bauzit were assiduous, and his knowledge was extensive. While he declined public notice his name was known, and his communications were frequent to most of the celebrated
William III. invited Abauzit to settle in England, and
ordered Michael le Vassor to offer some advantageous
proposals; which, however, were not accepted. Filial aflectioil, or attachment to the country in which he had obtained
a refuge, recalled him to Geneva; where, in 1723, the
University offered him the chair of philosophy, which he
declined, ple‘ading the weakness of his constitution, and
his inability to do credit to the appointment. Jn 1726, he
lost his mother, to whom he had ever been most affectionately attached. In the same year he was admitted a
citizen of Geneva, and appointed librarian to the city. He
profited by such a favourable opportunity to improve in
useful literature. Principally attached to antiquities, he
now dedicated to his newly-adopted country the fruit of
his labours and his talents. In 1730, he published a newedition of the History and State of Geneva, which had
been originally written by David Spon, and printed in two
vols. 12mo. The work having already passed through three
editions, was committed to Abauzit. Not contented with
the mere republication, he corrected the errors, gave two
dissertations on the subject, and annexed the public acts
and memorials, that were necessary as proofs and illustrations. To these were added a copious variety of learned
and useful notes, in which he gave an ample detail of facts
which were but imperfectly related in the text. Modest
himself, he was not ambitious of fame, but assisted others
by his labours. Among those who derived benefit from
his learning and researches, M. de Meiran alone had the
gratitude to acknowledge his obligation. The labours of
Abauzit were assiduous, and his knowledge was extensive.
While he declined public notice his name was known, and
his communications were frequent to most of the celebrated
mathematicians, philosophers, and divines in Europe. Notwithstanding the simplicity of his manners, thismoclestphilosopher was not, perhaps, without a small share of vanity. For
he employed himself in discovering what to his apprehension seemed errors in the different translations of the Bible.
He could believe nothing but what he saw, or was suggested by his own ideas, or could be reduced to mathematical demonstration, and, becoming sceptical, wished to
divest’ the scriptures of several miracles. He even made
some efforts in poetry; but they were soon forgotten. He
is acknowledged to have excelled more in diligence, accuracy, and precision, than in taste or genius. Voltaire, who
had as great an aversion to miracles as Abauzit, esteemed
and consulted him. As a citizen of Geneva, the
philosopher was active in the dissensions of 1734. He exerted
himself in support of the aristocratic party, though he had
much of republican zeal. His industry was indefatigable,
and he seemed to have written and acted from the conviction of his own mind. In religion he adopted and supported the doctrines of Arianism. Though declining praise,
he acquired the esteem of many of the most eminent characters in Europe, and received an elegant compliment
from Rousseau: “No,
” says he, “this age of philosophy
will not pass without having produced one true philosopher. I know one, and I freely own, but one; but what
I regard as my supreme felicity is, that he resides in my
native country, it is in my own Country that he resides:
shall I presume to name him, whose real glorv it is to remain almost in obscurity? Yes, modest and learned
Abauzit, forgive a zeal which seeks not to promote your
fame. I would not celebrate your name in an age that is
unworthy to admire you. I would honour Geneva by distinguishing it as the place of your residence: my fellowcitizens are honoured by your presence. Happy is the country where the merit that seeks concealment is the more revealed.
” The reader will appreciate the merit of Abauzit,
in proportion to the value he sets on the esteem of Voltaire or the praises of Rousseau. He, however, who could
gain the approbation of two such opposite characters, could
have been no ordinary person. He died on the 20th of
March 1767.
Modenese sculptor, whose models Correggio is said to have often made use of for his works. Little is known of his progress at Modena, except that, in partnership with
, an eminent historical painter, was born at Modena in 1512, and was the scholar of Antonio Beggarelli, a Modenese sculptor, whose models Correggio is said to have often made use of for his works. Little is known of his progress at Modena, except that, in partnership with his fellow-scholar Alberto Fontana, he painted the pannels of the Butchers hall in that place; and at the age of thirty-five, for the church of the Benedictines, the celebrated picture of the martyrdom of St. Peter and St. Paul, now in the Dresden gallery: with some fresco paintings, drawn from Ariosto and Virgil, in the palace Scandiano. Of his works at Bologna, tradition has left a very distinguished account, though little or nothing exists of them now but the large symbolic picture in the Via di St. Mamolo; a nativity of Christ, under the portico of the Leoni palace; and four conversation pieces and concertos, of exquisite taste, in the Academical Institute, which have been engraved. Notwithstanding the innate vigour, the genial facility, and independent style of this artist, he owes his fame, in a great measure, to his coalition with Francisco Primaticcio, and to his happy execution of the designs of that great master, particularly the frescoes he painted in the galleries and apartments at Fountainbleau. These, however, being destroyed in 1738, to make room for a new fabric, nothing remains but a few pictures of the history of Alexander. Some of the others were engraved. The period of his death is not known .
very thing that had the appearance of Popery, and Laud equally strenuous for the opinions afterwards known by the name of Arminian, and a friend to the ceremonies and
In 1598 he published his “Quæstiones Sex,
” which obtained him great reputation. On March 6, 1599, he was
installed dean of Winchester, and in 1600 was appointed
vice-chancellor of Oxford, and while in this office decided
a dispute which at that time engaged the attention of the
public, respecting the repairing of the cross in Cheapside,
which was ornamented with Popish images. The citizens
of London requested the advice of both Universities; and
Dr. Abbot, as vice-chancellor of Oxford, gave as his
opinion, that the crucifix with the dove upon it should not
be put up again. Dr. Bancroft, bishop of London, was of
a different opinion; but Dr. Abbot’s advice was followed, as
expressed in a letter printed many years after. He published,
the same year, his Sermons on the Prophet Jonah. In
1693 he was again chosen vice-chancellor; and in 1604,
when king James ordered the new translation of the Bible,
he was one of the eight divines of Oxford to whom the
translation of the historical books of the New Testament
was committed. In 1605 he was a third time vice-chancellor; and, in the succeeding year, he is thought to
have had some share in the censures passed on Laud, on
account of a sermon he preached before the University.
The principles of the two men were continually at variance,
Abbot being at rigid Calvinist, and a foe to every thing
that had the appearance of Popery, and Laud equally
strenuous for the opinions afterwards known by the name
of Arminian, and a friend to the ceremonies and splendour
of public worship.
, by Dr. Abbot, then pro-vicechancellor. Wood thinks this the more hard, because king James had been known to censure the partiality of these annotations. While king’s
A few paritculars [sic] hitherto unnoticed by his biographers
may be gleaned from Wood’s Annals, published by Mr.
Gutch. It appears that in 1596 the corporation of London
requested the two universities to send them a list of persons properly qualified for the professorships of Gresham
college, just founded. On this occasion Mr. Abbot, then
M. A. of Balliol college, was chosen with three others, but
the election ultimately fell upon a gentleman of Cambridge. In 1612, Dr. John Howson, one of the canons of
Christ church, preaching at St. Mary’s, reflected on the
Annotations to the Geneva translation of the Bible, “as
guilty of misrepresenting the divinity of Christ and his
Messiahship.
” For this he was afterwards suspended, or
forced to recant, by Dr. Abbot, then pro-vicechancellor.
Wood thinks this the more hard, because king James had
been known to censure the partiality of these annotations.
While king’s professor of Divinity, he had neither the
canonry of Christ church, nor the rectory of Ewelme
usually annexed; and his only profits were some fees from
those who performed exercises in divinity, and a salary of
forty pounds a-year paid by the dean and canons of Christ
church. In dislike to Laud, as already noticed, he shared
amply with his brother; but Wood’s account of the sermon
he preached against him is more particular than that in the
Biographia, and throws some light on the controversies as
well as the manners of the times. “On Shrove Sunday
towards the latter end of this year (1614), it happened that
Dr. Laud preached at St. Mary’s, and in his sermon insisted on some points which might indifferently be imputed
either to Popery or Arminianism (as about this time they began to call it), though in themselves they were by some
thought to be no other than the true doctrine’s of the
Church of England. And having occasion in th-it sermon
to touch upon the Presbyterians and their proceedings, he
used some words to this etfect, viz. `that the Presbyterians were as bad as the Papists.' Which being directly
contrary to the judgment and opinion of Dr. Robert Abbot,
the king’s professor of Divinity, and knowing how much
Dr. Laud had been distasted by his brother when he lived
in Oxford, conceived he could not better satisfy himself
and oblige his brother, now archbishop of Canterbury,
than by exposing him (on the next occasion) both to shame
and censure, which he did accordingly. For preaching at
St. Peter’s in the East upon Easter-day (1615) in the afternoon, in the turn of the vicechancellor, he pointed at him
so direptly, that none of the auditors were so ignorant as
not to know at whom he aimed. Dr. Laud, being not
present at the first preaching of the sermon, was by hiss
friends persuaded to shew himself at St. Mary’s the Sunday
after, when it should come to be repeated (according to the ancient custom in this university); to whose persuasions
giving an unwilling consent, he heard himself sufficiently
abused for almost an hour together, and that so palpably
and grossly, that he was pointed to as he sate.” It appears that Laud consulted his patron, Dr. Neal, bishop of
Lincoln, who probably dissuaded him from taking any notice of the matter, as we do not find that he wrote any
answer, or vindication.
ttain, before 1622, the title of vice-chancellor, and, at last, that of commander. He is principally known by a very rare and curious work, entitled, “Malta illustrata,
, the historian of Malta; born
in that ilsand [sic] about the end of the sixteenth century, descended from an illustrious family, which became extinct
on his death. He entered of the order of the knights of
Jerusalem, and distinguished himself so as to attain, before
1622, the title of vice-chancellor, and, at last, that of commander. He is principally known by a very rare and curious work, entitled, “Malta illustrata, ovvero della descrizione di Malta, con le sue antichità, ed altre notizie,
”
Malta, Thesaurus antiquitatum et historiarum Sicilice.
” Burmann, in his preface
to the llth volume of that Thesaurus, blames Abela for
admitting some fabulous traditions; but adds, that this
little defect is more than compensated by his great learning ,
, a historian, born at Strasburgh, and who died about 1646, is perhaps better known by the name of John Louis Gottfried, or Gothofredus, which he
, a historian, born at Strasburgh, and who died about 1646, is perhaps better known
by the name of John Louis Gottfried, or Gothofredus,
which he used in most of his numerous works. Under his
proper name, he published only the first volume of the
“Theatre of Europe,
” which contains the history of Europe from Mercurius Gallo-Belgicus,
” begun
by Gothard Arthus, and containing the annals of Europe,
but particularly of France, from 1628 to 1636, Francfort,
1628—1636, 8vo. The Mercurius is in Latin, but the Theatre in German. The second volume of the latter bears
the name of Avelin; but Christian Gryphius, in his account
of the historians of the seventeenth century, attributes it
to John George Schleder, who also compiled some of the
subsequent volumes. The best edition of the “Theatre of
Europe
” is that published at Francfort, from
s at Cambridge with his lute, but met with little encouragement. How long he lived afterwards is not known. This artist is said to have possessed some secrets, by which
After having rambled for many years, he probably returned to England; for, in 1701, he published at London a collection of songs in several languages, with a dedication to king William. Towards the end of queen Anne’s reign he was at Cambridge with his lute, but met with little encouragement. How long he lived afterwards is not known. This artist is said to have possessed some secrets, by which he preserved the natural tone of his voice to an extreme old age.
n the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. He wrote also a treatise on Wit, 1686, which is now little known, and translated M. Beague’s very rare book, “L‘Histoire de la
, a physician and historian,
was the son of Alexander Abercromby, of Fetternear, in
Aberdeenshire, and brother of Francis Abercromby, who
was created lord Glasford in July 1685. He was born at
Forfar, in the county of Angus, in 1656, and educated in
the university of St. Andrew’s, where he took the degree
of doctor in medicine in 1685. Some accounts say that
he spent Ims youth in foreign countries, was probably educated in the university of Paris, and that his family were
all Roman Catholics, who partook of the misfortunes of
James II.; others, that on his return to Scotland he renounced the Protestant religion, at the request of king
James, and was by him appointed one of the physicians to
trie court, which he was obliged to relinquish at the Revolution. Soon after he attached himself to the study of
antiquities, and published, “The Martial Achievements
of Scotland,
” 2 vols. fol. 1711 and 1715, to which he was
encouraged by a large list of subscribers. The first volume
abounds in the marvellous, but the second is valuable on
account of its accurate information respecting the British
history in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. He
wrote also a treatise on Wit, 1686, which is now little
known, and translated M. Beague’s very rare book,
“L‘Histoire de la Guerre d’Escosse,
” The History of the Campagnes 1548 and 1549:
being an exact account of the martial expeditions performed in those days by the Scots and French on the one
side, and the English and their foreign auxiliaries on the
other: done in French by Mons. Beague, a French gentleman. Printed in Paris 1556, with an introductory preface by the translator,
”
s Hill. The character and high rank of his surviving brother, sir Robert Abercrombie, K. B. are well known. Another, Alexander, one of the Scotch Judges, died in 1795,
A more favourable enterprize, however, soon afforded
our gallant hero an opportunity of immortalizing his name.
This was the memorable expedition ordered in 1801 to
dispossess the French of Egypt. To this destination, sir
Ralph conducted the English army and fleet in perfect
health and spirits, and landed at Aboukir on the 8th of
March, 1801, after a severe battle, in which the English
were victorious. The landing, the first dispositions, the
attack, and the courage opposed to attack, the high confidence of the army in their general, and the decided superiority of the British infantry under his command over
the French, which was thought the bravest and best disciplined infantry in Europe, all demonstrated that the best
qualities of the greatest commanders were united in sir
Ralph Abercromby. But it was his destiny to fall in the
moment of victory. After having repulsed the French in
a general attack upon our army near Alexandria, the
French again, on the 21st March, made a second advance,
which was contested with unusual obstinacy, and they
were again forced to retreat. On this memorable occasion, he received a mortal wound in the thigh, which he
concealed until the enemy were totally routed, when he fell
from his horse through loss of blood. He was conveyed from
the field of battle on board the admiral’s ship, where he died
on the 28th, and was interred under the castle of St. Elmo,
in La Valetta, in the island of Malta. The following just
and admired tribute to his memory was contained in the
dispatch from lord Hutchinson, who succeeded him in the
chief command:——“We have sustained an irreparable
loss, in the person of our never to be sufficiently lamented
commander in chief, sir Ralph Abercromby, who was
mortally wounded in the action, and died on the 28th of
March, I believe he was wounded early; but he concealed
his situation from those about him, and continued in the
field giving his orders with that coolness and perspicuity
which had ever marked his character, till long after the
action was over, when he fainted through weakness and
loss of blood. Were it permitted for a soldier to regret
any one who has fallen in the service of his country, I
might be excused for lamenting him more than any other
person; but it is some consolation to those who tenderly
loved him, that, as his life was honourable, so his death
was glorious; His memory will be recorded in the annals
of his country; will be sacred to every British soldier, and
embalmed in the recollection of a grateful posterity.
” In
private life, sir Ralph in his manners had somewhat of
reserve; but was truly amiable, honourable, and virtuous,
attached to his country and to his profession, and in every
relative duty most exemplary. He was one of a family
distinguished for bravery or talents. His brother James,
a lieutenant-colonel in the 22d foot, was killed in America,
1774, at the battle of Bunker’s Hill. The character and
high rank of his surviving brother, sir Robert Abercrombie,
K. B. are well known. Another, Alexander, one of the
Scotch Judges, died in 1795, a man of high reputation in
the law, and not less distinguished for his taste in the
belles lettres. He was the author of ten papers in the
Mirror, and nine in the Lounger, two well-known periodical
papers published at Edinburgh. Sir Ralph sat in three
parliaments for the county of Clackmannan.
d determined, that those ministers, who at the time of this rupture, and for some years before, were known by the name of non-subscribers, should be no longer of their
, an eminent dissenting minister in Ireland, was born Oct. 19, 1680: his father was a dissenting minister in Colraine, his mother a Walkiushaw of Renfrewshire, in Scotland. In 1689 he was separated from his parents; his father having been employed by the Presbyterian clergy to solicit some public affairs in London, at a time when his mother, to avoid the tumult of the insurrections in Ireland, withdrew to Derry. He was at this time with a relation, who in that general confusion determined to remove to Scotland; and having no opportunity of conveying the child to his mother, carried him along with him. Thus he happily escaped the hardships of the siege of Derry, in which Mrs. Abernethy lost all her other children. Having spent some years at a grammar-school, he was removed to Glasgow college, where he continued till he took the degree of M. A. His own inclination led him to the study of physic, but he was dissuaded from it by his friends, and turned to that of divinity; in pursuance of which he went to Edinburgh, and was some time under the care of the celebrated professor Campbell. At his return home, he proceeded in his studies with such success, that he. was licensed to preach by the presbytery before he was 21 years of age. In 1708, having a call by the dissenting congregation at Antrim, he was ordained. His congregation was large, and he applied himself to the pastoral work with great diligence. His preaching was much admired; and, as his heart was set upon the acquisition of knowledge, he was very industrious in reading. In 1716, he attempted to remove the prejudices of the native Irish in the neighbourhood of Antrim, who were of the Popish persuasion, and bring them over to the Protestant faith. His labours were not without success, for several were induced to renounce their errors. About the time the Bangorian controversy was on foot in England, encouraged by the freedom of discussion which it had occasioned, a considerable number of ministers and others, in the North of Ireland, formed themselves into a society for their improvement in useful knowledge. Their plan was to bring things to the test of reason and scripture, without having a servile regard to any human authority. Abernethy pursued this design with much zeal, and constantly attended their meetings at Belfast, whence it was called the Belfast society. Debates, however, soon grew warm, and dissensions high among them, on the subject of requiring subscription to the Westminster confession. This controversy, on the negative side of which Abernethy was one of the principal leaders, was brought into the general synod, and ended in a rupture in 1726. The synod determined, that those ministers, who at the time of this rupture, and for some years before, were known by the name of non-subscribers, should be no longer of their body: the consequence of which was, that the ministers of this denomination found everywhere great difficulties arising from jealousies spread among their people. The reputation which Abernethy had acquired began now to decay, and some of his people forsook his ministry, and went to other congregations: and in a short time the number of the scrupulous and dissatisfied so increased, that they were by the synod erected into a distinct congregation, and provided with a minister. There happened about this time a vacancy in the congregation of Wood-street, in Dublin: to this Abernethy had an invitation, which he accepted. When he came to Dublin, he applied himself to study and to the composing of sermons with as great industry as ever. He wrote all his sermons at full length, and constantly made use of his notes in the pulpit. Here he continued his labours for ten years with much reputation: and while his friends, from the strength of his constitution and his perfect temperance, promised themselves a longer enjoyment of him, he was attacked by the gout, to which he had been subject, in a vital part, and died, Dec. 1740, in the 60th year of his age.
At Middleburgh he became first known to the learned world by many valuable pieces of criticism on
At Middleburgh he became first known to the learned
world by many valuable pieces of criticism on ancient
authors, Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon, Hesychius,
Æschylus, &c. which he sent to a literary journal then
printed at Amsterdam, under the title of “Miscellanea
Observationes critics in auctores veteres et recentiores.
”
Some of these have his name appended, others are marked
by an H. or H. L. or P. B. A. A. H., and the fictitious
name of Petrobasilius. He published also separately some
critical works in high estimation: 1. “Animadversionum
ad Æschylum libri duo; accedunt annotationes ad qusedam loca Novi Testament!,
” Middleburgh, Aristaeneti Epistolae,
Gr. cum notis,
” Zwolle, Supplement
” to the preceding, Amsterdam,
Dilucidationum Thucydidearum,
pars prima,
” Utrecht, Supplement
” to this,
and a continuation of his remarks on Æschyius. We also
owe to Abresch a new and much improved edition of Cattier’s “Gazophyiacium Græcorum,
” (which was first published at Paris in
in, hactenus male interpretatis,” Venice, 4to, without date. The date of his birth and death are not known, but his works appeared at the end of the fifteenth and beginning
, an Italian writer, was born
at Macerata, in La Marca de Ancona, and devoted himself
early to the study of polite literature, in which he made
great progress. He taught the belles lettres at Urbino,
where he was librarian to duke Guido Ubaldo; to whom
he dedicated a small piece entitled “Annotationes varioe,
”
explaining some dark passages in the ancient authors.
14e published it under the pontificate of Alexander VI.
and another treatise also, entitled “Hecatomythium,
”
Venice, Libri duo de quibusdam locis obscuris in libro Ovidii in
Ibin, hactenus male interpretatis,
” Venice, 4to, without
date. The date of his birth and death are not known, but
his works appeared at the end of the fifteenth and beginning of the sixteenth century.
st remote parts to ask his advice; but others doubt this account. However, he would hardly have been known at this time, had his knowledge been confined to physic; but
, commonly called IbnHaklma, son to Aaron a Christian physician, was born in
1226, in the city of Malatia. near the source of the Euphrates in Armenia. He is said by some to have followed
the profession of his father, and practised with great success, numbers of people coming from the most remote
parts to ask his advice; but others doubt this account.
However, he would hardly have been known at this time,
had his knowledge been confined to physic; but he applied
himself to the study of the Greek, Syriac, and Arabic
languages, as well as philosophy and divinity; and he
wrote a history, which does honour to his memory. It is
written in Arabic, and divided into dynasties. It consists
of ten parts, being an epitome of universal history from
the creation of the world to his own time. Dr. Pococke
published it, with a Latin translation in 1663, Oxford,
2 vols. 4to, and added, by way of supplement, a short
continuation relating to the history of the Eastern princes.
Dr. Pococke had published in 1650, an abridgment of the
ninth dynasty, as a “Specimen Histories Arabian.
”
s Christ,” Lyons, printed by Benoit Rigaut, 8vo, without date, and now so rare that only one copy is known to exist, which is in the imperial library of Paris, and formerly
, a name assumed by a French
poetical writer of the 16th century, who likewise sometimes called himself Maistre Tyburce. He resided at the
town of Papetourte, whence he published or dated most
of his productions, and called himself clerk or royal notary
of Pont-St.-Esprit. He died, according to some biographers, in 1540 or 1544; and, according to others, in 1550.
He wrote: 1. “Moralite, mystere, et figure de la Passion
de N. S. Jesus Christ,
” Lyons, printed by Benoit Rigaut,
8vo, without date, and now so rare that only one copy
is known to exist, which is in the imperial library of Paris,
and formerly belonged to that of La Valliere. 2. “La
Joyeulx Mystere des trois Roys,
” ms. in the same library.
3. “Farce nouvelle tres bonne et tres joyeuse de la Cornette,
” ms. 4. “Le Gouvert d'Humanite, moralité a
personnaiges,
” printed at Lyons. 5. “Le Monde qui
tourne le dos a chascun, et Plusieurs qui n'a point de conscience,
” printed also at Lyons. According to the practice of the writers of his age, he assumed a device, which
was Jin sans Jin. The titles and dates of his other works
are given in the Bibliotheque of De Verdier, and consist
of short poems, ballads, rondeaus, songs, &c.
Rome 583; but there appears somewhat of confusion and perplexity in this chronology. He made himself known before the death of Pacuvius, a dramatic piece of his being
, a Latin tragic poet, the son of a
freed-man, and according to St. Jerome, born in the consulship of Hostilius Mancinus and Attilius Serranus, in the
year of Rome 583; but there appears somewhat of confusion and perplexity in this chronology. He made himself
known before the death of Pacuvius, a dramatic piece of
his being exhibited the same year that Pacuvius brought
one upon the stage, the latter being then 80 years of age,
and Accius only 30. We do not know the name of this
piece of Accius, but the titles of several of his tragedies
are mentioned by various authors. He wrote on the most celebrated stories which had been represented on the Athenian
stage, as Andromache, Andromeda, Atreus, Clytemnestra,
Medea, Meleager, Philocletes, the civil wars of Thebes,
Tereus, the Troades, &c. He did not always, however,
take his subjects from the Grecian story; for he composed
one dramatic piece wholly Roman: it was entitled Brutus,
and related to the expulsion of the Tarquins. It is affirmed by some, that he wrote also comedies; which is
not unlikely, if he was the author of two pieces, “The
Wedding,
” and “The Merchant,
” which have been ascribed to him. He did not confine himself to dramatic
writing; for he left other productions, particularly his
Annals, mentioned by Macrobius, Priscian, Festus, and
Nonius Marcellus. Decimus Brutus, who was consul in
the year of Rome 615, and had the honour of a triumph
for several victories gained in Spain, was his particular
friend and patron. This general was so highly pleased
with the verses which Accius wrote in his praise, that he
had them inscribed at the entrance of the temples and monuments raised out of the spoils of the vanquished. Though
this might proceed from a principle of vanity, and may not
be so much a proof of his affection for the poet as his love
of applause; yet it proves that Brutus had an opinion of
Accius’s poetry, and Brutus was far from being a contemptible judge. He has been censured for writing in too
harsh a style, but was in all other respects esteemed a very
great poet. Aulus Gellius tells Us, that Accius, being on
his way to Asia, passed through Tarentum, where he paid
a visit to Pacuvius, and read to him his play of Atreus;
that Pacuvius told him his verse was lofty and sonorous,
but somewhat harsh and crude. “It is as you observe,
”
said Accius; “nor am I sorry for it, since my future productions will be better upon this account; for as in fruit
so in geniuses, those which are at first harsh and sour, become mellow and agreeable; but such as are at first soft
and sweet, grow in a short time not ripe, but rotten.
”
Accius was so much esteemed by the public, 'that a comedian was punished for only mentioning his name on the
stage. Cicero speaks with great derision of one Accius
who had written a history; and, as our author wrote annals, some insist that he is the person censured; but as
Cicero himself, Horace, Quintilian, Ovid, and Paterculus,
have spoken of our author with so much applause, he cannot be supposed the same whom the Roman orator censures
with so much severity. Nothing remains of Accius, but some
few fragments collected by Robert Stephens, and the titles
of his pieces. He is supposed to have died at an advanced
age, but the precise time is not known.
d be equal to what he obtained at the court of Urbino and at Rome, in the time of Leo X. When it was known that the Unico was to recite his verses, the shops were shut,
was one of the sons of the preceding, and,on account of the great fame of his poetry,
called Unico Aretino; but such of his works as have descended to our days are not calculated to preserve the very
extraordinary reputation which he enjoyed from his contemporaries. According to them, no fame could be equal
to what he obtained at the court of Urbino and at Rome,
in the time of Leo X. When it was known that the Unico
was to recite his verses, the shops were shut, and all business suspended; guards were necessary at the doors, and
the most learned scholars and prelates often interrupted
the poet by loud acclamations. The testimony of his contemporaries, and among them, of the Cardinal Bembo, will
not permit us to doubt that his merit was extraordinary;
but it is probable that he owed his fame more to his talents
at extempore verse, than to those which he prepared by
study. In the latter, however, there is an elegance of
style, and often the fancy and nerve of true poetry. His
poems were first printed at Florence in 1513, under the
title “Virginia comedia, capitoli, e strambotti di messer
Bernardo, Accolti Aretino, in Firenze (al di Francesco Rossegli),
” 8vo; and at Venice, Opera nuova del
preclarissimo messer Bernardo Accolti Aretino, scrittore
apostolico ed abbreviatore, &c.
” 8vo, and have been often
re-printed. In this volume, his comedy “Virginie,
” written, according to the custom of the age, in the ottava
rima, and other measures, obtained its name from a natural daughter, whom he gave in marriage to a nobleman,
with a large dowry. Leo X. who had an esteem for him,
gave him the employment of apostolic secretary; and is
likewise said to have given him the duchy of Nepi; but
Accolti informs us, in one of his letters to Peter Aretin,
that he purchased this with his own money, and that
Paul III. afterwards deprived him of it. The dates of his
birth and death are not known; but he was living in the
time of Ariosto, who mentions him as a person of great
consideration at the court of Urbino.
essor of law at Ferrara, he had occasion to lecture to his scholars on the advantages of a character known for probity and honour; and, in order to exemplify his doctrine,
, the brother of Benedetto, and usually called Francis D'Arezzo, or Aretin, from the place of his birth, was born in 1418. The celebrated Francis Philelphus was his preceptor in polite learning; after which he studied law under the ablest professors, and became himself one of their number, teaching that faculty at Bologna, Ferrara, and Sienna. He was for five years secretary to the duke of Milan, and died of the stone at the baths of Sienna, in 1483. He has been accused, but without proof, of the grossest avarice. If he left vast wealth, it was owing to the profits of his profession, of which he was acknowledged to be the ablest and most successful practitioner. A journey which he made to Rome, when Sixtus IV. was Pope, has given rise to another story, equally without proof, that he solicited to be made Cardinal, which the Pope refused, on pretence of the injury that would accrue to learning from such a promotion. Another story is recorded, more to his honour. While professor of law at Ferrara, he had occasion to lecture to his scholars on the advantages of a character known for probity and honour; and, in order to exemplify his doctrine, he went in the night, accompanied by only one servant, broke open the butchers’ stalls, and took away some pieces. The law-students were immediately suspected of the robbery, and two of them, of indifferent character, were imprisoned. The Professor then went before the Duke, demanded their release, and accused himself: having proved the fact, which was with difficulty believed, he took the opportunity to show the advantage of a good character, and the dangers of a bad one.
prick of Ancona, and six years after, to be Cardinal, under the title of St. Eusebius, hut is better known by the title of Cardinal of Ancona. He afterwards held seven
, another of the sons of Benedetto the historian, was born at Florence in 1455, and studied law at Pisa, where he became doctor and professor. He afterwards went into the church, was promoted to the bishoprick of Ancona, and six years after, to be Cardinal, under the title of St. Eusebius, hut is better known by the title of Cardinal of Ancona. He afterwards held seven bishopricks in Spain, Flanders, France, and Italy; and attained the higher honours of cardinal-vicar and legate. He died at Rome Dec. 12, 1532, aged 77; and left some works on law of no great importance. He was the author of the bull against Luther, which condemned forty-one propositions or that reformer. One of his natural sons, Benedict Accolti, was, in 1564j the chief of the Florentine conspiracy against Pius IV. for which he was executed.
anticipated by Odefroy. By dint of perseverance for seven years, he accumulated the vast collection known by the title of the “Great Gloss,” or the “Continued Gloss”
, an eminent
lawyer, who first collected the various opinions and decisions of his predecessors, in the Roman law, into one body,
was born at Florence, in 1151, or, according to some
writers, in 1182. He was the scholar of Azzo, and soon
became more celebrated than his master. Yet it is thought
that he did not begin the study of law before he was forty
years old. When professor at Bologna, he resigned his
office in order to complete a work on the explanation of
the laws, which he had long meditated, and in which he
was now in danger of being anticipated by Odefroy. By
dint of perseverance for seven years, he accumulated the
vast collection known by the title of the “Great Gloss,
”
or the “Continued Gloss
” of Accursius. He may be considered as the first of glossators, and as the last, since no one
has attempted the same, unless his son Cervot, whose
work is not in much esteem; but he was deficient in a
proper knowledge of the Greek and Roman historians,
and the science of coins, inscriptions, and antiquities,
which are frequently necessary in the explanation of the
Roman law. On this account, he was as much undervalued
by the learned lawyers of the fourteenth and sixteenth
centuries, as praised by those of the twelfth and thirteenth,
who named him the Idol of Lawyers. They even established it as a principle, that the authority of the Glosses
should be universally received, and that they should rally
round this perpetual standard of truth. The different studies pursued in the ages of Accursius’ friends and enemies,
will account for their different opinions of his merits; the
one consisted of accumulated learning, interpretation, and
commentary, the other approached nearer to nature and
facts, by adding the study of antiquities, and of the Greek
and Latin historians. Another reason probably was, that
Accursius, who has been careless in his mode of quotation,
became blamed for many opinions which belong to Irnerius, Hugolinus, Martinus Bulgarus, Aldericus, Pileus, &c.
and others his predecessors, whose sentiments he has not
accurately distinguished. The best edition of his great
work is that of Denis Godefroi, Lyons, 1589, 6 vols. fol,
Of his private life we have no important materials. He
lived in splendour at a magnificent palace at Bologna,
or at his villa in the country; and died in his 78th year, in
1229. Those who fix his death in 1260 confound him
with one of his sons of the same name. All his family,
without exception, studied the law; and he had a daughter, a lady of great learning, who gave public lectures ou
the Roman law in the university of Bologna. Bayle doubts
this; but it is confirmed by Pancirollus, Fravenlobius, and
Paul Freyer. The tomb of Accursius, in the church of
the Cordeliers at Bologna, is remarkable only for the
simplicity of his epitaph “Sepnlchrum Accursii glossatoris legum, et Francisci ejus filii.
”
complete than the preceding edition (which is the princeps), and augmented by five books, not before known, and, as stated in the title, with the correction of above five
This writer has left an example of an author’s jealousy,
and fear of being thought a plagiarist, which is too curious
to be omitted. Having been accused of owing his notes
on Ausonius to Fabricio Varano, bishop of Camarino, he
endeavoured to clear himself by the following very solemn
oath: “In the name of God and man, of truth and sincerity, I solemnly swear, and if any declaration be more
binding than an oath, I in that form declare, and I desire that my declaration may be received as strictly true,
that I have never read or seen any author, from which my
own lucubrations have received the smallest assistance or
improvement: nay, that I have even laboured, as far as
possible, whenever any writer has published any observations which I myself had before made, immediately to blot
them out of my own works. If in this declaration I am.
foresworn, may the Pope punish my perjury; and may an
evil genius attend my writings, so that whatever in them is
good, or at least tolerable, may appear to the unskilful
multitude exceedingly bad, and even to the learned trivial
and contemptible; and may the small reputation I now
possess be given to the winds, and regarded as the worthless boon of vulgar levity.
” This singular protestation,
which is inserted in the Testudo, has. been often quoted.
In 1533, he published at Augsburgh a new edition of “Ammianus Marcellinus,
” fol. more complete than the preceding edition (which is the princeps), and augmented by
five books, not before known, and, as stated in the title,
with the correction of above five thousand errors. In the
same year and place, he published the “Letters of Cassiodorus,
” and his “Treatise on the Soul.
” This is the first
complete collection of these letters, and, with the Treatise, is improved by many corrections. He also had made
preparations for an edition of Claudian, and had corrected
above seven hundred errors in that author; but this has not
been published. At his leisure hours, he studied music,
optics, and poetry. We have a specimen of his poetry in
his “Protrepticon ad Corycium,
” of eighty-seven verses,
which is printed in a very rare work, entitled “Coryciana,
”
Rome,
to Bologna, and interred in the tomb of his ancestors in the church of St. Martin. He is principally known now by his poetry, in which he was an imitator of Marino, and
, grandson of the preceding, and
son of. Clearchus Achillini and Poly xena Buoi, was born at
Bologna in 1574. After studying grammar, the belles
lettres, and philosophy, he entered on the study of the
law, and prosecuted it with so much success, that he was
honoured with a doctor’s degree at the age of twenty,
Dec. 16, 1594, and became a professor of that science at
Bologna, Ferrara, and Parma, where he acquired great
reputation. His learning was so much admired that an
inscription to his honour was put up in the public schools,
and both popes and cardinals gave him hopes, which were
never realized, of making his fortune. Towards the end
of his life he lived principally in a country house called Il
Sasso, and died there Oct. 1, 1640. His body was carried to Bologna, and interred in the tomb of his ancestors
in the church of St. Martin. He is principally known now
by his poetry, in which he was an imitator of Marino, and
with much of the bad taste of his age. It has been asserted
that he received a gold chain worth a thousand crowns
from the court of France, for a poem on the conquests of
Louis XIII.; but this reward was sent him by the Cardinal
Richelieu, in consequence of some verses he wrote on the
birth of the dauphin. His poems were printed at Bologna,
1632, 4to, and were reprinted with some prose pieces,
under the title “Rime e Prose,
” Venice, Decas Epistolarum ad Jacobum Gaufridum,
” Parma,
of all the situations he held in England, on account of his dissolute conduct. When, he died is not known. He wrote, in his better days:
, LL. D. an English divine and civilian, of whose birth and family we have no account. During the reign of queen Mary, he travelled in France and Italy, where he studied the civil law. In 1560, he was public orator at Cambridge; and, in the following year, created doctor of laws. In 1562, he was admitted an advocate in the Arches court; and afterwards lived in the family of archbishop Parker, who gave him a prebend, probably that of Southwell. In 1567, he was vicar-general to Home, bishop of Winchester; and, in 1575, the archbishop of Canterbury permitted him to hold the rectory of Elington, alias Wroughton, in the diocese of Sarum, with any other benefice. In 1576, he was appointed master of the faculties, and judge of the prerogative court, in Ireland, after he had been turned out of all the situations he held in England, on account of his dissolute conduct. When, he died is not known. He wrote, in his better days:
r, and shot himself with another pistol. This happened at Amsterdam, but in what year is not exactly known; but most authors are inclined to place it in 1640, or 1647.
, a Portuguese, born at Oporto towards the close of the sixteenth century. He was educated in the Romish religion, which his father also sincerely professed, though descended from one of those
Jewish families who had been forced to receive baptism.
Uriel had a liberal education, having been instructed in
several sciences; and at last studied the law. He had by
nature a good temper and disposition; and religion had
made so deep an impression on his mind, that he ardently
desired to conform to all the precepts of the church. He
applied with constant assiduity to reading the scriptures and
religious books, carefully consulting also the creed of the
confessors; but difficulties occurred, which perplexed him
to such a degree, that, unable to solve them, he thought
it impossible to fulfil his duty, with regard to the conditions required for absolution, according to good casuists.
At length, he began to inquire, whether several particulars
mentioned about a future life were agreeable to reason;
and imagined that reason suggested many arguments
against them. Acosta was about two-and-twenty when he
entertained these doubts; and the result was, that he
thought he could not be saved by the religion which he
had imbibed in his infancy. He still, however, prosecuted
his studies in the law; and, at the age of five-and-twenty
years, was made treasurer in a collegiate church. Being
naturally of an inquisitive turn, and now made uneasy by
the popish doctrines, he began to study Moses and the
prophets; where he thought he found more satisfaction
than in the Gospel, and at length became convinced that
Judaism was the true religion: but, as he could not profess it in Portugal, he resigned his place, and embarked for
Amsterdam, with his mother and brothers; whom he had
ventured to instruct in the principles of the Jewishreligion, even when in Portugal. Soon after their arrival in
this city they became members of the synagogue, and
were circumcised according to custom; and on this occasion, he changed his name of Gabriel for that of Uriel.
A little timewas sufficient to shew him, that the Jews did
neither in their rites nor morals conform to the law of
Moses, and of this he declared his disapprobation: but
the chiefs of the synagogue gave him to understand, that
he must exactly observe their tenets and customs; and
that he would be excommunicated if he deviated ever so
little from them. This threat, however, did not in the
least deter him; for he thought it would be beneath him,
who had left the sweets of his native country purely for
liberty of conscience, to submit to a set of rabbis who had
no jurisdiction: and that it would shew both want of courage and piety, to stifle his sentiments on this occasion.
He therefore persisted in his invectives, and, in consequence, was excommunicated. He then wrote a book in
his justification; wherein he endeavours to shew, that the
rites and traditions of the Pharisees are contrary to the
writings of Moses; and soon after adopted the opinions of
the Sadducees, asserting, that the rewards and punishments of the old law relate only to this lite; because Moses
nowhere mentions the joys of heaven or the torments of
hell. His adversaries were overjoyed at his embracing this
tenet; foreseeing, that it would tend greatly to justify, in
the sight of Christians, the proceedings of the synagogue
against him. Before his book was printed, there appeared
a piece upon the immortality of the soul, written by a
physician in 1623, who omitted nothing he could suggest to make Acosta pass for an atheist. This, however,
did not prevent him from writing a treatise against the
physician, wherein he endeavoured to confute the doctrine
of the soul’s immortality. The Jews now made application
to the magistrates of Amsterdam; and informed against him,
as one who wanted to undermine the foundation of both Jewish and Christian religions. Hereupon he was thrown into
prison, but bailed out within a week or ten clays after; but
all the copies of his pieces were seized, and he himself fined
300 florins. Nevertheless, he proceeded still farther in his
scepticism. He now began to examine, whether the laws
of Moses came from God; and he at length found reasons
to convince him, that it was only a political invention.
Yet, such was his inconsistency, that he returned to the
Jewish church, after he had been excommunicated 15
years; and, after having made a recantation of what he
Jiad written, subscribed every thing as they directed. A
few days after, he was accused by a nephew, who lived in
his house, that he did not, as to his eating and many other
points, conform to the laws of the synagogue. On this he
was summoned before the grand council of the synagogue;
and it was declared to him, that he must be again excommunicated, if he did not give such satisfaction as should
be required; but he found the terms so hard, that he
could not comply. The Jews then again expelled him
jfrom their communion; and he afterwards suffered various
hardships and persecutions, even from his own relations.
After remaining seven years in a most wretched situation,
he at length declared he was willing to submit to the sentence of the synagogue, having been told that he might
easily accommodate matters; for, that the judges, being
satisfied with his submission, would soften the severity of
the discipline; they made him, however, undergo the penance in its utmost rigour. These particulars, relating to
the. life of Acosta, are taken from his piece, entitled “Exemplar humanae vitce,
” published and refuted by Limborch. It is supposed that he composed it a few days before Jus death, after having determined to lay violent
feands on himself. He executed this horrid resolution a
little after he had failed in his attempt to kill his principal
enemy; for the pistol, with which he intended to have
shot him as he passed his house, having missed fire, he
immediately shut the door, and shot himself with another
pistol. This happened at Amsterdam, but in what year is
not exactly known; but most authors are inclined to place
it in 1640, or 1647.
cording to Suidas. Pliny considers Acron as the chief of the empirical sect, but that sect were riot known for two hundred years after. Suidas says he wrote a treatise
, a celebrated physician of Agrigentum in Sicily, lived, according to Plutarch, at the time of the great plague at Athens in the beginning of the Peloponnesian war, in the eighty-fourth olympiad, or 444 B. C. He is said to have stopped the prpgress of thecontagion by scattering perfumes in the air; but while doubts may be entertained of the efficacy of this practice, it was at least not new, having been tried before his time by the Egyptian priests, according to Suidas. Pliny considers Acron as the chief of the empirical sect, but that sect were riot known for two hundred years after. Suidas says he wrote a treatise on medicine, and another on food, neither of which is now known.
to all the court physicians of Constantinople, although the subject of this article is the only one known by it. His father’s name was Zacharias. Authors are not agreed
. The name Actuarius was given
to all the court physicians of Constantinople, although the
subject of this article is the only one known by it. His
father’s name was Zacharias. Authors are not agreed as
to the time in which he lived. Wolfgang Justus places
him in the eleventh century; Moreau in the twelfth; Fabricius in the thirteenth, and Lambecius in the fourteenth.
