, an English writer, was a wine merchant at Wrexham, in Denbighshire, a man of learning,
, an English writer, was a wine
merchant at Wrexham, in Denbighshire, a man of learning, great humanity, of an easy fortune, and much respected. He published in 1737, “Eugenio, or virtuous
and happy life,
” 4to, a poem inscribed to Pope, and by
no means destitute of poetical merit. He submitted it in
manuscript to Swift, who wrote him a long and very candid
letter, now printed in his works, and Mr. Beach adopted Swift’s
corrections. He is said to have entertained very blameable
notions in religion, but his friends endeavoured to vindicate him from this charge, when his death took place, May
17, 1737, precipitated by his own hand.
ingly praised for having adopted the measure of Spenser, because he had the happy enthusiasm of that writer to support and render it agreeable; but objections were made
Although Mr. Beattie had apparently withdrawn his
claims as a poet, by cancelling as many copies of his juvenile attempts as he could procure, he was not so inconscious of his admirable talents, as to relinquish what was an
early and favourite pursuit, and in which he had probably
passed some of his most delightful hours. A few months
;;fter the appearance of the “Essay on Truth,
” he published the “First Book of the Minstrel,
” in 4to, but without his name. By this omission, the poem was examined
with all that rigour of criticism which may be expected in
the case of a work, for which the author’s name can neither
afford protection or apology. He was accordingly praised
for having adopted the measure of Spenser, because he
had the happy enthusiasm of that writer to support and
render it agreeable; but objections were made to the limitation of his plan to the profession of the Minstrel, when so
much superior interest might be excited by carrying him
on through the practice of it. These objections appear
to have coincided with the author’s re-consideration; and
he not only adopted various alterations recommended by
his friends, particularly Mr. Gray, but introduced others,
which made the subsequent editions of this poem far more
perfect than the first.
ears in every page, and, which it tie, the most agreeable and amiable very rare, we see not only the writer, writer 1 ever met with the only au-but the man and the man
* Cowper’s praise of this volume, ts his ease too, that his own character
too valuable to be omitted “Beat-appears in every page, and, which it
tie, the most agreeable and amiable very rare, we see not only the writer,
writer 1 ever met with the only au-but the man and the man so gentle,
thor I have seen whose critical and so well tempered, so happy in his rephilosophical researches are diversified ligion, and so humane in his philosoand embellished by a poetical imagi-phy, that it is necssary to love him if
nation, that makes even the driest one has any sense of what is lovely.
”
subject, and the leanest, a feast for an Hayley’s Life of Cowper, vol. III.
epicure in boks. He is Bo much at p. 247.
to present to thd public, in a correct and somewhat enlarged form, the abstract which he used to dictate to his
scholars. Accordingly, in 1790, he published “Elements
of Moral Science,
” vol. I. 8vo, including psychology, or
perceptive faculties and active powers; and natural theology, with two appendices on the Incorporeal Nature and
on the Immortality of the Soul. The second volume was
published in 1793; containing ethics, economics, politics,
and logic. All these subjects are necessarily treated in a
summary manner; but it will be found sufficiently comprehensive, not only for a text-book, or book of elements,
which was the professed intention of the author, but also
as an excellent aid to the general reader who may not have
an opportunity of attending regular lectures, and yet wishes
to reap some of the advantages of regular education.
, a French miscellaneous writer, was born at Paris in 1689, and died in that metropolis in 1761.
, a
French miscellaneous writer, was born at Paris in 1689,
and died in that metropolis in 1761. He wrote, 1. “The
Loves of Ismene & Isménias,
” The
loves of Rhodantes & Docicles,
” another Greek romance
by Theodorus Prodromus, translated into French, 1746,
12mo. 3. “Recherches sur les Theatres de France,
”
Lettres d‘Heloise & d’Abailard,
” in French
verse, fluent enough, but prosaic, Several theatrical performances.
