, a military character, and a man of letters, was born at Bagnacvallo
, a military character, and a
man of letters, was born at Bagnacvallo in the kingdom of
Naples, about the year 1530, and accompanied the prince
of Salerno, general to Charles V. in his expedition against
Piedmont. He diverted the fatigues of his campaigns by
the study of polite literature, and the cultivation of a
poetical taste. His works were, “II Duello,
” Venice, 1560,
which is a history of celebrated duels, and the laws respecting that remnant of barbarity. “A Discourse on Honour,
”
1772, when he had arrived at the rank of major; but he then quitted the profession, and only resumed a military character when he held a commission in a regiment of
Not long after, he again entered into the army, in which
he continued to serve till about 1772, when he had arrived at the rank of major; but he then quitted the profession, and only resumed a military character when he held
a commission in a regiment of fencibles (militia) during the
American war. On the return of peace, he retired with
his family to Aberdeen, where he continued chiefly to reside during the rest of his life. An acquaintance had first
taken place between him and Dr. Beattie, on his return to
Aberdeen after the seven years’ war; and as their taste in
books, and their favourite studies, were in some respects
entirely similar, a lasting friendship ensued, which proved
to both a source of the highest enjoyment. Of this we
have many interesting proofs in sir William Forbes’s “Life
of Beattie.
”