He was the first Greek author who recommended the use
of cassia, senna, manna, and other mild purgatives, and
the first who mentions distilled waters. He is reckoned
superior to the Arabian physicians, but inferior to the
great physicians of his nation. He wrote 1. A work on
“Therapeutics,
” in six books, of which there is no Greek
edition; but a Latin translation by Henry Mathisius of
Bruges, entitled “Methodi Medendi libri Sex,
” Venice,
4to, Animal Spirits,
” of which Goupil published a Greek edition, Paris, 1557, 8vo, with a Latin
version by Mathisius. This was reprinted by Fischer, Gr.
and Lat. Leipsic, 1774, 8vo, with the addition of two
books of Actuarius on regimen. 3. Seven books “On
Urines,
” of which there is no Greek edition; but Ambrose Levon de Nole published a Latin version, 1519, 4to.
and this was revised by Goupil, illustrated with notes,
and reprinted under the title “De Urinis Hbri septem.
”
Paris, composition of Medicines,
” with
the commentaries of John Ruellius; but this is little more
than the fifth and sixth books of the Therapeutics. The
medical writings of our author were collected and printed,
Paris, 1526, 8vo; and again in 1556. In 1567, Henry
Stephens published an edition of the whole of his works,
fol. translated by different authors amongf the “Medicae
artis Principes.
” We have also “Actuarii opera,
” Paris,
8vo; Leyden,
V. ordered all the copies of this curious work to be destroyed, so that for many years two only were known to exist; one in the Vatican library, and another in the possession
, a Spanish Jesuit and missionary, was born at Burgos, 1597. He was sent on a mission
to the American Indians, and on his return in the year
1641, published in Spanish, by permission of the king,
“Nuevo Descubrimiento del gran rio de las Amazones,
”
4to; but the projects expected from his discoveries respecting this river, were discountenanced afterwards by
the house of Braganza, and Philip IV. ordered all the
copies of this curious work to be destroyed, so that for
many years two only were known to exist; one in the
Vatican library, and another in the possession of Marin
Leroi de Gomberville, who translated it into French, and
published it, under the title of “Relation de la riviere des
Amazones,
” Paris,
during the remainder of his life, raising the reputation of the school much higher than it had been known for many years. He would have perhaps raised it yet higher,
, LL.D. an eminent schoolmaster
and useful writer in Scotland, was born June 1741, at
Coats of Burgle, in the parish of Rafford, in the county
of Moray, His parents were poor, but gave him such
education as a parish school afforded; and after having unsuccessfully endeavoured to procure an exhibition at King’s
college, Aberdeen, he was encouraged, in 1753, to go to
the university of Edinburgh, where he surmounted pecuniary difficulties with a virtuous and honourable perseverance, such as are rarely to be found; and improved his
opportunities of knowledge with great assiduity and success. In 1761 he was elected schoolmaster to Watson’s
hospital, an establishment for the education of the poor,
and continued to improve himself in classical knowledge
by a careful perusal of some of the best and most difficult
authors. In 1767, he was appointed assistant to the rector
of the high school of Edinburgh, and in 1771 successor to
the same gentleman, and filled this honourable statiou
during the remainder of his life, raising the reputation of
the school much higher than it had been known for many
years. He would have perhaps raised it yet higher, had
he not involved himself, not only with his ushers, but witk
the patrons and trustees of the school, in a dispute respecting the proper grammar to be taught; Dr. Adam
preferring one of his own compiling to that of Ruddiman,
which had long been used in all the schools in Scotland,
and was esteemed as near perfection as any work of the
kind that had ever been published. The ushers, or undermasters, were unanimous in retaining Ruddtmaw’s grammar,
for which they assigned their reasons; and Dr. Adam was
as resolute in teaching from his own. The consequence
was, that Dr. Adam taught his class by one grammar, and
the four uncler-masters theirs by another. The inconvenience of this mode was soon felt; and the patrons of
the school, who were the Magistrates of Edinburgh, after
referring the question at issue to the principal of the university, the celebrated Dr. Robertson, together with the
professors of the Greek and Latin languages, issued an
order in 1786, directing the rector and other masters of
the High School, to instruct their scholars by Ruddi man’s
Rudiments and Grammar, and prohibiting any other grammar of the Latin language from being made use of. Dr.
Adam, however, disregarded this and a subsequent 'order
to the same purpose, and continued to use his own rules,
in his daily practice with the pupils of his own class, and
without being any further interrupted . The work which
gave rise to this dispute was published in 1772, under the
title of “The Principles of Latin and English Grammar,
”
and is undoubtedly a work of very considerable merit, and
highly useful to those who are of opinion that Latin and
English grammar should be taught at the same time.
Bremen the first accounts of the interior of Sweden, and of Russia, the name of which only was then known in Christian Europe. He even speaks of the island of Great Britain,
, so called because he was a canon
of that church. He was born, according to some writers,
at Misnia in the eleventh century; he devoted himself
early to the church, and in 1067, was made a canon by
Adelbert, archbishop of Bremen, and at the same time
placed at the head of the school of that city, a situation
equally important and honourable at a time when schools
were the only establishments for public instruction. Adam
employed his whole life in the functions of his office, in
propagating religion, and in compiling his history, “Historia ecclesiastica ecclesiarum Hamburgensis et Bremensis
vicinorurnque locorum septentrionalium, ab anno 788 ad
annum 1072,
” Copenhagen, Chronographia Scandinavise,
” De situ Daniae et reliquarum
trans Daniam regionum natura,
” Scriptores rerum Gerrn. septentrional.
”
Hamburgh,
ears. While here, he was employed by the cardinal de Polignac in restoring the twelve marble statues known as the “family of Lycomedes,” which had been discovered among
, an eminent French sculptor, was born at Nancy, Feb. 10, 1700. He was the son
of Jacob-Sigisbert Adam, also a sculptor of considerable
note. At the age of eighteen, he came to Metz; but a desire
to extend his reputation made him repair to Paris, where
he arrived in 1719. After exercising his profession about
four years, he obtained the first prize, and then went to
Rome, with a royal pension, where he remained ten years.
While here, he was employed by the cardinal de Polignac
in restoring the twelve marble statues known as the “family
of Lycomedes,
” which had been discovered among the
ruins of the villa of Marius, about two leagues from Rome,
and acquitted himself with great success in a branch of the
art which is seldom rewarded or honoured in proportion to
its difficulties. He afterwards restored several antique
sculptures, of which the king of Prussia had got possession,
and which he conveyed to Berlin. When an intention was
formed of erecting that vast monument at Rome known by
the name of the “Fountain of Trevi,
” he was one of the
sixteen sculptors who gave in designs; but, although his was
adopted by pope Clement XI I. the jealousy of the Italian
artists prevented his executing it. At this time, however,
advantageous offers were made by his own country, to
which he returned, after being chosen a member of the
academies of St. Luke, and of Bologna. His first work,
after his return to France, was the groupe of the “Seine
et Marne
” for the cascade at St. Cloud. He was then employed at Choisi; and, in May 1737, was elected a member of the French academy, and professor. The piece he
exhibited on his admission was “Neptune calming the
waves,
” with a Triton at his feet; and not “Prometheus
chained to the rock,
” as some biographers have asserted,
which was the production of his brother Nicholas. He
then executed the groupe of “Neptune and Amphitrite
”
for the bason at Versailles, on which he was employed five
years, and was rewarded, besides the stipulated price,
with a pension of 500 livres. One of his best works was
the figure of “St. Jerome,
” now at St. Roch. His other
works are, a groupe of five figures and of five animals,
at Versailles, in bronze; the bas-relief of the chapel of
St. Elizabeth, in bronze; two groupes in bronze of
hunting and fishing at Berlin; “Mars caressed by Love,
”
at Bellevue; and a statue representing the enthusiasm of
poetry. In all these there are undoubted proofs of genius, but proofs likewise of the bad taste in sculpture
which prevailed in his time, and induced him, after the
example of Bernini and others, to attempt efforts which
can only be successful in painting. In 1754, he published
“Recueil de Sculptures antiques Græcques et Romanies,
”
fol. for which he made the designs. Most of these he had
purchased from the heirs of cardinal de Polignac. He died
of an apoplexy, May 15, 1759.
, a famous Sorbonnic doctor, flourished in the 12th century. This author, who is well known as a monkish writer, and a voluminous author of biography, was
, a famous Sorbonnic doctor, flourished in the 12th century. This author, who is well known as a monkish writer, and a voluminous author of biography, was born in Scotland, and educated in the monastery of Lindisferne, now called Holy Island, a few miles south of Berwick on Tweed, at that time one of the most famous seminaries of learning in the north of England. He went afterwards to Paris, where he settled several years, and taught school divinity, in the Sorbonne. In his latter years he returned to his native country, and became a monk in the abbey of Melrose, and afterwards in that of Durham, where he wrote the life of St. Columbanus, and the lives of 'some other monks of the 6th century. He likewise wrote the life of David I. king of Scotland, who died 1153. He died in 1195. His works were printed at Antwerp in fol. 1659.
ntages usually made by the sale of places which become vacant. His loyalty to Charles I. was so well known, that his house was searched by the republican party, to find
, citizen and lord mayor of London, was a man highly esteemed fbr his prudence and piety, his loyalty and sufferings, and his acts of munificence: he was born in 1586, at Wem, in Shropshire, educated in the university of Cambridge, and (Fuller says) bred a draper in London. In 1609, he was chosen sheriff, when he gave a striking proof of his public spirit, by immediately giving up his business, and applying himself wholly to public affairs. He made himself complete master of the customs and usages, rights and privileges of the city of London, and succeeded to every honour his fellow-citizens had in their power to bestow. He was chosen master of the drapers’ company, alderman, and president of St. Thomas’s hospital, which institution he probably saved from ruin, by discovering the frauds of a dishonest steward. He was often returned member of parliament; but the violent politics of the times would not permit him to sit there. In 1645 he was elected lord mayor of London, in which office he gave a shining example of disinterestedness, by declining the advantages usually made by the sale of places which become vacant. His loyalty to Charles I. was so well known, that his house was searched by the republican party, to find the king there; and he was the next year committed to the Tower by the same party, and detained there some time. However, at length he became the oldest alderman upon the bench, and was consequently dignified with the honourable title of father of the city. His affection for his prince was so great, that during the exile of Charles II. he remitted him 10,000l.
the university prizes, many jokes were passed upon him. Needham, however, the celebrated naturalist, known by his microscopical disc-jveries, happening to be a witness
, an eminent French naturalist,
was born at Aix in Provence, April 7, 1727. His father,
of Scotch origin, appears to have been in the service of
Vintimille, then archbishop of that city. When the latter
was translated to the see of Paris, Adanson was brought
thither at three years of age, educated with great care,
and soon gave proofs of uncommon application. As he was
small of stature, he appeared much younger than he was;
and, when he carried off the university prizes, many jokes were
passed upon him. Needham, however, the celebrated naturalist, known by his microscopical disc-jveries, happening
to be a witness of his success, presented him with a microscope; adding, that one who knew the works of men so
well ought to study those of nature. This circumstance
first induced him to study natural history, but without
neglecting the usual course pursued in the university of
Paris. In natural history, Reaumur and Bernard de Jussieu, were his guides, and he divided his time between the
royal gardens and the museums of these learned men; and,
when the system of Linnæus began to be published, it afforded him new matter for speculation. His parents had
intended him for the church, and had procured him a prebend; but such was his thirst for general science, that he
resigned it, and determined to travel into some country
not usually visited or described. Senegal was the first object of his choice, thinking that its unhealthy climate had
prevented its being visited by any other naturalist. Accordingly, he set out in 1748, in the 21st year of his age;
and, after visiting the Azores and the Canaries, landed on
the island of Goree, on the coast of Senegal; where he
made a vast collection of specimens, animal, vegetable,
and mineral, which he classified and described in a manner which he thought an improvement on the systems of
Tournefort and Linnæus. He extended his researches
also to the climate, geography, and manners of the people.
He was engaged in this employment for five years, entirely at his own expence; and, in 1757, published the
result in his “Histoire naturelle de Senegal,
” 4to; an
abridged translation of which, very ill executed, was published in London, 1759, 8vo. His classification of the
Testacea, in this work, is universally allowed to be
and ingenious. In 1756, soon after his return, having
been elected a corresponding member of the Academy of
Sciences, he read a paper on the Baobab, or calabash
tree, an enormous vegetable, that had almost been accounted fabulous; and afterwards, a history of the tree
which produces Gum Arabic. He would not, however,
perhaps, have proceeded in these studies, had it not been
for the generous encouragement afforded him by M. de
Bombarde, a zealous patron of science. This induced him
to publish his “Families des Plantes,
” 2 vols. 8vo, 1763,
a work of vast information, and which would have created
a new revolution in the botanical world, had not the genius
of Linnæus been predominant. But, although this work
was neglected at the time, discoveries have since been advanced as new, which are to be found in it. About five
years after, he determined to give a new edition, and had
made the necessary corrections, and many additions; but,
while employed on this, he coneived the more extensive
plan of a complete Encyclopaedia, and he was persuaded
that Lewis XV. would encourage such an undertaking.
Flattered by this hope, he devoted his whole time to the
collection of materials. In 1775, having got together an
immense quantity, he submitted them to the Academy,
under the title of an account of his manuscripts and plates,
from 1771 to 1775, arranged according to the method he
discovered when at Senegal, in 1749. These consisted
of, 1. The universal order of Nature, in 27 vols. 8vo. 2. The
natural history of Senegal, 8 vols. 8vo. 3. A course of
natural history. 4. An universal vocabulary of natural
history, one vol. fol. of 1000 pages. 5. A dictionary of
natural history. 6. Forty thousand figures, and as many
specimens of objects already known. 7. A collection of
thirty-four thousand specimens of his own collection. It
may easily be conceived that the academicians were astonished at this proposal; but the committee, appointed to
examine his labours, did not find the collection equally
valuable in all its branches, and, therefore, he did not
meet with the encouragement he expected. His intention
was to have published the entire work at once; but it was
thought that, if he had published it in parts, he might
probably have been successful. He published, however, a
second edition of his “Families of the Plants,
” which is,
in fact, an encyclopaedia of botany. After this, he published no considerable work, but furnished some papers for
the Academy, which have not been printed, and wrote
the articles on exotics in the Supplement to the Encyclopaedia. In 1753, he laid before the French East India
Company the plan of forming on the coast of Africa a colony, where all sorts of colonial produce might be cultivated, without enslaving the Negroes. This first effort,
however, to procure the abolition of the slave-trade was
not then attended to. In 1760, indeed, when the English
were in possession of Senegal, they made him very liberal
offers to communicate his plan, which he refused, from a
love for his own country. He was equally disinterested in.
refusing the princely offers made, in 1760, by the emperor
of Germany, and, in 1766, by Catherine of Russia, and,
lastly, by the king of Spain, if he would reside in their
dominions. In France, however, he frequently travelled
into various parts, in pursuit of his favourite science.
e best are from an unknown hand, which will perhaps lose somewhat of their praise when the author is known to be Jeffreys. Cato had yet other honours. It was censured
At the publication the wits seemed proud to pay their
attendance with encomiastic verses. The best are from an
unknown hand, which will perhaps lose somewhat of their
praise when the author is known to be Jeffreys. Cato had
yet other honours. It was censured as a party play by a
scholar of Oxford, and defended in a favourable examination by Dr. Sewel. It was translated by Salvini into Italian, and acted at Florence; and by the Jesuits of St. Omer’s
into Latin, and played by their pupils. While Cato was
upon the stage, another daily paper, called the Guardian,
was published by Steele; to which Addison gave great
assistance. Of this paper nothing is necessary to be said
but that it found many contributors, and that it was a continuation of the Spectator, with the same elegance, and the
same variety, till some unlucky spark from a tory paper
set Steele’s politics on fire, and wit at once blazed into
faction. He was soon too hot for neutral topics, and
quitted the Guardian to write the Englishman. The papers
of Addison are marked in the Spectator by one of the letters in the name of Clio, and in the Guardian by a hand.
Many of these papers were written with powers truly comic,
with nice discrimination of characters, an accurate observation of natural or accidental deviations from propriety
but it was not supposed that he tried a comedy on the
stage, till Steele, after his death, declared him the author
of “The Drummer;
” this however he did not know to be
true by any cogent testimony; for when Addison put the
play into his hands, he only told him it was the work of a
gentleman in the company; and when it was received, as is
confessed, with cold disapprobation, he was probably less
willing to claim it. Tickell omitted it in his collection;
but the testimony of Steele, and the total silence of any
other claimant, have determined the public to assign it to
Addison, and it is now printed with his other poetry. Steele
carried “The Drummer
” to the playhouse, and afterwards to the press, and sold the copy for 50 guineas. To
the opinion of Steele may be added the proof supplied by
the play itself, of which the characters are such as Addison
would have delineated, and the tendency such as Addison
would have promoted. He was not all this time an indifferent spectator of public affairs. He wrote, as different
exigencies required, in 1707, “The present state of the
War, and the necessity of an augmentation;
” which, however judicious, being written on temporary topics, and exhibiting no peculiar powers, has naturally sunk by its own
weight into neglect. This cannot be said of the few
papers intituled “The Whig Examiner,
” in which isexhibited all the force of gay malevolence and humorous satire.
Of this paper, which just appeared and expired, Swift remarks, with exultation, that “it is now down among the
dead men.
” His “Trial of count Tariff,
” written to expose the treaty of commerce with France, lived no longer
than the question that produced it.
er of Warwick, whom he had solicited by a very long and anxious courtship. 'He is said to have first known her by becoming tutor to her son. The marriage, if uncontradieted
On the 2d of August 1716, he married the countess
dowager of Warwick, whom he had solicited by a very long
and anxious courtship. 'He is said to have first known her
by becoming tutor to her son. The marriage, if uncontradieted report can be credited, made no addition to his
happiness; it neither found them nor made them equal.
She always remembered her own rank, and thought herself
intitled to treat with very little ceremony the tutor of her
son. It is certain that Addison has left behind him no encouragement for ambitious love. The year after, 1717,
he rose to his highest elevation being made secretary of
state but it is universally confessed that he was unequal
to the duties of his place. In the House of Commons he
could not speak, and therefore was useless to the defence
of the government. In the office he could not issue an
orjler without losing his time in quest of fine expressions.
What he gained in rank he lost in credit; and finding, by
experience, his own inability, was forced to solicit his dismission, with a pension of 1500l. a year. His friends palliated this relinquishment, of which both friends and enemies
knew the true reason, with an account of declining health,
and the necessity of recess and quiet. He now returned to
his vocation, and began to plan literary occupations for his
future life. He proposed a tragedy on the death of Socrates; a story of which, as Tickell remarks, the basis is
narrow, and to which love perhaps could not easily have
been appended. He engaged in a noble work, a defence
of the Christian religion, of which part was published after
his death; and he designed to have made a new poetical
version of the Psalms. It is related that he had once a
design to make an English dictionary, and that he considered Dr. Tillotson as the writer of highest authority.
Addison, however, did not conclude his life in peaceful
studies; but relapsed, when he was near his end, to a
political question. It happened that, in 1719, a controversy was agitated, with great vehemence, between,
those friends of long continuance, Addison and Steele.
The subject of their dispute was the earl of Sunderland’s
memorable act, called “The Peerage bill,
” by which the
number of peers should be fixed, and the king restrained
from any new creation of nobility, unless when an old
family should be extinct. Steele endeavoured to alarm the
ration by a pamphlet called “The Plebeian:
” to this an
Answer was published by Addison under the title of “The
Old Whig.
” Steele was respectful to his old friend,
though he was Mow his political adversary; but Addison
could not avoid discovering a contempt of his opponent, to
whom he gave the appellation of “Little Dicky.
” The
bill was laid aside during that session, and Addison died
before the next, in which its commitment was rejected.
Every reader surely must regret that these two illustrious
friends, after so many years passed in confidence and endearment, in unity of interest, conformity of opinion, and fellowship of study, should finally part in acrimonious opposition. The end of this useful life was now approaching.
Addison had for some time been oppressed by shortness of
breath, which was now aggravated by a dropsy; and finding his danger pressing, he prepared to die conformably
to his own precepts and professions. During this lingering decay, he sent, as Pope relates, a message by the earl
of Warwick to Mr. Gay, desiring to see him. Gay, who
had not visited him for some time before, obeyed the
summons, and found himself received with great kindness.
The purpose for which the interview had been solicited was
theti discovered: Addison told him, that he had injured
him; but that, if he recovered, he would recompense him.
What the injury was he did not explain, nor did Gay ever
know; but supposed that some preferment designed for
him had by Addison' s intervention been withheld.
Lord Warwick was a young man of very irregular life,
and perhaps of loose opinions. Addison, for whom he did
not want respect, had very diligently endeavoured to reclaim him; but his arguments and expostulations had no
effect; one experiment, however, remained to be tried.
When he found his life near its end, he directed the young
lord to be called; and, when he desired, with great tenderness, to hear his last injunctions, told him, “I have
sent for you that you may see how a Christian can die.
”
What effect this awful scene had on the earl’s behaviour
is not known: he died himself in a short time. Having
given directions to Mr. Tickell for the publication of his
works, and dedicated them on his death-bed to his friend
Mr. Craggs, he died June 17, 1719, at Holland-house,
leaving no child but a daughter, who died in 1797, at Bilton, near Rugby, in Warwickshire.
e active part he took in the dispute respecting the pretended apostleship of St. Martial, but is now known chiefly by his “Chronicle of France” from the origin of the
, or Aymar, a monk of St. Martial, born in
the year 988, rendered himself famous by the active part
he took in the dispute respecting the pretended apostleship
of St. Martial, but is now known chiefly by his “Chronicle
of France
” from the origin of the monarchy to Nouvelle Bibliotheque
des Manuscripts,
” and in other collections of French history.
Mabillon, in his “Analecta,
” has given the famous letter of
Ademar’s on the apostleship of St. Martial, and some
verses or acrostics.
his productions, perhaps from the insignificance of his hero. The time of the death of Adenez is not known.
, a writer of romance in the 13th,
century, and probably so called from often wearing the
laurel crown, was minstrel to Henry III. duke of Brabant
and Flanders. In La Valliere’s collection of Mss. are several metrical romances by this author: 1. “The romance
of William of Orange,
” surnamed Short-nose, constable
of France. There are some extracts from this in Catel’s
history of Languedoc. 2. “The romance of the Infancy
of Ogier the Dane,
” written in rhyme by order of Guy
earl of Flanders. Of this are several translations published in the 16th century. 3. “The romance of Cleomades,
” written by order of Maria of Brabant, daughter
of his patron. This, translated into prose by Philip Camus, has been several times printed; at first, without
date, at Paris and Troyes; and at Lyons, 1488, 4to.
4. “The romance of Aymeri of Narbonne.
” 5. “The
romance of Pepin and Bertha his wife;
” the facts taken
from the chronicles in the abbey of St. Denis. A sequel
to this was written by Girardin of Amiens, as the “Romance
of Charlemagne, son of Bertha.
” 6. “The romance of
Buenon of Commarchis,
” the least esteemed of all his
productions, perhaps from the insignificance of his hero.
The time of the death of Adenez is not known.
, an engraver of the 16th century, was a German, but we have no account of his life, nor is it known from whom he learned the art of engraving, or rather etching,
, an engraver of the 16th century, was a German, but we have no account of his life, nor is it known from whom he learned the art of engraving, or rather etching, for he made but little use of the graver in his works. At a time when etching was hardly discovered, and carried to no perfection by the greatest artists, he produced such plates as not only far excelled all that went before him, but laid the foundation of a style, which his imitators have, even to the present time, scarcely improved. His point is firm and determined, and the shadows broad and perfect. Although his drawing is incorrect, and his draperies stiff, yet he appears to have founded a school to which we owe the Hopfers, and even Hollar himself. Mr. Strutt notices only two plates now known by him, both dated 1518. In one of them he is styled Philipus Adler Patricias.
unich and Ingolstadt, and served the house of Bavaria on many important occasions. He is now chiefly known by his “Annales Boicse gentis.” This work, drawn from authentic
, of Tottenweiss, chancellor to
the elector of Bavaria, was born at Rosenheim, 1596, studied at Munich and Ingolstadt, and served the house of
Bavaria on many important occasions. He is now chiefly
known by his “Annales Boicse gentis.
” This work, drawn
from authentic sources, contains the history of Bavaria
from the earliest period to the year 1662, when it was published at Munich. Leibnitz republished it in 1710. The
author died about the time his work first appeared, in
1662.
ys: “per quendam Adrianum poetam prsestantem, necnon S. Th. professorem eximium.” No particulars are known of his birth or death.
, an ingenious and learned Carthusian monk, is
the author of a treatise entitled “De remediis utriusque
fortunze,
”' the first edition of which, published at Cologn,
1467, 4to, is the most scarce and valuable; the second
bears date 1471, 4to; the third was printed at Cremona,
1492, fol. In order to avoid confounding this treatise
with that of Petrarch on the same subject, it is necessary
to know that the title says: “per quendam Adrianum poetam prsestantem, necnon S. Th. professorem eximium.
”
No particulars are known of his birth or death.
, ex quatuor evangelistis breviter contexta,” Antwerp, 1578, 12mo; but the work for which he is best known is his “Theatrum Terra; Sanctse,” or, history of the Holy Land,
, a geographer of considerable note, was born at Delft in Holland, February 14,
1533, After applying to his studies with much assiduity,
he was ordained priest in 1561, and was director of the
nuns of St. Barbara until the civil wars obliged him to take
refuge first at Mecklin, then at Maestricht, and lastly at
Cologne, where he died, June 20, 1585. He published
“Vita Jesu Christi, ex quatuor evangelistis breviter contexta,
” Antwerp, Theatrum Terra; Sanctse,
” or,
history of the Holy Land, illustrated with maps, and printed
in 1590, 1595, 1600, 1628, and 1682, foL; a proof of the
esteem in which it was long held, although his authorities
are thought to be sometimes exceptionable. The second
part, which contains a description of Jerusalem, was printed
by the author in 1584, and was reprinted after his death
in 1588, and 1592, 8vo. He sometimes took the name
of Christianus Crucius, in allusion to his banishment and
sufferings.
e eminence, was born at Rostock, Dec. 13, 1724, and died at Dorpt, in Livonia, Aug. 1802. He is best known to the learned world by his “Tentamen theoriæ Electricitatis
, a German physician of considerable eminence, was born at Rostock, Dec. 13, 1724, and died at Dorpt, in Livonia, Aug.
1802. He is best known to the learned world by his
“Tentamen theoriæ Electricitatis et Magnetismi,
” Petersburgh, 4to; of which M. Haüy published an abridgement and analysis, Paris, 1787, 8vo. In 1762 he also published “Reflections on the distribution of Heat on the surface of the Earth,
” translated afterwards into French by
Raoult de Rouen, and wrote several papers in the memoirs
of the academy of Petersburgh. He was likewise among
the first who made correct experiments on the electricity of
the tourmalin, and published the result in a small volume,
8vo, Petersburgh, 1762. His reputation has been much
greater on the continent, than among the philosophers of
our country; probably owing to the very slight and almost
unintelligible account which Dr. Priestley has given of his
“Tentamen,
” in his history of Electricity. The hon. Mr.
Cavendish has done it more justice in the Philosophical
Transactions, vol. LXI, where his own excellent dissertation
is an extensive and accurate explanation of JEpinus’s theory.
But a more elaborate analysis has since appeared in Dr.
Gleig’s supplement to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, to
which we refer our readers.
s of his abilities (for he excelled in eloquence), became his opponent. The time when he died is not known. He wrote seven Socratic dialogues, in the true spirit of his
, a Socratic philosopher, in the fourth century B. C. was an Athenian of mean birth, but discovered an early thirst after knowledge, and, though oppressed by poverty, devoted himself to the pursuit of wisdom, under the tuition of Socrates. When he first became his disciple, he told Socrates, that the only thing which it was in his power to present him, in acknowledgment of his kind instructions, was himself. Socrates replied, that he accepted and valued the present, but that he hoped to render it more valuable by culture. Æschines adhered to this master with unalterable fidelity and perseverance, and enjoyed his particular friendship. Having spent many years in Athens, without being able to rise above the poverty of his birth, he determined, after the example of Plato and others, to visit the court of Dionysius, the tyrant of Sicily, who at this time had the reputation of being a general patron of philosophers. On his arrival at Syracuse, though slighted on account of his poverty by Plato, he was introduced to the prince by Aristippus, and was liberally rewarded for his Socratic dialogues. He remained in Sicily till the expulsion of the tyrant, and then returned to Athens. Here, not daring to become a public rival of Plato or Aristippus, he taught philosophy in private, and received payment for his instructions. Afterwards, in order to provide himself with a more plentiful subsistence, he appeared as a public orator; and Demosthenes, probably because he was jealous of his abilities (for he excelled in eloquence), became his opponent. The time when he died is not known. He wrote seven Socratic dialogues, in the true spirit of his master, on temperance, moderation, humanity, integrity, and other virtues, under the titles, Miltiades, Callias, Rhinon, Aspasia, Alcis, Axiochus, and Telauges. Of these only three are extant, the best edition of which is by Le Clerc, Amsterdam, 1711, 8vo. There is another valuable edition, with the notes of Horneus, Leovard. 1788, 8vo.
, a Greek historian, wrote a romantic history of Alexander the Great but it is not known at what time he lived. His work was translated into Latin by
, a Greek historian, wrote a romantic history of
Alexander the Great but it is not known at what time he
lived. His work was translated into Latin by one Julius
Valerius, who is not better known than Æsop. Freinshemius has the following passage concerning this work: “Julius Valerius wrote a fabulous Latin history of Alexander,
which by some is ascribed to Æsop, by others to Callisthenes. Hence Antoninus, Vincentius, Uspargensis, and
others, have taken their romantic tales.
” Barthius, in his
Adversaria, says: “There are many such things in the
learned monk, who some years ago published a life of
Alexander the Great, full of the most extravagant fictions;
yet this romance had formerly so much credit, that it is
quoted as an authority even by the best writers. Whether
this extraordinary history was ever published I know not;
I have it in manuscript, but I hardly think it worthy of a
place in my library.
” It is the same author that Franciscus Juretus mentions under the name of Æsop. The work
was published in German at Strasburgh, 1486.
ia, lived about the end of the 5th or the beginning of the 6th century. The work for which he is now known is his“Tetrabiblos,” a compilation from all the physicians
, a physician of Armicla, a town of Mesopotamia,
lived about the end of the 5th or the beginning of the 6th
century. The work for which he is now known is his“Tetrabiblos,
” a compilation from all the physicians who
preceded him, particularly Galen, Archigenes, Dioscorides,
&c. He describes also some new disorders, and throws
out some opinions, not known before his time, respecting
the diseases of the eye, and the use of outward applications.
Partaking of the credulity of his time, he describes all the
pretended specifics, charms, and amulets in vogue among
the Egyptians, which forms a curious part of his writings.
What he says on surgical topics is thought most valuable.
The work, by the various transcribers, has been divided
into four Tetrabiblons, and each into four discourses; and
originally appears to have consisted of sixteen books. The
first eight only were printed in Greek, at Venice, by the
heirs of Aldus Manutius, 1534, fol. The others remain
in manuscript in the libraries of Vienna and Paris. There
have been many editions in Latin, of the translation of
Janus Cornarius, under the title of “Contractse ex veteribus Medicinae Tetrabiblos,
” Venice, Medicae artis principes.
”
Dr. Freind has adverted to Mtius, in his history, more
than to almost any ancient writer, but has not the same
opinion of his surgical labours as is expressed above. Some
writers have confounded this JEtius with the subject of the
preceding article.
es to the age of Calon and Egesias. There are, therefore, no particulars of his life; but he is well known in the history of the arts, for his admired statue, usually
, a sculptor of Ephesus, the scholar or son of
Dositheos. Mr. Fuseli observes, that the name of Agasias
does not occur in ancient record; and whether he be the
Egesias of Quintilian and Pliny, or these the same, cannot
be ascertained; though the style qf sculpture, and the
form of the letters in the inscription, are not much at variance with the character which the former gives to the age
of Calon and Egesias. There are, therefore, no particulars of his life; but he is well known in the history of the
arts, for his admired statue, usually called the Gladiator;
formerly in the villa Borghese, and now in the museum at
Paris. It was found, with the Apollo Belvidere, at
Nettuno, formerly Antium, the birth-place of Nero; where
he had collected a great number of the best works brought
from Greece by his freed-man Acratus. The form of the
letters on the inscription mark the high antiquity of this
statue, which is less ideal than the Apollo, but not less admirable. Winkelman calls it an assemblage of the beauties of nature in a perfect age, without any addition from
imagination. Fuseli terms it “A figure, whose tremendous energy embodies every element of motion, whilst its
pathetic dignity of character enforces sympathy.
” It is in
perfect preservation, with exception of the right arm, which
was restored by Algardi. It is now, however, agreed that
it is not the statue of a Gladiator, but apparently one of a
groupe. The attention and action of the figure is upwards
to some higher object, as a person on horseback; and it is
thought to be of a date prior to the introduction of the
gladiatorial sports into Greece.
posterior to Ptolomy, and placed by Saxius and others in the third century. The only work of his now known is an abridgement of geography, entitled “Hypotyposes Geographies?;”
, a Greek geographer. It is not certain
at what time he lived; but he was posterior to Ptolomy, and
placed by Saxius and others in the third century. The
only work of his now known is an abridgement of geography, entitled “Hypotyposes Geographies?;
” the first edition of which is that of Tennulius, Gr. Lat. Amsterdam,
1671, 8vo. It is also inserted among the ancient geographers in Gronovius’s edition, Leyden, 4to, 1697 and 1700;
and lastly, in Hudson’s “Geographi minores,
” vol. II.
This little work, which contains several particulars which
have escaped Strabo and other celebrated geographers, is
nevertheless in a very imperfect state. It is a series of lessons dictated to one Philo; but what is taught in the first
book is repeated in the second, with so many contradictions
and obscurities, that one can scarcely suppose this second
part to be the production of the same author. Even the
first part seems composed of two fragments not very accurately placed together.
eighty-seventh olympiade, or 432 B. C. according to Pliny and Pausanias. His statues were once well known and admired in Greece, particularly two, in brass, of an infant
, or Agelas, an. eminent Greek sculptor, flourished in the eighty-seventh olympiade, or 432 B. C. according to Pliny and Pausanias. His statues were once well known and admired in Greece, particularly two, in brass, of an infant Jupiter, and a young Hercules, and the female captives.
ts which he had discovered. In honour of him, a species of the genus Psederota, which he first. made known, was named Ageria. He was likewise eminent for his knowledge
, professor of medicine
and botany at Strasbourg, in the seventeenth century, was
the contemporary and friend of the two learned brothers,
John and Caspar Bauhin, to whom he communicated several new plants which he had discovered. In honour of
him, a species of the genus Psederota, which he first. made
known, was named Ageria. He was likewise eminent for
his knowledge of natural philosophy and natural history
in all its branches. He published “Disputatio de Zoophytis;
” Strasburgh, De Anima Vegetativa,
” ibid. De Homine sano et de Dysenteria,
”
literary property belonging to Mr. Nichols, in 1808. The only other plan of Aggas’s workmanship, now known, is one of Dumvich in SulVolk, dated March, 1589, on vellum,
, a surveyor and engraver in the sixteenth century, whose original plates are now extremely
rare. He first drew a plan of London, which, though referred to the time of Henry VIII. and Edward VI. appears
from several circumstances to have been made early in
Elizabeth’s reign, about 1560, on wood. It was republished
in 1618, with alterations, in six sheets, cut in wood, and
re-engraved by Vertue in 1748. The plates were bought
by the Society of Antiquaries, and published in 1776. His
next performances were plans of Oxford and Cambridge,
about 1578. The former is the oldest plan of the city of
Oxford extant. It was engraved at the expence of the
university in 1728, with ancient views, on the borders, of
the colleges and schools as they originally stood. This
plate was unfortunately destroyed at the fire which consumed so much literary property belonging to Mr. Nichols,
in 1808. The only other plan of Aggas’s workmanship,
now known, is one of Dumvich in SulVolk, dated March,
1589, on vellum, and not engraved. Ames attributes to
him a work entitled “A Preparative to platting of Landes
and Tenements for suweigh, &c.
”
the contending parties of Protestants and Papists, until a council should be summoned: this is well known in ecclesiastical history by the name of the Interim, and was
Agricola wrote but few books. The first was “An explanation of three hundred German Proverbs;
” and in a
second edition he added another hundred. He wrote also
“Commentaries upon St. Luke,
” 8vo, and confuted the
explication of the nineteenth Psalm, published in High
Dutch, by Thomas Muncer. He was likewise concerned
with Julius Pelugius, bishop of Naumburg, and Michael
Sidonius, or Heldingus, by desire of the emperor Charles
V. in drawing up a formulary, which might serve as a rule
of faith and worship to the contending parties of Protestants and Papists, until a council should be summoned: this
is well known in ecclesiastical history by the name of the
Interim, and was opposed by many of the reformers.
The issue of Law’s project is well known. For two years, it amused the French public, and then the bubble
The issue of Law’s project is well known. For two years, it amused the French public, and then the bubble burst. Government was now so embarrassed, and the people so dissatisfied, that in 1720, the regent thought proper to recall the discarded chancellor, and restore the seals to him. Mr. Law himself, and the chevalier de Conflans, first gentleman of the chamber to the regent, were dispatched to D‘Aguesseau at Fresnes, while Dubois was ordered to demand the seals from D’Argenson. D'Aguesseau’s return was blamed by a party composed of members of the parliament, and of some men of letters. They did not relish his accepting a favour conveyed through the hands of Mr. Law; but, says his biographer, he would have been more to blame, had he refused what had less tke appearance of a favour, than of amends for injury tendered by the chief minister of state.
a deputy to the States Genera], a member of the supreme council, and advocate fiscal. But he is less known by his share in the defence of his country, than by his learning
, an eminent lawyer and law
writer, the son of Anthony Agylæus, originally of an
Italian family, was born at Bois-le-duc, about 1533, where
he was educated, and became a distinguished Greek
scholar. lu his youth he carried arms against the king of
Spain, was appointed a deputy to the States Genera], a
member of the supreme council, and advocate fiscal. But
he is less known by his share in the defence of his country,
than by his learning and writings. He published: 1. “Novellae Justiniani Imp. Constitutiones,
” with Holoander’s
translation corrected, Paris, Justiniani
edicta: Justini, Tiberii, Leonis philosophi constitutiones,
et Zenonis nna,
” Paris, Inauguratio Philippi II. Hisp.
regis, qua se juraraento ducatui Brabantige, &c. obligavit,
”
Utrecht, 1620, 8vo. He died April 1595.
Histoire de la ville de Montpellier, depuis son origine,” 1737, foL a valuable work, although little known except in the place it describes; and a second volume also in
, a French antiquary,
and canon of the cathedral of Montpelier, lived in the
middle of the eighteenth century; but we have no particulars of his birth or death. The family of Aigrefeuille in
Languedoc, has produced many distinguished ecclesiastics
and magistrates. Our author published “Histoire de la
ville de Montpellier, depuis son origine,
” Histoire
Ecclesiastique de Montpellier,
”
In this society he soon became known to and patronized by people of the first rank, and was in habits
In this society he soon became known to and patronized by people of the first rank, and was in habits of intimacy with many of them; particularly the earl of Burlington, so well known for his taste in the fine arts, especially architecture. For him he painted, among others, a large picture of the royal family of England: in the middle compartment are all the younger branches of the family on a very large canvas, and on one hand above the door a half length of her majesty queen Caroline; the picture of the king was intended to fill the niche opposite to it, but Mr. Aikman’s death happening before it was begun, the place for it is left blank. This picture came into the possession of the duke of Devonshire, whose father married lady Mary Boyle, daughter and only child to the earl of Burlington. Towards the close of his life he painted many other piclures of people of the first rank and fashion in England. At Blickling in Norfolk, the seat of Hobart earl of Buckinghamshire, are a great many full length pictures by Mr. Aikman, of noblemen, gentlemen, and ladies, relations and friends of the earl. These, with the royal family above named, were his last works; and but a few of the number he painted in London. He died June 7, 1731.
ourished in the latter end of the sixteenth, and beginning of the seventeenth centary, but it is not known when or where he was born. In 1590 he joined the Brownists,
, an eminent English nonconformist divine, who flourished in the latter end of the sixteenth, and beginning of the seventeenth centary, but it
is not known when or where he was born. In 1590 he
joined the Brownists, and by his adherence to that sect
shared in their persecutions. He was well versed in the
Hebrew language, and wrote many excellent commentaries
on the holy scriptures which gained him great reputation.
The Brownists having fallen into great discredit in England, they were involved in many fresh troubles and difficulties; so that Ainsworth at length quitted his country,
and fled to Holland, whither most of the nonconformists,
who had incurred the displeasure of queen Elizabeth’s
government, had taken refuge. At Amsterdam Mr. Johnson and he erected a church, of which Ainsworth was the
minister. In conjunction with Johnson he published, in
1602, “A confession of faith of the people called Brownists;
”
but being men of violent spirits, they split into parties
about certain points of discipline, and Johnson excommunicated his own father and brother: the presbytery of
Amsterdam offered their mediation, but he refused it.
This divided the congregation, half of which joining Ainsworth, they excommunicated Johnson, who made the like
return to that party. The contest grew at length so violent, that Johnson and his followers removed to Embden,
where he died soon after, and his congregation dissolved.
Nor did Mr. Ainsworth and his adherents live long in harmony, for in a short time he left them, and retired to Ireland;
but when the heat and violence of his party subsided, he
returned to Amsterdam, and continued with them until his
death. Dr. Heylyn’s account of their contentions at Amsterdam, sufficiently shows what implicit obedience some
men expect who are not much inclined to pay it, either to
the church or the state.
ish poetry, some single poems of his having been printed in each of these languages, but are not now known. He was remarkably near-sighted, but wrote a beautiful hand.