” 6. The romance of “FuDestine,
”
wo chaplains, and three women, who appear to have been hospital nuns. It appears also, says the same writer, that he prepared himself with resignation and contrition for
, bishop of Winchester, and
cardinal priest of the church of Rome, was the son of
John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, by his third wife, Catherine S win ford. He studied for some years both at Cambridge and at Oxford, in the latter in Queen’s college, and
was afterwards a benefactor to University and Lincoln colleges, but he received the principal part of his education at
Aix la Chapelle, where he was instructed in civil and common law. Being of royal extraction, he was very young when
advanced to the prelacy, and was made bishop of Lincoln
in 1397, by an arbitrary act of Boniface IX. John Beckingham, bishop of that see, being, contrary to his wishes,
translated to Lichfield, to make room for Beaufort, but Beckingham, with becoming spirit, refused the proffered diocese, and chose to become a private monk of Canterbury.
In 1399 Beaufort was chancellor of the university of Oxford, and at the same time dean of Wells. He was lord
high chancellor of England in 1404, and in some years afterwards. The following year, upon the death of the celebrated Wykeham, he was, at the recommendation of the
king, translated to the see of Winchester. In 1414, the
second of his nephew Henry V. he went to France, as one
of the royal ambassadors, to demand in marriage Catherine,
daughter of Charles VI. In 1417 he lent the king twenty
thousand pounds (a prodigious sum in those days), towards
carrying on his expedition against France, but had the
crown in pawn as a security for the money. This year also
he took a journey to the Holy Land and in his way, being
arrived at Constance, where a general council was held, he
exhorted the prelates to union and agreement in the election of a pope; and his remonstrances contributed not a
little to hasten the preparations for the conclave, in which
Martin III. was elected. We have no farther account of
what happened to our prelate in this expedition. In 1421,
he had the honour to be godfather, jointly with John duke
of Bedford, and Jacqueline, countess of Holland, to prince
Henry, eldest son of his nephew Henry V. and Catherine
of France, afterwards Henry VI. M. Aubery pretends,
that James, king of Scots, who had been several years a
prisoner in England, owed his deliverance to the bishop of
Winchester, who prevailed with the government to set him
free, on condition of his marrying his niece, the granddaughter of Thomas Beaufort, earl of Somerset. This prelate
was one of king Henry Vlth’s guardians during his minority; and in 1424, the third of the young king’s reign, he
was a fourth time lord-chancellor of England. There were
perpetual jealousies and quarrels, the cause of which is not
very clearly explained, between the bishop of Winchester,
and the protector, Humphrey duke of Gloucester, which
ended in the ruin and death of the latter. Their dissensions
began to appear publicly in 1425, and to such a height,
that Beaufort thought it necessary to write a letter to his
nephew the duke of Bedford, regent of France, which is
extant in Holinshed, desiring his presence in England,
to accommodate matters between them. The regent accordingly arriving in England the 20th of December, was
met by the bishop of Winchester with a numerous train,
and soon after convoked an assembly of the nobility at St.
Alban’s, to hear and determine the affair. But the animosity on this occasion was so great on both sides, that it
was thought proper to refer the decision to the parliament,
which was to be held at Leicester, March 25, following.
The parliament being met, the duke of Gloucester produced six articles of accusation against the bishop, who
answered them severally, and a committee appointed for
the purpose, having examined the allegations, he was acquitted. The duke of Bedford, however, to give some satisfaction to the protector, took away the great seal from
his uncle. Two years after, the duke of Bedford, returning into France, was accompanied to Calais by the bishop
of Winchester, who, on the 25th of March, received there
with great solemnity, in the church of Our Lady, the cardinal’s hat, with the title of St. Eusebius, sent him by pope
Martin V. In September 1428, the new cardinal returned
into England, with the character of the pope’s legate lately
conferred on him; and in his way to London, he was met
by the lord-mayor, aldermen, and the principal citizens
on horseback, who conducted him with great honour and respect to his lodgings in Southwark; but he was forced, for
the present, to wave his legatine power, being forbidden
the exercise of it by a proclamation published in the king’s
name. Cardinal Beaufort was appointed, by the pope’s
bull, bearing date March 25, 1427-8, his holiness’s legate
in Germany, and general of the crusade against the Hussites, or Heretics of Bohemia. Having communicated the
pope’s intentions to the parliament, he obtained a grant of
money, and a considerable body of forces, under certain
restrictions; but just as he was preparing to embark, the
duke of Bedford having sent to demand a supply of men
for the French war, it was resolved in council, that cardinal Beaufort should serve under the regent, with the
troops of the crusade, to the end of the month of December,
on condition that they should not be employed in any siege.
