenderly. He
acquaints us with several misfortunes which happened to
him in his youth. When he was about three years old,
he lost his mother, who was a most accomplished woman,
and whom he regrets on that account, because he did not
know her. A second misfortune was, that he learned to
stutter, by mocking some children of his own age; of
which, though no endeavours were spared, he could never
perfectly be cured. A third, that in a journey to Dublin,
he had like to have been drowned, if one of his father’s
gentlemen had not taken him out of a coach, which, in
passing a brook raised by some sudden showers, was overturned and carried away with the stream.