, an eminent Grammarian and
lexicographer, was born at Woodyale, in the parish of Eccles, in Lancashire, four miles from Manchester, in September 1660, and was educated at Bolton in that county, where
he afterwards taught school. On coming to London, he
opened a considerable boarding-school at Bethnal-green,
and in 1698 published a short treatise on grammatical instil
tution, inscribed to sir William Hustler, and reprinted in
1736, 8vo, under the title of “The most natural and easy
way of Institution, &c.
” He soon after removed to Hackney, and successively to other villages near London, where
he taught with good reputation many years, and at length
having acquired a moderate fortune, he left off teaching and
lived privately. He had a turn both for Latin and English
poetry, some single poems of his having been printed in
each of these languages, but are not now known. He was
remarkably near-sighted, but wrote a beautiful hand. In
the latter part of his life, he employed himself in searching
the shops of obscure brokers in every quarter of the town,
by which means he often recovered old coius. and other valuable curiosities at a small expence, and became possessed
of a very fine collection of English coins, which he sold
singly to several gentlemen a short time before his death.
This happened at London, April 4, 1743, at the age of
eighty-three. He was buried, according to his own desire,
in the cemetery of Poplar, under the following monumental inscription, composed by himself:
Be wise and meditate thy end.” Of his private life, little else is known, except that in 1721 or 1724, he was elected a fellow of the
Monumenta Vetustatis
Kempiana, &c.
” Irtiov, sive ex veteris monumenti Isiaci descriptione Isidis Delubrum reseratum,
” De
Clypeo Carnilli antique,
” Museum Woodwardianum,
” the latter
part of which was drawn up by Ainsworth, though Dr. Woodward himself had described most of the statues, tables, and
vases, and written large notes upon most of them. But the
work which has contributed most to Mr. Ainsworth’s name
is his well-known Latin Dictionary. About the year 1714,
it having been suggested to some principal booksellers,
that a new compendious English and Latin Dictionary, upon
a plan somewhat similar to Faber’s Thesaurus, was much
wanted, Mr. Ainsworth was considered as a proper person
to execute what proved to be a long and troublesome undertaking: and how well he completed it has been sufficiently shewn by the approbation bestowed on it by a succession of the ablest teachers and scholars. The first edition appeared in 1736, 4to, in which Dr. Patrick appears
to have assisted Ainsworth; and the second edition in 1746
was entirely entrusted to Patrick’s care, who introduced
many additions and improvements. Dr. Ward also contributed to this edition. The third edition irt 1751 was
superintended by Mr.Kimber, but with little or no variation.
In 1752 another appeared, greatly improved by Mr. William Young (the parson Adams of Fielding), and an editor
far superior to either of the preceding. An abridgment in
2 vols. 8vo, 1758, by Mr. Nathanael Thomas, is chiefly valuable for the clearness of the print, and the facility of reference. In 1773, Dr. Morell corrected, for the third
time, the quarto edition, and continued to improve it as
far as the edition of 1780; the last edition of 1808 was
revised by a gentleman, whose name we are not at liberty to
mention, amply qualified for the task. By a curious list
of the sums given to the various editors of this work, published by Mr. Nichols, we learn that Ainsworth received
for the first edition, 66 6l. 17s. 6d., and-for what he had
contributed to the second, his executors were paid 2501.
. He is likewise said to have been twice in England on public affairs. The work for which he is best known is a compilation on the history of the United Provinces, written
, a gentleman of Frizeland, was
born at Doccum in 1600, of a considerable family. His
father, Menard Aitzema, was burgomaster and secretary to
the admiralty, and his uncle Foppius was resident for the
states-general at Hamburgh, and often employed in negociations of the first importance. Leo had scarcely reached
his sixteenth year, before he published his Poemuta Juvenilia, but was soon engaged in more serious studies, his
uncle having procured him to be appointed counsellor of
the Hanse towns, and their resident at the Hague. He is
likewise said to have been twice in England on public affairs. The work for which he is best known is a compilation on the history of the United Provinces, written in
Dutch, under the title of “Zaken van Staat en Oorlog.
”
Of this there have been two editions, the first in 16 vols.
4to, 1657 1671, including the period between 1621 and
1668. The second edition is in 7 vols. fol. 1669 1671,
with an account of the peace of Munster, and a treatise entitled the “Lion restored,
” or an account of Dutch affairs in Histoire des Provinces Unies,
” 8 vols.
4to, Paris, 1757 1771, is principally taken. A continuation of it, extending to the year 1697, was published by
Lambert Bos, 4 vols. fol. Aitzema died in 1669 at the
Hague, his usual residence.
warmly defended in “An Epistle to the rev. Mr. Warburton.” Though the pamphlet was anonymous, it was known to be the production of his friend Jeremiah Dyson. In the revisal
Upon the publication of his “Pleasures of Imagination,
”
he gave offence to Warburton, by a note in the third book,
in which he revived and maintained the notion of Shaftesbury, that ridicule is the test of truth. Warburton attacked
him with severity in a preface; and Akenside was warmly
defended in “An Epistle to the rev. Mr. Warburton.
”
Though the pamphlet was anonymous, it was known to be
the production of his friend Jeremiah Dyson. In the
revisal of his poems, which he left unfinished, he omitted the
lines and the note to which Warburton had objected. In
1745 he published a collection of his Odes; and wrote a
vehement invective against Pulteney, earl of Bath, whom
he stigmatizes, under the name of Curio, as the betrayer of
his country. He seems to have afterwards been dissatisfied
with his epistle to Curio; for he expunged about half the
lines, and changed it to the form of an ode. At different
and long intervals some other poems of his appeared,
which were, together with the rest, published after his decease.
Dyson allowed him 300l. a year. Whether any bond or acknowledgment was taken is uncertain; but it is known that after his death Mr. Dyson possessed his effects, particularly
As a physician, he commenced practice at Northampton soon after his return from Leyden. But not finding the success which he expected, or being desirous of moving in a more extensive sphere, he removed to Hampstead, where he resided more than two years, and then settled in London. That he might be enabled to support the figure which was necessary for his introduction to practice in town, his generous friend Mr. Dyson allowed him 300l. a year. Whether any bond or acknowledgment was taken is uncertain; but it is known that after his death Mr. Dyson possessed his effects, particularly his books and prints, of which he was an assiduous collector.
in order to have been put on board the Armada, and circulated in England. But the Armada, it is well known, completely failed, and covered its projectors with disgrace
Such writings, however, were too valuable to the popish cause, to go unrewarded. Accordingly on July 28, 1587, Alan was created cardinal by the title of St. Martin in Montibus; and soon after, the king of Spain gave him an abbey of great value in the kingdom of Naples, with assurances of greater preferment. In April 1588, he composed that work, entitled The Admonition, which rendered him most famous abroad, and infamous at home. It consisted of two parts; the first explaining the pope’s bull for the excommunication and deprivation of queen Elizabeth; the second, exhorting the nobility and people of England to desert her, and take up arms in favour of the Spaniards. It contains the grossest abuse of the queen, and threatens the nobility with judgments from heaven, and devastation by the Spaniards, unless they joined the forces of Philip; it boasts of the vast strength of these forces, and asserts that they had more good captains than Elizabeth had soldiers; that the saints in heaven all prayed for victory, and that the holy angels guarded them. Of this libel, well calculated at that time to effect its purpose, many thousand copies were printed at Antwerp, in order to have been put on board the Armada, and circulated in England. But the Armada, it is well known, completely failed, and covered its projectors with disgrace and destruction; and these books were so carefully destroyed, that a genuine copy waa scarcely to be found.
Denmark. Their reception here has been very differently represented. It has been said that, although known to be Protestants, yet because they professed the opinions of
The reign of Edward VI. was short; and on the accession of his bigotted and remorseless sister, the reformation was overthrown; and those who chose to adhere to it soon saw that they must be consistent at the expence of their lives. At the commencement, however, of the Marian tyranny, whether from a respect for Alasco’s illustrious family, or some regard for the rites of hospitality to those foreigners who had been invited into the country under the royal pledge of safety, Alasco and his congregation had the fair warning of a ' proclamation which ordered all foreigners to depart the realm, particularly heretics. Accordingly, about one hundred and seventy-five persons, consisting of Pules, Germans, French, Scotch, Italians, and Spaniards, belonging to the various congregations. under his superintendance, embarked in two ships, Sept. 17, 1553, with Alasco and his colleagues, and set sail for the coast of Denmark. Their reception here has been very differently represented. It has been said that, although known to be Protestants, yet because they professed the opinions of Zuinglius respecting the sacrament, they were not suffered to disembark, or to remain at anchor more than two days; during which their wives and children were prohibited from landing. Such is the account given by Melchior Adam, and by those who have followed him without examining other writers. According, however, to Hospinian, who may be the more easily credited as he was unfriendly to the Lutherans, it appears that the landing was not opposed, and that the Lutherans even admitted of a conference with Alasco and one of his colleagues, Micronius; but in the end, as neither party would give way, Alasco and his company were obliged to leave the kingdom in the depth of winter, and were refused admittance, with equal inhumanity, at Lubeck, Wismar, and Hamburgh. After 1 thus suffering almost incredible hardships at sea, during the whole of a very severe winter, they arrived in March, 1554, at Embden; and being received with kindness and hospitality, most of them settled there. Anne, countess dowager of Oldenburgh, again extended her friendship to Alasco, became the patroness of his flock, and procured them every comfort their situation required.
and knowledge of antiquities, and became a munificent patron of learning and learned men. His house, known by the name of the Villa Albani, was decorated with valuable
, an eminent virtuoso, was born at Urbino, Oct. 15, 1692, and promoted to the rank of cardinal by Innocent XIII. He died Dec. 2, 1779, aged 87, He showed great dignity in his embassy to the emperor; and displayed much learning while he held the place of librarian of the Vatican. He had great taste and knowledge of antiquities, and became a munificent patron of learning and learned men. His house, known by the name of the Villa Albani, was decorated with valuable statues and other treasures of the fine arts. He also found leisure from his political engagements to write some historical and literary works, which are held in much esteem. In 1762, his collection of drawings, consisting of three hundred volumes, one third of which are original drawings of the first masters, the others, collections of the most capital engravings, were sold to his present majesty of Great Britain, for 14,000 crowns.
Villars into Bavaria, where the elector promoted him to the rank of lieutenant-general. He was then known by the title of count d’ Albert, and was successively chamberlain,
, grandson of the constable
de Luynes, was the ninth child of Louis-Charles, duke de
Luynes, grand almoner of France. He was born in 1672,
and had in his youth the title of the chevalier d‘Albert. In
1688, he served as a volunteer at the siege of Philipshurgh;
in 1690 he was twice wounded in the battle of Fleurus; and
in 1693, commanded the Dauphin regiment of dragoons at
Steinkirk, where he was again wounded. In 1703, he accompanied marshal Villars into Bavaria, where the elector
promoted him to the rank of lieutenant-general. He was
then known by the title of count d’ Albert, and was successively chamberlain, master of the horse, minister, and
colonel of the Bavarian guards. The elector having arrived
at the throne in 1742, by the royal title of Charles VII.
appointed count d' Albert field marshal, and sent him to
France as ambassador extraordinary. The same year the
emperor created him a prince of the holy Roman empire,
by the title of prince of Grimberghen, taken from the rich
domains he acquired by marrying a princess of Berghes.
He died Nov. 10, 1758, aged eighty-seven. Amidst all
his campaigns and political engagements, he cultivated a
taste for literature. His works are “Le Songe d'AlcU
biade,
” a supposed translation from the Greek, Paris, Timandre instruit par son genie,
”
and other pieces, published at Amsterdam, Recueil de differentes pieces de litterature.
”
metropolitan church of Florence, and abb of St. Savino, or of St. Ermete of Pisa. Although he became known to the world as a scholar, a painter, a sculptor, and an architect,
, an eminent Italian artist,
and one of the earliest scholars that appeared in the revival
of letters, was of a noble and very ancient family at Florence, but was born at Venice in the end of the fourteenth,
or beginning of the fifteenth century. Various authors
have given 1398, 1400, and 1404, as the date of his birth.
In his youth he was remarkable for his agility, strength,
and skill in bodily exercises, and an unquenchable thirst of
knowledge possessed him from his earliest years. In the
learned languages he made a speedy and uncommon proficiency. At the age of twenty, he first distinguished himself by his Latin comedy entitled “Philodoxius,
” copies of
which he distributed among his friends, as the work of
Lepidus, an ancient poet. The literati were completely
deceived, and bestowed the highest applauses on a piece
which they conceived to be a precious remnant of antiquity. It was written by him during the confinement of
sickness, occasioned by too close an application to study,
and appeared first about the year 1425, when the rage for
ancient manuscripts was at its height, and Lepidus for a
while took his rank with Plautus and Terence. Even in
the following century, the younger Aldus Manutius having
met with it in manuscript, and alike ignorant of its former
appearance, and the purpose it was intended to serve,
printed it at Lucca, 1588, as a precious remnant of antiquity.
Alberti took orders afterwards in order to have leisure
to prosecute his studies. In 1447 he was a canon of the
metropolitan church of Florence, and abb of St. Savino,
or of St. Ermete of Pisa. Although he became known to
the world as a scholar, a painter, a sculptor, and an architect, it is to his works of architecture that he owes his principal fame. He may be regarded as one of the restorers
of that art, of which he understood both the theory and
practice, and which he improved by his labours as well as
his writings. Succeeding to Brunelleschi, he introduced
more graceful forms in the art; but some consider him notwithstanding as inferior to that celebrated architect. Alberti studied very carefully the remains of ancient architecture, which he measured himself at Rome and other
parts of Italy, and has left many excellent specimens of his
talents. At Florence, he completed the Pitti palace, and
built that of Ruccellai, and the chapel of the same family
in the church of St. Pancras; the facade of the church of
Santa Maria Novella, and the choir of the church of Nunziata. Being invited to Rome by Nicholas V. he was employed on the aqueduct of PAqua Vergine, and to raise
the fountain, of Trevi; but this having since been reconstructed by Clement XII. from the designs of Nicholas
Salvi, no traces of Alberti’s work remain. At Mantua, he
constructed several buildings, by order of Louis of Gonzaga, of which the most distinguished are the churches of
St. Sebastian, and that of St. Andrew: the latter, from the
grandeur and beauty of its proportions, is esteemed a model
for ecclesiastical structures. But his principal work is generally acknowledged to be the church of St. Francis at
Rimini.
by Seneca. It represents the dangers which threatened the prince and his soldiers on a sea Bo little known to the Romans. Seneca prefers it to all other poems on the same
, a Latin poet, who lived
under Augustus and Tiberius, about thirty-five years before the Christian tera. He wrote elegies, epigrams, and a
poem on Germanicus’s voyage to the north. There are,
however, only extant, an elegy addressed to Livia on the
death of her son Drusus; another on the death of Maecenas,
but so inferior in elegance to the former, that some critics
have thought it did not come from the same pen; and a
third, entitled “The last words of Maecenas,
” which was
usually found joined to the elegy on his death, until Scaliger
discovered they were distinct pieces. Le Clerc, under the
assumed name of Theodore Goralle, published an edition
of these fragments of Albinovanus, with the notes of Scaliger, Heinsius, &c. Amsterdam, 1703, 8vo, and has adopted
Scaliger’s opinion respecting the last mentioned poem, that
it consisted of the actual last words of Maecenas versified.
There is an other edition of these fragments, with critical notes
and a philological index, by J. C. Bremer, Helmstadt, 8vo.
The only fragment that remains of the voyage of Germanicus has been preserved by Seneca. It represents the dangers which threatened the prince and his soldiers on a sea
Bo little known to the Romans. Seneca prefers it to all
other poems on the same subject, nor is Martial less warm
in his praises of Albinovanus. Ovid, who was very intimate with him, congratulates himself, that in all his disIgrace (by banishment, Ex Ponto. lib. iv. ep. x.) he preserved the friendship of Albinovanus. We must not,
however, confound him, as Dacier has done, with another
Albinovanus, mentioned by Horace in the Art of Poetry,
as a plagiarist.
onstrate its folly. Some other works, sermons, &c. have been attributed to Albizzi, which are little known.
, also called Bartholomew
of Pisa, was born in the fourteenth century at Rivano in
Tuscany, and was of the order of the Franciscans, or
Friars minorites; and derived much fame in the eyes of
his brethren by a work in Latin, on the “Conformity of
St. Francis with Jesus Christ,
” which he presented to the
chapter of his order in 1399. (See Albert, Erasmus.)
The impiety of this work may be partly guessed from the
title; but as Tiraboschi has thought proper to blame the
Protestants who either answered it seriously, or turned it
into ridicule, and according to him raised a clamour against
the friars, who could not be supposed responsible for the
act of an individual, it may be necessary to remind the
readers of that learned historian, that the friars did in fact
take upon them a very high degree of responsibility. They
not only bestowed the highest praise on Albizzi; but after
receiving his book in a full chapter, the representatives of
the whole order, they presented him with a complete dress
which St. Francis wore in his life-time. This foolish book,
which not only raises St. Francis above all other saints, but
impiously compares him with the Saviour, was first printed
at Venice, fol. without date, or printer’s name. The second edition, which Dr. Clarke calls the first, was printed
at Milan, 1510, a folio of 256 leaves in the black letter,
and sells on the continent at from ₤5. to ₤20. The
third was also printed at Milan, 1513, in the same form,
and type, with a new preface by Mapelli, a Franciscan.
All these are uncommonly scarce, and hardly ever to be
found complete. Jeremy Bucchi, another Franciscan,
published a new edition at Bologna in 1590, in which he
omitted many passages, and added the lives of the illustrious men of the order of St. Francis; but as this did not
sell, the first two leaves were cancelled, and it was again
published in 1620, as a new work. It contains the approbation of the chapter-general, dated Aug. 2, 1399. This
work, with more alterations and omissions, was again published at Cologn in 1632, under the title “Antiquitates
Franciscanae, sive Speculum vitae B. Francisci et sociorum,
”
&c. The last we shall notice is that of father Valentine
Maree, ' or Marcus, a reco^let, or reformed Franciscan,
entitled “Traite de conformites du disciple avec le maitre,
c'est a dire, de S. Francois avec J. C. en tout le mysteres
de sa naissance, vie, passion, mort, &c.
” Liege,
de St. Andre, marechal of France, and one of the greatest captains of the sixteenth century, better known by the name of marechal de St. Andre, descended from an industrious
, marquis de Fronsac, seigneur de St. Andre, marechal of France, and one of the greatest captains of the sixteenth century, better known by the name of marechal de St. Andre, descended from an industrious and ancient family in Lyonnois. He gained the esteem of the dauphin, who, when he came to the crown by the name of Henry II. loaded him with riches and honours, made him marechal of France^ 1547, and afterwards first gentleman of his bed-chamber. He had already displayed his courage at the siege of Boulogne, and the battle of Cerisolles. He was then, it is said, chosen to carry the collar of his order to Henry VIII. king of England, who decorated him with that of the garter; but we do not find his name among the knights of that order, and it is more likely that he was the bearer of the insignia of the garter to Henry II. of France, from our Edward VI. In 1552, he had the command of the army of Champagne, and contributed much to the taking of Marienberg in 1554. He destroyed Chateau-Cambresis, and acquired great reputation at the retreat of Quesnoy; was at the battle of Renti; was taken prisoner at that of St. Quintin 1557, and bore an active part in the peace of Cambresis. He afterwards joined the friends of the duke ofGuise, and was killed by Babigny de Mezieres, with a pistol, at the battle of Dreux, 1562. He was handsome, noble, brave, active, insinuating, and much engaged in the important transactions of his time. Brantome asserts, that he had a presentiment of his death, before the battle of Dreux, He had only one daughter by his marriage with Margaret de Lustrac, who died very young in the monastery of LongChamp, at the time when her marriage was agreed upon with Henry of Guise.
he temporal power of the popes over those parts of Italy which have been, down to the present times, known by the name of the Ecclesiastical States. Having thus achieved
, an eminent
Spanish statesman and cardinal, of the fourteenth century,
descended from the royal families of Leon and Arragon,
was born at Cuen^a, and educated at Toulouse. Alphon$us XI. appointed him, in succession, almoner of his court,
and archdeacon of Calatrava; and lastly, although he was
then very young, promoted him to the archbishopric of
Toledo. He accompanied the king of Castille in his expedition against the Moors of Andalusia, in which his rank
of archbishop did not prevent him from carrying arms; and
he first displayed his bravery in saving the king’s life m
the hottest onset of the battle of Tarifa. Alphonsus, in
return, knighted him, and in 1343 gave him the command
at the siege of Algesiras; but on the death of this prince,
he lost his influence with his successor, Peter the cruel,
whom he reproved for his irregularities, and who would
have sacrificed him to the resentment of his mistress Maria
de Padilla, if he had not made his escape to Avignon.
Here the pope Clement VI. admitted him of his council,
and made him a cardinal; on which he resigned his archbishopric, saying, that he should be as much to blame in
keeping a wife with whom he could not live, as Peter king
of Castille, in forsaking his wife for a mistress. Innocent
VI. the successor of Clement, sent him to Italy in 1353,
both as pope’s legate and as general, to reconquer the
ecclesiastical states which had revolted from the popes
during the residence of the latter at Avignon. This commission Albornos executed in the most satisfactory manner,
either by force or intrigue; but in the midst of his career,
he was recalled in 1357, and another commander sent on
the expedition. He, however, having been unfortunate,
the pope saw his error, and again appointed Albornos,
who completed the work by securing the temporal power
of the popes over those parts of Italy which have been,
down to the present times, known by the name of the
Ecclesiastical States. Having thus achieved his conquest,
Albornos, as a minister of state, rendered himself for
many years very popular. To Bologna he gave a new
constitution, and founded in that city the magnificent
Spanish college; and for the other parts of the ecclesiastical dominions, he enacted laws which remained in force
for four centuries after. At length he announced to pope
Urban V. that he might now enter and reign at Rome
without fear, and was receiving him in pomp at Viterbo,
when the pope, forgetting for a moment the services Albornos had rendered to the holy see, demanded an
account of his expenditure during his legation. Albornos
immediately desired him to look into the court-yard of
the palace, where was a carriage full of keys, telling him
that with the money intrusted to him, he had made the
pope master of all the cities and castles of which he now
saw the keys. The pope on this embraced and thanked
him. He then accompanied Urban to Rome, but returned
afterwards to Viterbo, where he died August 24, 1367,
regretted by the people, and by the pope; who, finding
himself embarrassed with new cares, more than ever
wanted his advice. Albornos’s body was removed to Toledo, at his own request, and interred with great pomp.
He wrote a book on the constitutions of the Roman church,
which was printed at Jesi, in 1475, and is very rare. His
will also was printed, with this injunction, characteristic
of the man and the age he lived in, that the monks should
say 60,000 masses for his soul. His political life was written by Sepulveda, under the title “Historia de hello administrate in Italia per annos 15, et confecto abÆg. Albornotio,
” Bologna,
es, and acquired the reputation of an astronomer and astrologer; and, although he is now principally known by his writings on astrology, he cannot be refused a place among
, or Abou-Machar, a noted Arabian astrologer and philosopher, was born at Balkh in the
Khorasan, about the year 805 or 806. For a long time he
was addicted to the Mahometan traditions, and a determined enemy to philosophy; but in his forty-seventh year
he began to study the sciences, and acquired the reputation of an astronomer and astrologer; and, although he is
now principally known by his writings on astrology, he
cannot be refused a place among the most distinguished
easterns, who have made astronomical observations. The
table called Zydj Abou-Machar was calculated from his
observations; but the work from which he derives his principal reputation, is his treatise on astrology, entitled
“Thousands of years;
” in which, among other singular
positions, he maintains that the world was created when
the seven planets were in conjunction in the first degree of
Aries, and will end when they shall assemble in the last
degree or Pisces. He died in 885. His astrological work
was published at Venice, 1506, 8vo; with the title “De
magnis conjunctionibus, annorum revolutionibus, ac eorum
perfectionibus;
” but his “Introductio ad Astronomiam
”
was printed before this in 4to,. Augsburgh,
yseven letters in ‘Gudii Epistolas,’” 1697, 4to. Perhaps the work for which he is now most generally known is his “Emblems,” highly praised by the elder Scaliger. Of these
Alciati died at Pavia, on the 12th of January, 1550, being then in his 58th year. After the death of his mother,
who died in a very advanced age, he intended to have employed his wealth in the foundation of a college; but, having received an affront from some insolent scholars, he
dropped that design, and chose for his heir Francis Alciati,
his nephew, a promising youth, whom he had brought up
at his house. Mr.Teissier says, that Andrew Alciati passed
his life in celibacy; but this is a mistake, as may be seen
from a passage of a letter he wrote to his friend Francis
Calvus, after he had withdrawn from Milan to Avignon.
He was a man of unquestionable abilities and learning,
but tainted with avarice, which often obscured the lustre
of his reputation. He was very young when his talents
began to attract the admiration of his countrymen. His
“Paradoxes of Civil Law,
” or an explanation of the Greek
terms which occur in the Digest, was written in his fifteenth year, and published in his twenty-second. His
works have been collected and published at Lyons, 1560,
5 vols. folio; at Basil, 1571, 6 vols. folio; and there also
1582, 4 vols. folio; Strasburgh, 1616, 4 vols. folio;
Francfort, 1617, 4 vols. folio. So many editions of a work of this
magnitude afford a striking proof of the reputation of Alciati. Some of the contents of these volumes have been
printed separately, as his “notes on Tacitus,
” and a
“treatise on Weights and Measures;
” but besides these he
wrote, 1. “Responsa nunquam antehac edita,
” Lyons,
De Formula Romani Imperii,
” Basil, Epigrammata selecta ex anthologia Latine versa,
”
Basil, Rerum patriae, seu Historise Mediolanensis libri quatuor,
” De Plautinorurn carminum ratione,
” and “De Plautinis vocabulis Lexicon,
” in an edition of Plautus, Basil, Judicium de
legum interpretibus parandis,
” printed with Conrad Page’s
treatise “Methodica juris traditio,
” Encomium Historiae,
” Palma,
” inserted in
the “Amphitheatrum sapientiae Socraticae Dornavii.
”
9. “Judiciarii processus compendium,
” Contra vitam monastic-am,
” Notae
in Epistolas familiares Ciceronis,
” printed with Thierry’s
edition of these epistles, Paris, 1557, folio. 12. “Twentyseven letters in ‘Gudii Epistolas,’
” Emblems,
” highly praised by the elder Scaliger. Of
these there have been various editions and translations.
The best is that of Padua, 1661, 4to. The piece above
noticed, “Contra vitam monasticam,
” was addressed to
Bernard Mattius, and shews that Alciati entertained the
same notions with his friend Erasmus concerning the religious orders of the church. Mattius, to whom this treatise,
or rather letter, is addressed, was a learned, modest, and
ingenious man, who suddenly left his friends and his aged
mother to embrace the monastic life; but whether Alciati’s
persuasions were effectual is not known.
sia a luxury they could not equal. He would have shown himself the most virtuous of men had he never known the example of vice; but vice hurried him on without making
In negotiations, he sometimes employed the light of his understanding, which was as vigorous as profound; sometimes he had recourse to stratagems and perfidy, which no reasons of state can ever justify; on other occasions he availed himself of the pliability of a character which the thirst of power or the desire of pleasing accommodated without difficulty to every conjuncture and change of situation. In every nation he commanded respect, and swayed the public opinion. The Spartans admired his frugality; the Thracians his intemperance; the Boeotians his love of the most violent exercises; the lonians his taste for indolence and voluptuousness; the satraps of Asia a luxury they could not equal. He would have shown himself the most virtuous of men had he never known the example of vice; but vice hurried him on without making him its slave. It should seem as if the profanation of laws and the corruption of manners were considered by him only as so many victories gained over manners and the laws; it might be said too, that his faults were no more than the errors of his vanity. Those excesses of levity, frivolity, and imprudence which escaped his youth or idle hours, were no longer sjeen on occasions that demanded firmness and reflection. He then united prudence with activity, and pleasure never stole from him any of those moments which were necessary to the advancement of his glory, or the promotion of his interest.
d to have lived about the beginning of the second century. We have no account of his life, nor is he known but by his “Introduction to the doctrine of Plato,” with which
, a Platonic philosopher, is supposed to
have lived about the beginning of the second century.
We have no account of his life, nor is he known but by
his “Introduction to the doctrine of Plato,
” with which
he appears to have been very well acquainted. Marsilius
Ficinus translated it into Latin, and it was published, for
the first time, with various pieces by Jamblicus, Proclus,
Porphyry, Synesius, and other Platonists, Venice, by
Aldus, 1497, fol. It has often been reprinted, and Charpentier wrote a commentary on it, which was published at
Paris, 1575, 4to. Dennis Lambin gave an edition in Gr.
and Lat. with scholia, Paris, 1567, 4to; and Michael
Vascosan another, ibid. 1532, 8vo. Daniel Heinsius has
inserted it in his editions of Maximus Tyrius, Leyden,
1608, 1617, and Oxford, 1667, 8vo. It is also, in Latin,
in the first editions of Apuleius, Rome, 1469, and 1472;
Venice, 1521, &c.; and our countryman, Stanley, printed
it in his “History of Philosophy.
” It was very recently
translated into French, and published by M. Combes Dounous, Paris, 1800, 12mo. There is another Alcinous, mentioned by Philostratus in his lives of the Greek sophists.
, a Greek author, of whom little is known, unless by his “Epistles,” which afford much amusing information
, a Greek author, of whom little is known,
unless by his “Epistles,
” which afford much amusing information respecting the domestic manners of the Greek
courtesans, fishermen, and parasites. Dr. Jortin is of
opinion that he drew them up for the use of his scholars,
to teach them to speak and write Greek with purity and
fidelity; but this opinion the English translators have very
amply refuted. The best edition of these letters is that of
Bergler, Gr. and Lat. with learned notes, Leipsic, 1709,
1715, 12mo, the latter a very rare edition. There is
another, Utrecht, 1791, 8vo, and reprinted, with some
additions by M. Wagner, Leipsic, 1798, 2 vols. 8vo.
M. Bast, a French scholar, has lately found some unpublished letters, and very important variations, among the
manuscripts in the imperial library of Paris, and has some
intention of publishing them in a new edition of Alciphron.
An excellent translation of the Epistles was published,
London, 1791, 8vo. The first and second books, and the
eloquent preface, by Mr. Monro, now rector of Easton, in
Essex; and the third, with the notes, by the rev. William
Beloe, the able translator of Herodotus.
call that great man his master, though he speaks of him with the highest veneration. It is not well known to what preferments he had attained in the church before he
, one of the fevr
learned Englishmen of the eighth century, was born in the
north of England, and educated at York, under the direction of archbishop Egbert, as we learn from his own letters,
in which he frequently calls that great prelate his beloved
master, and the clergy of York the companions of his
youthful studies. As he survived the venerable Bede about
seventy years, it is hardly possible that he could have received any part of his education under him, as some writers
have asserted; nor does he ever call that great man his
master, though he speaks of him with the highest
veneration. It is not well known to what preferments he had attained in the church before he left England, although some
say he was deacon of the church of York, and abhot of
Canterbury. The occasion of his leaving his native country was, his being sent on an embassy by Offa, king of
Mercia, to the emperor Charlemagne, who contracted so
great an esteem and friendship for him, that he earnestly
solicited, and at length prevailed upon him, to settle in his
court, and become his preceptor in the sciences. Alcuinus
accordingly instructed that great prince in rhetoric, logic,
mathematics, and divinity; which rendered him one of his
greatest favourites. He was treated with so much kindness
and familiarity by the emperor, that the courtiers called
him, by way of eminence, “the emperor’s delight.
”
Nativity” by him, which he accounts worthy of the admiration of the curious. He is, however, chiefly known by his engravings; and as, like many of the ancient engravers,
, a celebrated artist, was born at Zoust in Westphalia, in 1502; but
we have no account of his family, nor are we quite certain
of his Christian name, some calling him Henry, and some
Albert. It is said, that he went to Nuremberg, and studied
under Albert Durer, as he copied his style. As a painter,
he attained considerable fame: the principal part of his
works are in the churches and convents of Germany. Des
Piles mentions a “Nativity
” by him, which he accounts
worthy of the admiration of the curious. He is, however,
chiefly known by his engravings; and as, like many of the
ancient engravers, particularly of Germany, he applied
himself chiefly to the engraving of small plates, he has been
classed by French authors among those they call little masters, and in this class he claims the first rank. The mechanical part of his engraving is extremely neat, and executed entirely with the graver. The light parts upon his
flesh he has often rendered very soft and clear, by the addition of small long dots, which he has judiciously interspersed. His drawing of the naked figure, which he seems
very fond of introducing, is much correcter than is usually
found among the old German masters; and much less of
that stiff taste, so common to them, appears in his best
works. But Florent le Comte’s observation is certainly
very just, that his men figures are far more correct than
his women. His heads are very expressive in general, and
his other extremities well marked, but sometimes rather
heavy. But as his prints are very numerous, amounting,
according to abbe de Marolles, to no less than 350, they
cannot be supposed to be all equal; it is, therefore, necessary to see many of his prints, before any adequate judgment can be formed. The first collection of them was
formed by the burgomaster Six, but to this many additions
were made by Mariette, to the amount of 390 pieces, comprising many duplicates with differences. This collection
was sold in France, in 1805, for 660 francs. He died at
Soest, in 1558, in very poor circumstances,
. Joseph was born in 1560, and died in 1616; but the dates of the birth and death of Bernard are not known.
, two brothers, natives of Malaga, whose history has not been separated by
their biographers. They studied the belles lettres, antiquities, and civil law, with equal ardour and equal reputation.
They both became ecclesiastics, and even in their persons
there was a very close resemblance. Joseph obtained a
prebend of Cordova, which he resigned in favour of Bernard, that he might enter among the Jesuits. He
afterwards became rector of the college of Granada. While
among the Jesuits, he published a work on the “Exemption of the regular Orders,
” Seville, De religiosa disciplina tuenda,
” ibid. 4to,
Origen de la lengua Castellana,
” Rome, Varias antiguedades de Espana Africa y otras provincias,
”
Antwerp, Boe'tia illustrata,
” the loss of which is regretted
by the Spanish antiquaries. Joseph was born in 1560, and
died in 1616; but the dates of the birth and death of Bernard are not known.
among the greatest masters of the science: he composed many services for the church, which are well known; as are also his anthems, to the number of near 20. In the “Pleasant
, an eminent scholar and divine,
was son of Henry Aldrich of Westminster, gentleman, and
born there in 1647. He was educated at Westminster
under the celebrated Busby, and admitted of Christ Church,
Oxford, in 1662. Having been elected student, he took the
degree of M. A. in April 1669; and, entering soon after into
orders, he became an eminent tutor in his college. Feb.
1681, he was installed canon of Christ Church; and in
May accumulated the degrees of B. and D. D. In the
controversy with the papists under James II. he bore a
considerable part; and Burnet ranks him among those
eminent clergj T men who “examined all the points of popery with a solidity of judgment, a clearness of arguing, a
depth of learning, and a vivacity of writing, far beyond
any thing which had before that time appeared in our language.
” In short, he had rendered himself so conspicuous,
that, at the Revolution, when Massey, the popish dean of
Christ Church, fled beyond sea, the deanry was conferred
upon him, and he was installed in it June 17, 1689. In
this station he behaved in a most exemplary manner, zealously promoting learning, religion, and virtue in the college where he presided. In imitation of his predecessor
bishop Fell, he published generally every year some Greek
classic, or portion of one, as a gift to the students of his
house. He wrote also a system of logic, entitled “Artis
Logicae compendium;
” and many other things. The
publication of Clarendon’s History was committed to him
and bishop Sprat; and they were charged by Oldmixon
with having altered and interpolated that work; but the
charge was sufficiently refuted by Atterbury. In the same
year that he became dean of Christ Church he was appointed one of the ecclesiastical commissioners who were
to prepare matters for introducing an alteration in some
parts of the church service, and a comprehension of the
dissenters. But he, in conjunction with Dr. Mew, bishop
of Winchester, Dr. Sprat, bishop of Rochester, and Dr.
Jane, regius professor of divinity in the university of Oxford, either did not appear at the meetings of the committee, or soon withdrew from them. They excepted to
the manner of preparing matters by a special commission,
as limiting the convocation, and imposing upon it, and
they were against all alterations whatever. Besides attainments in polite literature, classical learning, and an elegant turn for Latin poetry, of which some specimens are in
the Musae Anghcanae, he possessed also great skill in architecture and music; so great, that, as the connoisseurs
say, his excellence in either would alone have made him
famous to posterity. The three siues of the quadrangle
of Christ Church, Oxford, called Peck water-square, were
designed by him; as was also the elegant chapel of Trinity
college, and the church of All-Saints in the High-street;
to the erection of which Dr. Ratcliff, at his solicitation,
was a liberal contributor. He cultivated also music, that
branch of it particularly which related both to his profession and his office. To this end he made a noble collection of church music, and formed also a design of writing
a history of the science; having collected materials, which
are still extant in the library of his own college. His
abilities indeed as a musician have caused him to be
ranked among the greatest masters of the science: he
composed many services for the church, which are well
known; as are also his anthems, to the number of near 20.
In the “Pleasant Musical Companion,
” printed Hark the bonny Christ
Church Bells,
” the other entitled “A Smoking Catch;
”
for he himself was, it seems, a great smoaker. Besides
the preferments already mentioned, he was rector of Wem
in Shropshire. He was elected prolocutor of the convocation in February 1702, on the death of Dr. Woodward,
dean of Sarum. He died at Christ Church, December
14, 1710. The tracts he published in the popish controversy were two, “Upon the Adoration of our Saviour in
the Eucharist,
” in answer to O. Walker’s discourses on the
same subject, printed in 1687, and 1688, 4to. We have
not been able to get an account of the Greek authors he
published, except these following: 1. Xenophontis Memorabilium, lib. 4, 1690, 8vo. 2. Xenophontis Sermo de
Agesilao, 1691, 8vo. 3. Aristese Historia 72 Interpretum,
1692, 8vo. 4. Xenophon, de re equestri, 1693, 8vo. 5.Epictetus etTheophrastus, 1707, 8vo. 6. Platonis, Xenopliontis,
Plutarchi, Luciani, Symposia, 1711, 8vo. This last was
published in Greek only, the rest in Greek and Latin, and
all printed at Oxford. His logic is already mentioned.
He printed also Elements of Architecture, which was elegantly translated and published in 1789, 8vo. with architectural plates, by the rev. Philip Smyth, LL. B. fellow
of New College, and now rector of Worthing, Shropshire.
He had a hand in Gregory’s Greek Testament, printed at
Oxford in 1703, folio; and some of his notes are printed
in Havercamp’s edition of Josephus.
lf with reputation. He died of the dropsy, at Rome, the 6th of September 1652. He is now principally known by hi 1. “Bibliotheca scriptorum societatis Jesu,” Antwerpise,
, a Flemish Jesuit, born at Brussels the 22d of January 1592, was trained in polite literature in his own country. He went afterwards to Spain,
and entered into the service of the duke of Ossuna, whom
he attended to Sicily, when the duke went there as viceroy. Alegambe, being inclined to a religious life, took
the habit of a Jesuit at Palermo, the 7th of September
1613, where he went through his probation, and read his
course of philosophy. He pursued the study of divinity
at Rome, whence he was sent to Austria, to teach philosophy in the university of Gratz. Havhig discharged th
duties of this function to the satisfaction of his superiors,
he was chosen professor of school-divinity, and promoted
in form to the doctorship in 1629. About this time the
prince of Eggemberg, who was in high favour with the
emperor Ferdinand II. having resolved that his son should
travel, and being desirous he should be attended by some
learned and prudent Jesuit, Alegambe was judged a proper person; and he accordingly travelled with him five
years, visiting Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy.
In 1638, the young prince with whom he travelled, being
appointed by the emperor Ferdinand III. ambassador of
obedience to the pope, invited Alegambe to go with him,
who accordingly accompanied him to Rome, in quality of
his confessor. After he had discharged this office, the
general of the Jesuits retained him as secretary of the
Latin dispatches for Germany. Alegambe, having spent
four years in the discharge of this laborious office, was
obliged to resign it, the continual application to writing
having considerably weakened his sight. He was now appointed president of spiritual affairs in the professed house,
and had the office also of hearing confessions in the
church, in which capacity he acquitted himself with reputation. He died of the dropsy, at Rome, the 6th of
September 1652. He is now principally known by hi
1. “Bibliotheca scriptorum societatis Jesu,
” Antwerpise,
Vita P. Joannis Cardin. Lusitani, ex societate Jesu,
” Romae, Heroes et victims charitatis societatis Jesu,
” Romse, victims
”
were such as lost their lives in attending persons who died
of the plague. 4. “Mortes illustres et gesta eorum de
societate Jesu, qui in odium fidei ab hsreticis vel aliis occisi sunt,
” Romse,
ion, to be much relished in the present day. In 1609 Aleman was at Mexico, but on what errand is not known. About this time, however, he produced his “Ortografia Castellan,”
, was born in the environs of Seville in Spain, about the middle of the sixteenth century,
and for twenty years of his life had a place at court. Although we know little of his history or character, he deserves this short notice, as the author of a very popular novel,
or romance, entitled “Guzman d'Alfarache,
” which was
reprinted in Spain above thirty times, and has been translated into Italian, German, English, and into French by
Bremont and Le Sage. Le Sage abridged it considerably,
and Scarron was much indebted to it. The English is a
large folio, literally translated, and too tedious, and with
too frequent interruptions of moral discussion, to be much
relished in the present day. In 1609 Aleman was at Mexico, but on what errand is not known. About this time,
however, he produced his “Ortografia Castellan,
” 4to, a
very scarce work, and of some reputation; and in 1604 he
published a life of St. Antony of Padua in Spanish, with
encomiastic Latin verses, which are not inelegant. This
was reprinted at Valencia in 1608, 8vo. The first edition
of his Guzman appeared in 1599, 4to, Madrid.
While the studies of M. d‘Alembert were confined to geometry, he was little known or celebrated in his native country. His connections were limited
While the studies of M. d‘Alembert were confined to geometry, he was little known or celebrated in his native country. His connections were limited to a small society of select friends: he had never seen any man in high office except Messrs. d’Argenson. Satisfied with an income which furnished him with the necessaries of life, he did not aspire after opulence or honours; but his reputation at length made its way to the throne, and rendered him the object of royal attention and beneficence. He received also a pension from government, which he owed to the friendship of count d'Argenson.