The cardinal complied, though not without reluctance, and
accordingly joined the duke of Bedford at Paris. After a
stay of forty-five days in France, he marched into Bohemia, where he conducted the crusade till he was recalled
by the pope, and cardinal Julian sent in his place with a
larger army. The next year, 1430, the cardinal accompanied king Henry into France, being invested with the
title of the king’s principal counsellor, and bad the honour
to perform the ceremony of crowning the young monarch
irt the church of Notre Dame at Paris; where he had some
dispute with James du Chastellier, the archbishop, who
claimed the right of officiating on that occasion. During
his stay in France he was present at the congress of Arras
for concluding a peace between the kings of England and
France, and had a conference for that purpose with the
dutchess of Burgundy, between Calais and Gravelines,
which had no effect, and was remarkable only for the cardinal’s magnificence, who came thither with a most splendid train. In the mean time the duke of Gloucester took
advantage in England of the cardinal’s absence to give him
fresh mortification. For, first, having represented to the
council, that the bishop of Winchester intended to leave
the king, and come back into England to resume his seat
in council, in order to excite new troubles in the kingdom,
and that his intentions were the more criminal, as he made
use of the pope’s authority to free himself from the obligations of assisting the king in France; he procured an order
of council forbidding all the king’s subjects, of what condition soever, to accompany the cardinal, if he should leave
the king, without express permission. The next step the
protector took against him, was an attempt to deprive him
of his bishopric, as inconsistent with the dignity of cardinal; but the affair having been a long time debated in
council, it was resolved that the cardinal should be heard,
and the judges consulted, before any decision. Being returned into England, he thought it necessary to take some
precaution against these repeated attacks, and prevailed
with the king, through the' intercession of the commons,
to grant him letters of pardon for all offences by him committed contrary to the statute of provisors, and other acts
of prsemunire. This pardon is dated at Westminster, July
19, 1432. Five years after, he procured another pardon
under the great-seal for all sorts of crimes whatever, from
the creation of the world to the 26th of July 1437. Notwithstanding these precautions, the duke of Gloucester, in
1442, drew up articles of impeachment against the cardinal, and presented them with his own hands to the king,
but the council appointed to examine them deferred their
report so long that rhe protector discontinued the prosecution. The cardinal died June 14, 1447, having survived
the duke of Gloucester not above a mouth, of whose
murder he was suspected to have been one of the contrivers,
and it is said that he expressed great uneasiness at the approach of death, and died in despair; but for this there does
not appear much foundation, and we suspect the commonlyreceived character of Beaufort is mostly credited by those
who have considered Shakspeare as an authentic historian.
We rather agree with the historian of Winchester, that
there is no solid ground for representing him as that ambitious, covetous, and reprobate character which Shakspeare
has represented, and who has robbed his memory, in order
to enrich that of his adversary, popularly termed the “good
duke Humphrey
” of Gloucester. Being involved in the
vortex of worldly politics, it is true, that he gave too much
scope to the passions of the great, and did not allow himself sufficient leisure to attend to the spiritual concerns of
his diocese. He possessed, however, that munificent spirit,
which has cast a lustre on the characters of many persons
of past times, whom it would be difficult otherwise to present as objects of admiration. It he was rich, it must be
admitted that he did not squander away his money upon
unworthy pursuits, but chiefly employed it in the public
service, to the great relief of the subjects, with whom, and
with the commons’ house of parliament, he was popular.
He employed his wealth also in finishing the magnificent
cathedral of Winchester, which was left incomplete by his
predecessor, in repairing Hyde-abbey, relieving prisoners,
and other works of charity. But what, Dr. Milner says, has
chiefly redeemed the injured character of cardinal Beaufort, in Winchester and its neighbourhood, is the new foundation which he made of the celebrated hospital of St. Cross.