The tranquillity of M. d‘Alembert was abated when his fame grew more extensive, and when it was known beyond the circle of his friends, that a turn for literature
The tranquillity of M. d‘Alembert was abated when his
fame grew more extensive, and when it was known beyond
the circle of his friends, that a turn for literature and philosophy accompanied his mathematical genius. Our author’s eulogist ascribes to envy, detraction, and to other
motives nearly as ungenerous, all the disapprobation, opposition, and censure that M d’Alembert met with on account
of the publication of the famous Encyclopedical Dictionary
of Arts and Sciences, in conjunction with Diderot. But
when the reader is told that this eulogist is Condorcet, and
when he recollects the vast extent of mischief, moral and
political, spread over France, and indeed the whole continent, by the impious and disorganizing principles of
d'Alembert and his associates in this work, ne will learn to
moderate his admiration of “that fine and enlightened turn
for literature and philosophy
” which Condorcet displayed
before the academy in his Eulogy, pronounced but a very
few years before its destructive effects were to be made
apparent. We shall not, however, refuse the just tribute
of applause to the displays of genius, judgment, and literary taste, with which M. d'Alembert has enriched the work
now mentioned. Among others, the preliminary discourse
he has affixed to it, concerning the rise, progress, connexions, and affinities of all the branches of human knowledge, is certainly a capital production. Yet we are disposed to question whether the master-builders of this new
and stupendous temple of science, for the worship of nature, had really in view the advancement of human knowledge, and the improvement of the arts and sciences. la
the inner court of this temple there was a confederacy
formed against all those who looked higher than nature,
for the principal object of their veneration and confidence,
a fact too palpable, nay too boldly avowed, to stand in need
of any proof. And if it be thus palpable, what shall we say,
not to the philosophy, but the common sense, of these
great men, who could for a moment conceive that objects
so incompatible were to be promoted by the same means,
and that national impiety and national improvement in the
arts of science and social life, were to be incorporated in
the same system But it would be unnecessary to expatiate, in this sketch, on the evils of a publication, the
effects of which have been so widely felt and so generally
acknowledged.
ed (and the disputes that followed it) by the article Geneva, inserted in the Encyclopédie, are well known. M. d‘Alembert did not leave this field of controversy with
In 1759, he published his Elements of Philosophy; a work extolled as remarkable for its precision and perspicuity; in which, however, are some tenets relative both to metaphysics and moral science, of the most pernicious kind. The resentment that was kindled (and the disputes that followed it) by the article Geneva, inserted in the Encyclopédie, are well known. M. d‘Alembert did not leave this field of controversy with flying colours. Voltaire was an auxiliary in the contest; but as, in point of candour and decency, he had no reputation to lose; and as he weakened the blows of his enemies, by throwing both them and the spectators into fits of laughter, the issue of the war gave him little uneasiness. It fell more heavily on d’Alembert; and exposed him, even at home, to contradiction and opposition, which it required all the wit and talents of his associates to resist with effect. In those days, however, of philosophical infatuation, even kings were blindly led to assist in undermining their thrones. And on this occasion, Frederic, usually stiled the great Frederic, king of Prussia, offered him an honourable asylum at his court, and the place of president of his academy; and was not offended at his refusal of these distinctions, but cultivated an intimate friendship with him during the rest of his life. He had refused, some time before this, a proposal made by the empress of Russia to intrust him with the education of the grand duke; a proposal accompanied with very tiattering offers.
sive physica,” 1715; “pars 3. seu anima et metaphysica,” 1724. 3. “Gradus ad Parnassum,” a book well known in all schools in Europe, and of which there have been a great
, a learned French Jesuit, was born ia
1656, at St. Guy, in the Luxemburgh, studied at Cologn,
and in 1676 entered the order of St. Ignatius. He was
professor of philosophy, theology, and the belles lettres,
at Cologn, until the year 1691. He was afterwards, in
1701, invited to the university of Treves, where he gave
his course of lectures on theology, and was appointed, in
1703, regent of the gymnastic school, and about the same
time he was employed in the organization and direction of
the gymnastic academies of Munster, Aachen, Treves,
and Juliers. He died in 1727, at Dueren, in the duchy
of Juliers. His principal works are: 1. “Tractatus de
artibus humanis,
” Treves, Philosophise
tripartite, pars 1. sive logica,
” Cologne, 1710; “pars 2.
sive physica,
” 1715; “pars 3. seu anima et metaphysica,
”
1724. 3. “Gradus ad Parnassum,
” a book well known in
all schools in Europe, and of which there have been a great
number of editions. 4. Some Latin tragedies, as Joseph,
Tobias, &c.
account of the order of knighthood instituted to his honour by Peter the Great, and yet is so little known out of Russia, that an article may well be allowed him here.
, grand duke of Russia, and a saint of the Russian church, is so often mentioned on account of the order of knighthood instituted to his honour by Peter the Great, and yet is so little known out of Russia, that an article may well be allowed him here. He was born in 1218, and seems to have been a man of strong character, of personal courage, and bodily strength. The almost incessant wars in which his father Yaroslauf was engaged with Tshingis khan and the neighbouring horcles of Mongoies, inspired him early in life with a passion for conquest. Probably too an unhappy conceit entertained by the princes of those times and those countries, might have contributed somewhat to prepare Alexander for the part of the hero he. afterwards performed. This was the custom of conferring on young princes particular provinces as apanages or viceroyalties. Yaroslauf had in 1227 changed his residence at Novgorod for that of Pereyaslaf, leaving in the former place his two eldest sons, Feodor and Alexander, as his representative, under the guidance of two experienced boyars. However small the share that a boy of ten years old, as Alexander then was, could take in the government; yet it must have been of advantage to him to be thus initiated in a situation preparatory to the exercise of that power he was one day to enjoy in his own right. Five years afterwards Feodor died; and now Alexander was alone viceroy of Novgorod he was not an apanaged prince till 1239, when his father took possession of Vladimir. He now married a princess of the province of Polotzk, and the first care of his government was to secure the country against the attacks of the Tshudes (among whom are particularly to be understood the Esthonians), who were partly turbulent subjects, and partly piratical neighbours of the principality of Novgorod. To this end he built a line of forts along the river Shelonia, which falls into the Ilmenlake. But a more imminent danger soon furnished him with an opportunity of performing far greater service to his nation. Incited by the oppressions exercised by the Tartars on southern Russia, the northern borderers formed a league to subdue Novgorod; and thought it necessary to begin their enterprise the sooner, as, from the accounts they had received by one of their chiefs, who had gained a personal knowledge of Alexander at Novgorod, the young prince would shortly be too powerful for them. The warlike king of Denmark, Valdemar II. at that time possessed a considerable portion of Esthonia, together with Reval, which he had lately built . He had long been in alliance with the Teutonic knights of Livonia, which he renewed in 1233; ift which treaty they agreed upon a combined expedition against the Russians. This was accordingly undertaken in 1239. A very considerable fleet came to land on the banks of the Neva, while the Swedes were coming down from Ladoga to attack them by land. An embassy was sent to Alexander, commanding him immediately to submit, or to stake his fortunes on a decisive battle. He made choice of the latter. Too near the enemy, and too distant from his father, he had no hope of any foreign succour, and his army was extremely weak. In the presence of his people he solemnly implored the assistance of heaven, was certified of it by the formal benediction of the archbishop; and thus raised the efficacy of the only support he had, the courage of his soldiers. Having their strength increased by the persuasion that the hosts of heaven were on theic'side, they went to battle, and began the attack. This was at six in the morning. The two armies were closely engaged during the whole day, and the slaughter continued till night put an end to the contest. The field was covered with the bodies of the slain. Three ship-loads of them were sunk in the sea, and the rest were thrown together in pits. On the side of the Novgorodians only 20 men were killed, say the chronicles; perhaps by an error of the writers, perhaps in the meaning that only the principal citizens of Novgorod are reckoned. But most likely this statement is one of those poeac extravagancies which are not to be mistaken in perusing the Russian accounts of this battle. In the ancient history of all nations a certain lively colouring is used in describing the decisive transactions of early times; a natural consequence of the intimate concern the chronologer takes in the successes of his conntry, and the enthusiasm with which he wishes to represent it as a nation of heroes. Thus the old historians mention six mighty warriors, who, by some signal act in this battle, have handed down their names to the latest posterity. It is impossible not to imagine we are perusing a fragment of romance, when we read, that Gavriela Alexiri pursued a king’s son on horseback into a ship, fell into the sea, came back unhurt, and slew a general and two bishops. Sbislauf was armed only with an axe, Jacob Polotshanin with nothing but a sword, and both killed a multitude of the ene r my. Sava rushed into the enemy’s camp, destroyed the tent of the general, &c. Alexander, our heroic saint, is also indebted to this poetical colouring (perhaps to a vulgar ballad) for his canonization and his fame. He sprung like a lion upon the leader of the hostile troops, and cleft his face in two with a stroke of his sword. This personage, according to the Russian annalists, was no less a man than the king of the northern regions himself. And this act it was that procured our Alexander the surname of Nevskoi, i.e. the conqueror on the banks of the Neva. Peter the Great took a politic advantage of the enthusiasm of the nation, for this Alexander, in order to procure a religious interest for his new city of Petersburg. On the spat where, according to the common opinion, the holy hero had earned the glorious name of Nevskoi, he caused the foundations of a monastery to be laid in 1712, to which he afterwards, in 1723, caused the bones of the great duke to be brought. Peter gave orders that the relics of the saints of Volodimer should be brought to Petersburg (a distance of 700 miles) attended by great solemnities. Between 300 and 400 priests accompanied the procession. On their arrival, the emperor himself, with all his court, went out to meet them; and the coffin, inclosed in a case of copper strongly gilt, was deposited in the monastery with great ceremony. This monastery of St. Alexander Nevskoi is about five versts from the castle at Petersburg, in an agreeable situation on the bank of the Neva. It has gradually been enlarged by the several sovereigns since the emperor Peter; and the present empress has built a magnificent church within its walls, and a sumptuous mausoleum for herself and her descendants. The shrine of the saint is of massy silver, of great value, but both the workmanship and the inscription in a bad taste. The order of knighthood of St. Alexander Nevskoi was properly instituted by Peter the Great in 1722; but he died before he had appointed the knights. This was done by Catherine I. in June 1725. The number of the knights are at present about 135, among whom are one or more crowned heads.
ion of St. Maur, who was born at Paris in 1654, and died at an advanced age at St. Denys in 1728, is known by two useful works 1. “La Medicine et la Chirurgie des pauvres,”
, a Benedictine of the congregation of St. Maur, who was born at Paris in 1654,
and died at an advanced age at St. Denys in 1728, is
known by two useful works 1. “La Medicine et la Chirurgie des pauvres,
” Paris, in 12mo, Dictionnaire Botaniqne
et Pharmaceutique,
” in 8vo, several times reprinted; in
which are found the principal properties of such minerals,
vegetables, and animals as are used in medicine. A great
number of remedies are pointed out, but not always with
sufficient care in the selection. Dr. Alexander had a very
extensive knowledge in simples. Equally pious and charitable, he employed it to the relief of his brethren, and
especially the poor.
ius Caesar.” In 1612, he printed an “Elegy on the death of Prince Henry,” a poem of which no copy is known to exist except one in the university library of Edinburgh.
His first production of this kind, the tragedy of “Darius,
” was printed at Edinburgh in Croesus,
” and a.
“Parsenesis to the Prince,
” another piece in which he
recommends the choice of patriotic, disinterested, and public-spirited counsellors. The prince intended to be thus
instructed was Henry; but it is said to have been afterwards inscribed to Charles I. The dedication occurs in
the folio edition of 1637 “To Prince Charles,
” which, if a
republication, may mean Charles I. but, if it then appeared
for the first time, Charles II. Some of our author’s biographers have asserted that prince Henry died before the
publication, which was the reason of its being inscribed
to prince Charles, but Henry died in 1612, eight years
after the appearance of the Paraenesis, and to a prince of
his virtues it must have been highly acceptable. In this
same volume Mr. Alexander published his “Aurora,
” containing “the first fancies of his youth;
” and in Croesus
” and “Darius,
” with the “Alexandraean Tragedy
” and “Julius Caesar.
” In Elegy on the death of Prince Henry,
” a poem of which
no copy is known to exist except one in the university
library of Edinburgh.
left various pieces of poetry, which were highly esteemed in his time. The principal works that are known of his, are: 1. “Four Chants-royaux, presented at the Games
, a Benedictine monk in the abbey
0f Lyra, afterwards prior of Bussi au Perche, was living in
1505, and has left various pieces of poetry, which were
highly esteemed in his time. The principal works that are
known of his, are: 1. “Four Chants-royaux, presented at
the Games du Puy at Rouen, in 4to, without date. 2.
” Le
Passe-terns de tout Hommeet de toute Femme,“Paris, in
8vo, and 4to, without date. The author informs us that he
translated it from a work of Innocent III. It is a moral
performance, on the miseries of man from the cradle to the
grave. 3.
” Le grand Blason des Faulses Amours, in 16,
and in 4to, Paris, 1493; and in several editions of the
Farce de Patelin, and of the Fifteen Joys of Marriage,
Hague, 1726 and 1734, with notes by Jacob le Duchat. It
is a dialogue on the evils brought on by love. In all his
works he preserves the decency becoming his order, which
one of his biographers remarks as rather extraordinary for
the age in which he lived.
was born at Farab, now Othrar, in Asia. Minor, from which he took the name by which he is generally known. His real name was Mohammed. He was of Turkish origin, but quitted
, a very eminent Arabian philosopher of the
tenth century, was born at Farab, now Othrar, in Asia.
Minor, from which he took the name by which he is generally known. His real name was Mohammed. He was of
Turkish origin, but quitted his country to acquire a more
perfect knowledge of the Arabic, and of the works of the
Greek philosophers. He studied principally at Bagdat,
under a celebrated Aristotelian professor, named Abou
Bachar Mattey; and then went to Harran, where John, a
Christian physician, taught logic. In a short time, he surpassed all his fellow-scholars; and after a visit to Egypt,
settled at Damas, where the prince of that city, Seif-edDaulah, took him into his patronage, although it was with
difficulty that he could persuade him to accept his favours.
Alfarabi had no attachment but to study, and knew nothing
of the manners of a court. When he presented himself,
for the first time, before the prince, the latter, wishing to
amuse himself at the expence of the philosopher, made
known his intention to his guards in a foreign language, but
was much surprised when Alfarabi told him that he knew
what he said, and could, if necessary, speak to him in seventy other languages. The conversation then turning on
the sciences in general, Alfarabi delivered his opinions with
such learning and eloquence, that the men of letters present
were completely put to silence, and began to write down
what he said. He excelled likewise in music, and ingratiated
himseif so with the prince, that he gave him a handsome
pension, and Alfarabi remained with him until his death in
the year 950. He wrote many treatises on different parts
of the Aristotelian philosophy, which were read and admired, not only among the Arabians, but also among the
Jews, who began about this time to adopt the Aristoteliaft
mode of philosophizing. Many of his books were translated
from Arabic into Hebrew, and it is by these versions principally that the Europeans have been made acquainted with
his merit. His treatise “De Intelligentiis
” was published
in the works of Avicenna, Venice, Dfc
Causis,
” is in Aristotle’s works, with the commentaries of
Averroes; and his “Opuscula varia
” were printed at
Paris in
ring a perfect knowledge of ancient and modern languages. Before his first visit to France he became known to the learned world, by the many excellent papers he had printed
, an eminent Italian writer,
was born at Venice, Dec. 11, 1712. His father, a rich
merchant, had two other sons, and three daughters; one
of the sons died an infant; the other, Bonomo Algarptti, who
took the charge of the family on the father’s death, survived the subject of this article, and was his executor.
Francis studied first at Rome, then at Venice, and lastly
at Bologna, under the two celebrated professors Eustace
Manfredi and Francis Zanotti, who loved him for his
sweetness of temper, and by whose instructions he made a
very rapid progress in mathematics, geometry, astronomy,
philosophy, and physics. He was particularly fond of this
last study, and of anatomy. Nor was he less assiduous in,
acquiring a perfect knowledge of ancient and modern languages. Before his first visit to France he became known
to the learned world, by the many excellent papers he had
printed in the Memoirs of the institute of Bologna; and in
one of his rural retreats, in 1733, he wrote his “Newtonianismo per le Dame,
” in which he endeavoured to familiarize
Newton’s system to the ladies, as Fontenelle had done
that of Des Cartes. He was now only in his twenty-first
year, and this work, which was published in 1734, acquired him much reputation. It was almost immediately
translated into French by Duperron de CastCra; and, although very incorrect, this was the only edition from
which the French critics formed their opinion of its merits,
and from which a translation was also made into German,
but not into English, as the French biographer asserts.
Our celebrated countrywoman, Mrs. Carter, used the
original, in her translation, published in 1739, and revised in the press by Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Samuel Johnson,.
It was entitled “Sir Isaac Newton’s philosophy explained,
for the use of the ladies, in six dialognes on Light and
Colours,
” 2 vols, 12mo.
mirers of these illustrious poets; but'Algarotti declared himself ignorant of the writer, who is now known, to be Bettinelli.
In his early years Algarotti had cultivated a poetical turn, and after some favourable attempts of the lyric kind, he wrote several poetical epistles on subjects of philosophy and science. These were collected, with others of Frugoni and Bettinelli, and published with some pretended letters of Virgil, in which a bold attack was made on the merits of Dante and Petrarch. This publication made a considerable noise in Italy, and gave great offence to the admirers of these illustrious poets; but'Algarotti declared himself ignorant of the writer, who is now known, to be Bettinelli.
,” by Risner. Alhazen was the first who shewed the importance of refractions in astronomy, so little known to the ancients. He is also the first author who has treated
, Allacen, or Abdilazum, was a
learned Arabian, a native of Bassorah. He wrote upon
Astrology; and his work upon optics was printed in Latin,
at Basil, in 1572, under the title of “Opticae Thesaurus,
”
by Risner. Alhazen was the first who shewed the importance of refractions in astronomy, so little known to the
ancients. He is also the first author who has treated on
the twilight, upon which he wrote a work, and takes occasion to speak also of the height of the clouds. He first,
however, distinguished himself as a projector. He boasted
frequently that he could construct a machine to prevent
the inundations of the Nile. This being reported to the
caliph, he offered him presents, workmen, and every species
of encouragement; but Alhazen, having soon discovered
the impossibility of accomplishing his scheme, and dreadinothe anger of the caliph, put on a feigned madness, which
he continued as long as the caliph lived. The rest of his
life he spent, in writing, or in copying books, which he
sold. He died at Cairo in 1038. Casiri, in his Bibl. Arab.
Hisp. gives a long catalogue of his works, some of which
are in the Bodleian, and some in the library of Leyden.
The work above mentioned, edited by Risner, is supposed
to have been of service to Kepler.
ber of the academy of painting, was born at Abbeville in 1728, and died at Paris, 1788. He was first known by some small engravings executed with much taste, but his reputation
, a French engraver, and a member of the academy of painting, was born at Abbeville in 1728, and died at Paris, 1788. He was first known by some small engravings executed with much taste, but his reputation rests principally on his large plates, which he engraved after Berghem, Wouvermans, and Vernet. Among his best works are two of the six plates which represent the battles of the Chinese with the Tartars. He worked with the dry point more successfully than even his master Lebas. His brother Francis Germain Aliarnet is known in this country by some engravings which he has executed for Messrs. Boydell.
the Fox.” It is a kind of satire on the manners of the times during the ‘feudal system. All that is known of Alkmar is, that he lived about the year 1470, and was governor,
, a supposed writer, whose name leads to a dissertation, rather than a life,
passes for the author of a poem in old German, and very
popular in Germany, under the title of “Reineke de Voss,
”
or “Reynard the Fox.
” It is a kind of satire on the manners of the times during the ‘feudal system. All that is
known of Alkmar is, that he lived about the year 1470, and
was governor, or preceptor, of one of the dukes of Lorraia.
The first edition of Reynard was printed at Lubeck in 1498,
and it was frequently reprinted at Rostock, Francfort, ancl
Hamburgh; and as the name of H. d’ Alkmar occurs in the
preface of the Lubeck edition, which was long considered
to be the first, he has as uniformly passed for the author
of the poem. There is, however, in the library of the city
of Lubeck, a copy of a work with the same title and nearly
the same contents, but more full, and in prose, which was
printed at Delft in 1485; and one has been discovered still
older, printed at Goudesor Tergow, by Gerard Leew, in 1479.
These two Reynards are exactly the same, written in the
Dutch or Flemish dialect, which differs little from thatof Friesland, Westphalia, or Lower Saxony. It would appear then,
that Alkmar had done no more than to versify 'and enlarge
the fictions of the old Reynard. He says himself, in the preface, that he translated the present work from the Welch,
and the French. Whatever may be the case with the
Welch, , as he mentions the French, his evidence accords
with known facts, and with the opinion of Le Grand d'Aussay, in his “Notices et Extraits des manuscrits de la bibliotheque de Paris
” (vol. V. p.
sports during the carnival. Several of the figures introduced in them, are portraits of persons well known to the English who visited Rome between 1770 and 1780. Mr. Allan
, a Scotch portrait and historical painter
of the preceding century, was a native of Edinburgh, and patronised by sir William Erskine. He received the rudiments
of his art in the academy of painting instituted, and carried
on for a considerable time, by Messrs. Foulis, in Glasgow,
Thence'he went to Italy, where he spent many years in unremitting application to the study of the great models of antiquity. At Rome in 1773, he gained the prize medal
given by the academy of St. Luke for the best specimen of
historical composition, and it is believed he was the only
Scotchman (Gavin Hamilton excepted) who had then attained; that honour. After his return in 1777, he resided a
few years in London; but about 1780 he went to Edinburgh, and was appointed director and master of the academy established in that metropolis by the board of
trustees for manufactures and improvements, for the purpose of
diffusing a knowledge of the principles of the fine arts, and
elegance of design, in the various manufactures and works
which require to be figured and ornamented; a charge for
which he was peculiarly well qualified, by the extensive
knowledge he possessed of every branch of the art. He was
much admired for his talents in composition, the truth with
which he delineated nature, and the characteristic humour
that distinguished his pictures, drawings, and etchings.
There are several engravings from his pictures, one “The
Origin of Painting, or the Corinthian maid drawing, the
shadow of her lover;
” and four, in aqua tfnta, by Paul
Sandby, from drawings made by Allan when at Rome, representing the sports during the carnival. Several of the
figures introduced in them, are portraits of persons well
known to the English who visited Rome between 1770 and
1780. Mr. Allan died Aug. 6, 1796. In private life, his
character was marked by the strictest honour and integrity,
and his manners were gentle, unassuming, and obliging.
of proverbial or cant words, as helter-skelter, which he derived from hiiariter cderiter. It is not known what became of this manuscript. He bequeathed his fortune, and
, an English lawyer and antiquary, was born at Great Hadham in Hertfordshire, about the end of the seventeenth century, and was educated at Eton; whence he went to King’s college, Cambridge, and took his bachelor’s degree in 1707, and his master’s in 1711. He afterwards studied law, was called to the bar, and by the influence of Arthur Onslow, speaker of the house of commons, became a master in chancery. His reputation as a lawyer was inconsiderable, but he was esteemed a good classical scholar, and a man of wit and convivial habits. He became afterwards an alderman of the corporation of Guildford, and an useful magistrate in that neighbourhood. He died April 11, 1754, and was buried in the Temple church. He collected a biographical account of the members of Eton college, which by his will, dated 1753, he ordered to be placed in the libraries of the two colleges, and a third copy to be given to his patron, Mr. Onslow. He also compiled, at his leisure hours, or rather made collections for, an English dictionary of obsolete words, of words which have changed their meaning, as villain, knave, and of proverbial or cant words, as helter-skelter, which he derived from hiiariter cderiter. It is not known what became of this manuscript. He bequeathed his fortune, and probably his books, to a brother who was a Turkey merchant.
. He was afterwards rector of Bradvvell in Gloucestershire, where he died in 1658. He is principally known in the literary annals of Oxford by an exquisite piece of poetical
, D. D. of Magdalen college, Oxford, was a native of Buckinghamshire, and master of the
free-school adjoining to Magdalen college. He was afterwards rector of Bradvvell in Gloucestershire, where he died
in 1658. He is principally known in the literary annals of
Oxford by an exquisite piece of poetical humour, which he
ha,d the courage to publish in 1648, in ridicule of the parliamentary visitors and their party: it was entitled “liustica academic? Oxoniensis nuper reformats descriptio:
una cum comitiis ibidem, 1648 habitis.
” Notwithstanding
the danger of publishing a satire of this description, two
editions were eagerly bought up, but it is now very rare.
um,” Turin, 1755, 4to, containing the description and figures of thirty plants, either new or little known, which grow on the mountains of Piedmont. 2. “OryctographiiE
, a celebrated Piedmontese physician, and professor of -Botany, in the university of Turin,
was born in 1725, and died in 1804. On account of his
high reputation for learning, he was elected a member of
many scientific societies, such as the institute of Bologna,
and the royal societies of London, Montpellier, Gottingen,
Madrid, &c. Of his numerous medical and botanical publications, the following are the principal: 1, “Pedemontii
stirpium rariorum specimen primum,
” Turin, OryctographiiE Pedemontan;e
specimen,
” Paris, Tractatio de miliarium origine, progressu, natura, et curatione,
” Turin, Stirpium præcipuarum
littoris et agri Nicaeensis enumeratio methodica, cum
elencho aliquot animalium ejusdem maris,
” Paris, 1757,
8vo. This work is often quoted by naturalists under the
abridged title of “Enumeratio stirpium Nicaeensis.
” The
principal part of it was collected by John Giudice, a botanist at Nice, and a friend of Allioni, to whom he bequeathed his papers. 5. “Synopsis methodica horti Taurinensis,
” Turin, Flora Pedemontana, sive enumeratio
methodica stirpium indigenarum Pedemontii,
” Turin, Auctuarium ad Flora Pedemontana,
” Turin,
, a very learned and eminent divine of the church of England, although a native of France, and well known by his numerous and excellent writings, was born in 1641 at
, a very learned and eminent divine of the church of England, although a native of France, and well known by his numerous and excellent writings, was born in 1641 at Alençon; and having received a liberal education, which highly improved his great natural parts, he became minister of the reformed church at Rouen. At this place, before he was thirty-five years of age, he distinguished himself by publishing some very able pieces, which excited much notice, and he was invited to Charenton, then the principal church the reformed had in France, and whither the most considerable persons of the Protestant religion constantly resorted. As he now saw himself in a condition to promote the interest of the church, he applied himself to the task with all imaginable zeal, and preached several valuable sermons in defence of the faith, against the artful attempts of the bishop of Meaux, who was then labouring to overturn the reformed religion, by seeming concessions to its professors. Upon the revocation of the edict of Nants, Mr. Allix found himself obliged to quit France, and had prepared a pathetic discourse, which he intended to have delivered as his farewell to his congregation, but was obliged to omit it, although it was afterwards printed.
could be brought. Dr. Allix, however, continued steady and fixed in his principles, and was so well known to be a zealous defender of the doctrine of the church of England
In 1685, when the above edict was revoked, and the
Protestant religion banished from France, Mr. Allix came
into England, either in that or the following year, and met
with a most favourable reception, on account of his extensive learning, and especially his knowledge in ecclesiastical
history. Soon after his arrival, his first object was to acquire the English language, which he attained in a high
degree of perfection. In 1690, he was complimented with
the degree of D. D. by the university of Cambridge, and in
the same year he had the treasurership of the church of
Salisbury given to him; and some foreign memoirs say he
was made canon of Windsor, but this does not appear to
have been the case. It was proposed that he should have
published here an authentic “History of the Councils,
”
for which laborious and important work he was well qualified; but by some accidents intervening, and for want of
encouragement, this undertaking miscarried. He wrote
and published, however, several treatises relating to ecclesiastical history, which displayed great learning, were very
interesting, and very useful to the Protestant cause, which
was then in considerable danger. These pieces, of which
we shall give a list, were remarkably well received, and the
author became in as great credit here, as ever he had been
in France, for his ingenious and solid defences of the reformed religion, from reason and authority, and from the
practice of early ages, as well as the precepts of the gospel. In 1699 he wrote a very learned treatise in defence
of the Trinity, which has always been considered as an able
and argumentative performance, and is mentioned with
great respect by the late bishop Horsley, in his letters to
Dr. Priestley. He wrote several other learned and ingenious treatises on curious and important subjects, and was,
for upwards of thirty years, a strenuous and affectionate
defender of the established church. Some of these pieces
exposed him, however, to very severe censures; and among
the rest, Bayle, who had formerly complimented him very
highly, attacked him with contemptuous language; but the
opinion of Bayle, where orthodoxy is concerned, is not
deserving of much respect. One of his antagonists, Mr.
Stephen Nye, rector of Hormead, accuses him of Tritheism;
and in Moreri’s Dictionary, printed in 1740, it is insinuated
that he was inclined to Socinianism, a charge the most
absurd and incredible that could be brought. Dr. Allix,
however, continued steady and fixed in his principles, and
was so well known to be a zealous defender of the doctrine
of the church of England on that subject, that Whiston
thought proper to consult him, when he first proposed
writing in support of his own opinions, as appears by what
he says on this subject in his “Historical Preface,
” which,
however, Dr. Allix found it necessary to correct in a short
relation of his interview with Whiston.
al to study and teach philosophy, xipon more rational and experimental principles than had ever been known in that country, was born in 1722. His most celebrated work,
, a Portugueze priest, who had
the courage in Portugal to study and teach philosophy,
xipon more rational and experimental principles than had
ever been known in that country, was born in 1722. His
most celebrated work, written in Portuguese, and entitled
“Itecreaceo Filosofica,
” 5 vols. 8vo, 1751, occasioned a
revolution in the philosophical studies of the Portugueze,
and would probably have involved the author in much
danger, had not the Jesuits been soon after banished from
that kingdom. He was nevertheless a zealous advocate
for the pretensions of the court of Rome, at the time of
the famous rupture between Joseph II. and that court; and
this rendered him so obnoxious to the marquis de Pombal,
that he was obliged to seek an asylum in France, during
the ministry of that nobleman. On his return to Portugal,
the royal academy of sciences of Lisbon was eager to
admit him a member; but it was soon evident that Almeida
had not kept pace with the progress which the nation had
made in twenty-five years, and he was suffered to eclipse
himself, although without losing any of the respect due to
his former services in promoting liberal science. He published, after his return to Lisbon, a moral romance, called
“The Happy Independant,
” which had little success;
and it was said that a better title would have been “The
Happy Impertinent.
” He died in
who died in 1658. His mother was Mary Janson, daughter of the celebrated Amsterdam printer, so well known for his many fine editions, and for the atlas which he published
, an eminent Dutch physician, but more eminent as a general scholar and editor, was born July 24, 1657, at Midrecht, or
Mydregt, near Utrerht, where his father was a Protestant
clergyman. His grandfather was Cornelius Almeloveen,
a senator of Utrecht, who died in 1658. His mother was
Mary Janson, daughter of the celebrated Amsterdam printer, so well known for his many fine editions, and for the
atlas which he published in six folio volumes. As the
printer had no male issue, the name of Janson was added
to Almeloveen, probably by our author’s father. He
studied first at Utrecht, and then at Goude or Tergou,
where James Tollius was at the head of the schools of that
place, and when Tollius removed to Noortwick, near Leyden, Almeloveen followed him, and it appears by his
writings that he always acknowledged him as his master. In
1676, he returned to Utrecht, and studied the belles lettres in that city under the celebrated Graevius, and as his
father intended him for the church, he also studied Hebrew under Leusden, and philosophy under De Uries;
but, taking disgust at the violence and illiberality with
which theological disputes were sometimes conducted, he
gave a preference to medicine, and attended the instructions of Vallan and Munniks. In 16 So, he maintained a
thesis on sleep, and the following year, one on the asthma,
and was then admitted to his doctor’s degree in that
faculty. In 1687, he went to reside at Goude, where he?
married. In 1697, he was invited to Harderwic to become professor of Greek and history; and in 1702, he was
appointed professor of medicine, and remained in both
offices until his death in 1712. He bequeathed to the
public library at Utrecht his curious collection of the editions of Quintilian, which he had made at a great expence,
and of which there is a catalogue in Masson’s critical history of the Republic of Letters, vol. V. Bibliography
was his favourite study, in which he was ably assisted by
his grandfather Jansson; and to this we probably owe the
number of editions, with commentaries, which he published. Among these are: 1. “Hippocratis Aphorismi,
Gr. Lat.
” Amsterdam, Aurelii Celsi de
medicina,
” with his own additions and those of Constantine and Casaubon, Amsterdam, 1687, 12mo; 1713, 8vo;
Padua, 1722, 8vo; with “Serini Sammonici de medicina
prsecepta salubfrrrima.
” 3. “Apicii Caelii de obsoniis et
condimentis, sive de arte coquinaria libri X.
” with the
notes of Martin Lister, Hamelbergius, Vander Linden, &c.
Amsterdam, 1709, 8vo. 4. “Aurelianus de Morbis acutis
et chronicis,
” Amsterdam, Bibliotheca
promissa et latens,
” or an account of books promised, and
never published, with the epistles of Velschius on such
medical writings as have not been edited, Goude, 1688,
1698, 8vo; 1692, 12mo; Nuremberg, 1699, 8vo; with
the additions of Martin Melsuhrerus. 6. “The anatomy
of the Muscle,
” in Flemish, with observations anatomical,
medical, and chirurgical, Amst. 1684, 8vo. 7. “Onomasticon rerum inventarum et Inventa nov-antiqua, id
est, brevis enarratio ortus et progressus artis medicæ,
”
ibid. Opuscula sive antiquitatum e sacris profanarum specimen conjectans veterum poetarum fraguienta et plagiarorum syllabus,
” ibid. De scriptis adespotis, pseudepigraphis,
et supposititiis, conjecture,
” ibid. C. Rutilius Numantianus,
” ibid. Amdenitates theologico-philologicæ,
” ibid. Dissertationes quatuor
de mensis, lecticis, et poculis veterum,
” Hanvick, Fasti
Consulares,
” Amst. Strabo,
” ibid. 2 vols. fol. 15.
“De vitis Stephanoruni,
” Hortus Malabaricus.
”
aman. In 1758 or 1759, he returned to England, and came to London, where, it is said, he soon became known to several wits of the day, as Dr. Goldsmith, Churchill, Lloyd,
, a bookseller, author, and editor, was
born at Liverpool, about the year 1738, and was educated
at Warrington. About 1748 he was put apprentice to a
bookseller at Liverpool, but in 1756 he went to sea, as a
common seaman. In 1758 or 1759, he returned to England, and came to London, where, it is said, he soon became known to several wits of the day, as Dr. Goldsmith,
Churchill, Lloyd, and Wilkes. His turn, however, was
for political writing; and in 1759 he published “The
conduct of a late noble commander (lord George Sackville)
examined.
” This was followed by a compilation, in sixpenny numbers, of “A Military Dictionary,
” or an account of the most remarkable battles and sieges from the
reign of Charlemagne to the year 1760. Soon after, he
wrote various political letters in the Gazetteer newspaper,
which he collected and published under the title of “A
collection of interesting letters from the public papers.
”
About the same time he published “A Review of his Majesty (George II.'s) reign
” and when Mr. Pitt resigned in
1761, he wrote “A Review of his Administration.
” His
other publications were, “A Letter to the right hon.
George Grenville;
” “An history of the Parliament of
Great Britain, from the death of queen Anne to the death
of George II.;
” “An impartial history of the late War
from 1749 to 1763;
” “A Review of lord Bute’s administration.
” When Wilkes’s infamous essay on woman was
brought to light, Mr. Almon wrote an answer to Kidgell,
the informer’s, narrative. In 1763, he commenced bookseller in Piccadilly, and published “A Letter concerning
libels, warrants, and seizure of papers, &c.;
” “A history
of the Minority during the years 1762 1765;
” “The
Political Register,
” a periodical work, and the general receptacle of all the scurrility of the writers in opposition to
government; “The New Foundling Hospital for Wit,
” a
collection of fugitive pieces, in prose and verse, mostly of
the party kind: “An Asylum,
” a publication of a similar
sort; “Collection of all the Treaties of Peace, Alliance,
and Commerce, between Great Britain and other powers,
from the revolution in 1688 to the present time;
” “The
Parliamentary Register,
” an account of the debates in parliament; “The Remembrancer,
” another monthly collection of papers in favour of the American cause; “A collection of the Protests of the House of Lords;
” “Letter to
the earl of Bute,
” Free Parliaments, or a vindication of the parliamentary constitution of England, in
answer to certain visionary plans of modern reformers;
”
“A parallel between the siege of Berwick and the siege
of Aquilea,
” in ridicule of Home’s tragedy, the Siege of
Aquilea; “A Letter to the right hon. Charles Jenkinson,
”
n the preceding article, first related by Walker, were confirmed to lord Sandwich, and were likewise known to be true by old people in the neighbourhood. His lordship
Mrs. Alphery, the last descendant of the family, married one Mr. Johnson a cutler at Huntingdon. She was living in 1761, and had eight children. By her the facts contained in the preceding article, first related by Walker, were confirmed to lord Sandwich, and were likewise known to be true by old people in the neighbourhood. His lordship informed Dr. Campbell, that such was the respect paid this woman on account of her illustrious descent, that no persons, of whatever station, chose to be seated in her presence: on the contrary they rose, and remained so till she had taken her chair.
nce and philosophy,” and was eminent for sacred and profane literature. The time of his death is not known. The first mentioned work is in the “Bibl. Patrum.”
, a Spanish Jew of the 12th
century, was converted to the Christian religion in 1106,
in the 44th year of his age. Being severely censured by
his countrymen, he published a “Dialogue between a
Jew and a Christian,
” which seems to have been no contemptible defence of Christianity against his countrymen.
He wrote also “On science and philosophy,
” and was
eminent for sacred and profane literature. The time of
his death is not known. The first mentioned work is in
the “Bibl. Patrum.
”
r. Bentley in the famous dispute with Mr. Boyle. This book, Dr. Warton observes, is not sufficiently known. It was better known at one time, however, if we may credit
, a poetical and miscellaneous English writer, was educated at Westminster school, and thence
elected to Christ-church, Oxford, where he took the degree
of M.A. March 23, 1696, and of B. D. Dec. 12, 1706. On
his coming to the university, he was very soon distinguished
by dean Aldrich, and published “Fabularum Æsopicarurn
delectus,
” Oxon. a powerful cabal gave
it a surprising turn.
” Alsop passed through the usual
offices in his college to that of censor, with considerable
reputation; and for some years had the principal noblemen and gentlemen belonging to the society committed to
his care. In this useful employment he continued till his
merit recommended him to sir Jonathan Trelawny, bishop
of Winchester, who appointed him his chaplain, and soon
after gave him a prebend in his own cathedral, together
with the rectory of Brightwell, in the county of Berks,
which afforded him ample provision for a learned retirement, from which he could not be drawn by the repeated
solicitations of those who thought him qualified for a more
public character and a higher station. In 1717 an action
was brought against him by Mrs. Elizabeth Astrey of Oxford, for a breach of a marriage contract; and a verdict
obtained against him for 2,000l. which probably occasioned
him to leave the kingdom for some time. How long this
exile lasted is unknown; but his death happened, June 10,
1726, and was occasioned by his falling into a ditch that
led to his garden-door, the path being narrow, and part of
it giving way. A quarto volume of his was published in.
1752, by the late sir Francis Bernard, under the title of
“Antonii Alsopi, sedis Christi olim alumni, Odarum libri
duo.
” Four English poems of his are in Dodsley’s collection, one in Pearch’s, several in the early volumes of the
Gentleman’s Magazine, and some in the “Student.
” He
seems to have been a pleasant and facetious companion,
not rigidly bound by the trammels of his profession, and
does not appear to have published any sermons. Mr. Alsop is respectfully mentioned by the facetious Dr. King of
the Commons (vol. I. p. 236.) as having enriched the commonwealth of learning, by “Translations of fables from
Greek, Hebrew, and Arabic 5
” and not less detractingly by
Dr. Bentley, under the name of “Tony Alsop, a late editor of the Alisopean Fables.
” Sir Francis Bernard, his
editor, says, that among the various branches of philological
learning for which he was eminent, his singularly delicate
taste for the classic poets was the chief. This induced him
to make use of the Sapphic numbers in his familiar correspondence with his most intimate friends, in which he
shewed a facility so uncommon, and a style so natural and
easy, that he has been, not unjustly, esteemed not inferior,
to his nic;ter Horace.
ying with a sick person. The book he wrote against Dr. Sherlock, in a humorous style, made him first known to the world, and induced Mr. Cawton, an eminent nonconformist
, an English nonconformist of considerable note, was a native of Northamptonshire, and educated at St. John’s 'college, Cambridge, where he took the
degree of master of arts. He afterwards received deacon’s
orders from a bishop, and settled at Oakham in Rutlandshire, as assistant to the master of the free school. Being
a man who possessed a lively pleasant wit, he fell into gay
company, but was reclaimed by the admonition of the rev.
Mr. King, a Puritan minister at or near Oakham, whose
daughter he afterwards married; and becoming a convert
to his principles, he received ordination in the presbyterian
way, not being satisfied with that of the bishop, which extended only to deacon’s orders, and he was no longer willing
to conform to the church by applying for those of a priest.
He settled at Wilby, in the county of Northampton,
whence he was ejected in 1662, for nonconformity. After
which he ventured to preach sometimes at Oakham and at
Wellingborough, where he lived; and was once committed
to prison for six months, for praying with a sick person.
The book he wrote against Dr. Sherlock, in a humorous
style, made him first known to the world, and induced Mr.
Cawton, an eminent nonconformist in Westminster, to
recommend him to his congregation, as his successor. On
receiving this invitation, he quitted Northampton, and came
to London, where he preached constantly, and wrote several pieces, which were extremely well received by the public. His living in the neighbourhood of the court exposed
him to many inconveniences, but he had the good fortune
to escape imprisonment and fines, by the ignorance of the
informers, who did not know his Christian name, which he
studiously concealed; and even Anthony Wood, who calls
him Benjamin, did not know it. His sufferings, however,
ended with the reign of Charles II. at least in the beginning
of the next reign, when his son, engaging in treasonable
practices, was frequently pardoned by king James. After this,
Mr. Alsop went frequently to court, and is generally supposed to have been the person who drew up the Preshy terians’
very fulsome address to that prince, for his general indulgence; a measure, however, which was condemned by the
majority of nonconformists. After the revolution, Mr.
Alsop gave very public testimonies of his affection for the
government, but on all occasions spoke in the highest terms
of respect and gratitude of king James, and retained a VI.Tv
high sense of his clemency, in sparing his only son. The
remainder of his life he spent in the exercise of the ministry, preaching once every Lord’s clay; besides which he
had a Thursday lecture, and was one of the lecturers at
Pinner’s hall. He lived to he a very old man, preserved
his spirits to the last, and died May 8, 1703. On grave
subjects he wrote with a becoming; seriousness but where
wit might be shewn, he displayed it to considerable advantage. His funeral sermon was preached by Mr. Slater, and
his memory will always be remembered by his own learned
and elegant writings; the most remarkable of which are:
1. “Antisozzo,
” in vindication of some great truths opposed by Dr. Sherlock, in whose treatise “Concerning
the knowledge of Jesus Christ,
” he thought he discovered
a tendency towards Socinianism, and therefore entitled this
work, which was published in 1675, “Antisozzo,
” from
the Italian name of Socinus. Sherlock and he had been
pupils under the same tutor in the university. Dr. South
allowed Alsop’s merit in this contest of wit, but Wood
undervalues his talent. 2. “Melius Inquirendum,
” in
answer to Dr. Goodman’s Compassionate Inquiry, 1679,
8vo. 3. “The Mischief of Impositions;
” in answer to
Dr. Stillingfleet’s Mischief of Separation, 1680. 4. “Duty
and interest united in praise and prayer for Kings.
”
5. “Practical godliness the ornament of Religion,
”
ake place in the year 1694. Niceron has given a more copious list of his works, which are now little known or consulted.
, a German protestant divine, and a voluminous writer, was some time professor of
philosophy and divinity at Herboni in the county of Nassau; afterwards professor at Alba Julia in Transylvania,
where he continued till his death, which happened in 1638,
in his 50th year. Of his public character, we only know
that he assisted at the synod of Dort. He applied himself
chiefly to reduce the several branches of arts and sciences
into systems. His “Encyclopaedia
” has been much esteemed even by Roman catholics: it was printed at Herborn, 1610, 4to, ibid. 1630, 2 vols. fol. and at Lyons, 1649,
and sold very well throughout all France. Vossius mentions the Encyclopaedia in general, but speaks of his treatise of Arithmetic more particularly, and allows the author
to have been a man of great reading and universal learning.
Jiaillet has the following quotation from a German author:
“Alstedius has indeed many good things, but he is not
sufficiently accurate; yet his Encyclopedia was received with
general applause, when it first appeared, and may be of
use to those who, being destitute of other helps, and not
having the original authors, are desirous of acquiring some
knowledge of the terms of each profession and science.
Nor can we praise too much his patience and labour, his
judgment, and his choice of good authors: and the abstracts
he has made are not mere scraps and unconnected rhapsodies, since he digests the principles of arts and sciences
into a regular and uniform order. Some parts are indeed
better than others, some being insignificant and of little
value, as his history and chronology. Jt must be allowed
too, that he is often confused by endeavouring to be clear;
that he is too full of divisions and subdivisions; and that
he affects too constrained a method.
” Lorenzo Brasso
says, “that though there is more labour than genius in Alstedius’s works, yet they are esteemed; and his industry
being admired, has gained him admittance into the temple
of fame.
” Alstedius, in his “Triumphax Bibliorum Sacrorum, seu Encyclopaedia Biblica,
” Francfort, Theologia Polemica,
” which was one of the best performances
of Alstedius. He also published in 1627, a treatise entitled
“De Mille Annis,
” wherein he asserts that the faithful
shall reign with Jesus Christ upon earth a thousand years,
after which will be the general resurrection and the last
judgment. In this opinion, he would not have been singular,
as it has more or less prevailed in all ages of the church,
had he not ventured to predict that it would take place in
the year 1694. Niceron has given a more copious list of
his works, which are now little known or consulted.
profession, “De Jurisprudentia Romana,” and “De civili conversatione;” but what made him principally known, was his “Politica methodice digesta,” 1603, in, which he maintained
, a German Protestant lawyer, was born about the middle of the sixteenth
century, and became law-professor p.t Herborn, and
syndic at Bremen. He wrote some treatises in the way of
his profession, “De Jurisprudentia Romana,
” and “De
civili conversatione;
” but what made him principally
known, was his “Politica methodice digesta,
” these strange opinions produced by the revolutionary spirit which prevailed in the sixteenth century,
have been revived in ours by the demagogues, who fancy
that they are advancing something new.
” Althusen died
in the early part of the seventeenth century.
istration he founded several benevolent establishments. He died at Berlin in 1802. As a writer he is known by a historical work entitled “Essai d‘un tableau chronologique
a Prussian statesman, knight of the orders of the red and black
eagle, lord of Hundisburgh, &c. was born Dec. 12, 1745,
at Hanover, where his father was counsellor of war. During the seven years war he was brought up at Magdebourg
with the prince, afterwards Frederic-William II. He then
studied law at the university of Halle, and was appointed
referendary in the court of accounts at Berlin, and in 1775,
was sent as envoy extraordinary to the elector of Saxony,
with the title of king’s chamberlain. This proved the
commencement of a diplomatic career, for which he was
thought qualified by his extensive knowledge and accomplishments, and the address with which he retained the
good opinion of Frederic II. During the war for the succession of Bavaria, he acted as intermediate agent between
the king of Prussia and the old electorate court, and between the army of Frederic and that of Prince Henry.
After having been engaged in this office for twelve years,
he was sent as ambassador, in 1787, to the court of France.
In 1788 he was sent, in the same capacity, to Holland and
in 1789 to England. In 1790 he was recalled from the
latter, and appointed minister for foreign affairs, and his
zeal and activity rendered him highly acceptable in the
court of Berlin. During his administration he founded
several benevolent establishments. He died at Berlin in
1802. As a writer he is known by a historical work entitled “Essai d‘un tableau chronologique des evenements
cle la guerre, depuis la pair de Munster, jusqu’a celle de.
Hubertsbourg,
” Berlin,
published, for it was not printed till the year 1616. He died before this, but the exact time is not known. The editor of the Dictiounaire Historique places his death
lived in the latter end of the
sixteenth, and beginning of the seventeenth centuries, and
acquired in his own time considerable fame upon account
of his learning, and some portion of the spirit of literary
research. He was the son of a surgeon, but became a
great favourite in the courts of Charles IX. of France, and
his brother Henry III. and was gradually advanced to offices of high trust in the state. From his childhood, he
said, he had been always fond of looking into old libraries,
and turning over dusty manuscripts. In some of these researches he laid his hands on the letters of Abelard and
Heloise, which he read with much pleasure, and was induced to pursue his inquiries. He found other works of
the same author; but they were ill-written, and not to be
unravelled without great labour, yet nothing can withstand
the indefatigable toil of a true antiquary. Amboise procured other manuscripts; collated them together, and
finally produced one fair copy, which made ample compensation, he says, for all the labour he had endured.
Even posterity, he thinks, will be grateful to him, and
know how to value the pleasure and the profit, they will
derive from his researches. Not satisfied, however, with
the copy he possessed, he still wished to enlarge it. He
applied to different monasteries, and he again searched the
libraries in Paris, and not without success. His friends
applauded his zeal, and gave him their assistance. His
manuscripts swelled to a large bulk, and he read, arranged,
and selected what pleased him best. The rising sun, he
says, often found him at his task. So far fortune had
smiled upon his labours, but somewhat was wanting to give
them the last finish. He went over to the Paraclet, where the
abbess, Madame de Rochefoucauld, received him with the
greatest politeness. He declared the motive of his journey;
she took him by the hand, and led him to the tomb of
Abelard and Heloise. Together they examined the library
of the abbey, and she shewed him many hymns, and
prayers, and homilies, written by their founder, which were
still used in their church. Amboise then returned to Paris,
and prepared his work for the press. As the reputation of
his author, he knew, had been much aspersed by some
contemporary writers, he wished to remove the undeserved
stigma, and to present him as immaculate as might be, before the eyes of a more discerning age. With this view
he wrote a long “Apologetic preface,
” which he meant
should be prefixed to the work. In this preface, an inelegant and affected composition, he labours much to shew
that Abelard was the greatest and best man, and Heloise
the greatest and best woman, whom the annals of human
kind had recorded. He first, very fairly, brings the testimony of those, who had spoken evil of them, whom he endeavours to combat and refute. To these succeeds a list
of their admirers. He dwells on their every word, and
gives more weight to their expressions, and the result is
what we might expect from the pen of Amboise. The compilation, however, although unsuccessful in its main design, contains. some curious matter, and may be read with,
pleasure. But he did not live to see it published, for it was
not printed till the year 1616. He died before this, but
the exact time is not known. The editor of the Dictiounaire Historique places his death in 1620, which must be a
mistake. His works are, 1. “Notable Discours, en forme
de dialogue, touchant la vraie et parfaicte amitie,
” translated from the Italian of Piccolomini, Lyons, 1577, 16mo.
2. “Dialogue et Devis des Damoiselles, pour les rendre
vertueuses et bienheureuses en la vraye et parfaicte amitie.
”
Paris, Regrets facetieux et
plaisantes Harangues funebres sur la mort de divers animaulx,
” from the Italian of Ortensio Lando, Paris, Les Neapolitaines,
” a French comedy,
Paris, Desesperades, ou Eglogues amourouses,
” Paris, Holophernes,
” printed at Paris,
lished a Latin oration on the election of Joseph II. to be king of the Romans; but he is principally known for the “Museum Kicheranum,” in 2 vols. folio, 1765. The care
, an eminent Italian scholar, was born at Florence, June 13, 1713, and died at Rome
in 1788, where he had been professor of eloquence for
thirty years with great reputation. Most of the present
Italian literati are indebted to him for their taste for study
and the happy manner in which he taught them to employ
their talents. He published a “Translation of Virgil into
blank verse,
” of which the edition printed at Rome, 3 vols.
fol. 1763, a most superb book, is very scarce: he translated likewise some of the tragedies of Voltaire, Florence,
1752, and a selection of Cicero’s epistles; he published
a Latin oration on the election of Joseph II. to be king of
the Romans; but he is principally known for the “Museum Kicheranum,
” in 2 vols. folio, 1765. The care of
this valuable museum was long confided to him, and he
prevailed upon the learned cardinal De Zelada to enrich it
by his collections. He left in manuscript, a Latin poem
on the cultivation of the lemon-tree. One other publication remains to be noticed; his translation of the Jesuit
Noceti’s two poems on the Iris and the Aurora Borealis,
which were printed in the same magnificent manner with
his Virgil.
aking his way, he was apprehended by the guards, and confined until the emperor’s pleasure should be known, without which no subject could leave his office. Valentinian
Ambrose, in the greatest astonishment, endeavoured to refuse the offer, and afterwards took some measures of an extraordinary, and certainly unjustifiable nature, to evade the office. By exercising unnecessary seventy on some malefactors, he endeavoured to give the people a notion of his savage aild unchristian temper; and by encouraging strumpets to come to his house, he thought to obtain the character of a man of loose life. This singular species of hypocrisy, however, was easily detected. He had then no other means left to prove his repugnance to the profered office of bishop, than by retiring from Milan; but, mistaking his way, he was apprehended by the guards, and confined until the emperor’s pleasure should be known, without which no subject could leave his office. Valentinian immediately consented; but Ambrose again made his escape, and did not return until it was declared criminal to conceal him. He then, with great reluctance, entered upon his new office, in the thirty-fourth year of his age.
He had an adopted son, Justin Hesychius, to whom he left his writings. The time of his death is not known.
, an eclectic philosopher of the third century, was a native of Tuscany, and the contemporary of Porphyry, and studied the principles of the Stoic philosophy under Lysimachus. He became afterwards acquainted with the writings of Numenius, and from him learned and adopted the dogmas of Plato, but at last, about the year 246, became the disciple of Plotinus. For twenty-four years he associated with this master, and probably never would have quitted him, if Plotinus, on account of his health, had not been obliged to go to Campania. Amelius then settled at Apamea in Syria, and it was no doubt his long residence here which led Suidas into the mistake that he was a native of the place. The word Amelius in Greek signifies negligent, but no epithet could ever be worse applied than to him. Porphyry therefore tells us that he preferred being called Amerius, and he is accordingly recorded under this name by Eunapius in his lives of the Greek sophists. His disciples also bestowed on him the title of noble. He wrote nearly an hundred treatises, none of which have descended to our times. One of them was a discussion on the difference between the doctrines of Numenius and Plotinus. Eusebius, Theodoret, and St. Cyril, quote a passage from Amelius in which he brings the beginning of the Gospel of St. John in confirmation of the doctrine of Plato on the divine nature. He had an adopted son, Justin Hesychius, to whom he left his writings. The time of his death is not known.
, that he did all in his power to injure them. They had finished a translation of the New Testament, known by the name of the Mons New Testament, and were desirous to
, a celebrated French writer, was
born at Saintonge in 1606. He maintained a close correspondence with the Fathers of the Oratory, a congregation
of priests founded by Philip of Neri. He wrote the “Life
of Charles de Gondren,
” second superior of this congregation, and published it at Paris in 1643. In this piece he
introduced a passage respecting the famous abbé de St.
Cyran, which greatly displeased the gentlemen of Port
Royal; who, out of revenge, published a pamphlet
against him, entitled “Idee generate de l'esprit et du livre
de pere Arnelot,
” and he was so much provoked by this satire, that he did all in his power to injure them. They had
finished a translation of the New Testament, known by the
name of the Mons New Testament, and were desirous to
have it published, for which purpose they endeavoured to
procure an approbation from the doctors of the Sorbonne,
and a privilege from the king. They had some friends m
the Sorbonne, but at the same time very powerful enemies,
and as to the privilege, it was impossible to prevail with,
the chancellor Seguier to grant them one, as he hated them;
so that father Amelotte, whose advice the chancellor generally followed in matters of religion, easily thwarted all
their measures, not only out of zeal for what he thought the
true doctrine, or out of aversion to the Port Royalists, but
also from a view to his own interest; for he was about to
publish a translation of his own of the New Testament,
which, accordingly, with annotations, in four volumes 8vo,
was printed in the years 1666, 1667, and 1668, but, according to F. Simon, it contains some very gross blunders. It
was dedicated to M. de Perefixe, archbishop of Paris, whom
he addresses in these words: “You will be confirmed in
that zeal which obliged you to take up the holy arms to
defend the true grace of God, and the decrees of the holy
see, against the new heresy: you will daily strengthen
yourself against these blind rebels, whose fury, impostures, and calumnies, add new splendour to your glory,
which they endeavour to blemish. They place you in the
same rank with the Athanasiuses and Hilaries, when they
abuse you in the same manner as the Arians did those
great and holy bishops.
” In this translation he endeavoured to find expressions more proper and elegant than
those of the former versions for which reason he committed his work into Mr. Conrart’s hands, to polish and correct whatever he should judge inelegant or improper.
Amelotte wrote also an “Abridgment of Divinity,
” a
“Catechism for the Jubilee,
” and a kind of “Christian
Manual for every day, (Journee Chretienne.)
” Though he
had always been a very zealous Anti-Port-Royalist, yet he
was but poorly rewarded for all his labour and trouble,
since towards the end of his life he sued for a very small
bishopric, that of Sarlat, and met with a refusal, though
he had all the qualities requisite to a bishop. He could
not forbear complaining of this usage to his friends; telling
them that those, whom he had often served effectually, had
been very cold to him on this occasion. He entered into
the congregation of the Oratory in 1650, and continued
amongst them till his death, which happened at Paris,
Oct. 7, 1673. His dedication to M. Perefixe was suppressed after his death and the death of Perefixe, and one of
a different cast substituted by M. de Harlay, in the edition
of 1688, 2 vols. 4to, and the work has been often reprinted
with and without notes. The chief objection made to him,
on the score of veracity, is that he boasted of having consulted all the manuscripts of Europe, which he afterwards
confessed he had not seen; but it is answered, that although
he had not seen these manuscripts, he took great pains in
procuring transcripts of their various readings.
506, he published the first edition of the works of St. Augustine, corrected by himself, with a type known long by the name of the St. Augustine type. He began also the
, a learned printer of the fifteenth
century, was born at Rutlingen, in Suabia, and settled at
Basil. He was the first who made use of the round type,
instead of the Italic and Gothic. In 1506, he published
the first edition of the works of St. Augustine, corrected by
himself, with a type known long by the name of the St.
Augustine type. He began also the works of St. Jerome;
but his death, which took place in 1515, prevented his
finishing them, and he left them to the care of his sons, by
whom they were published. All his editions are valued
for their accuracy. Boniface, his eldest son, who died in
1562, was for thirty years law professor at Basil, five times
rector of the university, and went through the different
offices of magistracy with the reputation of a man of great
integrity. In 1659, was printed at Basil, 4to, the “Bibliotheca Amerbachiana,
” a scarce work, which throws considerable light on the history of printing, and mentions many
early editions omitted in our largest catalogues. Erasmus
and Boniface Amerbach contributed to this Bibliotheca.
Boniface had a son Basil, also a man of learning, syndic of
the city, and rector of the university. He contributed much
to the cabinet of pictures, and medals, and to the library
which his father had founded. He founded likewise some
charitable establishments, and a new professorship in the
university, called the Amerbachian.
ieces, epigrams, epitaphs. His philosophical works “De Anima, de philosophia naturali, &c.” are less known; but a list of them may be seen in Teissier’s Essays, vol. I.
was born at Wedinguen in Bavaria, and studied law, philosophy, and divinity, at Wittemberg, where he professed to be a follower of Luther;
but on returning to his own country, he became a Roman
catholic, and professor of philosophy at Ingoldstadt, where
he died in 1557, at the age of 70. He translated into Latin the orations of Isocrates and Demosthenes; the treatise
of St. Chrysostom on Providence, and that of Epiphamus
on the catholic faith. He published also commentaries on
Cicero’s Offices, on the poems of Pythagoras and Phocyllides, on the Tristia of Ovid, and Horace “De arte
poetica.
” To much learning he added a considerable talent for
poetry, in which he left various small pieces, epigrams, epitaphs. His philosophical works “De Anima, de philosophia naturali, &c.
” are less known; but a list of them
may be seen in Teissier’s Essays, vol. I.
, a painter well known in England, was a native of Venice, and came to England in 1729,
, a painter well known in England, was a native of Venice, and came to England in 1729, when he was about forty years of age. He had studied under Bellucci in the Palatine court, and had been some years in the elector of Bavaria’s service. His manner was a still fainter imitation of that nerveless master Sebastian Ricci, and as void of the glow of life as the Neapolitan Solimeni. His women are mere chalk; nor was this his worst defect: his figures are so entirely without expression, that his historical compositions seem to represent a set of actors in a tragedy, ranged in attitudes against the curtain draws up. His Marc Antonys are as free from passion as his Scipios. He painted some staircases of noblemen’s houses, and afterwards practised portrait-painting with rather more success. In 1736 he made a journey to Paris with the celebrated singer Farinelli, and returned with him in October following. His portrait of Farinelli was engraved. He then engaged with Wagner, an engraver, in a scheme of prints from Canaletti’s views of Venice, and after marrying an Italian singer, returned to his own country in 1739, having acquired here about 5000l. At last he settled in Spain, was appointed painter to the,king, and died in the 63d year of his age, at Madrid, September 1752. His daughters, the signora Belluomini and the signora Castellini, the latter a paintress in crayons, were living at Madrid in 1772, as Mr. Twiss informs us in, his Travels, p. 167, 1775, 4to.
that he forsook the Gospel, and returned to Gentilism, yet the testimony of Eusebius, who must have known the fact, proves that he continued a Christian all his days.
, surnamed Saccas, one of the most celebrated philosophers of his age, was born in Alexandria, and flourished about the beginning of the third century. His history and his opinions have been the subject of much dispute among modern writers, to some of whom we shall refer at the close of this article, after stating what appears to be the probable account. In the third century, Alexandria was the most renowned seminary of learning. A set of philosophers appeared there who called themselves Eclectics, because, without tying themselves down to any one set of rules, they chose what they thought most agreeable to truth from different masters and sects. Their pretensions were specious, and they preserved the appearance of candour, moderation, and dispassionate inquiry, in words and declarations, as their successors, the modern free-thinkers, have since done. Ammonius Saccas seems to have reduced the opinions of these Eclectics to a system. Plato was his principal guide; but he invented many things of which Plato never dreamed. What his religious profession was, is disputed among the learned. Undoubtedly he was educated a Christian; and although Porphyry, in his enmity against Christianity, observes that he forsook the Gospel, and returned to Gentilism, yet the testimony of Eusebius, who must have known the fact, proves that he continued a Christian all his days. His tracts on the agreement of Moses and Jesus, and his harmony of the four gospels, demonstrate that he desired to be considered as a Christian. His opinion, however, was, that all religions, vulgar and philosophical, Grecian and barbarous, Jewish and Gentile, meant the same thing at bottom. He undertook, by allegorizing and subtilizing various fables and systems, to make up a coalition of all sects and religions; and from his labours, continued by his disciples, some of whose works still remain, his followers were taught to look on Jew, philosopher, vulgar Pagan, and Christian, as all of the same creed. Longinus and Plotinus appear to have been the disciples of Ammonius, who is supposed to have died about the year 243. His history and principles are discussed by Dr. Lardner, in his Credibility, and by Mosheim in his history, the translator of which differs from Dr. Lardner in toto, and has been in this respect followed by Milner in his Church History recently published.
. It has been conjectured that he was bred to some branch of the profession of physic, but it is not known that he ever followed that or any other profession. About 1757
, esq. the son of counsellor Amory, who attended king William in Ireland, and was appointed secretary for the forfeited estates in that kingdom, where he was possessed of a very extensive property in the county of Clare. Our author was not born in Ireland, as it has been suggested. It has been conjectured that he was bred to some branch of the profession of physic, but it is not known that he ever followed that or any other profession. About 1757 he lived in a very recluse way on a small fortune, and his residence was in Orchard street, Westminster. At that time also he had a country lodging for occasional retirement in the summer, at Belfont, near Hounslow. He had then a wife, who bore a very respectable character, and by whom he had a son, who practised many years as a physician in the north of England. On the same authority we are tpld, that he was a man of a very peculiar look and aspect, though at the same time he bore quite the appearance of a gentleman. He read much, and scarce ever stirred abroad; but in the dusk of the evening would take his usual walk, and seemed always to be ruminating on speculative subjects, even when passing along the most crowded streets.
enjoyed. The dean was proud beyond all other mortals I have seen, and quite another man when he was known.
“As to the dean, we have four histories of him, lately published: to wit, by lord Orrery, the Observer on lord Orrery, Deane Swift, esq. and Mrs. Pilkington; but after all the man is not described. The ingenious female writer comes nearest to his character, so far as she relates; but her relation is an imperfect piece. My lord and the remarker on his lordship have given us mere critiques on his writings, and not so satisfactory as one could wish. They are not painters. And as to Mr. Swift, the dean’s cousin, his essay is an odd kind of history of the doctor’s family, and vindication of the dean’s high birth, pride, and proceedings. His true character is not attempted by this writer. He says it never can be drawn up with any degree of accuracy, so exceedingly strange, various, and perplexed it was; and yet the materials are to be gathered from his writings. All this I deny. I think I can draw his character; not from his writings, but from my own near observations on the man. I knew him well, though I never was within-side of his house; because I could not flatter, cringe, or meanly humour the extravagancies of any man. I am sure I knew him better than any of those friends he entertained twice a week at the deanery, Stella excepted. I had him often to myself in his rides and walks, and have studied his soul when he little thought what I was about. As I lodged for a year within a few doors of him, I knew his times of going out to a minute, and generally nicked the opportunity. He was fond of company upon these occasions; and glad to have any rational person to talk to: for, whatever was the meaning of it, he rarely had any of his friends attending him at his exercises. One servant only and no companion he had with him, as often as I have met him, or came up with him. What gave me the easier access to him, was my being tolerably well acquainted with our politics and history, and knowing many places, things, people and parties, civil and religious, of his beloved England. Upon this account he was glad I joined him. We talked generally of factions and religion, states and revolutions, leaders and parties. Sometimes we had other subjects. Who I was he never knew; nor did I seem to know he was the dean for a long time; not till one Sunday evening that his verger put me into his seat at St. Patrick’s prayers, without my knowing the doctor sat there. Then I was obliged to recognize the great man, and seemed in a very great surprise. This pretended ignorance of mine as to the person of the dean had giverr me an opportunity of discoursing more freely with, and of receiving more information from the doctor than otherwise I could have enjoyed. The dean was proud beyond all other mortals I have seen, and quite another man when he was known.
any; but it must be to those who are not acquainted with me. I was so far from having a vanity to be known to Dr. Swift, or to be seen among the fortunate at his house
“This may appear strange to many; but it must be to those who are not acquainted with me. I was so far from having a vanity to be known to Dr. Swift, or to be seen among the fortunate at his house (as I have heard those who met there called), that I am sure it would not have been in the power of any person of consideration to get me there. What I wanted in relation to the dean I had. This was enough for me. I desired no more of him. I was enabled by the means related to know the excellencies and the defects of his understanding; and the picture I have drawn of his mind, you shall see in the appendix aforenamed; with some remarks on his writings, and on the cases of Vanessa and Stella.
, an advocate in the parliament of Aix, who died in 1760, is known by some works in natural science: 1. “Observations experimentales
, an advocate in the parliament of Aix, who
died in 1760, is known by some works in natural science:
1. “Observations experimentales sur les eaux des rivieres
de Seine, de Marne, c.
” Nouvelles
fontaines filtrantes,
” Reflexions sur les
vaisseaux de cuivre, de plomb, et d'etain,
”
By what means he was educated is not certainly known, but he studied philosophy at Paris in the colUge of the cardinal
By what means he was educated is not certainly known,
but he studied philosophy at Paris in the colUge of the
cardinal ie Moine, and although naturallyof slow capacity,
his uncommon diligence enabled him to accumulate a large
stock of classical and general knowledge. Having taken
the degree of master of arts at nineteen, he pursued his
studies under the royal professors established by Francis I.
viz. James Tusen, who explained the Greek poets; Peter
Dones, professor of rhetoric; and Oronce Fine, professor
of mathematics. He left Paris at the age of twenty-three,
and went to Bourges with the sieur Colin, who had the
abbey of St. Ambrose in that city. At the recommendation
of this abbot, a secretary of state took Amyot into his
house, to be tutor to his children. The great improvements they made under his direction induced the secretary to recommend him to the princess Margaret duchess
of Berry, only sister of Francis I.; and by means of this
recommendation Amyot was made public professor of Greek
and Latin in the university of Bourges: he read two lectures a day for ten years; a Latin lecture in the morning,
and a Greek one in the afternoon. It was during this time
he translated into French the “Amours of Theagenes and
Chariclea,
” with which Francis I. was so pleased, that he
conferred upon him the abbey of Bellosane. The death of
this prince happening soon after, Amyot thought it would
be better to try his fortune elsewhere, than to expect any
preferment at the court of France; he therefore accompanied Morvillier to Venice, on his embassy from Henry II.
to that republic. When Morvillier was recalled from his
embassy, Amyot would not repass the Alps with him;
choosing rather to go to Rome, where he was kindly received by the bishop of Mirepoix, at whose house he lived
two years. It was here that, looking over the manuscripts
of the Vatican, he discovered that Heliodorus, bishop of
Tricca, was the author of the Amours of Theagenes; and
finding also a manuscript more correct and complete than,
that which he had translated, he was enabled to give a
better edition of this work. His labours, however, in this
way, did not engage him so as to divert him from improving his situation, and he insinuated himself so far into
the favour of cardinal de Tournon, that his eminence recommended him to the king, to be preceptor to his two
younger sons. While he was in this employment he finished his translation of “Plutarch’s Lives,
” which he dedicated to the king; and afterwards undertook that of “Plutarch’s Morals,
” which he finished in the reign of Charles
IX. and dedicated to that prince. Charles conferred upon
him the abbey of St. Cornelius de, Compeigne, although
much against the inclination of the queen, who had another
person in her eye; and he also made him grand almoner of
France and bishop of Auxerre; and the place of grand
almoner and that of curator of the university of Paris happening to be vacant at the same time, he was also invested
in both these employments, of which Thuanus complains.
Henry III. perhaps would have yielded to the pressing solicitations of the bishop of St. Flour, who had attended him
on his journey into Poland, and made great interest for
the post of grand almoner; but the duchess of Savoy, the
king’s aunt, recommended Amyot so earnestly to him, when
he passed through Turin, on his return from Poland, that
he was not only continued in his employment, but a new
honour was added to it for his sake: for when Henry III.
named Amyot commander of the order oiF the Holy Ghost,
he decreed at the same time, as a mark of respect to him,
that all the grand almoners of France should be of course
commanders of that order. Amyot did not neglect his
studies in the midst of his honours, but revised all his translations with great care, compared them with the Greek
text, and altered many passages: he designed to give a
more complete edition of them, with the various readings
of divers manuscripts, but died before he had finished that
work. He died the 6th of February, 1593, in the 79th
year of his age.
rtune to meet with two manuscripts, which he compared with scrupulous care. These were the only Mss. known for a long period; but as Stephens, who some time before his
The editions of Anacreon are too nurqerous to be specified here. They were printed for the first time by Henry Stephens, Paris, 1554, 4to, who had found the eleventh ode on the cover of an old book. Until then we had nothing of Anacreon but what was in Aulus Gellius, or the Anthology. Stephens, however, had the good fortune to meet with two manuscripts, which he compared with scrupulous care. These were the only Mss. known for a long period; but as Stephens, who some time before his death fell into mental decay, neglected to communicate to any person where they were, they are supposed to have been destroyed with many other valuable originals. This circumstance was the cause of some suspicion attaching to the Editio Princeps as deficient in authenticity. It was, however, generally followed in the subsequent editions, of which those of Madame Dacier and Barnes were long esteemed the best. But the most singular and magnificent edition of modern times is that of Joseph Spaletti, which was printed at Rome in 1781, in imperial quarto, with 35 fine plates, exclusive of 16 plates m fac-simile. In the preface, the editor remarks, that some hyper-critics, as Le Fevre, Dacier, and Baxter, had doubted the authenticity of Anacreon: and that Cornelius Pau had even suspected his odes to have been productions of the sixteenth century. To confute this, Spaletti now published the poems of Anaereon mfac-simile, from a ms. in the Vatican, of the tenth century, as is palpable, from its calligraphy, to any person acquainted with Greek archaeology. The Latin translation by Spaletti is said to be much more accurate than any other. There are many English translations of Anacreon, who has ever been a favourite with young poets. Cowley is thought to have been the first successful translator. The French also have many translations, and some of them faithful and spirited.
ikewise many years minister of the Scotch Presbyterian church in Swallowstreet, Piccadilly, and well known among the people of that persuasion resident in London by the
, a native of Scotland, was brother
to the rev. James Anderson, D.D. editor of the “Royal
Genealogies,
” and of “The Constitutions of the Free Masons,
” to whom he was chaplain. He was likewise many
years minister of the Scotch Presbyterian church in Swallowstreet, Piccadilly, and well known among the people of
that persuasion resident in London by the name of bishop
Anderson, a learned but imprudent man, who lost a considerable part of his property in the fatal year 1720. His
brother Adam, the subject of this article, was for 40 years
a. clerk in the South Sea house, and at length was appointed chief clerk of the stock and new annuities, which
office he retained till his death. He was appointed one of
the trustees for establishing the colony of Georgia in
America, by charter dated June 9, 5 Geo. II. He was also
one of the court of assistants of the Scots’ corporation in
London. He published his “Historical and Chronological
deduction of Trade and Commerce,
” a work replete with
useful information, in
ame, and dated it from Weston, it happened to fall under the inspection of Mr. Bonnycastle, the well- known author of various mathematical and astronomical works, and now
, a young man of extraordinary talents, was born at Weston, a village near Aylesbury, in Buckinghamshire, in Nov. 1760. His father was a peasant of the lower order, who died when his son was young, leaving him to the care of providence: from his mother and an elder brother he received some little instruction, and particularly by the latter he was taught the rudiments of arithmetic. His chief occupation, however, was in the field, where his family were obliged to procure a subsistence, and here, like his predecessor in early fortune, James Ferguson, he became enamoured of mathematical science, and devoted what hours he could spare to this study, although with disadvantages which in most men would have prevented the attempt, or interrupted the progress. Yet such was his application, that in 1777, he transmitted to the London Magazine the solution of some problems which had appeared in that work, and he had the satisfaction to see his letter admitted. As he had signed this letter with his name, and dated it from Weston, it happened to fall under the inspection of Mr. Bonnycastle, the well-known author of various mathematical and astronomical works, and now mathematical master to the Royal Academy, Woolwich, who was not less pleased than surprised at this attempt of a young man from the sama county with himself, of whom he had never heard. Mr. Bonnycastle, accordingly, on his next visit in Buckinghamshire, procured an interview with the young genius, whom he found threshing in a barn, the walls of which were covered with triangles and parallelograms. Such was young Anderson’s bashfulness, however, that Mr. Bonnycastle could not draw him into conversation, until he won hfs heart by the loan of Simpson’s Fluxions, and two or threeother books.
esired to be considered as the author; a circumstance the more singular, as his sentiments were well known to be directly opposite: but his conduct in this case proceeded
Among other papers in the Bee was a series of Essays on the Political Progress of Great Britain. These having been published during the democratic rage which prevailed at Edinburgh, soon after the breaking out of the French revolution, the sheriff sent for Dr. Anderson, and demanded the name of the author. This he refused to give up, and desired to be considered as the author; a circumstance the more singular, as his sentiments were well known to be directly opposite: but his conduct in this case proceeded from his peculiar notions on the subject of literary secrecy; and as he had admitted those letters, he thought himself bound to take the blame upon himself. After a second and third application, he still refused; and when the printers were sent for, he charged them, in the face of the magistrates, not to give up the name of the author. Respect for his talents and character induced the magistrates to let the matter drop. The real author was a Mr. Callender, who died afterwards in America.
the preceding theologian, and left a son Dihgo, who died in 1660, at the age of eighty-four, and is known in Portugal as the author of a poem on the siege of Chaoul,
, historiographer to Philip III.
king of Spain, wrote the history of John III. king of Portugal: this work, in the Portuguese tongue, was published
at Lisbon in 1525, 4to. He was brother to the preceding
theologian, and left a son Dihgo, who died in 1660, at
the age of eighty-four, and is known in Portugal as the
author of a poem on the siege of Chaoul, and by an “
Exanimation of the antiquities of Portugal,
” 4to; which is a
criticism on Bernard Brito’s “Portuguese monarchy.
”
He also published in Casamento
perfecto,
” or the perfect marriage.
dared not venture to attend upon the philosophical lectures of Tobias Andreas, for fear it should be known in his own country, and be an obstacle to his promotion to the
His friendship for Des Cartes was occasioned by the
law-suit against Martin Schoockius, professor of philosophy
at Groningen. This professor was prosecuted by Mr. Des
Cartes, for having accused him publicly of Atheism.
Though Mr. Des Cartes had never seen our Andreas but
once in his life, yet he recommended this affair to him,
from the attachment which he professed. Mr. De la
Thuillerie, ambassador of France, and the friends of Mr.
Des Cartes, exerted themselves on one side, and the enemies of Voetius at Groningen on the other; and by this
'means Mr. Des Cartes obtained justice. His accuser
acknowledged him to be innocent of his charge, but was
allowed to escape without punishment. He also wrote in
defence of him against a professor of Leyden, whose name
was Revius, and published a vigorous answer to him in
1653, entitled “Methodi Cartesianae Assertio, opposita
Jacobi Revii, Pracf. Methodi Cartesianse considerationi
Theologicae.
” The second part of this answer appeared
the year following. He wrote, likewise, in 1653, in defence of the remarks of Mr. Des Cartes upon a Programma,
which contained an explication of the human mind. He
taught the Cartesian philosophy in his own house, though
his professorship did not oblige him to that, and even whe
his age had quite weakened him. Such were the prejudices of that age, that Des Marets, who acquaints
us with these particulars, mentions a Swiss student,
who dared not venture to attend upon the philosophical
lectures of Tobias Andreas, for fear it should be known in
his own country, and be an obstacle to his promotion to
the ministry.
m; he succeeded in the mathematical chair, and he wrote lively and elegant verses; but he is chiefly known by “Essai sur le Beau,” of which a new edition was given in
, a French Jesuit, born May 22, 1675, at Chateaulin in the comte de
Cornouailles, the country which produced the pere
Ardouin, and pere Bougeant, and like them was received
into the order of Jesuits. He settled himself at Caen, in
the chair of professor regius of the mathematics, which
he filled from 1726 to 1759; when, having attained
the age of eighty-four, he found it necessary to seek repose. His laborious life was terminated Feb. 26, 1764.
Nature had endowed him with a happy constitution, and
he preserved it unimpaired by the regularity of his life,
and the gaiety of his temper. No species of literature
was foreign to him; he succeeded in the mathematical
chair, and he wrote lively and elegant verses; but he is
chiefly known by “Essai sur le Beau,
” of which a new
edition was given in the collection of his works in 1766,
5 vols. 12mo, edited by the abbé Guyot. It is composed with order and taste, has novelty in its subject, dignity in its style, and force enough in its argument. Much
esteem is bestowed on his “Traitesur PHomme,
” in which
he philosophises concerning the union of the soul with the
body, in a manner which made him be suspected of an
innovating spirit. He was a great, admirer of Mallebranche,
and corresponded with, him for many years.
The works of this learned prelate, which are now best known, are, 1. “A volume of Sermons,” London, 1628, and 1631, folio,
The works of this learned prelate, which are now best
known, are, 1. “A volume of Sermons,
” London, The Moral Law expounded, or Lectures on
the Ten Commandments, with nineteen Sermons on
prayer,
” Collection of posthumous and
orphan Lectures delivered at St. Paul’s and St. Giles’s,
”
London, Manual of Devotions,
” Gr. and Lat. often reprinted,
and translated by dean Stanhope, 12mo; and several Concidnes ad Clerum, or other occasional sermons preached
before the university, and at court “Responsio ad Apologiam Cardinalis Beliannini, &c.
” Theological determinations on Usury, Tythes.
” “Responsiones ad
Petri Molinsei Epistolas tres.
” “Stricturae, or a brief
Answer to the eighteenth chapter of the first booke of cardinal! Perron’s Reply, written in French to king James his
Answer written by Mr. Casaubon in Latine.
” “An Answer to
the twentieth chapter of the fifth book of cardinal Perron’s
Reply, written in French to king James his Answer, written by Mr. Casaubon to the cardinal! in Latine.
” “A Speech
delivered in the Starr-chamber against the two Judaicall opinions of Mr. Traske.
” The two Judaical opinions advanced
by Mr. Traske were, 1. That Christians are bound to abstain from those meats, which the Jews were forbidden in
Leviticus. 2. That they are bound to observe the Jewish
Sabbath. “A Speech delivered in the Starr-Chamber concerning Vowes, in thecountesseof Shrewesburiescase.
” This
lady was convicted of disobedience, for refusing to answer
or be examined, (though she had promised to do it before),
alleging, that she had made a solemn vow to the contrary.
The design of the bishop’s speech is to shew, that such
vows were unlawful, and consequently of no force or obligation upon her. These pieces were printed after the
author’s death at London by Felix Kyngston, in 1629, 4to,
and dedicated to king Charles I. by Dr. William Laud
bishop of London, and Dr. John Buckridge bishop of Ely.
time of Cicero, 69 years before the Christian aera. He was the first who made the works of Aristotle known at Rome, which Sylla had brought thither. He had formerly been
, of Rhodes, a peripatetic philosopher,
lived at Rome in the time of Cicero, 69 years before the
Christian aera. He was the first who made the works of
Aristotle known at Rome, which Sylla had brought thither.
He had formerly been a professor of philosophy at Athens,
but quitted it when the taste for philosophy departed from
that city. There is a workj of doubtful authority, ascribed
to him, entitled “Andronici Rhodii et Ethicorum Nichomacheorum Paraphrasis,
” Greek and Latin, Cambridge,
cum notis variorum.
” There is, however, a Leyden
edition of 1617, which is reckoned more correct. St. Croix,
in his “Examen des Historiens d'Alexandre,
” says that
there is a manuscript in the imperial library of Paris, which
ascribes this work to Heliodorus of Pruza.
hen the persecution arose he left France, and died in some foreign country, but where or when is not known. Androuet is not more distinguished for the practice, than the
, an eminent
French architect, was born at Orleans, or, according to
some, at Paris, in the sixteenth century. Cardinal d'Armagnac was among the first who patronised him, and furnished him with money for the expences of his studies in
Italy. The triumphal arch, which still remains at Pola in
Istria, was so much admired by him, that he introduced
an imitation of it in all his arches. He began the Pont
Neuf, at Paris, May 30, 1578, by order of Henry III. but
the civil wars prevented his finishing that great work, which
was reserved for William Marchand, in the reign of Henry
IV. 1604. Androuet, however, built the hotels of Carnavalet, Fermes, Bretonvilliers, Sully, Mayenne, and other
palaces in Paris. In 1596, he was employed by Henry IV.
to continue the gallery of the Louvre, which had been begun by order of Charles XL but this work he was qbliged
to quit on account of his religion. He was a zealous protestant, of the Calvinistic church, and when the persecution arose he left France, and died in some foreign country, but where or when is not known. Androuet is not
more distinguished for the practice, than the theory of his
art. He wrote, 1. “Livre d' Architecture, contenant les
plans et dessins de cinquante Batiments, tons differents,
”
Second livre d' Architecture,
”
a continuation of the former, Les plus excellents Batirnents de France,
” Livre d' Architecture auquel sont contenues diverses ordonnances de
plans et elevations de Batiments pour seigneurs et autres
qui voudront batir aux champs,
” Les Edifices Remains,
” a collection of engravings of the antiquities of Rome, from designs made on the spot, 1583, fol.
6. “Lesons de Perspective,
”
s by teaching a few pupils. He was at length a professor in that college; and, in 1687, became first known to the literary world by a translation of Pacatus’ panegyric
, surnamed Bois-Regard,a French
physician and medical writer, was born at Lyons in 1658,
and came to Paris without any provision, but defrayed the
expences of his philosophical studies in the college of
the Grassins by teaching a few pupils. He was at length
a professor in that college; and, in 1687, became first
known to the literary world by a translation of Pacatus’
panegyric on Theodosius the Great. Quitting theology,
however, to which he had hitherto applied, he turned to
the study of medicine, received his doctor’s degree at
Rheims, and in 1697 was admitted of the faculty at Paris.