Far the greater part of the present building was raised by
him, and he added to the establishment of his predecessor,
Henry de Blois, funds for the support of thirty-five more
brethren, two chaplains, and three women, who appear to
have been hospital nuns. It appears also, says the same
writer, that he prepared himself with resignation and contrition for his last end; and the collected, judicious, and
pious dispositions made in his testament, the codicil of
which was signed but two days before his dissolution, may
justly bring into discredit the opinion that he died in despair. He was buried at Winchester in the most eleg-ant
and finished chantry in the kingdom.
, a French dramatic writer of modern celebrity, was born at Paris, Jan. 24, 1732. His father
, a French dramatic writer of modern celebrity, was born at Paris, Jan. 24, 1732. His father was a watchmaker, and at the age of twenty-one himself invented an improvement in watchmaking, which being contested by an eminent artist, was decided in favour of young Beaumarchais by the academy of sciences. Being passionately fond of music, and especially of the harp, he introduced some improvements in this instrument, which, with his excellent performance, gained him admittance to Mesdames, the daughters of Louis XV. to give them lessons, and this was the origin of his fortune. He lost two wives successively, and then gained three considerable law-suits. The papers which he published concerning each of these causes, excited great attention. He had also an affair of honour with a duke, in consequence of which he was sent to Fort L‘Eve’que. He was afterwards employed in some political transactions by the ministers Maurepas and Vergennes. He supported the scheme for the caisse d'escompte, or bank of discount, which he vainly thought to have made a rival to that of England: but he was more successful, although after much opposition, in procuring the adoption of a scheme for a fire-pump to supply the city of Paris with water. A plan, also, concerning poor women, was executed at Lyons, and gained him the thanks of the merchants of that city. After the death of Voltaire, he purchased the whole of his manuscripts, and not being able to print them in France, established a press at Kell, where they were printed in a very magnificent manner with Baskerville’s types.
, a French writer of some note, was born at Valleraugues, in the diocese of Allais,
, a French
writer of some note, was born at Valleraugues, in the diocese of Allais, in 1727, and died at Paris Nov. 1773. Being
invited to Denmark as professor of the French belles-lettres,
he opened this course of literature by a discourse that was
printed in 1751, and well received. Having always lived
in the south of France, a residence in the north could
hardly agree with him, but he was held in such esteem,
that he quitted Denmark with the title of privy-counsellor
and a pension. Stopping at Berlin, he was desirous of
forming an intimacy with Voltaire, with whose writings he
was much captivated; but, both being of irritable and impetuous characters, they had no sooner seen each other
than they quarrelled, without hope of reconciliation. The
history of this quarrel, which gave rise to so many personalities and invectives, is characteristic of both parties.
A reflection in a publication of la Beaumelle, entitled “Mes
Pensees,
” was the first cause of it. This work, very studiously composed, but written with too much boldness,
procured the author many enemies; and, on his arrival at
Paris in 1753, he was imprisoned in the Bastille. No sooner
was he let out, than he published his “Memoirs of Main tenon,
” which drew on him a fresh detention in that royal
prison. La Beaumelle, having obtained his liberty, retired into the country, where he put in practice the lessons
he had given to Voltaire, in the following letter: “Well,
then, we are once more at liberty; let us revenge ourselves on these misfortunes by rendering them of use to
us. Let us lay aside all those literary infirmities which
have spread so many clouds over the course of your life,
so much bitterness over my youthful years. A little more
glory, a little more opulence: What does it all signify?
Let us seek the reality of happiness, and not its shadow.
The most shining reputation is never worth what it costs.
Charles V. sighs after retirement; Ovid wishes to be a fool.
We are once more free. I am out of the Bastille; you are
no longer at court. Let us make the best use of a benefit
that may be snatched from us at every moment. Let us
entertain a distant respect for that greatness which is so
dangerous to those that come near it, and that authority,
so terrible even to them that exercise it; and, if it be true
that we cannot venture to think without risk, let us think
no more. Do the pleasur.es of reflection counterbalance
those of safety? Let us be persuaded, you, after sixty
years of experience; me, after six months of annihilation.
Let us be wiser, or at least more prudent; and the wrinkles
of age, and the remembrance of bolts and bars, those injuries of time and power, will prove real benefits to us.
”
” which is inferior to that which the president de Montesquieu published himself, but for which that writer expressed his thanks. 2. “Mes Pense*es, ou, Le Qu'en dira-t-on?”
He now cultivated literature in peace, and settled himself in the comforts of domestic life by marrying the
daughter of M. Lavaisse, an advocate of great practice at
Thoulouse. A lady of the court called him to Paris about
the year 1772, and wished to fix him there, by procuring
him the place of librarian to the king; but he did not long
enjoy this* promotion; a dropsy in the chest proved fatal
the following yean. He left a son and a daughter. His
works are: 1. “A Defence of Montesquieu’s ' Esprit des
Loix,
” against the author of the “Nouvelles Ecclesiastiques,
” which is inferior to that which the president de
Montesquieu published himself, but for which that writer
expressed his thanks. 2. “Mes Pense*es, ou, Le Qu'en
dira-t-on?
” There have been better poets than
Voltaire; but none have been ever so well rewarded. The
king of Prussia heaps his bounty on men of talents exactly
from the same motives as induce a petty prince of Germany to heap his bounty on a buffoon or a dwarf.
” 3. “The
<f Memoirs of Madame de Maintenon,
” Letters to M. de Voltaire,
” Age of Louis XIV.
” Voltaire
refuted these remarks in a pamphlet entitled “Supplement
to the age of Louis XIV.
” in which he shews it to be an
odious thing to seize upon a work on purpose to disfigure
it. La Beaumelle in 1754 gave out an “Answer to this
Supplement,
” which he re-produced in 1761, under the
title of “Letters.
” To this Voltaire made no reply; but
shortly after stigmatized it in company with several others,
in his infamous poem the “Pucelle,
” where he describes
la Beaumelle as mistaking the pockets of other men for
his own. The writer, thus treated, endeavoured to cancel
the calumny by a decree of the parliament of Thoulouse
but other affairs prevented him from pursuing this. Voltaire, however, had some opinion of his talents; and the
writer of this article has seen a letter of his in which he
says’: “Ce pendard a bien de Pesprit.
” “The rascal has
a good deal of wit.
” La Beaumelle, on the other hand,
said: “Personne n'ecrit mieux que Voltaire.
” “No one
writes better than Voltaire.
” Yet these mutual acknowledgments of merit did not prevent their passing a considerable part of their life in mutual abuse. The abb
Irail informs us, that la Beaumelle being one day asked
why he was continually attacking Voltaire in his books
“Because,
” returned he, “he never spares me in his and
my books sell the better for it.
” It is said, however, that
la Beaumelle would have left off writing against the author
of the Henriade; and even would have been reconciled
with him, had he not imagined that it would be impossible
to disarm his wrath, and therefore he preferred war to an
insecure peace. 5. “Penses de Seneque,
” in Latin and
French, in 12mo, after the manner of the “Pensees de
Ciceron,
” by the abbe d'Olivet, whom he has rather imitated than equalled. 6. “Commentaire sur la Henriade,
”
Paris, Miscellanies,
” also in ms.
among which are some striking pieces. The author had
a natural bent towards satire. His temper was frank and
honest, but ardent and restless. Though his conversation
was instructive, it had not that liveliness which we perceive
in his writings.
ing in 1615, and of these at least three were poetical the master of the Charter-house, the dramatic writer, and Francis Beaumont, a Jesuit.
, third son of Francis, the judge, was born at Grace-Dieu, in Leicestershire, 1586; and in the beginning of Lent term 1596, was admitted (with his two brothers Henry and John) a gentleman commoner of Broadgate’s-hall, now Pembroke-college, Oxford. Anthony Wood, who refers his education to Cambridge, mistakes him for his cousin Francis, master of the Charterhouse, who died in 1624. It is remarkable, that there were four Francis Beaumonts of this family, all living in 1615, and of these at least three were poetical the master of the Charter-house, the dramatic writer, and Francis Beaumont, a Jesuit.
ce, which are to be experienced within the walls of a theatre, and compose the history of a dramatic writer.