Some share of merit, and a turn for intrigue, contributed
greatly to his success, and he became professor of the
Royal College, censor, and a contributor to the Journal
des Savants; and, although there were strong prejudices
against him on account of the manner in which he contrived
to rise; and his satirical humour, which spared neither
friend or foe, he was in 1724, chosen dean of the faculty.
His first measures in this office were entitled to praise;
convinced of the superiority of talent which the practice of
physic requires, he reserved to the faculty that right of
inspecting the practice of surgery, which they had always
enjoyed, and made a law that no surgeon should perform
the operation of lithotomy, unless in the presence of a
physician. After this he wished to domineer over the faculty itself, and endeavoured to appoint his friend Helvetius to be first physician to the king, and protector of
the faculty. But these and other ambitious attempts were
defeated in 1726, when it was decided, that all the decrees
of the faculty should be signed by a majority, and not be
liable to any alteration by the dean. After this he was
perpetually engaged in disputes with some of the members,
particularly Hecquet, Lemery, and Petit, and many abusive
pamphlets arose from these contests. Andry, however,
was not re-elected dean, and had only to comfort himself
Vy some libels against his successor Geoffroy, for which,
and his general turbulent character, cardinal* Fleury
would no longer listen to him, but took the part of the
university and the faculty. Andry died May 13, 1742,
aged eighty-four. His works were very numerous, and
many of them valuable: 1. “Traite de la generation des
Vers dans le corps de I'homme,
” Traite des Aliments;
” and by
Valisnieri, who fixed on him the nickname of Homo venniculosus, as he pretended to find worms at the bottom of
every disorder. Andry answered these attacks in a publication entitled “Eclaircissements sur le livre de generation, &c.
” 2. “Remarques de medicine sur differents
sujets, principalement sur ce qui regard e la Saignee et la
Purgation,
” Paris, Le Regime du
Careme,
” Paris, 1710, 12mo, reprinted 1713, 2 vols. and
afterwards in three, in answer to the opinions of Hecqnet.
4. “Thé de l'Europe, ou les proprietes de la veronique,
”
Paris, Examen de difFerents points
d' Anatomic, &c,
” Paris, Remarques de chemie touchant la preparation de certains remedes,
” Paris, Chimie medicale.
”
7. “Cleon a Eudoxe, touchant la pre-eminence de la
Medicine sur la Chirurgie.
” Paris, Orthopedic; ou l'art de prevenir et de corriger, dans les
enfants, les Difformites du corps,
” Paris,
only of this, but of all other insupportable exactions formerly imposed. They made their grievances known to the viceroy by the public cries and lamentations of women
, commonly called Massaniello, one of the names introduced in biographical collections, although more properly belonging to history, was a fisherInan of Naples, and the author of a temporary revolution, which ended as such tumultuous measures generally end, without meliorating the state of the people who have been induced to take an active part in them. In 1623, when this man was born, the kingdom of Naples was subject to the house of Austria, and governed by a viceroy. The Neapolitans had supported the government in this house with great loyalty and liberality, and submitted themselves to many voluntary impositions and burthensome taxes in support of it. But in 1646, the necessities of the king requiring it, a new donative was projected, and a design was formed to lay a fresh tax upon fruits, comprehending 9,11 sorts, dry or green, as far as mulberries, grapes, figs, apples, pears, &c, The people, being thus deprived of their ordinary subsistence, took a resolution to disburden themselves, not only of this, but of all other insupportable exactions formerly imposed. They made their grievances known to the viceroy by the public cries and lamentations of women and children, as he passed through the market place, and petitioned him, by means of the cardinal Filomarino, the archbishop, and others, to take off the said tax. He promised to redress the grievance, and convened proper persons to find out some method to take off the tax on ifruits. But the farmers, because it was prejudicial to their interest, found some secret means to frustrate his endeavours, and dissuaded him from performing his promise to the people; representing to him, that all the clamour was made by a wretched rabble only, not worth regarding.
verses at the request of a noble lady, with whom he was in lov, he dreaded the consequences of being known as the author, and quitted Bologna. At Venice, whither he now
, an eminent Italian scholar and Latin poet, was born in 1517, at Barga in Tuscany, and thence surnamed, in Italian, Bargeo, and in Latin, Bargæus. He received his early education under an uncle, an able linguist, and was made acquainted with Greek and Latin when only ten years old. It was at first intended that he should study law at Bologna, but his taste for literature was decided, and when he found that his uncles would not maintain him there, if he continued to study the belles lettres, he sold his law books, and subsisted on what they produced, until a rich Bolognese, of the family of Pepoli, offered to defray the expence of his education. His poetical turn soon appeared, and while at the university, he formed the plan of his celebrated poem on the chase, but having written som satirical verses at the request of a noble lady, with whom he was in lov, he dreaded the consequences of being known as the author, and quitted Bologna. At Venice, whither he now repaired., he found an asylum with the French ambassador, who entertained him in his house for three years, and employed him to correct the Greek manuscripts, which Francis I. had ordered to be copied for the royal library at Paris. He afterwards accompanied another French ambassador to Constantinople, and with him made the tour of all the places in Asia Minor and Greece that are noticed in the works of the classics. In 1543 he was on board the fleet sent by the grand seignior to the environs of Nice, against the emperor, and commanded by the famous Barbarossa; and he was with the above ambassador at the siege of Nice by the French. After encountering other hardships of war, and fighting a duel, for which he was obliged to fly, he found means to return to Tuscany. At Florence he was attacked with a tertian ague, and thinking he could enjoy health and repose at Milan, to which place Aiphonso Davalos had invited him, he was preparing to set out, when he received news of the death of that illustrious Maecenas.
which was first published at Alcala in 1524, under the name of Igr.otus, as the author was not then known; and republished in the same manner at Lyons in 1588 and 1603.
,
commonly called Michael of Bologna, a Romish divine
of distinguished learning in the fourteenth century, was
born at Bologna in Italy, where he entered of the order of
the Carmelites; but studied afterwards in the university of
Paris, and there received the degree of doctor. In the
general chapter of his order, which was held at Ferrara
in 1354, in that of Bourdeaux in 1358, and in that of
Treves in 1362, he was named regent of the convent at
Paris. After arriving at other honours in the Romish church,
he fell under the displeasure of the pope Urban VI. and
retired to the convent of Bologna, where he wrote a great
many books, and where he died Nov. 16, 1400, according to father Lewis de Sainte Terese; or Dec. 1, 1416,
according to Trithemius and Du Pin. The editors of the
General Dictionary incline to the former date. Of his
works, there were published, “Super Sententias libri IV.
”
Milan, 1510; and Venice, 1632, fol. “Commentaria in
Psalmos,
” which was first published at Alcala in
ontracted by his imprudent conduct, in an inn near Torre de Nona. The exact date of his death is not known, but it appears by a letter addressed to him by Annibai Caro,
, one of the most
celebrated Italian poets of the sixteenth century, was born
about 1517, at Sutri in Tuscany, of very poor parents.
After receiving such education as he could afford, he came
to Rome and engaged himself as a corrector of the press;
but an intrigue with his master’s wife, in which he was detected, obliged him to leave Rome^with a little money and
a few cloaths, of which he was stripped by robbers. He
then begged his way to Vienna, and there got immediate
employment from Franceschi, the bookseller; and, while
with him, wrote his translation of Ovid, and some of his
original works. He then returned to Rome, which his reputation as a poet had reached, but his misfortunes also
followed him; and after having lived for some time on the
sale of his cloaths and books, he died partly of hunger, and
partly of a disease contracted by his imprudent conduct,
in an inn near Torre de Nona. The exact date of his
death is not known, but it appears by a letter addressed to
him by Annibai Caro, that he was alive in 1564. His
translation of the Metamorphoses still enjoys a high reputation in Italy, and Varchi and some other critics chuse to
prefer it to the original. This is exaggerated praise, but
undoubtedly the poetry and style are easy and elegant;
although from the many liberties he has taken with the
text, it ought rather to be called an imitation than a translation. The editions have been numerous, but the best is
that of the Giunti, Venice, 1584, 4to, with engravings by
Franco, and notes and arguments by Orologi and Turchi.
He also began the Æneid, but one book only was printed,
1564, 4to; soon after which period it is supposed he died.
His other works are: 1. “Œdipo,
” a tragedy, partly original and partly from Sophocles. It had great success in
representation, and was played in a magnificent temporary
theatre built for the purpose by Palladio in 1565. 2.
“Canzoni,
” addressed to the dukes of Florence and Ferrara. 3. “Poetical arguments for all the cantos of Orlando
Furioso.
” 4. Four “Capitoli,
” or satires, printed in various collections of that description. It appears by these
last that he was gay and thoughtless in the midst of all his
misfortunes.
mentary on Catullus, Tibullus, and Propertius, Paris, 1604. But the work which has rendered him best known in the literary world, is the collection of antiquities which
Annius left a great many works, two of which were
thought valuable; the one, “A treatise on the Empire of
the Turks,
” and the other, “De futuris Christianorum
triumphis in Turcas et Saracenos, at Xystum IV. et omnes
principes Christianos,
” Genes, 1430, 4to, a commentary
on the book of the Revelations, part of which had been
the subject of some, sermons he preached in 1471. He
published also “Super mutuo Judaico et civili et divino,
”
Antiquitatum variarum voluminaXVU.
cum commentariis fr. Joannis Annii Viterbensis,
” fol.
reprinted the same year at Venice, and afterwards several
times at Paris, Basil, Antwerp, Lyons, &c. sometimes with,
and sometimes without his commentaries. In this collection Annius pretends to give the original works of several
historians of the highest antiquity, as: “Archilochi de
temponbus Epitome lib. I. Xenophontis de Æquivocis
lib. I. Berosi Babylonici de Antiquitatibus Italian ac totius
orbis lib. V. Manethonis JEgyptii supplementa ad Berosum lib. I. Metasthenis Persae, de judicio temporum,
& Annalibus Persarum lib. I. Philonis Hebraei de temporibus lib. II. Joannis Annii de primis temporibus, &
quatuor ac viginti regibus Hispanice, & ejus antiquitate
lib. I. Ejusdem de antiquitate & rebus Ethruriae lib. I.
Ejusdem Commentariorum in Propertium de Vertumno
sive Jano lib. I. Q. Fabii Pictoris de aureo saeculo, &
origine urbis Romse lib. II. Myrsili Lesbii de origine
Italiae, ac Turrhenioe lib. I. M. Catonis fragmenta de
originibus lib. I. Antonini Pii Csesaris August! Itinerarium lib. I. C. Sempronii de chorographia sive descriptione Italian lib. I. Joannis Annii de Ethrusca simul &
Italica Chronographia lib. I. Ejusdem Quoestiones de
Thuscia lib. I. Cl. Marii Aretii, Patricii Syracusani, de
situ insulue Sicilian lib. I. Ejusdem Dialogus in quo Hispania describitur.
” The author dedicated these books to
Ferdinand and Isabella, because they had been found
when their majesties were conquering the kingdom of
Granada. He pretends, that he met with them at Mantua,
whilst he was there with his patron Paul de Campo Fulgoso, cardinal of St. Sixtus. But they had not been
published long, before doubts began to be entertained of
their authenticity. This provoked a controversy, in the
course of which it was very clearly proved that they are
entitled to little credit, but the precise share Annius had
in the imposture was a point long undetermined. The
contending writers on the subject may be divided into four
classes. The one of opinion that Annius really got
pospossession of certain fragments of the ancient authors, but
that he added to these a number of fables and tra-litions.
Another class think that the whole collection is a forgery,
but that Annius was himself deceived, and published what
he really thought to be genuine. A third class are believers in the authenticity of the whole, and some of these
were themselves men of credit and reputation, as Bernardino Baldi, William Postel, Albert Krantz, Sigonius,
Leancler Alberti, (see vol. I. p. 320), and some others.
Alberti is said to have discovered his error, and to have
deeply regretted that he admitted into his description of
Italy, the tables which he found in Annius. A fourth
class of critics on this work attribute the whole to the
imagination of the editor; and among these we find the
names of Anthony Agostini, or Augustine, Isaac Casaubon,
Mariana, in his Spanish history, Ferrari, Martin Hanckius,
Fabricius, Fontanini, &c. The learned Italians, also, who
were contemporaries with Annius, were the first to detect
the fraud; as Marcus Antonius Sabellicus, Peter Crinitus,
Volterre, &c.; and Pignoria and MafTei were of the same
opinion. In the sixteenth century, Mazza, a dominican,
revived the dispute, by publishing at Verona, in 1623, fol.
a work entitled “Apologia pro fratre Giovanni Annio Viterbese.
” His chief design is to prove, that if there be
any fraud, Annius must not be charged with it. But he
goes farther, and asserts, that these works are genuine,
and endeavours to answer all the objections urged against
them. This apology having been censured, father Macedo rose against the censurer, not indeed with a design
to assert that the Berosus, &c. published by Annius was
the genuine Berosus, but to shew that Annius did not forge
those manuscripts, A more modern apologist pretends
both. He calls himself Didimus Rapaligerus Livianus.
He published at Verona in the year 1678, a work in folio,
entitled “I Gothi illustrati, overo Istoria de i Gothi antichi,
” in which he brings together all the arguments he
can think of, to shew that the writings published by Annius
are genuine; and that this dominican did not forge them.
The question is now universally given against Annius,
while we are left to wonder at the perseverance which conducted him through a fraud of such magnitude.
and diligence in study, recommended him to the abbé Sallier, keeper of the manuscripts, who made him known to his friends, and furnished him with a moderate maintenance,
, brother to the preceding, was born at Paris, Dec. 7, 1731.
After having studied at the university of Paris, where he
acquired an extensive knowledge of the Hebrew, he was
invited to Auxerre by M. de Caylus, then the bishop,
who induced him to study divinity, first at the academy in,
his diocese, and afterwards at Amersfort, near Utrecht;
but Anquetil had no inclination for the church, and returned with avidity to the study of the Hebrew, Arabic,
and Persian. Neither the solicitations of M. de Caylus,
nor the hopes of preferment, could detain him at Amersfort longer than he thought he had learned all that was
to be learned there. He returned therefore to Paris,
where his constant attendance at the royal library, and
diligence in study, recommended him to the abbé Sallier,
keeper of the manuscripts, who made him known to his
friends, and furnished him with a moderate maintenance,
under the character of student of the Oriental languages.
The accidentally meeting with some manuscripts in the
Zend, the language in which the works attributed to Zoroaster are written, created in him an irresistible inclination to visit the East in search of them. At this time
an expedition for India was fitting out at port l'Orient,
and when he found that the applications of his friends were
not sufficient to procure him a passage, he entered as a
common soldier; and on Nov. 7, 1754, left Paris, with
his knapsack on his back. His friends no sooner heard of
this wild step, than they had recourse to the minister, who
surprized at so uncommon an instance of literary zeal,
ordered him to be provided with a free passage, a seat at
the captain’s table, and other accommodations. Accordingly, after a nine months voyage, he arrived Aug. 10,
1755, at Pondicherry. Remaining there such time as was
necessary to acquire a knowledge of the modern Persian,
he went to Chandernagor, where he hoped to learn the
Sanscrit; but sickness, which confined him for some
months, and the war which broke out between France and
England, and in which Chandernagor was taken, disappointed his plans. He now set out for Pondicherry by
land, and after incredible fatigue and hardships, performed
the journey of about four hundred leagues in about an
hundred days. At Pondicherry he found one of his brothers arrived from France, and sailed with him for Surat,
but, landing at Mahe, completed his journey on foot. At
Surat, by perseverance and address, he succeeded in
procuring and translating some manuscripts, particularly
the “Vendidade-Sade,
” a dictionary; and he was about
to have gone to Benares, to study the language, antiquities, and sacred laws of the Hindoos, when the capture of
Pondicherry obliged him to return to Europe. Accordingly,
he came in an English vessel to London, where he spent
some time, visited Oxford, and at length arrived at Paris
May 4, 1762, without fortune, or the wish to acquire it;
but rich in an hundred and eighty manuscripts and other
curiosities. The abbé Barthelemi, however, and his
other friends, procured him a pension, with the title and
place of Oriental interpreter in the royal library. In 1763,
the academy of belles-lettres elected him an associate,
and from that time he devoted himself to the arrangement
and publication of the valuable materials he had collected.
In 1771, he published his “Zend-Avesta,
” 3 vols. 4to
a work of Zoroaster, from the original Zend, with a curious account of his travels, and a life of Zoroaster. In
1778 he published his “Legislation Orientale,
” 4to, ii
which, by a display of the fundamental principles of government in the Turkish, Persian, and Indian dominions,
he proves, first, that the manner in which most writers
have hitherto represented despotism, as if it were absolute
in these three empires, is entirely groundless; secondly,
that in Turkey, Persia, and Indostan, there are codes of
written law, which affect the prince as well as the subject;
and thirdly, that in these three empires, the inhabitants
are possessed of property, both in movable and immovable
goods, which they enjoy with entire liberty. In 1786
appeared his “Recherches historiques et geographiques
sur ITnde,
” followed in L‘Inde au rapport avec l’Europe,
” 2 vols. 8vo. In 1804,
he published a Latin translation from the Persian of the
“Oupnek' hat, or Upanischada,
” i. e. “secrets which must
not be revealed,
” 2 vols. 4to. Not long before his death
he was elected a member of the institute, but soon after
gave in his resignation, and died at Paris, Jan. 17, 1805.
Besides the works already noticed, he contributed many
papers to the academy on the subject of Oriental languages
and antiquities, and left behind him the character of one
of the ablest Oriental scholars in France, and a man of
great personal worth and amiable manners. His biographer adds, that he refused the sum of 30,000 livres, which
was offered by the English, for his manuscript of the Zend-Avesta.
rtune to his brother Thomas Anson, esq. who was member of parliament for Lichfield, a gentleman well known for his liberal patronage of, and his exquisite skill in, the
On the 12th of July 1749, his lordship was made viceadmiral of Great Britain, an appointment that is more of a civil than a military nature; but which, nevertheless, is always given to a military man. On the 12th of June 1751, he was preferred to be first commissioner of the admiralty, in the room of the earl of Sandwich; and in the years 1752 and 1755, he was one of the lords justices of the kingdom, during his majesty’s absence. The affair of Minorca occasioned him to be much blamed by the party writers of the time, in his character of first lord of the admiralty; but when this was inquired into, the resolutions of the House of Commons acquitted him and his colleagues of any neglect of duty. On the 16th of November 1756, upon a change of administration, he resigned his office in the admiralty; but, having been in the interval made an admiral, he was again placed at the head of the board, where he continued during the remainder of his life. He came in with his old friends, the duke of Newcastle and the earl of Hardwicke, and in the most honourable manner; for he resumed his seat with the concurrence of every individual in the ministry, Mr. Pitt resuming the seals as secretary of state, and with the particular approbation of king George II. All the rest of his conduct, as first commissioner of the admiralty, was crowned with success, under the most glorious administration which this country ever saw. The last time that he commanded at sea, was in 1758, to cover the expedition against the coast of France. Being then admiral of the white, and having hoisted his flag on board the Royal George, of 100 guns, he sailed from Spithead, on the first of June, with a formidable fleet, sir Edward Hawke serving under him; and by cruizing continually before Brest, he protected the descents which were made that summer at St. Malo’s, Cherbourg, &c. The French fleet not venturing to come out, he kept his own squadron and seamen in constant exercise; a thing which he thought had been too much disregarded. On the 30th of July 1761, his lordship was raised to the dignity of admiral and commander in chief of the fleet; and in a few days he sailed from Harwich, in the Charlotte yacht, to convoy her present majesty to England, in 1762, he went to Portsmouth, to accompany the queen’s brother, prince Charles of Mecklenburgh, and to show him the arsenal, and the fleet which was then upon the point of sailing, under the command of sir George Pocock, for the Havannah. In attending the prince, however, he caught a violent cold, that was accompanied with a gouty disorder, under which he languished two or three months. This cold, at length, settled upon his lungs, andrwas the immediate occasion of his death. He died, at his seat at Moor Park, in Hertfordshire, on the 6th of June 1762, and was buried in the family vault at Colwich. His character may be justly estimated from the particulars we have given. In his official department, he acted with great judgment, and was a steady friend to merit. Of his private virtues, it is a sufficient test that he was never the object of slander or blame. It has, indeed, been asserted that he was addicted to gaming; but the author of the life we have followed in this account denies the charge, admitting only that he played for amusement. He left his fortune to his brother Thomas Anson, esq. who was member of parliament for Lichfield, a gentleman well known for his liberal patronage of, and his exquisite skill in, the fine arts. On his decease, the united fortunes of the family devolved to his nephew, by his eldest sister, George Adams, esq. who assumed the name of Anson.
three years afterwards entered of the Middle Temple. As a gentleman of good fortune, he became well known in his county, and the borough of St. Germain returned him one
, a learned heraldic writer, was of a
Cornish family, seated at St. Neot’s, being son of John
Anstis of that place, esq. by Mary, daughter and coheir
of George Smith. He was born September 28th or 29th,
1669, admitted at Exeter College in Oxford in 1685, and
three years afterwards entered of the Middle Temple. As
a gentleman of good fortune, he became well known in
his county, and the borough of St. Germain returned him
one of their members in the first parliament called by
queen Anne. Opposing what was called the Whig interest,
he distinguished himself by his voting against the bill for
occasional conformity: for which his name appeared amongst
the “Tackers
” in the prints of that time. He was appointed in I have a certain information it
would be ended forthwith, if the lord treasurer would honour
me by speaking to her majesty at this time, which, in behalf of the duke of Norfolk, I most earnestly desire, and
humbly beg your lordship’s assistance therein. If it be
delayed for some days, I shall then be back as far as the
delivery of my petition. I am obliged to attend this morning at the exchequer, about the tin affair, and thereby
prevented from waiting upon your lordship.
” If it does
relate to the reversionary patent, it is evident that he long
wished, and with difficulty obtained it. In the last parliament of Anne he was returned a member for Dunheved, or
Launceston, and he sat in the first parliament of George I.
He fell under the suspicion of government, as favouring
a design to restore the Stuarts, was imprisoned, and at
this critical time Garter’s place became vacant, by the
death of the venerable sir Henry St. George. He immediately claimed the office, but his grant was disregarded;
and, October 26,1715, sir John Vanbrugh, Clarenceux,
had the appointment. Unawed by power, fearless of danger, and confident in innocence, he first freed himself
from all criminality in having conspired against the succession of the illustrious house of Brunswick, and then prosecuted his claim to the office of garter, pleading the right
of the late queen to give him the place. It was argued,
that in a contest about the right of nomination in the reign
of Charles II. the sovereign gave it up, only retaining the
confirmation of the earl marshal’s choice: Mr. Anstis
urged, that Charles only waved his claim. The matter
came to a hearing April 4, 1717, and the competitors
claimed under their different grants; but the controversy
did not end until April 20, 1718, when the right being
acknowledged to be in Mr. Anstis, he was created Garter.
He had, for some time previous to this decision in his
favour, resided in the college, and by degrees gained the
good opinion and favour of the government. He even
obtained a patent under the great seal, giving the office
of garter to him, and his son John Anstis junior, esq. and
to the survivor of them: this passed June 8, 1727, only
two days before the death of George I. He died at his
seat, at Mortlake in Surrey, on Sunday, March 4, 1744-5,
and was buried the 23d of that month, in a vault in the
parish church of Dulo in Cornwall. In him, it is said, were
joined the learning of Camden and the industry, without the
inaccuracy, of sir William Dugdale. He was certainly a most
indefatigable and able officer at arms; and though he lived
to the age of seventy-six, yet there is room to wonder at
the extent of his productions, especially as he was a person
of great consequence, and busied with many avocations
out of the college. In 1706, he published a “Letter concerning the honour of Earl Marshal,
” 8vo. “The form
of the Installation of the Garter
” The
Register of the most noble Order of the Garter, usually
called the Black-Book, with a specimen of the Lives of
the Knights Companions,
” Observations introductory to an historical Essay on the Knighthood
of the Bath,
” Aspilogia,
” a discourse on seals in England, with beautiful
draughts, nearly fit for publication, from which Mr. Drake
read an abstract to the Society in 1735-6, and two folip
volumes of Sepulchral Monuments, Stone Circles, Crosses,
and Castles, in the three kingdoms, from which there are
extracts in the Archa?ologia, vol. XIII. were purchased,
with many other curious papers, at the sale of Mr. Anstis’s
library of Mss. in 1768, by Thomas Astle, esq. F. R. and
A. S. Besides these he left five large folio volumes on the
“Office, &c. of Garter King at Arms, of Heralds and
Pursuivants, in this and other kingdoms, both royal, princely, and such as belonged to our nobility,
” now in the pos
session of George Nayler, esq. York herald, and genealogist of the Order of the Bath, &c. “Memoirs of the
Families of Talbot, Carew, Granvile, and Courtney.
” “The
Antiquities of Cornwall.
” “Collections, relative to the
parish of Coliton, in Devonshire,
” respecting the tithes,
owing to a dispute which his son, the Rev. George Anstis,
the vicar, then had with the parishioners, in the court of
exchequer in 1742. The late Dr. Ducarel possessed it.
“Collections relative, to All Souls’ college, in Oxford.
”
These were very considerable, and purchased by the colllege. Sixty-four pages of his Latin Answer to “the Case
of Founders’ Kinsmen,
” were printed in 4to, with many
coats of arms. His “Curia Militaris, or treatise on the
Court of Chivalry, in three books:
” it is supposed that no
more than the preface and contents were ever published.
Mr. Reed had those parts; the whole, however, was
printed in 1702, 8vo; probably only for private friends.
Mr. Prior mentions this Garter in an epigram:
rus to Lucius Commodus, his adopted brother, and took that of Antoninus, under which he is generally known in history. But he is distinguished from his predecessor Titus
, the Roman emperor, was born at Rome, April 26, in the year 121. When he was adopted by his grandfather by the father’s side, he received his name, M. Annius Verus; and Adrian the emperor, instead of Verus, used to call him Verissimus, on account of his rectitude and veracity. When he was adopted by Antoninus Pius, he assumed the name of M. Ælius Aurelius Verus, because Aurelius was the name of Antoninus’s family, and Ælius that of Adrian’s, into which he entered. When he became emperor, he left the name of Verus to Lucius Commodus, his adopted brother, and took that of Antoninus, under which he is generally known in history. But he is distinguished from his predecessor Titus Antoninus, either by the name of Marcus, or by the name of Philosophus, which is given him by the general consent of writers, although we do not find this title to have been conferred by any public act or authority of the senate. Adrian, upon the death of Cejonius Commodus, turned his eyes upon Marcus Aurelius; but as he was not then eighteen years of age, and consequently too young for so important a station, he fixed upon Antoninus Pius, whom he adopted, on condition that he should likewise adopt Marcus Aurelius. The year after this adoption Adrian appointed him quaestor, though he had not yet attained the age prescribed by the laws. After the death of Adrian, Aurelius married Faustina, the daughter of Antoninus Pius, by whom he had several children. In the year 139 he was invested with newlionours by the emperor Pius, and behaved in such a manner as endeared him to that prince and the whole people.
ogated a law, which restrained immoderate expence in feasts. He was one of the greatest orators ever known at Rome; and it was owing to him, according to Cicero, that
, a Roman orator, highly celebrated by Cicero, after rising successively through the several preparatory offices in the commonwealth, was made consul in the year of Rome 653; and then governor of Cilicia, in quality of proconsul, where he performed so many great exploits in the army that he obtained the honour of a triumph. In order to improve his talent for eloquence, he became a scholar to the greatest men at Rhodes and Athens, in his way to Cilicia and on h/s return to Rome. Afterwards he was appointed censor, and discharged the office with great reputation; he carried his cause before the people against Marcus Duronius, who had preferred an accusation of bribery against him, in revenge for Antonius’s having erased his name out of the list of senators; which this wise censor had done, because Duronius, when tribune of the people, had abrogated a law, which restrained immoderate expence in feasts. He was one of the greatest orators ever known at Rome; and it was owing to him, according to Cicero, that Rome might be considered as a rival even to Greece itself in the art of eloquence. He defended, amongst many others, Marcus Aquilius; and moved the judges in so sensible a manner, by the tears he shed, and the scars he shewed upon the breast of his client, that he carried his cause. Cicero has given us the character of his eloquence and of his action. He never would publish any of his pleadings, that he might not, as he said, be proved to say in one cause, what might be contrary to what he should advance in another. He affected to be a man of no learning, which Bayle supposes he did not so much out of modesty as policy; finding himself established in the reputation of a great orator, he thought the world would admire him more, if they supposed this eloquence owing entirely to the strength of his natural genius, rather than the fruit of a long application to the study of Greek authors. And with regard to the judges, he thought nothing more proper to produce a good effect, than to make them believe that he pleaded without any preparation, and to conceal from them all the artifice of rhetoric. But yet he was learned, and not unacquainted with the best Grecian authors, of which there are proofs in several passages of Cicero. This appearance, however, of modesty and his many other qualifications, rendered him no less dear to persons of distinction, than his eloquence made him universally admired. He was unfortunately killed during the disturbances raised at Rome by Marius and Cinna; and his head was exposed before the rostrum, a place which he had adorned with his triumphal spoils. This happened in the year of Rome 667.
to him the head of a man killed, as they supposed, by his order, he denied that he had ever seen or known him.
Anthony fled in great confusion, wanting even the necessaries of life; and this very man, who had hitherto wallowed in luxury and intemperance, was obliged to live for some days upon roots and water. He fled to the Alps, and was received by Lepidus, with whom, and Octavius, he formed the second triumvirate, as it has usually been called. When these three conferred, they would easily be persuaded, that the patriots wanted only to destroy them all, which could not be done so effectually, as by clashing them against one another. They therefore combined, proscribed their respective enemies, and divided the empire among themselves. Cicero fell a sacrifice to the resentment of Anthony, who indeed was charged with most of the murders then committed; but they were rather to be put to the account of his wife Fulvia, who, being a woman of avarice, cruelty, and revenge, committed a thousand enormities of which her husband was ignorant, insomuch that, his soldiers once bringing to him the head of a man killed, as they supposed, by his order, he denied that he had ever seen or known him.
dered as highly honourable. In these charts, it has been said that he exhibited every thing that was known, and was ignorant in nothing but that of which it was impossible
M. d'Anville discovered a taste for geography from his earliest years, excited by meeting accidentally with a chart when about twelve years old, and throughout the course of his youthful studies, he paid less attention to the language or sentiment of a classic than to the maps of the countries treated of, which he endeavoured to delineate, and to trace the sites of battles, and the march of generals. He had so improved himself in this branch that, at the age of twenty-two, he published some charts which obtained the approbation of the abbe de Longuerre, whose opinion was then considered as highly honourable. In these charts, it has been said that he exhibited every thing that was known, and was ignorant in nothing but that of which it was impossible for him to have acquired a knowledge at the time he delineated them.
n united: that he built both on the firm basis of the former system, not on its subversion, his well- known contest of lines with Protogenes, not a legendary tale, but
To this account of Apelles, taken principally from Bayle,
it may be necessary to add the opinion of a very superior
critic, who observes, that “The name of Apelles in Pliny
is the synonime of unrivalled and unattainable excellence,
but the enumeration of his works points out the modiiication which we ought to apply to that superiority: it neither
comprises exclusive sublimity of invention, the most acute
discrimination of character, the widest sphere of comprehension, the most judicious and best balanced composition,
nor the deepest pathos of expression: his great prerogative consisted more in the unison than in the extent of his
powers: he knew better what he could do, what ought to
be done, at what point he could arrive, and what lay beyond his reach, than any other artist. Grace of conception
and refinement of taste were his elements, and went hand
in hand with grace of execution and taste in finish, powerful and seldom possessed singly, irresistible when united:
that he built both on the firm basis of the former system,
not on its subversion, his well-known contest of lines with
Protogenes, not a legendary tale, but a well-attested fact,
irrefragably proves; what those lines were, drawn with
nearly miraculous subtlety in different colours, one upon
the other, or rather within each other, it would be equally
unavailing and useless to inquire; but the corollaries we
may deduce from the contest, are obviously these: that
the schools of Greece recognized all one elemental principle; that acuteness and fidelity of eye and obedience
of hand form precision, precision proportion, proportion
beauty: that it is the `little more or less’ imperceptible
to vulgar eyes, which constitutes grace, and establishes the
superiority of one artist over another; that the knowledge
of the degrees of things, or taste, presupposes a perfect
knowledge of the things themselves: that colour, grace,
and taste, are ornaments, not substitutes of form,
expression, and character, and when they usurp that title, degenerate into splendid faults. Such were the principles on
which Apelles formed his Venus, or rather the personification of the birthday of love, the wonder of art, the despair of artists; whose outline baffled every attempt at
emendation, whilst imitation shrunk from the purity, the
force, the brilliancy, the evanescent gradations of her
tints.
”
cted a statue to him; and several other cities did him the same honour. The time of his death is not known, but after his Apology took effect, he is said to have passed
Apuleius was extremely indefatigable in his studies, and composed several books, some in verse, and others in prose; but most of them are lost. He took pleasure in declaiming, and was heard generally with great applause; when he declaimed at Occa, the audience cried out with one voice, that they ought to confer upon him the honour of citizen. The citizens of Carthage heard him with much satisfaction, and erected a statue to him; and several other cities did him the same honour. The time of his death is not known, but after his Apology took effect, he is said to have passed his clays qu etly in study.
an “Encylopædia,” left very imperfect; and Bayle says he composed a book “De re Equestri.” His best known work is “Disputationes de Virtute morali,” Helenop. 1609, 4to,
, Duke of Atri in
the kingdom of Naples, and son of Julius Aqua viva, count
of Converse no, added to the splendour of his birth a great
share of learning, which rendered him very illustrious towards the end of the fifteenth, and beginning of the sixteenth century. He was at first addicted to the military
art, and distinguished himself by his bravery, although he
was unfortunate, and in the last battle in which he fought,
was wounded and taken prisoner. When released he appears to have devoted his time to study and the conversation of men of letters, by whom he was highly esteemed.
Alexander ab Alexandro dedicated to him his “Dies Geniales
” and “Pontanus,
” two of his works. He died in
Encylopædia,
” left very imperfect; and Bayle says he composed a book “De re Equestri.
” His best known work
is “Disputationes de Virtute morali,
” Helenop. De Venatione,
” and others “De Aucupio,
”
“De Principum liberis educandis,
” and “De Certamine
Singulari.
” These were first printed at Naples,
with their interest. It was republished in 1591, but in a mutilated state. Another work of his, less known, was “Epistoiae Prtepositorum Generalium, ad Patres et Frutres
, son to John Jerome, duke of
Atri, was born at Naples in 1542, and in 1581 was elected
general of the Jesuits, in which station he conducted himself with great mildness and prudence, and died Jan. 31,
1615. He left several religious works: among others, “Industrie ad curandos animae morhos,
” Paris, Manuel
des Superieurs.
” He wrote also Meditations in Latin, on
the forty-fourth and ninety-tnird Psalms. His most celebrated work drawn up for the use of his order, entitled
“Ratio Studiorum,
” and published at Rome in Epistoiae Prtepositorum Generalium, ad Patres et Frutres societatis Jesu. Instructio ad
augendum spiritum in societaie,
” Rome, 4 615, 8vo.
ais road, seized the French bark, and brought back the lady and those with her; but, before this was known, the proclamation issued for apprehending them. As soon as she
, commonly called the lady Arabella, was so often talked of for a queen, that custom seems
to have given her a right to an article in this manner under
her Christian name, as that by which our historians distinguish her. She was the daughter of Charles Stuart, earl
oY Lenox, who was younger brother to Henry lord Darnley,
father to king James VI. of Scotland, and First of England,
by Elizabeth, daughter of sir William Cavendisu, km. She
was born, as near as can be computed, in 1577, and educated at London, under the eye of the eld countess of
Lenox, her grand-mother. She was far from being either
beautiful in her person, or from being distinguished by
any extraordinary qualities of mind; and yet she met with
many admirers, on account of her royal descent and near
relation to the crown of England. Her father dviug in
1579, and leaving her thereby sole heiress, as some understood, of the house of Lenox, several matches were projected for her at home and abroad. Her cousin, king
James, inclined to have married her to lord Esme Stuart,
whom he had created duke of Lenox, and whom before his
marriage he considered as his heir; but this match was
prevented by queen Elizabeth, though it was certainly a
very fit one in all respects. As the English succession was
at this time very problematical, the great powers on the
Continent speculated on many husbands for the lady Arabella, such as the duke of Savoy, a prince of the house of
Farnese, and others. In the mean time, this lady had some
thoughts of marrying herself at home, as Thuanus relates,
to a son of the earl of Northumberland, but it is not credible that this took effect, though he says it did privately.
The very attempt procured her queen Elizabeth’s displeasure, who confined her for it. In the mean time her title
to the crown, such as it was, became the subject, amongst
many others, of father Persons’ s famous book, wherein are
all the arguments for and against her, and which served to
divulge her name and descent all over Europe; and yet
this book was not very favourable to her interest. On the
death of the queen, some malcontents framed an odd design of disturbing the public peace, and amongst other
branches of their dark scheme, one was to seize the lady
Arabella, and to cover their proceedings by the sanction of
her title, intending also to have married her to some
English nobleman, the more to increase their interest, and
the better to please the people. But this conspiracy was
fatal to none but its authors, and those who conversed with
them; being speedily defeated, many taken, and some executed. As for the lady Arabella, it does not appear that
she had any knowledge of this engagement in her behalf,
whatever it was; for domestic writers are perplexed, and
foreign historians ruu into absurdities, when they
endeadeavour to explain it. She continued at liberty, and in
apparent favour at court, though her circumstances were
narrow till the latter end of the year 1608, when by
some means she drew upon her king James’s displeasure.
However, at Christmas, when mirth and good-humour prevailed at court, she was again taken into favour, had a service of plate presented to her of the value of two hundred
pounds, a thousand marks given her to pay her debts, and
some addition made to her annual income. This seems to
have been done, in order to have gained her to the interest
of the court, and to put the notions of marriage she had
entertained out of her head; all which, however, proved
ineffectual; for in the beginning of the month of February
1609, she was detected in an intrigue with Mr. William
Seymour, son to the lord Beauchamp, and grandson to the
earl of Hertford, to whom, notwithstanding, she was. privately married some time afterwards. Upon this discovery,
they were both carried before the council, and severely reprimanded, and then dismissed. In the summer of 1610,
the marriage broke out, on which the lady was sent into
close custody, at the house of sir Thomas Parry, in Lambeth; and Mr. Seymour was committed to the Tower for
his contempt, in marrying a lady of the royal family without the king’s leave. It does not appear that this confinement was attended with any great severity to either; for
the lady was allowed the use of sir Thomas Parry’s house
and gardensj and the like gentleness, in regard to his high
quality, was shewn to Mr. Seymour. Some intercourse
they had by letters, which after a time was discovered,
and a resolution taken thereupon to send the lady to Durham, a resolution which threw her into deep affliction.
Upon this, by the interposition of friends, she and her
husband concerted a scheme for their escape, which was
successfully executed in the beginning, though it ended
unluckily. The lady, under the care of sir James Crofts,
was at the house of Mr. Conyers, at Highgate, from whence
she was to have gone the next day to Durham, on which
she put a fair countenance now, notwithstanding the trouble
she had before shewn. This made her keepers the more
easy, and gave her an opportunity of disguising herself,
which she did on Monday the 3d of June, 1611, by drawing over her petticoats a pair of large French-fashioned
hose, putting on a man’s doublet, a peruke which covered
her hair, a hat, black cloak, russet boots with red tops, and
a rapier by her side. Thus equipped, she walked out between three and four with Mr. Markham. They went a
mile and half to a little inn, where a person attended with
their horses. The lady, by that time she came thither, was
so weak and faint, that the hostler, who held the stirrup
when she mounted, said that gentleman would hardly hold
out to London. Riding, however, so raised her spirits,
that by the time she came to Blackwall, she was pretty well
recovered. There they found waiting for them two men,
a gentlewoman, and a chambermaid, with one boat full of
Mr. Seymour’s and her trunks, and another boat for their
persons, in which they hasted from thence towards Woolwich. Being come so far, they bade the watermen row on
to Gravesend. There the poor fellows were desirous to
land, but for a double freight were contented to go on to
Lee, yet being almost tired by the way, they were forced
to lie still at Tilbury, whilst the rowers went on shore to
refresh themselves; then they proceeded to Lee, and by
that time the day appeared, and they discovered a ship
at anchor a mile beyond them, which was the French
bark that waited for them. Here the lady would have lain
at anchor, expecting Mr. Seymour, but through the importunity of her followers, they forthwith hoisted sail and put
to sea. In the mean time Mr. Seymour, with a peruke and
beard of black hair, and in a tawny cloth suit, walked alone
without suspicion, from his lodging out at the great west
door of the Tower, following a cart that had brought him
billets. From thence he walked along by the Towerwharf, by the warders of the south gate, and so to the iron
gate, where one Rodney was ready with a pair of oars to
receive him. When they came to Lee, and found that the
French ship was gone, the billows rising high, they hired
a fisherman for twenty shillings, to put them on board a
certain ship that they saw under sail. That ship they
found not to be it they looked for, so they made forwards
to the next under sail, which was a ship from Newcastle.