How his life was spent, his works show. The production of so many plays, and the interest he took in their success, were sufficient to occupy his mind during his short span, which cannot be supposed to have been diversified by any other events than those that are incident to candidates for theatrical fame and profit. Although his ambition was confined to one object, his life probably abounded in those little varieties of hope and fear, perplexity and satisfaction, jealousy and rivalship, friendship and caprice, which are to be experienced within the walls of a theatre, and compose the history of a dramatic writer.
, a French miscellaneous writer, entitled to some notice, was born at St. Paul in Artois, July
, a French miscellaneous writer, entitled to some notice, was born at St. Paul
in Artois, July 9, 1728, and became noted at Paris for hi
oddities and his numerous writings. He affected great
singularity in dress, and was not less remarkable for his bons
mots and tart replies. When asked why he followed no
profession, he said, “I have been too long enamoured of
goodness and honour, to fix my affections on fortune.
”
He used to say that “Hfe was a continual epigram, to which
death furnished the point.
” There is perhaps not much in
these, and probably the other witticisms we have seen attributed to him derived their principal effect from his manner, or from the person or occasion when applied. He was,
however, a man of great humanity, and particularly attached
to children, employing himself for many years in instructing them, and at last he procured admission to the Normal
school, that he might contribute his share to the general
plan of public education. His writings are, 1. “L'Heureux citoyen,
” Cours d'Histoire sacree
et profane,
” Abreg6
de Phistoire des Insectes,
” Paris, L'Heureux viellard,
” a pastoral drama, Cour*
d'histoire naturelle,
” Paris, Varletes Litteraires,
” De Talaitement et
de la premiere Education des Enfans,
” L'Eleve de la Nature,
” Geneva, L‘Accord parfait, ou l’Equilibre
physique et morale,
” Paris, Le Port-feuille
Francais,
” &c. By all these literary labours, however, the
author appears to have profited little, as he died in an hospital at Paris, Oct. 5, 1795.
, an eminent Calvinist divine and ecclesiastical writer, was born at Niort in Upper Poitou, March 8, 1659, of a family
, an eminent Calvinist divine and ecclesiastical writer, was born at Niort in Upper Poitou, March 8, 1659, of a family originally of Provence, whose name was Bossart, which one of his ancestors changed to Beausobre, on taking refuge in Swisserland from the massacre of St. Bartholomew’s day. In his youth he had some favourable opportunities for rising in the world. M. de Vieuxfournaux, cousin-german to his father, strongly solicited him not to change his religion, but to study law, because in that case he had sufficient interest with Madame de Maintenon to recommend him to her, who would have made his 1 fortune. But as he probably foresaw that the sacrifice of his religion must ultimately be the consequence, in order to secure him patronage of this kind, he withstood his relation’s solicitations, and pursued his original intention, that of qualifying himself for the church. Having finished his studies at Saumur, he was ordained, by imposition of hands, at the age of twenty-one, in the last synod of Loudon, and had a congregation intrusted to him, to whom he officiated for three or four years, during which he married Claude Louisa Arnaudeau, whose father was pastor of the church of Lusignan. The days of persecution approaching, M. de Beausobre’s church was shut up, and having been so rash, as to break it open, contrary to the orders of the court, he found it necessary to make his escape. At first he intended to have gone to England, but for some reasons, not mentioned in our authority, he preferred Holland, where he recommended himself to the favour of the princess of Orange, who appointed him chaplain to her daughter the princess of A nhalt-Dessau, and accordingly he went to Dessau in 1686. Here his situation was rendered peculiarly agreeable by the kindness of the princess, the esteem she conceived for, and the confidence she reposed in him' and here he appears to have applied himself to those studies, the produce of which appeared soon afterwards.
in the history of the church and in general literature, an implacable enemy of the Jesuits, the best writer in Berlin, a man full of fire and vivacity, which eighty years
As soon as Beausobre became settled at Berlin, he resumed his favourite studies, and particularly his “History
of the Reformation,
” which he carried down to the Augsburgh confession, and left it in manuscript. In this state
it remained until 1784, when it was published at Berlin in
4 vols. 8v6. Its principal object is the origin and progress,
of Lutheranism, in treating of which the author has availed
himself of Seckendorfl’s history, but has added many vainable materials. It contains also very curious and ample
details relative to the progress of the reformation in France
and Swisserland; but it nevertheless is not free from objections, both on the score of impartiality and accuracy.
In the mean time, the Prussian court having desired M.
Beausobre and his friend M. Lenfant to prepare a translation of the New Testament, they shared the labour between
them, M. Lenfant taking the Evangelists, Acts, Catholic
epistles, and the Apocalypse, and M. Beausobre the epistles
of St. Paul. The whole was published in 2 vols. 4to, Amst.
1718, with prefaces, notes, c. A second edition appeared in 1741, with considerable additions and corrections.
Their “Introduction
” was published separately at Cambridge (translated into English) in 1779; and Dr. Watson,
bishop of Llandaff, who inserted it in the third volume of
his “Theological Tracts,
” pronounces it a work of extraordinary merit, the authors Laving left scarcely any togic
untouched, on which the voting student in divinity may he
supposed to wunt information. Their only opponent, at
the time of publication, was a Mr. Dartis, formerly a minister at Berlin, from which he had retired, and who published a pamphlet, to which Beausobre and Lenfant made
separate replies. Beausobre was one of the principal members of a society of literary men of Berlin, who called them
the “Anonymi,
” and this connection led 'him to be a contributor to the “Bibliothcque Gcrmanique,
” of which he
was editor from vol. IV. to the time of his death, excepting vol. XL. One of the pieces he wrote for this journal
was translated into English, and published at London,
1735, 8vo, under the title of “St. Jatzko, or a commentary on a passage in the plea for the Jesuits of Thorn
”.
But his most celebrated work was his “Histoire critique
de Mauicheisme,
” Amst. it
is a treasure of ancient philosophy and theology. The
learned historian spins, with incomparable art, the systematic thread of opinion, and transforms himself by turns into the person of a saint, a sage, or an heretic. Yet his refinement is sometimes excessive: he betrays an amiable
partiality in favour of the weaker side, and while he guards
against calumny, he does not allow sufficient scope for superstition and fanaticism,
” things, or rather words, which
Gibbon js accustomed to use without much meaning. The
journalists of Trevoux having attacked this work, gave Mr.
IjJeausobre an opportunity of showing his superiority in ecclesiastical history, by an answer published in the BibL
Germanique, which perhaps is too long. He wrote also a
curious preface to the “Memoirs of Frederick-Henry,
prince of Orange,
” Amst. History of the Reformation,
” already noticed. M. Beausobre reached the period
of old age, without experiencing much of its influence.
He preached at the age of eighty with vigour and spirit.
His last illness appears to have come on in October 1737,
and although it had many favourable intermissions, he died
June 5, 1738, in the full possession of his faculties and recollection, and universally regretted by his Hock, as well as
by the literary world. The most remarkable encomium
bestowed on him, is that of the prince, afterwards Frederick king of Prussia, in a letter to Voltaire, published in
the works of the latter. “We are -about to lose one of the
greatest men of Germany. This is the famous M. de Beausobre, a man of honour and probity, of great genius, a taste
exquisite and delicate, a great orator, learned in the history of the church and in general literature, an implacable
enemy of the Jesuits, the best writer in Berlin, a man full
of fire and vivacity, which eighty years of life have not
chilled; has a little of the weakness of superstition, a fault
common enowgh with people of his stamp, and is conscious
enough of his abilities to be affected by applause. This
loss is irreparable. We have no one who can replace M.
de Beausobre; men of merit are rare, and when nature
sows them they do not always come to maturity.
” The
applause of such a man as Beausobre, from Frederick of
Prussia to Voltaire, is a curiosity.
, a political writer of considerable note, was born at Milan in 1735, and died in
, a political
writer of considerable note, was born at Milan in 1735,
and died in the same place in 1793 or 1794. In his first
publication, which appeared at Lucca in 1762, he pointed
cut several abuses, with their remedies, in the system of
coinage adopted in the state of Milan. A short time after,
some literary gentlemen of Milan projected a periodical
work, which was to contain essays on various subjects of
philosophy, morals, and politics, calculated to enlighten
the public mind. It was accordingly published in the
years 1764 and 1765, under the title of “The Coffeehouse,
” and when collected, the papers formed 2 vols.