This with much ado they hired for forty pounds, to carry
them to Calais, and the master performed his bargain, by
which means Mr. Seymour escaped, and continued in Flanders. On Tuesday in the afternoon, my lord treasurer being advertised that the lady Arabella had made an escape,
sent immediately to the lieutenant of the Tower to set
strict guard over Mr. Seymour, which he promised, after
his yxrt manner, “he would thoroughly do, that he would;
”
but, coming to the prisoner’s lodgings-, he found, to his great
amazement, that he was gone from thence one whole day
before. A pink being dispatched from the Downs into
Calais road, seized the French bark, and brought back the
lady and those with her; but, before this was known, the
proclamation issued for apprehending them. As soon as
she was brought to town, she was, after examination, committed to the Tower, declaring that she was not so sorry for
her own restraint, as she should be glad if Mr. Seymour
escaped, for whose welfare, she affirmed, she was more concerned than for her own. Her aunt, the countess of Shrewsbury, was likewise committed, on suspicion of having
prompted the lady Arabella, not only to her escape, but to
other things, it being known that she had amassed upwards
of twenty thousand pounds in ready money. The earl of
Shrewsbury was confined to his house, and the old earl of
Hertford sent for from his seat. By degrees things grew
cooler, and though it was known that Mr. Seymour continued in the Netherlands, yet the court made no farther
applications to the archduke about him. In the beginning of 1612, a new storm began to break out; for the
lady Arabella, either pressed at an examination, or of her
own free will, made some extraordinary discoveries, upon
which some quick steps would have been taken, had it not
shortly after appeared, that her misfortunes had turned her
head, and that, consequently, no use could be made of her
evidence. However, the countess of Shrewsbury, who before had leave to attend her husband in his sickness, was,
very closely shut up, and the court was amused with abundance of strange stories, which wore out by degrees, and
the poor lady Arabella languished in her confinement till
the 27th of September, 1615, when her life and sorrows
ended together. Even in her grave this poor lady was not
at peace, a report being spread that she was poisoned, because she happened to die within two years of sir Thomas
Overbury. Sir Bull. Whitlocke has put this circumstance
in much too strong a light; for it was a suspicion at most,
and never had the support of the least colour of proof. As
for her husband, sir William Seymour, he soon after her
decease, procured leave to return, distinguished himself
by loyally adhering to the king during the civil wars,
and, surviving to the time of the Restoration, was restored to his great-grandfather’s title of duke of Somerset, by an act of parliament, which entirely cancelled
his attainder and on the giving his royal assent to this act,
king Charles II. was pleased to say in full parliament, what
perhaps was as honourable for the family as the title to
which they are restored, flis words were these: “As this
is an act of an extraordinary nature, so it is in favour of a
person of no ordinary merit: he has deserved of my father,
and of myself, as much as any subject possibly could do;
and I hope this will stir no man’s envy, because in doing it
I do no more than' what a good master should do for such a
servant.
” By his lady Arabella, this noble person had no
issue: but that he still preserved a warm affection for her
memory, appears from hence, that he called one of his
daughters by his second wife, Frances, daughter and coheiress of Robert Devereux, earl of Essex, Arabella Seymour.
, an Arabian historian of the fifteenth century, is principally known as the author of a life of Timour, or Tamerlane, entitled “The
, an Arabian historian of
the fifteenth century, is principally known as the author of
a life of Timour, or Tamerlane, entitled “The wonderful effects of the divine decrees in the affairs of Timour,
” a
work in which there is a considerable display of eastern
fancy, but many obscurities of style. It was published by
Golius, at Leyden, 1636, and by Manger, with a Latin
translation, 1767, and 1772, 2 vols. 4to. The imperial
library at Paris contains two excellent manuscripts of this
work. The author died in 1450.
much lamented; for the follies which the writer ridicules are so little practised, that they are not known; nor can the satire be understood but by the learned; he raises
His gentle manners, polite learning, and excellent talents, entitled him to an intimate correspondence and friendship with the celebrated wits of his time, Pope, Swift,
Gay, and Parnell, whom he met as a member of the Scriberus club. In 1714 he engaged with Pope and Swift in a
design to write a satire on the abuse of human learning in.
svery branch, which was to have been executed in the humorous manner of Cervantes, the original author of this
species of satire, under the history of feigned adventures.
But this project was put a stop to by the queen’s death,
when they had only drawn out an imperfect essay towards
it, under the title of the first book of the “Memoirs of
Martinus Scriblerus .
” “These Memoirs,
” says Dr. Johnson, “extend only to the first part of a work, projected in
concert by Pope, Swift, and Arbuthnot. Their purpose
was to censure the abuses of learning by a fictitious life
of an infatuated scholar. They were dispersed; the design was never completed; and Warburton laments its
miscarriage, as an event very disastrous to polite letters.
If the whole may be estimated by this specimen, which
seems to be the prooduction of Arbuthnot, with a few touches
perhaps by Pope, the want of more will not be much lamented; for the follies which the writer ridicules are so
little practised, that they are not known; nor can the satire
be understood but by the learned; he raises phantoms of
absurdity, and then drives them away. He cures diseases
that were never felt For this reason, this joint production
of three great writers has never attained any notice from,
mankind.
”
the pieces in the above miscellany were written by Fielding, Henry Carey, and other authors, who are known; and some of them were written after Dr. Arbuthnot’s death,
Pope, in a letter to Digby, dated Sept. 1, 1722, tells
him, that the first time he saw the doctor, Swift observed
to him, that he was a man who could do every thing but
walk. He appears to have been in all respects a most
accomplished and amiable person. He has shewn himself
equal to any of his contemporaries, in humour, vivacity,
and learning; and he was superior to most men in the
moral duties of life, in acts of humanity and benevolence.
“Arbuthnot,
” says Dr. Johnson in his life of Pope, “was
a man of great comprehension, skilful in his profession,
versed in the sciences, acquainted with ancient literature,
and able to animate his mass of knowledge by a bright and
active imagination; a scholar with great brilliance of wit;
a wit, who, in the crowd of life, retained and discovered
a noble ardour of religious zeal.
” Dr. Warton also is very
copious in his praise, and says, that he had infinitely more
learning than Pope or Swift, and as much wit and humour
as either. His letter to Pope, written as it were upon his
death-bed, and which no one can read without the tenderest emotion, discovers considerable fortitude of mind at
the approach of his dissolution. In 1751, came out, in two
vols. 8vo. printed at Glasgow, “The miscellaneous works
of the late Dr. Arbuthnot,
” which are said to comprehend,
with what is inserted in Swift’s Miscellanies, all his pieces
of wit and humour: but the genuineness of many pieces
in that collection is more than apocryphal; and a collection of his works, as well as a life of the author, are still
desiderata. Several of the pieces in the above miscellany
were written by Fielding, Henry Carey, and other authors, who are known; and some of them were written after
Dr. Arbuthnot’s death, or when he was too ill to compose
such trifles.
, priest of the oratory, born at Marseilles, in 1693, died Feb. 7, 1782, at an advanced age, is less known by his having borne away the prizes for poetry, at Toulouse,
, priest of the oratory, born
at Marseilles, in 1693, died Feb. 7, 1782, at an advanced
age, is less known by his having borne away the prizes
for poetry, at Toulouse, at Marseilles,' and at Pau, than
by his “History of the town of Rochelle, and the country
of Aunis,
” 'Eloge de P. Jaillot,
” 1750, 4to; “Journal Historique de la tentative* de la flotte Angloisc sur la cote d'Aunisj
” Memoire sur la necessite de diminuer le nombre
des fetes,
” De Fetat de l‘agriculture chez
les Romains depuis le commencement de la Republique
jusqu’au siecle de Jules Caesar relativement au gouvernment, aux mceurs, et au commerce,
”
, a Greek poet of Antioch ia Asia, is more known from the eloquent orations pronounced by Cicero in his favour,
, a Greek poet of Antioch
ia Asia, is more known from the eloquent orations pronounced by Cicero in his favour, than by the few fragments of his that are come down to us. He was denied
the title of Roman citizen, which Cicero caused to be
confirmed to him, by maintaining that he had it; and that
even if he had it not, his probity and his talents ought
to have procured it for him. He lived about 60 years before the common sera. Archias composed several pieces;
among others, a poem on the War of the Cimbri, and
had begun another on the Consulate of Cicero, but none
of his works have reached our times, except some epigrams
in the Greek Anthology, and in Brunck’s “Analecta veterum poetarum Grsecorum,
” vol. II. p. 92. They were
also lately published, with notes and a Latin translation
by Ilgen, 1800, who has subjoined a critical inquiry into
the life and genius of Archias. It is not from these, however, that we can estimate the value of Cicero’s high
praise of this author. Except two or three, these epigrams scarcely rise above mediocrity.
town of Newark, from 1348 to 1370, when he removed to London; but the exact time of his death is not known. Although much empiricism and superstition appear in his practice,
, an early medical writer of the English nation, whose works come within the notice of Dr.
Freind. It appears that he was a surgeon of great experience, and the first who is recorded as having become
eminent in that branch in this nation. He was many years
settled in the town of Newark, from 1348 to 1370, when
he removed to London; but the exact time of his death is
not known. Although much empiricism and superstition
appear in his practice, yet many useful observations are
to be found in his writings, and he may be classed among
those who have really improved their profession. A treatise of his on the “Fistula in Ano
” was translated and
published by John Read in De re Herbaria, Physica, et Chirurgica.
”
macaronic poet in the sixteenth century, was born at Solliers, in the diocese of Toulon, of a family known from the thirteenth century by the name of La Sable. After studying
, a lawyer and macaronic poet
in the sixteenth century, was born at Solliers, in the diocese of Toulon, of a family known from the thirteenth
century by the name of La Sable. After studying under
Alciatus at Avignon, he began his literary career by writing
some wretched books on jurisprudence, and comforted
himself for the little demand that was made for them by
the fame of his macaronic verses. This species of poetry,
which Merlin Coccaio brought into great vogue in Italy,
consisted in a confused string of words partly Latin, partly
French, partly Provencal, made into a medley of barbarous
composition. The principal performance of this kind by
our provengal poet is his “Description of the war carried
on by Charles V. in Provence,
” printed at Avignon, and
very scarce of that edition, in 1537; reprinted in 1717 in
8vo, at Paris, under the name of Avignon, and at Lyons,
1760. There are other pieces of macaronic poetry by the
same author, “De bragardissima villa de Soleriis, &c.
”
xcels in describing symptoms, and in the therapeutic part has rarely been equalled. There is nothing known of his personal history.
, was a physician of Cappadocia, but in
what time he flourished authors are not agreed; some
placing him under Augustus Caesar, others under Trajan
or Adrian. Saxius places him about the year 94. However his works are very valuable. The best editions were
published by Dr. Wigan and Dr. Boerhaave. Dr. Wigan’s
was elegantly and correctly printed in folio, at Oxford,
1723: in his preface he gives an account of all the preceding editions. To this are subjoined, dissertations on
the age of Aretaeus, his sect, his skill in anatomy, and his
method of cure. At the end is a large collection of various
readings with notes on them; a treatise on the author’s
Ionic dialect, and a Greek index by the learned Maittaire,
who in 1726 published in 4to Peter Petit’s Commentary
upon the first three books of Aretaeus, which had been
discovered among the papers of Grsevius. Boerhaave’s
edition was published at Leyden, 1731, and another by
Haller in 1771, which some think inferior to Boerhaave’s.
In 1786, Dr. Moffat published “Aretoeus, consisting of
eight books, on the causes, symptoms, and cure of acute
and chronic diseases; translated from the original Greek,
”
8vo, London. Aretseus is an author yet much admired by
every physician who has attentively read his writings. His
style is equally remarkable for conciseness and perspicuity,
and he particularly excels in describing symptoms, and
in the therapeutic part has rarely been equalled. There
is nothing known of his personal history.
to succeed him in the office of secretary of the republic of Florence. The year of his death is not known.
was of Arezzo in Tuscany, and
has been enumerated among the learned men of the
fifteenth century. He is praised by Poggius, which Bayle
chooses to suspect was done merely because Aretino was
an enemy of Philelphus, whom Poggius hated. Philelphus,
on the other hand, represents Aretino in a very unfavourable
light. He is allowed, however, to have been a good Greek
and Latin scholar, and to have given some translations
from the former. He was also a pretty good poet, and
wrote prose comedies, of which Albert de Eyb has inserted
some fragments in his “Margarita Poetica.
” But what
Bayle considers as the most evident proof of his talents, is,
that on the death of Leonard Aretin, in 1443, he was
chosen to succeed him in the office of secretary of the
republic of Florence. The year of his death is not known.
times: a Life of Gentilis, with a refutation of his principles, &c. But few of these are now so well known as his reputation for botanical knowledge. On this subject he
, an eminent Swiss divine and
botanist, was born at Berne, in the beginning of the sixteenth century, and rose to great distinction as a teacher
of theology at Marpurg, and as a preacher of the reformed
religion. His lectures were extremely crowded, and his
religious writings very popular. His “Examen Theologicum,
” a voluminous work, was printed twelve times
within three years. He died at Berne, much lamented,
April 22, 1574. His principal theological works are, the
“Examen Theologicum,
” already noticed: Commentaries
on the whole of the New Testament, printed at different
times: a Life of Gentilis, with a refutation of his principles,
&c. But few of these are now so well known as his reputation for botanical knowledge. On this subject he frequently corresponded with Conrad Gessner, the Pliny of
Germany, and with the other eminent botanists of his time.
His attention was chiefly directed to the plants growing
on the Alps, of which he discovered and described forty of
great rarity. Some of them he introduced in gardens, and
gave directions for the cultivation of them. He also published a description of two mountains, the Niesen and the
Stokhorn, in the canton of Berne, remarkable for their
height and the curious plants which grow upon them. It
is a small work in the form of a letter, addressed to his
friend and countryman Piperinus, and was printed with
the works of Valerius Cordus, under the title “Stockhornii
et Nessi Helvetia? montium, et nascentium in eis stirpiuni
descriptio, impr. in operibus Val. Cordi,
” Strasburgh,
Hortus Germanicus,
” and gave the name
Aretia to a plant in honour of him, which Haller and Linnaeus have preserved, with equally honourable notice of his
skill and useful researches in botany.
an, at Bologna, 1715, 4to. Two years after, having been elected one of the magistrates of that city, known by the title of the tribunes of the people, when he came to
, an Italian printer, and one of
the most learned and laborious editors of his time, was
born at Bologna about the end of the year 1685. His family, then one of the most ancient in that city, was originally of Florence. After having begun his studies at
Bologna, he went to Florence, and became acquainted
with many of the literati of that city, particularly the celebrated Magliabechi. From Florence he went to Lucca,
and then to Leghorn, where he meant to embark for France,
but the death of one of his uncles rendered it necessary
for him to return to his own country. He first projected
an edition of the works, already in print, or in manuscript,
of Ulysses Aldrovandi, with additions, notes, and corrections,
and engaged several learned persons to assist him, but death
having removed the greater part of them in a few years,
he was obliged to give up the undertaking. He then published a collection of the poems of Carlantonio Bedori, a
Bolognese gentleman, at Bologna, 1715, 4to. Two years
after, having been elected one of the magistrates of that
city, known by the title of the tribunes of the people,
when he came to resign his office, he made an eloquent
address on the duties of the office, which his successors
ordered to be registered among their acts. His next and
most important undertaking was an edition of that immense
historical collection, entitled “Scriptores Rerum Italicarum.
” The learned Muratori having imparted to him the
design he had conceived of collecting and publishing the
ancient Italian historians, acknowledged at the same time
that he had been obliged to abandon the plan from the
impossibility of finding a press adequate to such an extensive undertaking, the art of printing, once so highly cultivated in Italy, having now greatly degenerated. Argellati being of opinion that Milan was the only place where
a trial might be made with effect, to revive useful printing,
immediately went thither, and communicated Muratori’s
plan to count Charles Archinto, the patron of letters, and
his own particular patron. Archinto formed a society of
noblemen of Milan, called the Palatine Society, who undertook to defray the expence of the edition, sixteen of
the members subscribing four thousand crowns each. Argellati then took every necessary step to establish a printing-office suited to this liberal patronage, and the “Scriptores Rerum Italicarum
” was the first work printed, in
which Argellati bore a considerable part, collecting and
furnishing Muratori with most of the manuscripts, notices,
and dedications of the first volumes. He superintended
at the same time, the printing of other works, particularly
an edition of Sigonius, 1738/6 vols. fol. The emperor
Charles VI. to whom it was dedicated, and who had repaid
him for the dedication of the first volume of the Italian
historians, by the title of imperial secretary, and a pension
of three hundred crowns, now doubled this pension. Argellati continued to publish, with incredible labour and
dispatch, various editions of works of importance, as “Opere
inedite di Ludovico Castelvetro,
” Grazioli,
De antiquis Mediolani aedificiis,
” Thesaurus
novus veterum Inscriptionum,
” by Muratori, Bibliotheca scriptorum Mediolanensium,
” Milan, Biblioteca de' Volgarizzatori Italiani,
” Milan,
5 vols. 4to, 1767, besides which he contributed a great
number of essays and letters to various collections. He
died at Milan Jan. 5, 1755, after having had the misfortune to lose his son, the subject of the following article.
ies; in the latter he was a contributor to various collections. The precise year of his death is not known: but it is thought to have happened in 1660.
, son of the former, was born in 1609,
with a decided turn for poetry. Before the age of fifteen,
he published an idyllium on the silk-worm, “Bambace e
seta, idillio,
” Rome, Endymion,
”
book of cantatas by subscription, and then he left England, The place and date of his death are not known.
, a celebrated musical performer
and composer in the end of the seventeenth and beginning
of the eighteenth century, was a native of Bologna, and
was diverted from the concerns of the church, to which his
parents had intended to educate him, by an early passion
for music. He became an opera-composer at Bologna and
Venice, and, passing into Germany, was made maestro di
capella to the electoral princess of Brandenburgh, for whom
he had composed the opera of “Attis.
” Both there and
in Italy he continued in high estimation as a composer, and
as a performer on the violincello, and particularly on the
viol d'amore, which he either invented, or brought into
notice. In 1716 he visited England, and performed on
this instrument, which was a novelty in this country, but
went again abroad until 1720, when, at the establishment
of the Hoyai Academy of Music, he was invited to return,
and was employed to compose several operas. Handel and
Bononcini were his contemporaries. After some stay in
this country, during which he probably dissipated what he
got, he was obliged to publish a book of cantatas by subscription, and then he left England, The place and date
of his death are not known.
hese desperadoes, who certainly would have ill-used, and perhaps murdered him, had not his face been known by one of the gang, who informing his comrades that this was
“Ariosto, while governor, took his residence in a fortified
castle, from which it was imprudent to step out without
guards, as the whole neighbourhood was swarming with
outlaws, smugglers, and banditti, who, after committing
the most enormous excesses all around, retired, for shelter
against justice, amidst the rocks and cliffs. Ariosto, one
morning, happened to take a walk without the castle, in his
night-gown, and, in a fit of thought, forgot himself so
much, that, step after step, he found himself very far from
his habitation, and surrounded, on a sudden, by a troop of
these desperadoes, who certainly would have ill-used, and
perhaps murdered him, had not his face been known by
one of the gang, who informing his comrades that this was
signor Ariosto, the chief of the banditti addressed him with
intrepid gallantry, and told him, that since he was the
author of the Orlando Furioso, he might be sure none of
the company would injure him, but would see him, on the
contrary, safe back to the castle; and so they did, entertaining him all along the way with the various excellencies
they had discovered in his poem, and bestowing upon it the
most rapturous praises. A very rare proof of the irresistible powers of poetry, and a noble comment on the fables
of Orpheus and Amphion, who drew wild beasts, and raised
walls, with the enchanting sound of their lyres.
”
o. His predecessors in that labour were sir John Harrington and Mr. Huggins, but they are now little known and little read. In 1759 the satires of Ariosto were translated
Ariosto’s reputation rests now entirely on his Orlando,
concerning which modern critics are nearly agreed, and
can perceive its blemishes without a wish to detract from its
genuine merit. The monstrous extravagance of his fictions, as far as respects the agency of demons and aerial
beings, were not ill suited to the age in which he lived,
and supported the reputation of his poem, until it attracted
the admiration of more enlightened minds, by the display
of an imagination infinitely exuberant, yet directed by the
finest taste, by the extraordinary power the author possessed of interesting both the gentler and severer passions,
and by his masterly skill in all graphical paintings and descriptions. “Orlando,
” says Dr. Blair, who seems to have
collected the opinions of all the modern critics on this
poem, "unites all sorts of poetry sometimes comic and
satiric; sometimes light and licentious; at other times,
highly heroic, descriptive, and tender. Whatever strain
the poet assumes, he excels in it. He is always master of
his subject; seems to play himself with it; and leaves
us sometimes at a loss to know whether he be serious or
in jest. He is seldom dramatic; sometimes, but not often,
sentimental; but in narration and description, perhaps no
poet ever went beyond him. He makes every scene which
he describes, and every event which he relates, pass before
our eyes; and in his selection of circumstances, is eminently picturesque. His style is much varied, always suited
to the subject, and adorned with a remarkable smooth and
melodious versification. The most valued editions of the
Orlando are, that printed at Venice, fol. 1584, with Ruscelli’s notes, and engravings by Porro; and the edition of
Molini, published in 1772, in 4 vols. 8vo, which has very
beautiful engravings, and was printed with Baskerville’s
types. There is likewise a very correct edition published at
Paris by Pankouke in 10 vols. 12mo, 1787; and another,
likewise very correct, in 4 vols. 8vo, by Mr. Isola, at London, 1789. Ariosto’s other pieces have been frequently
reprinted, but none of them are in much demand. The
English reader has been made acquainted with the merits
of the Orlando by Mr. Hoole, who, in 1783, completed his
translation, in 5 vols. 8vo. His predecessors in that labour
were sir John Harrington and Mr. Huggins, but they are
now little known and little read. In 1759 the satires of
Ariosto were translated into English, and published in a
12mo volume. Ariosto had a nephew, Horace, who was
born in 1555, and died in 1593. He defended the Orlando Furioso against the criticisms of Pellegrino, and was
himself a poet, and a writer of comedies.
ken by the publisher for that of the writer. His work, which consists of “Love Epistles,” w:is never known, or certainly not generally known, till Sambucus published it
was, according to, the common opinion, a Greek pagan writer, who lived in the fourth century, but his existence has been doubted. If indeed he
be the person mentioned by Ammianus Marcellinus, who
lived in that century, there is some foundation to believe
that there was such a person. Some think, however, that
the name prefixed to the first “Love Epistle
” was taken
by the publisher for that of the writer. His work, which
consists of “Love Epistles,
” w:is never known, or certainly
not generally known, till Sambucus published it in 1566;
since which time there have been several editions of it
printed at Paris, where the book seems to have been held
in greater estimation than amongst us. As to the real date
of its composition, we have nothing but conjecture to offer.
By the twenty-sixth epistle it should appear that the author
lived in the time of the later emperors, when Byzantium
was called New Rome; and in that epistle mention is made
of the pantomime actor Caramallus, who was contemporary
with Sidonius Apollinaris. The Epistles are certainly terse,
elegant, and very poetical, both in language and sentiment;
yet they have scarcely any thing original in them, being a
cento from the writings of Plato, Lucian, Philostratus, and
almost all the ancient Greek authors, whose sentences are
pleasingly woven together, and applied to every passion
incident to love.
Greek philosopher and astronomer, was a native of the city of Samos; but of what date is not exactly known; it must have been, however, before the time of Archimedes,
, a celebrated Greek philosopher and
astronomer, was a native of the city of Samos; but of what
date is not exactly known; it must have been, however,
before the time of Archimedes, as some parts of his writings and opinions are cited by that author, in his Arenarius: he probably, therefore, flourished about 420 years
B. C. He held the opinion of Pythagoras as to the system
of the world, but whether before or after him, is uncertain,
teaching that the sun and stars were fixed in the heavens,
and that the earth is moved in a circle about the sun, at the
same time that it revolved about its own centre or axis.
He taught also, that the annual orbit of the earth, compared
with the distance of the fixed stars, is but as a point. On
this head Archimedes says, “Aristarchus the Samian, confuting the notions of astrologers, laid down certain positions, from whence it follows, that the world is much larger
than is generally imagined; for he lays it down, that the
fixed stars and the sun are immoveable, and that the earth
is carried round the sun in the circumference of a circle.
”
On which account, although he did not suffer persecution
and imprisonment, like Galileo, yet he did not escape censure for his supposed impiety; for it is said Cleanthus was
of opinion, that Aristarchus ought to have been tried for
his opinions respecting the heavenly bodies and the earth.
Aristarchus invented a peculiar kind of sun-dial, mentioned by Vitruvius. There is extant of his works only a
treatise upon the magnitude and distance of the sun and
moon; this was translated into Latin, and commented upon
by Commandine, who first published it with Pappus’s explanations, in 1572, Pisaur, 4to. Dr. Wallis afterwards
published it in Greek, with Commandine’s Latin version,
in 1688, at Oxford, and which he inserted again in the
third volume of his mathematical works, printed in folio at
Oxford, in 1699. In 1644 was published, at Paris, a work
entitled “De Mundi Systemate, cum notis Bl. P. Roberval,
” 8vo, which goes under the name of Aristarchus; but
it has been supposed to be a fiction.
om Hebrew into Greek, and Eleazar complied by choosing seventy-two persons, who made the translation known by the name of the Septuagint. ArLteas has the credit of having
, a prefect or officer under Ptolemy Philadelphus, king of Egypt, who respected him on account of
his moderation and wisdom, is said to have been df Jewish
origin. Ptolemy is reported to have sent him to demand
of the high priest Eleazar, some learned men to translate
the Jewish laws from Hebrew into Greek, and Eleazar
complied by choosing seventy-two persons, who made the
translation known by the name of the Septuagint. ArLteas
has the credit of having written the history of this translation; and there exists a work of the kind which bears his
name, entitled “Historia de S. Scripturse interpretibus,
”
Oxon. De Bibliorum Textibus Originalibus,
” Oxon. Dissert, sup. Arist.
” Amst. Connections;
” Owen’s “Inquiry into the
Septuagint Version;
” Blair’s “Lectures on the Canon;
”
Dupin’s “Preliminary Dissertation to the Bible;
” Michaelis’s “Introduction to the New Testament,
” &c. &c.
ray the expences of his funeral, and provide for his son and daughters. The time of his death is not known. Themistocles, Cimpn, and Pericles, filled Athens with superb
, surnamed The Just, one of the most
virtuous characters in ancient history, was the son of
Lysimachus, and a native of Athens. He was educated
in the principles of Lycurgus, the Lacedemonian legislator,
and had Themistocles for his rival. These two celebrated
men, although brought up from their infancy together,
discovered very different qualities as they advanced in
life. Aristides was all candour and concern for the public
good: Themistocles was artful, deceitful, and ambitious.
Aristides wished to remove such a character from any
share in the government, but the intrigues of his enemy
prevailed so far as to procure the banishment of Aristides
about the year 483 B. C. The practice of ostracism was
employed on this occasion, and it is said that a citizen who
did not know Aristides came to him, and asked him to
write the name of Aristides on his shell. Surprised at this,
he asked the man, if Aristides had ever injured him,
“Not at all,
” replied the other, “but I am weary of
hearing him perpetually called The Just
” Aristides immediately wrote his name on the shell, and gave it to the
man; The Athenians, however, soon repented having
banished such a patriot, and recalled him, upon which he
went to Themistocles, to engage him to act in concert for
the welfare of the state, and his old enemy received this
offer with a better grace than his character promised.
Aristides persuaded the Greeks to unite against the Persians, and displayed his personal courage at the battles
of Marathon, Salamis, and Platsea. He besides established
a military chest for the support of the war, and the equity
with which he levied taxes for this purpose made his administration be termed the golden age. He died so poor
that the republic found it necessary to defray the expences
of his funeral, and provide for his son and daughters. The
time of his death is not known. Themistocles, Cimpn,
and Pericles, filled Athens with superb buildings, vast
porticoes, and rich statues, but Aristides adorned it by his
virtues. Such is the testimony of Plato, and of impartial
posterity. The name of Just was frequently confirmed to
him during his life-time, and he appears by every testimony to have been a man of great and inflexible integrity.
Plutarch hints at the only blemish in his character, when
he informs us that the enmity between him and Themistocles began first in a love affair.
losophic dignity. Athcnaeus quotes a work of his, entitled “Amatory Similes,” which is not otherwise known.
, of Coos, a peripatetic philosopher, about
250 years B. C. has been praised by Cicero for the graces
of his oratory, while he objects to him a, want of philosophic dignity. Athcnaeus quotes a work of his, entitled
“Amatory Similes,
” which is not otherwise known.
obably a native of Alexandria, and officiated in a church in that city, although it is not certainly known in what capacity. It was, here, however, that he first declared
, the founder of the sect of Arians, in the fourth century, was a presbyter, probably a native of Alexandria, and officiated in a church in that city, although it is not certainly known in what capacity. It was, here, however, that he first declared those doctrines which afterwards rendered his name so celebrated, and which have descended to our own times. In an assembly of the presbyters of Alexandria, the bishop of that city, Alexander, in a speech on the subject of the Trinity, maintained, among other points, that the Son was not only of the same eminence and dignity, but also of the same essence with the father. This assertion was opposed by Arius, on account, as he pretended, of its affinity with the Sabellian errors, which had been condemned by the church, and he took this opportunity to assert that the Son was totally and essentially distinct from the Father; that he was the first and noblest of those beings whom God the Father had created out of nothing, the instrument by whose subordinate operation the Almighty Father formed the universe, and therefore inferior to the Father both in nature and dignity. What his opinion was concerning the Holy Ghost, or the other doctrines connected with the orthodox belief, is not known. Alexander, however, in two councils assembled at Alexandria, accused him of impiety, and caused him to be expelled from the communion of the church. This was in the year 319, or 320. The sentence appears to have extended to expulsion from the city, upon which he retired to Palestine, and wrote several letters to the most eminent men of the times, in favour of his doctrine, and exhibiting himself as a martyr for truth. Constantine, the emperor, at first looked upon this controversy as of trivial import, and addressed a letter to the contending parties, in which he advised them not to injure the church by their particular opinions, but, finding this of no avail, and observing the increase of the followers of Arius, in the year 325, he assembled the famous council of Nice in Bithynia, in which the deputies of the church universal were summoned to put an end to this controversy. Here, after much debate, the doctrine of Arius was condemned, and himself banished among the Illyrians. He and his adherents received also the opprobrious name of Porphyrians, his books were ordered to be burnt, and whoever concealed any of them were to be put to death. This severity, however, rather repressed than abolished the tenets, or lessened the zeal of Arius and his friends, who regained their consequence by a trick which marks the unsettled state of public opinion, and the wavering character of the emperor Constantine. A few years after the council of Nice, a certain Arian priest, who had been recommended to the emperor in the dying words of his sister Constantia, found means to persuade Constantine, that the condemnation of Arius was utterly unjust, and was rather owing to the malice of his enemies, than to their zeal for the truth. In consequence of this, the emperor recalled him from banishment, about the year 328, repealed the laws that had been enacted against him, and permitted his chief protector, Eusebius of Nicomedia, and his vindictive faction, to vex and oppress the partisans of the Nicene council in various ways. Athanasius, who was now become bishop of Alexandria, was one of those who suffered most from the violent measures of the Arian party, but invincibly firm in his principles, and deaf to the most powerful solicitations and entreaties, he refused to restore Arius to his former rank and office. On this account he was deposed by the council held at Tyre in the year 335, and was afterwards banished into Gaul, while Arius and his followers were, with great solemnity, reinstated in their privileges, and received into the communion of the church. The people of Alexandria, however, unmoved by these proceedings in favour of Arius, persisted in refusing him a place among their presbyters; on which the emperor invited him to Constantinople in the year 336, and ordered Alexander, the bishop of that city, to admit him to his communion; but before this order could be carried into execution, Arius died suddenly as he was easing nature. As this event happened on the day appointed for his admission, his friends gave out that he was poisoned; and his enemies, that he died by the just, judgment of God. On the latter report, we need make no remark, but the accounts of his death by no means favour the belief that he was poisoned. It is said that as he was Walking, he felt a necessity for retiring to ease nature, and that in the operation his entrails fell out, but no poison could have produced an effect so violent without having produced other and previous effects on the stomach: of his having been so affected, however, or making any complaint, we hear nothing, and as he was proceeding to the solemn act of being reinstated in the church, it is not probable that he felt any indisposition.
uste in Florence, in the fifteenth century. The name of his family was Mainardi, but he is generally known by that of Arlotto. He acquired notice in his time by his jests
, one of those buffoons who disgrace the
regular professions, was the curate of the parish of St. Juste
in Florence, in the fifteenth century. The name of his
family was Mainardi, but he is generally known by that of
Arlotto. He acquired notice in his time by his jests and
witticisms, some of which that have been transmitted to
us are upon subjects too sacred for ridicule or trifling.
After his death, a collection was published with the title
of “Facetie piacevoli, Fabule e Motti del Piovano Arlotto,
Prete Fioreritino,
” Venice,
talents fair play. His “Lettre sur la Musique, au Comte de Caylus,” 1754, 8 vo, which made him first known to the learned world, and has been generally praised, was little
, a French miscellaneous writer of
considerable note, was born at Aubignan, near Carpentras,
July 27, 1721, and afterwards became an ecclesiastic. In
1752 he came to Paris, and in 1762 was admitted into the
Academy of Inscriptions and Belles Lettres. He was for
some time attached to prince Louis of Wirtemberg, afterwards sovereign of that duchy, but then in the service of
France. The advocate Gerbier, his friend, having in 1765,
gained an important cause for the clergy of France against
the Benedictines, he demanded, as his reward, that Arnaud should be placed at the head of the abbey of Grandchamp. In 1771 he was elected a member of the French
academy, and became librarian to Monsieur, with the reversion of the place of historiographer of the order of St.
Lazarus. He died at Paris Dec. 2, 1784. The abbé Arnaud was a man of learning, much information, and taste,
but too much a man of the world, and too indolent, to give
his talents fair play. His “Lettre sur la Musique, au
Comte de Caylus,
” L‘Histoire ancienne des peuples de l’Europe par de Buat,
” Journal Etranger,
” with M. Suard, from Jan. Gazette litteraire
de l'Europe,
” also with M. Suard, Varietes litteraires, ou Ilecueil des pieces tant originales que traduites, concernant la philosophic, la litterature, et les arts,
” Melanges de litterature,
” Varietes
”
only, that we find Bissy’s translation of Young’s Night
Thoughts. 4. “Description des principales pierres gravees
du cabinet du due d'Orleans,
” Memoires
de l'Academie des inscriptions,
” collected and published
under the title of “Œuvres completes de l'abbé Arnaud,
”
3 vols. 8vo, but incorrectly printed. The
“Memoires pour servir a l'histoire de la revolution opere dans
la Musique par le chevalier Gluck,
”
f Canterbury. He sat nine years and a few days, and died in March 1124, aged eighty-four. He is best known by his work concerning the foundation, endowment, charters,
, or Earnulph, or Ernulph, bishop of
Rochester in the reign of king Henry I, was a Frenchman
by birth, and for some time a monk of St. Lucian de
Beauvais. Observing some irregularities among his brethren, which he could neither remedy nor endure, he resolved to quit the monastery but first he took the advice
of Lanfranc archbishop of Canterbury, under whom he had
studied in the abbey of Bee. That prelate, who was well
acquainted with his merit, invited him over into England,
and placed him in the monastery of Canterbury, where he
lived till Lanfranc’s death. Afterwards, when Anselm
came into that see, Arnulph was made prior of the monastery of Canterbury, and afterwards abbot of Peterborough,
and to both places he was a considerable benefactor, having
rebuilt part of the church of Canterbury, which had fallen
down, and also that of Peterborough, but this latter was
destroyed by an accidental fire, and our prelate removed
to Rochester before he could repair the loss. In 1115, he
was consecrated bishop of that see, in the room of Radulphus or Ralph, removed to the see of Canterbury. He
sat nine years and a few days, and died in March 1124,
aged eighty-four. He is best known by his work concerning the foundation, endowment, charters, laws, and other
things relating to the church of Rochester. It generally
passes by the name of Textus Roffensis, and is preserved in.
the archives of the cathedral church of Rochester. Mr.
Wharton, in his Anglia Sacra, has published an extract of
this history, under the title of “Ernulphi Episcopi Roffensis Collectanea de rebus Ecclesise Roffensis, a prima
sedis fundatione ad sua tempora. Ex Textu Roffensi,
quern composuit Ernulphus.
” This extract consists of
the names of the bishops of Rochester, from Justus, who
was translated to Canterbury in the year 624, to Ernulfus
inclusive benefactions to the church of Rochester; of the
agreement made between archbishop Lanfranc, and Odo
bishop of Bayeux how Lanfranc restored to the monks
the lands of the church of St. Andrew, and others, which
had been alienated from them how king William the son
of king William did, at the request of archbishop Lanfranc,
grant unto the church of St. Andrew the apostle, at Rochester, the manor called Hedenham, for the maintenance
of the monks and why bishop Gundulfus built for the
king the stone castle of Rochester at his own expence
a grant of the great king William Of the dispute between
Gundulfus and Pichot benefactions to the church of
Rochester. Oudm is of opinion, our Arnulph had no hand
in this collection; but the whole was printed, in 1769, bj
the late Mr. Thorpe, in his “Registrum Roffense.
”
an excellent copyist of the designs of Michel Angelo, but died young. Among painters he is sometimes known by the name of II Cavalier d'Arpino, and sometimes by that of
, the son of a painter named Cesari at Arpino, was born at Rome in 1560. While yet in
his 13th year his father placed him with the artists employed by Gregory XIII. in painting the lodges of the
Vatican, whom he served in the humble employment of
preparing their pallets and colours. But, in this situation
he discovered such talents, that the pope gave orders to
pay him a golden crown per day so long as he continued
to work in the Vatican. Pope Clement VIII. distinguished
him by adding new and higher favours to those of Gregory
XIII. He made him chevalier of the order of Christ, and
appointed him director of St. John de Lateran. In 1600
he followed the cardinal Aldobrandini, who was sent legate
on occasion of the marriage of Henry IV. with Mary de
Medicis. Caravagio, his enemy and his rival, having attacked him, Arpino refused to fight him because he was
not a knight, and in order to remove this obstacle, Caravagio was obliged to go to Malta to be admitted chevalierservant. Arpino wanted likewise to measure swords with
Annibal Carachio, but the latter, with becoming contempt,
took a pencil in his hand, and, shewing it to him, said,
“With this weapon I defy you.
” Arpino died at Rome
in
tion but, being overwhelmed with business, I grew iuipatient at his detaining me so long. Alas had I known that this was the last visit, the last words of my friend, how
, a Swedish physician and naturalist,
the friend and contemporary of Linnoeus, was born in
1705, in the province of Angermania, of poor parents,
who intended him at first for the church but inclination led him to the pursuit of natural history. He began
his studies at Upsal, where, in 1728, he first became acquainted with Linnæus, who informs us that at that time
the name of Artedi was heard everywhere and that the
remarks Artedi made, and the knowledge he displayed,
struck him with astonishment. A higher character cannot
well be supposed and here their friendship and amicable
rivalship commenced. Even the dissimilitude of their
tempers turned out to advantage. Artedi excelled Linnaeus in chemistry, and Linnæus out-did him in the knowledge of birds and insects, and in botany. Artedi finally
restricted his botanical 'studies to the umbelliferous plants,
in which he pointed out a new method of classification,
which was afterwards published by Linnæus. But the
chief object of his pursuits, and which transmitted his
fame to posterity, was Ichthyology and Linnæus found
himself so far excelled in point of abilities, that he relinquished to him this province, on which Artedi afterwards
bestowed all his juvenile labours. In the course of his investigations, he projected a new classification in Ichthyology, which encouraged Linnoeus in his similar design in
botany. In 1734 Artedi left Sweden, and went to England for the purpose of making greater improvements in
the knowledge of fishes and from England he proceeded
to Holland, where he wished to have taken his doctor’s
degree but was prevented by the want of money. On
this occasion Linnæus recommended him to the celebrated
apothecary Seba, of Amsterdam, a lover of natural history,
and who had formed a very extensive museum. Seba received Artedi as his assistant, and the latter would probably have been enabled to pursue his studies with advantage, had he not lost his life by falling into one of the
canals in a dark night, Sept. 25, 1735. “No sooner,
”
says Linnæus, “had I finished my * Fundamenta Botanica,‘
than I hastened to communicate them to Artedi he
shewed me on his part the work which had been the result
of several years study, his ’ Philosophia Ichthyologia,'
and other manuscripts. I was delighted with his familiar
conversation but, being overwhelmed with business, I
grew iuipatient at his detaining me so long. Alas had I
known that this was the last visit, the last words of my
friend, how fain would I have tarried to prolong his existence
”
bserves that the place for this assembly was very happily chosen. But Artigni is more advantageously known by his “Memoires d'histoire, de critique & de litterature,”
, canon of the cathedral church at Vienna, was born in that metropolis, the
th of March 1704. He shewed an early inclination for
literature and bibliographical inquiries, and wrote some
verses, which he afterwards judiciously suppressed. His
first publication, in 1739, was a piece entitled “Relation,
d'une assemblee tenue au bas de Parnasse, pour la reforme
des Belles Lettres,
” 12mo. Mr. Sabathier, with more
spleen than reason, observes that the place for this assembly was very happily chosen. But Artigni is more
advantageously known by his “Memoires d'histoire, de
critique & de litterature,
” Paris,
y inveighs against the innovations then attempted by Monteverde. The time of Artusi’s decease is not known.
, a musical critic, who flourished in the sixteenth century, was a native
of Bologna, and a canon-regular of the congregation del
Salvatore. Though he is ranked only among the minor
writers on music, yet if his merit and importance are estimated by the celebrity and size of his volumes, he certainly deserves the attention of students and collectors of
musical tracts. In his “Arte del Contrappunto ridotta in
tavole,
” published at Venice, in Arte del Contrappunto,
” which is a
oseful and excellent supplement to his former compendium.
And in 1600, and 1603, this intelligent writer published
at Venice, the first and second part of another work,
“Delle Imperfettioni della moderna musica,
” in which
he gives a curious account of the state of instrumental
music in his time, and strongly inveighs against the innovations then attempted by Monteverde. The time of
Artusi’s decease is not known.
er of Alphonsus, king of Castille, were partly taken from the works of Arzachel. Few particulars are known of the personal history of this astronomer, unless that he was
, or Eizarakel, a native
of Toledo, in the twelfth century, was one of the most
celebrated astronomers who appeared after the time of the
Greeks, and before the revival of learning. He wrote a
treatise on the “obliquity of the Zodiac,
” which he fixed,
for his time, at 23 34', and determined the apogee of the
sun by four hundred and two observations. The famous
Alphonsine Tables, published by order of Alphonsus, king
of Castille, were partly taken from the works of Arzachel.
Few particulars are known of the personal history of this
astronomer, unless that he was of the Jewish persuasion.
Montucla says that his tables are preserved in several
libraries, in manuscript, with an introduction which explains their use.
rch, the life of his master Kentigern, and some other pieces. The time of his death is not certainly known. After his death the see of St. Asaph continued vacant 500 years.
, who gave his name to the episcopal see of St. Asaph in Wales, was descended of a good family in North Wales, and became a monk in the convent of Llanelvy, over which Kentigern the Scotch bishop of that place presided. That prelate, being recalled to his own country, resigned his convent and cathedral to Asaph, who demeaned himself with such sanctity, that after his death Llanelvy lost its name, and took that of the saint. St. Asaph flourished about the year 590, under Carentius, king of the Britons. He wrote the ordinances of his church, the life of his master Kentigern, and some other pieces. The time of his death is not certainly known. After his death the see of St. Asaph continued vacant 500 years.
, a Puritan minister, first settled in Staffordshire, where he became known to Hildersham, Dod, Ball, Langley, and other nonconformists
, a Puritan minister, first settled in
Staffordshire, where he became known to Hildersham,
Dod, Ball, Langley, and other nonconformists of that
time, was educated at Emanuel college, Cambridge,
under Dr. Stooker. He exercised his ministry in London
twenty-three years. In the time of the civil wars, he was
chaplain to the earl of Warwick. As he was a man of
fortune and character, his influence was great among the
presbyterians. He was some time chaplain to the earl of
Manchester, and fell under the displeasure of Cromwell’s
party, whom he had disobliged by his violent opposition
to the engagement. He had a very considerable hand in
restoring Charles II. and went to congratulate his majesty
at Breda. Dr. Calamy speaks of him as a man of real
sanctity, and a non- conformist of the old stamp. He
died in 1662, and was buried the eve of Bartholomew day.
Dr. Walker censures him for his zeal against the characters
of the clergy in general, in which he shares with many of
his brethren. He published several sermons preached
before the parliament, or the magistrates, on public occasions, and funeral sermons for Jeremy Whitaker, Ralph
Robinson, Robert Strange, Thomas Gataker, Richard
Vines, and the countess of Manchester, a treatise on “the
power of Godliness,
” and prefaces to the works of John
Ball, and others.
at university, of bestowing on it all that valuable collection of the Tradescants, which was so well known to the learned world, and which had been exceedingly improved
On the death of his father-in-law, sir William Dugdale, Jan. 10, 1686, Mr. Ashmole declined a second time the office of garter king at arms, and recommended his brother Dugdale, in which, though he did not fully succeed, yet he procured him the place of Norroy. This was one of the last public acts of his life, the remainder of which was spent in an honourable retirement to the day of his demise, which happened on May 18, 1692, in the seventy-sixth year of his age. He was undoubtedly a great benefactor to, and patron of, learning. His love of chemistry led him to preserve many valuable Mss. relating to that science, besides those that he caused to be printed and published. He was deeply skilled in history and antiquities, as sufficiently appears by his learned and laborious works, both printed and manuscripts. He was likewise a generous encourager and protector of such ingenious and learned men as were less fortunate in the world than himself, as appears by his kindness to sir'George Wharton in the worst of times, his respect to the memory of his friend Mr. John Booker, and the care he took in the education of the late eminent Dr. George Smalridge. His corpse was interred in the church of Lambeth in Surrey, May 26 1692, and a black marble stone laid over his grave, with a Latin inscription, in which, though there is much to his honour, there is nothing which exceeds the truth. He may be considered as one of the first and most useful collectors of documents respecting English antiquities, but the frequent application of the epithet genius to him, in the Biographia Britannica, is surely gratuitous. His attachment to- the absurdities of astrology and alchemy, and his association with Lilly, Booker, and other quacks and impostors of his age, must ever prevent his being ranked among the learned wise, although he never appears to have been a confederate in the tricks of Lilly and his friends, and certainly accumulated a considerable portion of learning and information on various useful topics. His benefaction to the university of Oxford will ever secure respect for his memory. It was towards the latter end of October 1677, that he made an offer to that university, of bestowing on it all that valuable collection of the Tradescants, which was so well known to the learned world, and which had been exceedingly improved since it came into his possession, together with all the coins, medals, and manuscripts of his own collecting, provided they would erect a building fit to receive them to which proposition the university willingly assented. Accordingly, on Thursday the 15th of May 1679, the first stone of that stately fabric, afterwards called Ashmole’s Museum, was laid on the west side of the theatre, and being finished by the beginning of March 1682, the collection was deposited and the articles arranged by Robert Plott, LL.D. who before had been intrusted with their custody. This museum was first publicly viewed, on the 2 1st of May following, by his royal highness James duke of York, his royal consort Josepha Maria, princess Anne, and their attendants, and on the 24th of the same month, by the doctors and masters of the university. In a convocation held on the 4th of June following (1683) a Latin letter of thanks, penned by him who was then deputy orator, being publicly read, was sent to Mr. Ashmole at South Lambeth, In July 1690, he visited the university with his wife, and was received with all imaginable honour, and entertained at a noble dinner in his museum; on which occasion Mr. Edward Hannes, A. M. the chemical professor, afterwards an eminent physician, made an elegant oration to him. His benefaction to the university was very considerably enlarged at his death, by the addition of his library, which consisted of one thousand seven hundred and fifty-eight books, of which six hundred and twenty were manuscripts, and of them three hundred and eleven folios, relating chiefly to English History, Heraldry, Astronomy, and Chemiftry, with a great variety of pamphlets, part of which had been sorted by himself, and the rest are methodized since, and a double catalogue made one classical, according to their various subjects, and another alphabetical. He bequeathed also to the same place, two gold chains and a medal, the one a filigreen chain of ninety links, weighing twenty-two ounces, with a medal of the elector of Brandenburg, upon which is the effigies of that elector, and on the reverse, a iHew of Straelsund, struck upon the surrender of that important city; a collar of S. S. with a medal of the king of Denmark; and a gold medal of the elector Palatine; and a George of the duke of Norfolk, worn by his grandfather when he was ambassador in Germany. All these he had received as acknowledgments of the honour which he had done the garter, by his labours on that subject. This museum has been since enriched by the Mss. of Anthony Wood, Aubrey, and others. It has been remarked as something extraordinary, that Mr. Ashmole was never knighted for his services as a herald. It is perhaps as extraordinary that the university of Oxford bestowed on him the degree of doctor of physic, who never regularly studied or practised in that faculty, unless we conceive it as a compliment to his chemical studies.
Of the personal history of this artist very little is known. He married at Lyons in 1645, the daughter of a merchant of
Of the personal history of this artist very little is known. He married at Lyons in 1645, the daughter of a merchant of Antwerp, who happened accidentally to be in that place, and died at Amsterdam in 1660, in the fiftieth year of his age. Perelle has engraved some of his landscapes, and of his Italian ruins.
last, “A Book of Epistles” but the existence of these seems unsupported by any authority; nor is it known where he was interred. He appears to have been one of the most
, or Asser, or Asker (called, by Pitts, John,) a learned monk of St. David’s, and
historian, was of British extraction, probably of that part
of South Wales called Pembrokeshire, and was bred up in
the learning of those times, in the monastery of St. David’s
(in Latin Menevia), whence he derived his surname of
Menevensis. There he is said to have had for his tutor
Johannes Patricius, one of the most celebrated scholars of
his age, and had also the countenance of Nobis, or Novis,
archbishop of that see, who was his relation but it does
not appear that he was either his secretary or his chancellor, as some writers would have us believe. From St.
David’s he was invited to the court of Alfred the Great,
merely from the reputation of his learning, probably about
the year 880, or somewhat earlier. Those who had the charge
of bringing him to court, conducted him from St. David’s
to the town of Dene (Dean) in Wiltshire, where the king
received him with great civility, and shewed him in a little
time the strongest marks of favour and affection, insomuch
that he condescended to persuade him not to think any
more of returning to St. David’s, but rather to continue
with him as his domestic chaplain and assistant in his studies.
Asserius, however, modestly declined this proposal, alledging, that it did not become him to desert that holy
place where he had been educated, and received the order
of priesthood, for the sake of any other preferment. King
Alfred then desired that he would divide his time between
the court and the monastery, spending six months at court,
and six at St. David’s. Asserius would not lightly comply
even with this request, but desired leave to return to St.
David’s, to ask the advice of his brethren, which he obtained, but in his journey falling ill at Winchester of a fever, he lay there sick about a year and as soon as he recovered he went to St. David’s, where, consulting with his
brethren on the king’s proposal, they unanimously agreed
that he should accept it, promising themselves great advantages from his favour with the king, of which, at that
time, they appear to have had need, to relieve them from
the oppressions of one Hemeid, a petty prince of South
Wales. But they requested of Asserius, that he would
prevail on the king to allow him to reside quarterly at
court and at St. David’s, rather than that he should remain
absent six months together. When he came back he found
the king at Leoneforde, who received him with every mark
of distinction. He remained with him then eight months
at once, reading and explaining to him whatever books
were in his library, and grew into so great credit with that
generous prince, that on Christmas-eve following, he gave
him the monasteries of Anigresbyri, and Banuwille, that
is, Ambrosbury in Wiltshire, and Banwell in Somersetshire,
with a silk pall of great value, and as much incense as a
strong man could carry, sending together with them this
compliment, “That these were but small things, and by
way of earnest of better which should follow them.
” Soon
after, he had Exeter bestowed upon him, and not long
after that, the bishopric of Sherburn, which, however, he
seems to have quitted in the year 883, though he always
retained the title, as Wilfred archbishop of York was constantly so styled, though he accepted of another bishopric.
Thenceforward he constantly attended the court, in the
manner before stipulated, and is named as a person, in
whom he had particular confidence, by king Alfred, in his
testament, which must have been written some time before the year 885; since mention is made there of Esna
bishop of Hereford, who died that year. He is also mentioned by the king, in his prefatory epistle placed before
his translation of Gregory’s Pastoral, addressed to Wulfsig
bishop of London and there the king does not call him
bishop of Sherburn, but “my bishop,
” acknowledging the
help received from him and others in that translation. It
appears to have been the near resemblance, which the
genius of Asserius bore to that of the king, that gained
him so great a share in his confidence and very probably,
it was on this account, that Asserius drew up those memoirs of the life of Alfred which we still have, and which
he dedicated and presented to the king in the year 893. la
this work we have a curious account of the manner in
which that prince and our author spent their time together.
Asserius tells us, that having one day, being the feast of
St. Martin, cited in conversation a passage of some famous
author, the king was mightily pleased with it, and would
have him write it down in the margin of a book he carried
in his breast; but Asserius finding no room to write it
there, and yet being desirous to gratify his master, he
asked king Alfred whether he should not provide a few
leaves, in which to set dawn such remarkable things as
occurred either in reading or conversation the king was
delighted with this hint, and directed Asserius to put it
immediately in execution. Pursuing this method constantly, their collection began to swell, till at length it
became of the size of an ordinary Psalter and this was
what the king called his “Hand-book, or Manual.
” Asserius, however, calls it Enchiridion. In all probability,
Asserius continued at court during the whole reign of Alfred, and, probably, several years after but where, or
when he died is doubtful, though the Saxon Chronicle positively fixes it to the year 910. The editor of his life in
the Biog. Brit, takes Asser the monk, and Asser bishop of
Sherburnj for one and the same person, which some however have denied, and asserts him to have been also archbishop of Sk David’s, upon very plausible authority. He
admits, however, i that if there was such a reader in the
public schools at Oxford as Asser the monk, he must have
been some other person of the same name, and not our author but this point rests almost wholly on the authority
of Harpsfiekl nor is the account consistent with itself in
several other respects,as sir John S'pelman has justly observed. There is no less controversy about the works of
Asserius, than about his preferments for some alledge
that he never wrote any thing but the Annals of king Alfred whereas, Pitts gives us the titles of no less than five
other books of his writing, and adds, that he wrote many
more. The first of these is a “Commentary on Boetius,
”
which is mentioned by Leland, on the authority of the
Chronicle of St. Neot’s but he probably only explained
this author to king Alfred when he made his Saxon translation. The second piece mentioned by Pitts, is the Anjials of Alfred’s life and reign. The third he styles “Annales Britannia;,
” or the Annals of Britain, in one book,
mentioned also by Leland and Bale, and which has been
since published by the learned Dr. Gale. The fourth piece,
he calls “Aurearum Sententiarum Enchiridion, lib. 1
”
which is without question the Manual or common-placebook made for king Alfred, and reckoned among his works
by Pitts himself. Leland has also spoken of this Enchiridion, as an instance of the learning and diligence of Asser,
which it certainly was and though the collections he made
concerning this author, are much better and larger than
those of Bale and Pitts, yet he modestly, upon this subject,
apologizes for speaking so little and so obscurely of so great
a man. The next in Pitts’ s catalogue, is a “Book of Homilies,
” and the last, “A Book of Epistles
” but the existence of these seems unsupported by any authority; nor
is it known where he was interred. He appears to have
been one of the most pious and learned prelates of the age
in which he lived.
d it in all that they say against the Nestorians or Eutychians. 4. Because this Vigilms Tapsensis is known to have published others of his writings under the borrowed
Photius greatly extols Athanasius as an elegant, clear, and excellent writer. It is controverted among learned men, whether Athanasius composed the creed commonly received under his name. Baronius is of opinion that it was composed by Athanasius when he was at Rome, and offered to pope Julius as a confession of his faith which circumstance is not at all likely, for Julius never questioned his faith. However, a great many learned men have ascribed it to Athanasius as cardinal Bona, Petavius, Bellarmine, and Rivet, with many others of both communions. Scultetus leaves the matter in doubt; but the best and latest critics- make no question but that it is to be ascribed to a Latin author, Vigilius Tapsensis, an African bishop, who lived in the latter end of the fifth century, in the time of the Vandalic Arian persecution. Vossius and Quesnel have written particular dissertations in favour of this opinion. Their arguments are, 1. Because this creed is wanting in almost all the manuscripts of Athanasius’ s works. 2. Because the style and contexture of it do not bespeak a Greek but a Latin author. 3. Because neither Cyril of Alexandria, nor the council of E^phesus, nor pope Leo, nor the council of Chalcedon, have ever mentioned it in all that they say against the Nestorians or Eutychians. 4. Because this Vigilms Tapsensis is known to have published others of his writings under the borrowed name of Athanasius, with which this creed is commonly joined. These reasons have persuaded Pearson, Usher, Cave, and Dupin, critics of the first rank, to come into the opinion, that this creed was not composed by Athanasius, but by a later and a Latin writer.
u have done me by imparting some public affairs, which might perhaps have been unknown to me, or not known till after a long time, for I keep no correspondence. When there
"I wish with all my soul, and I humbly and heartily pray to almighty God, that these gentlemen who have given so great proof of their love to the true religion, and of the just rights and liberties of their country, and of their zeal against popery, may upon their trial appear innocent. I am so satisfied of their great worth, that I cannot easily believe them guilty of so horrid a crime. I pray God stand by them in the time of their distress. I wish I might have the liberty fairly to give them what assistance I could in that wherein I might be any way capable of doing it. I beseech almighty God to heal our divisions, and establish us upon the sure foundation of peace and righteousness. I thank you for the favour you have done me by imparting some public affairs, which might perhaps have been unknown to me, or not known till after a long time, for I keep no correspondence. When there is any occasion, pray oblige me by a farther account, especially what concerns these gentlemen and though I have written nothing here but what is innocent and justifiable, yet that J may be the surer against any disadvantage or misconstruction, pray take the pains to transcribe what notes you think fit, out of this large paper, but send me this paper back again, inclosed in another, by the same hand that brings it.
ence. So the death of Julian the apostate heathen emperor, who was killed in his wars in Persia, was known in the very moment of it at the city of Rome, at a great distance
"It is a vulgar error that hath obtained among some of us, that these wicked spirits are now confined under chains of darkness in the place of torment. I remember that expression of some of them to our Saviour, Art thou come to torment us before the time It was not then the time of their being tormented it is rather to'be believed that they are wandering about in the air, and there fleeting to and fro, driving on such wicked purposes as this our enemy is engaged in. We know grave and serious historians give us instances of correspondences held both by good and bad spirits here the wicked by God’s permission, the good by his command and particular good providence. So the death of Julian the apostate heathen emperor, who was killed in his wars in Persia, was known in the very moment of it at the city of Rome, at a great distance from the place of battle, to the no little joy of the Christians. And this, I suppose, was by the ministry of a good angel.
evil angels. In the instant of our Saviour’s passion, if we may believe credible historians, it was known at a vast distance from Jerusalem, at sea among some wh were
“We have instances of another nature, of what has
been done by evil angels. In the instant of our Saviour’s
passion, if we may believe credible historians, it was known
at a vast distance from Jerusalem, at sea among some wh
were then on a voyage they heard a voice in the air, crying out of the death of the great god Pan after which followed great bowlings and screechings. Whence we may
suppose by the expression, that this was by some wicked
spirits that were then hovering in the air, and did communicate this piece of intelligence.
”
n Dalmatia, now called Melada, while Attardi maintained the more common opinion that it was the well known island of Malta.
, an Augustin monk, was
torn at St. Philip of Agire, or Argire, an ancient town of
Sicily, and became professor of church history in the university of Catania, and in 1758 provincial of his order in
Sicily and Malta. He wrote, 1. a Bilancia della Verita,“Palermo, 1738, 4to. This was an answer to a book entitled
” Paulus apostolus in Mari, quod hunc Venetus sinus dicifcur, naufragus," by P. Ignatius Giorgi, a Benedictine of
Hagusa. The dispute respected the name of the island on
which St. Paul was shipwrecked, called in Latin Melita.
Giorgi was of opinion that it was an island in Dalmatia,
now called Melada, while Attardi maintained the more
common opinion that it was the well known island of Malta.
, generally known in Italy by the name of Father Paul of Florence, was born in
, generally known in Italy by the
name of Father Paul of Florence, was born in that city in
1419. He entered early in life into the religious order of
the Servites, that is, the Servants of the Blessed Virgin,
instituted first in 1223, in Tuscany, by some Florentine
merchants. To great piety he is said to have added a portion of learning, not very common in his time, and Marsilius Ficinus compared his eloquence to the charms of Orpheus. He was intimate with the most learned men of his
time, and was often present at the Platonic academy which
met in the palace of Lorenzo de Medici. He contributed
much to the extent of his order in Piedmont, Savoy, and
Switzerland, and became provincial in Tuscany. He died
at Florence, in May 1499. His works were, 1. “Vita
beati Joachimi,
” inserted in Bollandus’s Acts of the Saints.
2. “Quadragesimale de reditu peccatoris ad Deum,
” Milan, Breviarium totius juris canonici,
”
Milan, Expositio in Psalmos prenitentiales,
” Milan, De origine ordinis Servorum beatae Marias dialogus.
”
This work, which was written in
s application to study was intense. In polite literature, and even in mathematical researches, he is known to have eminently excelled, and there are some proofs, in his
His application to study was intense. In polite literature,
and even in mathematical researches, he is known to have
eminently excelled, and there are some proofs, in his correspondence, of his attachment to religious duties. Nor
was he less distinguished for social qualities. Among his
more immediate intimates may be reckoned Smalridge,
Whitfield, Hickman, Charlett, Harrington, Newton, King,
Travell, Gough, and the two brothers, Robert and John
Freind. By his tutors at Westminster, Busby and Knipe,
he had been particularly noticed, and at Christ Church he
was honoured with the friendship of Dr. Aldrich. While
thus successful in the severer paths of study, he occasionally indulged in poetical attempts but, although his
attachment to the Muses continued unimpaired throughout
life, not many of his poems have been preserved, and some
of those have not till lately been ascertained to be his production. It is somewhat singular that his name, as far as
we have searched, does not appear in any one of the public complimentary verses which have issued from the unirersky press on public occasions. We have translations of
three odes and part of an epistle of Horace, one eclogue
from Virgil, an idyllium from Theocritus, two short original songs, a Latin elegy, an impromptu, two Latin epigrams, and one in English, much admired, on the fan of
Miss Osborne, the lady whom he afterwards married. These
are all his juvenile pieces that have been recovered but
there are some elegant epitaphs from his maturerpen, and
some political squibs. He is said to have completed a version of Virgil’s Georgics not long before his death, but this
has never been ascertained. In 1690, his zeal for the memory of a favourite writer induced him to write a preface
to the “Second part of Mr. Waller’s poems.
”
The time of his entering into the church is not exactly known but may be very nearly ascertained by his “Epistolary Correspondence;”
The time of his entering into the church is not exactly
known but may be very nearly ascertained by his “Epistolary Correspondence;
” where a letter to his father in pinned down,
as,
” he says, “it is his hard luck to be, to this scene.
”
This restlessness appears to have broken out in October
1690, when he was moderator of the college, and had had
Mr. Boyle four months under his tuition, who a took up
half his time,“and whom he never had a thought of parting with till he should leave Oxford; but wished he
” could
part with him to-morrow on that score.“The father tells
him in November,
” You used to say, when you had your
degrees, you should be able to swim without bladders.
You used to rejoice at your being moderator, and of the
quantum and sub-lecturer but neither of these pleased
you; nor was you willing to take those pupils the house
afforded you when master nor doth your lecturer’s place,
or nobleman satisfy you.“In the same letter the father
advises his marrying into some family of interest,
” either
bishop’s or archbishop’s, or some courtier’s, which may be
done, with accomplishments, and a portion too.“And to
part of this counsel young Atterbury attended for he soon
after married Miss Osborn, a relation (some say a niece) of
the duke of Leeds, a great beauty, who lived at or in the
neighbourhood of Oxford, and by whom he had a fortune
ofTOOO/. In February 1690-1, we find him resolved
” to
bestir himself in his office in the house,“that of censor
probably, an officer (peculiar to Christ Church) who presides over the classical exercises he then also held the
catechetical lecture founded by Dr. Busby. About this
period he probably took orders, and entered into
” another
scene, and another sort of conversation;“for in 1691 he
was elected lecturer of St. Bride’s church in London, and
in October 1693, minister and preacher at Bridewell chapel. An academic life, indeed, must have been irksome
and insipid to a person of his active and aspiring temper.
It was hardly possible that a clergyman of his fine genius,
improved by study, with a spirit to exert his talents, should
remain long unnoticed and we find that he was soon appointed chaplain to king William and queen Mary. The
earliest of his sermons in print was preached before the
queen at Whitehall, May 29, 1692. In August 1694 he
preached his celebrated sermon before the governors of
Bridewell and Bethlem,
” On the power of charity to cover
sins“to which Mr. Hoadly (afterwards bishop) published
sorne^
” Exceptions“in the postscript to his
” Second Letter to Dr. Atterbury,“mentioned hereafter. In this he
accuses Atterbury, and not without reason, of endeavouring to maintain the proposition that
” God will accept
one duty (charity) in lieu of many others.“In
” October
that year he preached before the queen p “The scorncr
incapable of true wisdom
” which was also warmly attacked by a friend of sir Robert Howard, author of “The
History of Religion,
” supposed to be alluded to in this
sermon. The pamphlet was entitled “A two-fold Vindication of the late archbishop of Canterbury, and the
Author of the History of Religion, &c.
”
tterly inconsistent with that cunning which his enemies allowed him. The duke of Wharton, it is well known, was violent against him, till convinced by his unanswerable
How far the bishop was attached in his inclinations to the Stuart family, to which he might be led by early prejudices of education, and the divided opinions of the times, is now too obvious to admit of controversy. But that he should have been weak enough to engage in a plot so inconsistent with his station, and so clumsily devised (to say the least of it, and without entering into his solemn asseverations of innocence), is utterly inconsistent with that cunning which his enemies allowed him. The duke of Wharton, it is well known, was violent against him, till convinced by his unanswerable reasoning.
uch taste for polite literature, that Riccoboni, his master, said, he was the only youth he had ever known who seemed to be born a poet and orator. His father wished him
, or Avanzi Giammarie, a
celebrated Italian lawyer, was born Aug. 23, 1564. He
was educated with great care, and discovered so much taste
for polite literature, that Riccoboni, his master, said, he
was the only youth he had ever known who seemed to be
born a poet and orator. His father wished him to study
medicine, but his own inclination led him to study law, in
which he soon became distinguished. At Ferrara he acquired an intimacy with Tasso, Guarini, Cremonini, and
other eminent characters of that time. He afterwards retired to Rovigo, and practised as a lawyer, but was singularly unfortunate in his personal affairs, not only losing a
considerable part of his property by being security for
some persons who violated their engagements, but having
his life attempted by assassins who attacked him one day
and left him for dead with eighteen wounds. He recovered, however, but his brother being soon after assassinated,
and having lost his wife, he retired, in 1606, to Padua,
where he died, March 2, 1622, leaving several children,
of whom Charles, his second son, became a learned physician and botanist. Avanzi wrote a poem “Il Satiro Favola Pastorale,
” Venice, Historia Ecclesiastica a Lutheri apostasia;
” and “Concilia
de rebus civilibus et criminalibus.
”
onour by a want of subserviency to his pleasure, and a stern and uncourtly inflexibility. It is well known that ingratitude was not the failing of Henry IV. yet he expended
, a very celebrated French Protestant, was son to John D‘Aubigne, lord of Brie, in Saintonge, and born in 1550 at St. Maury. He made such proficiency under his preceptors, that at eight years old he was able to translate the Crito of Plato. Having lost his father, who left him only his name and his debts, at the age of thirteen, he betook himself to the profession of arms, for which a spirit and zeal particularly ardent and persevering seemed to have qualified him. He accordingly attached himself to Henry then king of Navarre, who made him successively gentleman of his bed-chamber, marshal of the camp, governor of the island and castle of Maillezais, vice-admiral of Guienne and Bretagne, and what D’Aubigne valued most, his favourite. But he lost this last honour by a want of subserviency to his pleasure, and a stern and uncourtly inflexibility. It is well known that ingratitude was not the failing of Henry IV. yet he expended so much in conciliating the catholic lords, that he was often incapable of rewarding his old servants as they deserved, and with the utmost esteem for D‘Aubigne, he had bestowed little else upon him, and was probably not sorry for any pretence to get rid of him. D’Aubigne, displeased with his conduct, left the court, and although Henry intreated and demanded his return, continued inexorable, until he accidentally learnt that upon a false report of his being made a prisoner at the siege of Limoges, the king had ordered him to be ransomed at a great expence. Penetrated by this mark of returning kindness, he again came to court, but persisted in giving the king both advice and reproaches, in a blunt and sometimes satirical manner, which the king scarcely knew how to tolerate, while he felt conscious of the value of so sincere a friend and counsellor.
y Lloyd, that with great address he avoided it. The lengths he had gone in serving the king, and his known dislike to popery, induced the northern, rebels in the same
, descended of an
ancient and honourable family, of the county of Essex,
was born in 1488. He was by nature endowed with great
abilities, from his ancestors inherited an ample fortune,
and was happy in a regular education, but whether at
Oxford or Cambridge is not certain. At what time he was
entered of the Inner-Temple, does not appear, but in
1526 he was autumn reader of that house, and is thought
to have read on the statute of privileges, which he handled
with so much learniag and eloquence, as to acquire great
reputation. This, with the duke of Suffolk’s recommendation, to whom he was chancellor, brought him to the'
knowledge of his sovereign, who at that time wanted men
of learning and some pliability he was, accordingly, by
the king’s influence, chosen speaker of that parliament,
which sat first on the third of November, 1529, and is by
some styled the Black Parliament, and by others, on account of its duration, the Long Parliament. Great complaints were made in the house of commons against the
clergy, and the proceedings in ecclesiastical courts, and
several bills were ordered to be brought in, which alarmed
some of the prelates. Fisher, bishop of Rochester,
inveighed boldly against these transactions, in the house of
lords, with which the house of commons were so much
offended, that they thought proper to complain of it, by
their speaker, to the king, and Fisher had some difficulty
in excusing himself. The best historians agree, that great
care was taken by the king, or at least by his ministry, to
have such persons chosen into this house of commons as
would proceed therein readily and effectually, and with
this view Audley was chosen to supply the place of sir
Thomas More, now speaker of the lords’ house, and chancellor of England. The new house and its speaker justified
his majesty’s expectations, by the whole tenor of their behaviour, but especially by the passing of a law, not nowfound among our statutes. The king, having borrowed
very large sums of money of particular subjects, and entered into obligations for the repayment of the said sums,
the house brought in, and passed a bill, in the preamble of
which they declared, that inasmuch as those sums had been
applied by his majesty to public uses, therefore they cancelled and discharged the said obligations, &c. and the
king, finding the convenience of such a parliament, it sat
again in the month of January, 1530-1. In this session
also many extraordinary things were done amongst the
rest, there was a law introduced in the house of lords, by
which the clergy were exempted from the penalties they
had incurred, by submitting to the legatine power of
Wolsey. On this occasion the commons moved a clause in
favour of the laity, many of themselves having also incurred the penalties of the statute. But the king insisted
that acts of grace ought to flow spontaneously, and that this
was not the method of obtaining what they wanted; and the
house, notwithstanding the intercession of its speaker, and
several of its members, who were the king’s servants, was
obliged to pass the bill without the clause, and immediately
the king granted them likewise a pardon, which reconciled
all parties. In the recess, the king thought it necessary
to have a letter written to the pope by the lords and commons, or rather by the three estates in parliament, which
letter was drawn up and signed by cardinal Wolsey, the
archbishop of Canterbury, four bishops, two dukes, two
marquisses, thirteen earls, two viscounts, twenty-three
barons, twenty-two abbots, and eleven members of the
house of commons. Thepurport of this letter, dated
July 13, above three weeks after the parliament rose, was
to iMigage the pope to grant the king’s desire in the divorce
business, for the sake of preventing a civil war, on account of the succession, and to threaten him if he did not,
to take some other way. To gratify the speaker for the
great pains he had already taken, and to encourage him to
proceed in the same way, the king made him this year
attorney for the duchy of Lancaster, advanced him in
Michaelmas term to the state and degree of a serjeant at
law, and on the 14th of November following, to that of
his own serjeant. In January, 1531-2, the parliament had
its third session, wherein the grievances occasioned by the
excessive power of the ecclesiastics and their courts, were
regularly digested into a book, which was presented by
the speaker, Audley, to the king. The king’s answer was,
He would take advice, hear the parties accused speak, and
then proceed to reformation. Jn this session, a bill was
brought into the house of lords, for the better securing the
rights of his majesty, and other persons interested in the
eare of wards, which rights, it was alleged, were injured
by fraudulent wills and contracts. This bill, when it came
into the house of commons, was violently opposed, and the
members expressed a desire of being dissolved, which the
king would not permit but after they had done some
business, they had a recess to the month of April. When
they next met, the king sent for the speaker, and delivered
to him the answer which had been made to the roll of
grievances, presented at their last sitting, which afforded
very little satisfaction, and they seemed now less subset
viciit. Towards the close of the month, one Mr. Themse
moved, That the house would intercede with the king, to
take back his queen again. The king, extremely alarmed
at this, on the 30th of April, 1532, sent for the speaker, to
whom he repeated the plea of conscience, which had induced him to repudiate the queen, and urged that the
opinion of the learned doctors, &c. was on his side. On
the 11th of May the king sent for the speaker again, and
told him, that he had found that the clergy of his realm
were but half his subjects, or scarcely so much, every
bishop and abbot at the entering into his dignity, taking
an oath to the pope, derogatory to that of their fidelity
to the king, which contradiction he desired his parliament to take away. Upon this motion of the king’s, the
two oaths he mentioned were read in the house of commons and they would probably have complied, if the plague
bad not put an end to the session abruptly, on the 14th
of May; and two days after, sir Thomas More, knt. then
lord chancellor of England, went suddenly, without acquainting any body with his intention, to court, his majesty being then at York Place, and surrendered up the
seals to the king. The king going out of town to EastGreenwich, carried the seals with him, and on Monday,
May 20, delivered them to Thomas Audley, esq, with the
title of lord keeper, and at the same time conferred on him
the honour of knighthood. September 6, sir Thomas delivered the old seal, which was much worn, and received a
new one in its stead, yet with no -higher title: but on
January 26, 1533, he again delivered the seal to the king,
who kept it a quarter of an hour, and then returned it with
the title of lord chancellor. A little after, the king
granted to him the site of the priory of Christ Church,
Aldgate, together with all the church plate, and lands belonging to that house. When chancellor he complied with
the king’s pleasure as effectually as when speaker of the
house of commons. For in July 1535, he sat in judgment
on sir Thomas More, his predecessor, (as he had before on bishop Fisher,) who was now indicted of high-treason upon
which indictment the jury found him gnilty, and the lord
chancellor, Audley, pronounced judgment of death upon
him. This done, we are told, that sir Thomas More said,
that he had for seven years bent his mind and study upon
this cause, but as yet he found it no where writ by any
approved doctor of the church, that a layman could be
head of the ecclesiastical state. To this Audley returned,
“Sir, will you be reckoned wiser, or of a better conscience,
than all the bishops, the nobility, and the whole kingdom
” Sir Thomas rejoined, “My lord chancellor, for
one bishop that you have of your opinion, I have a hundred
of mine, and that among those that have been saints and
for your one council, which, what it is, God knows, I have
on my side all the general councils for a thousand years
past; and for one kingdom, I have France and all the
ether kingdoms of the Christian world.
” As our chancellor
was very active in the business of the divorce, he was no
less so in the business of abbies, and had particularly a
large hand in the dissolution of such religions houses as
had not two hundred pounds by the year. This was in the
twenty-seventh of Henry VIII, and the bill being delayed
long in the house of commons, his majesty sent for the
members of that house to attend him in his gallery, where
he passed through them with a stern countenance, without
speaking a word the members not having received the
king’s command to depart to their house, durst not return
till they knew the king’s pleasure so they stood waiting in
the gallery. In the mean time the king went a hunting,
and his ministers, who seem to have had better manners
than their master, went to confer with the members to
some they spoke of the king’s steadiness and severity to
others, of his magnificence and generosity. At last the
king came back, and passing through them again, said,
with an air of fierceness peculiar to himself, That if his
bill did not pass, it should cost many of them their heads.
Between the ministers’ persuasions and the king’s threats,
the matter was brought to an issue the king’s bill, as he
called it, passed and by it, he had not only the lands of
the small monasteries given him, but also their jewels, plate,
and rich moveables. This being accomplished, methods
were used to prevail with the abbots of larger foundations
to surrender. To this end, the chancellor sent a special
agent to treat with the abbot of Athelny, to offer him an
hundred marks per annum pension which he refused, insisting on a greater sum. The chancellor was more successful with the abbot of St. Osithes in Essex, with whom
he dealt personally and, as he expresses it in a letter to
Cromwell, the visitor-general, by great solicitation prevailed with him but then he insinuates, that his place of
lord chancellor being very chargeable, he desired the king
might be moved for addition of some more profitable offices
unto him. In suing for the great abbey of Walden, in the
same county, which he obtained, besides extenuating its
worth, he alleged under his hand, that he had in this
world sustained great damage and infamy in serving the
king, which the grant of that should recompense. But if
the year 1536 was agreeable to him in one respect, it was
far from being so in another; since, notwithstanding the
obligations he was under to queen Anne Bullen, he was
obliged, by the king’s command, to be present at her apprehension and commitment to the Tower. He sat afterwards with Cranmer archbishop of Canterbury, when he
gave sentence of divorce on the pre-contract between the
queen and the lordPiercy and on the 15th of May, in the
same year, he sat in judgment on the said queen, notwithstanding we are told by Lloyd, that with great address he
avoided it. The lengths he had gone in serving the king,
and his known dislike to popery, induced the northern,
rebels in the same year, to name him as one of the evil
counsellors, whom they desired to see removed from about
the king’s person which charge, however, his majesty,
as far as in him lay, wiped off, by his well- penned answer
to the complaints of those rebels, wherein an excellent
character is given of the chancellor. When the authors of
this rebellion came to be tried, the chancellor declined
sitting as lord high steward, which high office was executed
by the marquis of Exeter, on whom shortly after, viz. in
1538, Audley sat as high-steward, and condemned him,
his brother, and several t other persons, to suffer death as
traitors. In the latter end of the same year, viz. on the
29th of November, 30 Hen. VIII. the chancellor was created
a baron, by the style of lord Audley of Walden in the
county of Essex, and was likewise installed knight of the
garter. In the session of parliament in 1539, there were
many severe acts made, and the prerogative carried to an
excessive height, particularly by the six bloody articles,
and the giving the king’s proclamation the force of a law.
It does not very clearly appear who were the king’s principal counsellors in these matters but it is admitted by
the best historians, that the rigorous execution of these
laws, which the king first designed, was prevented by the
interposition of the lord Audley, in conjunction with Cromwell, who was then prime minister, and the duke of Suffolk,
the king’s favourite throughout his whole reign. In the
beginning of 1540, the court was excessively embarrassed.
What share Audley had in the fall of Cromwell afterwards
is not clear, but immediately after a new question was
stirred in parliament, viz. How far the king’s marriage with
Anne of Cleves, was lawful This was referred to the
judgment of a spiritual court and there are yet extant the
depositions of Thomas lord Audley, lord chancellor, Thomas, archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas, duke of Norfolk,
Charles, duke of Suffolk, and Cuthbert, lord bishop of
Durham, wherein they jointly swear, that the papers produced to prove the retraction of the lady Anne’s contract
with the duke of Lorrain, were inconclusive and unsatisfactory. Other lords and ladies deposed to other points,
and the issue of the business was, that the marriage was
declared void by this court, which sentence was supported
by an act of parliament, affirming the same thing, and
enacting, That it should be high-treason to judge or believe otherwise. This obstacle removed, the king married
the lady Catherine Howard, niece to the duke of Norfolk,
and cousin -german to Anne Bullen. Nothing is clearer
from history, than that the chancellor was closely attached
to the house of Norfolk and yet in the latter end of the
year 1541, he was constrained to be an instrument in the
ruin of the unfortunate queen information of her bad life
before her marriage, being laid first before the archbishop
of Canterbury, and by him communicated to the chancellor. The king then appointed lord Audley one of the
commissioners to examine her, which they did, and there
is yet extant a letter subscribed by him and the other
lords, containing an exact detail of this affair, and of the
evidence on which, in the next session of parliament, the
queen and others were attainted. The whole of this business was managed in parliament by the chancellor, and
there is reason to believe, that he had some hand in another
business transacted in that session which was the opening
a door for the dissolution of hospitals, the king having now
wasted all that had accrued to him by the suppression of
abbies. Some other things of the like nature were the
last testimonies of the chancellor’s concern for his master’s
interest but next year a more remarkable case occurred.
Jn the 34th of Henry VIII. George Ferrers, esq. burgess
for Plymouth, was arrested, and carried to the compter,
by virtue of a writ from the court of king’s bench. The
house, on notice thereof, sent their serjeant to demand
their member in doing which, a fray ensued at the compter, his mace was broke, his servant knocked down, and
himself obliged to make his escape as well as he could.
The house, upon notice of this, resolved they would sit
no longer without their member, and desired a conference
with the lords where, after hearing the mutter, the lord
chancellor Audley declared the contempt was most flagrant,
and referred “the punishment thereof to the house of commons whereupon Thomas Moyle, esq. who was then
speaker, issued his warrant, and the sheriff of London,
and several other persons, were brought to the bar of the
house, and committed, some to the Tower, and some to
Newgate. This precedent was gained by the king’s want
of an aid, who at that time expected the commons would
offer him a subsidy the ministry, and the house of lords,
knowing the king’s will gave the commons the
complimerit of punishing those who had imprisoned one of their
members. Dyer, mentioning this case, sap,
” The sages
of the law held the commitment of Ferrers legal, and
though the privilege was allowed him, yet was it held unjust.“As the chancellor had led a very active life, he
grew now infirm, though he was not much above fifty years
old, and therefore began to think of settling his family and
affairs. But, previous to this, he obtained from the king a
licence to change the name of Buckingham college in
Cambridge, into that of Magdalen, or Maudlin some will
have it, because in the latter word his own name is included. To this college he was a great benefactor, bestowed on it his own arms, and is generally 'reputed its
founder, or restorer. His capital seat was at Christ-Christ
in town, and at Walden in Essex and to preserve some
remembrance of himself and fortunes, he caused a magnificent tomb to be erected in his new chapel at Walden.
About the beginning of April, 1544, he was attacked by
his last illness, which induced him to resign the seals but
he was too weak to do it in person, and therefore sent them
to the king, who delivered them to sir Thomas Wriothesley,
with the title of keeper, during the indisposition of the
chancellor a circumstance not remarked by any of our
historians. On the 19th of April, lord Audi ey made hU
will, and, amongst other things, directed that his executors
should, upon the next New-year’s day after his decease,
deliver to the king a legacy of one hundred pounds, from
whom, as he expresses it,
” he had received all his reputations and benefits." He died on the last of April, 1544,
when he had held the seals upwards of twelve years, and
in the fifty-sixth of his life, as appears by the inscription
on his tomb. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas
iGrey, marquis of Dorset, by whom he had two daughters,
Margaret and Mary; Mary died unmarried, and Margaret
became his sole heir. She married first lord Henry Dudley,
a younger son of John duke of Northumberland, and he
being slain at the battle of St. Quintin’s, in Picardy, in
1557, she married a second time, Thomas duke of Norfolk, to whom she was also a second wife, and had by him
a son Thomas, who, by act of parliament, in the 27th of
Elizabeth, was restored in blood; and in the 39th of the
same reign, summoned to parliament by his grandfather’s
title, as baron of Walden, In the 1st of James I. he was
created earl of Suffolk, and being afterwards lord
hightreasurer of England, he built on the ruins of the abbey of
Walden, that nee noble palace, which, in honour of our
chancellor, he called Audley-End.
, a Spanish writer, and a native of Tordesillas, is principally known as the author of the “Continuation, or second part of the history
, a Spanish writer, and a native of Tordesillas, is principally
known as the author of the “Continuation, or second part
of the history of Don Quixote,
” which was published under
the title “La Segunda Parte del Ingenioso Hidalgo D.
Quixote de la Mancha,
”
the year i 137, or according to others, in 1129. His works were translated into Latin, and were well known to Thomas Aquinas, and the old schoolmen.
, a Spaniard by birth, but ranks among the Arabian writers and philosophers of the twelfth century, wrote a commentary upon Euclid, and philosophical and theological epistles. He was intimately conversant with the Peripatetic philosophy, and applied it to the illustration of the Islamic system of theology, and to the explanation of the Koran. On this account, he was suspected of heresy, and thrown into prison at Corduba. He is said to have been poisoned at Fez, in the year i 137, or according to others, in 1129. His works were translated into Latin, and were well known to Thomas Aquinas, and the old schoolmen.