4to, of which the most interesting and original were from
the pen of Beccaria. It was likewise in 1764, that he
published his celebrated treatise on “crimes and punishments,
” “Dei Delitti e delle Pene,
” 12mo, a work to
which some objections may he made, and in which there
are some inconsistencies, yet few works were read with
more avidity, or more directly tended to introduce a humane and wise system in the criminal law. Within eighteen
months of its publication, six editions of the Italian were
eagerly bought up, and it is computed that it has since
gone through above fifty editions and translations. The
English translation published in 1766 contained also a
commentary attributed to Voltaire, but contributing more
to amuse than instruct the reader. Much, however, as
the author was applauded by the enlightened part of the
world, he was likely to have been brought into trouble
by the bigotry of his countrymen, had he not met with
very powerful protection. In 1768 the Austrian government founded a professorship of political economy for him,
and his lectures on that subject were published in 1804,
2 vols. 8vo, under the title of “Elemens d'economie publique.
” In Recherches sur la nature du style,
” Milan, 8vo. There are
some shrewd remarks in this, but he appears to have got
into the paradoxical way of writing, and endeavours to
prove that every individual has an equal degree of genius
for poetry and eloquence.
by lord Lyttelton, who produces two remarkable instances in support of his assertion. The same noble writer hath brought, likewise, satisfactory evidence, to prove that
It has been said that it was with the utmost difficulty
Becket could be prevailed upon to accept of this dignity,
and that he even predicted it would be the cause of a
breach between the king and him. But this is greatly
doubted by lord Lyttelton in his History of Henry II. and
it stands contradicted by the affirmation of Foliot, bishop
of London, and ill agrees with the measures which were
taken to procure Becket' s election. His biographers themselves acknowledge, that one reason which induced Henry
to promote him to Canterbury, was, “because he hoped,
that, by his means, he should manage ecclesiastical, as
well as secular affairs, to his own satisfaction.
” Indeed,
no other reasonable motive can be found. Nothing could
incline that prince to make so extraordinary and so exceptionable a choice, but a firm confidence, that he should be
most usefully assisted by Becket, in the important reformation he meant to undertake, of subjecting the clergy
to the authority of the civil government. Nor is it credible
that he should not have revealed his intention, concerning
that affair, to a favourite minister, whom he had accustomed to trust, without reserve, in his most secret counsels.
But if such a declaration had been made by that minister,
as is related by the historians, it is scarcely to be supposed,
that a king so prudent as Henry would have forced him into
a station, in which he certainly might have it in his power
to be exceedingly troublesome, instead of being serviceable
to his royal master. It was by a different language that the
usual sagacity of this prince could have been deceived.
Nor, indeed, could the most jealous and penetrating eye
have discovered in Becket, after he was elected archbishop
of Canterbury, any marks of an enthusiastic or bigotted
zeal. That several indications of a contrary temper, and
different principles, had appeared in his conduct, is shewn
by lord Lyttelton, who produces two remarkable instances
in support of his assertion. The same noble writer hath
brought, likewise, satisfactory evidence, to prove that
Becket was almost as eager for procuring the archbishopric,
as his master could be to raise him to that dignity.
After he had received his pall from pope Alexander III.
then residing in France, he immediately sent messengers
to the king in Normandy, with his resignation of the seal
and office of chancellor. This displeased the king; so that
upon his return to England, when he was met at his landing by the archbishop, he received him in a cold and indifferent manner.
mpanied Becket in his exile, but never countenanced his behaviour towards the king, being as sharp a writer against the encroachments of the papal see, as any man of his
On the other hand, Mr. Berington, in his “History of
the reign of Henry If.
” has attempted a vindication of
Becket, in which he differs considerably from lord Lyttelton and other protestant historians, but for this w must
refer to the book itself. Few men have had more biographers, if reliance could be placed on them, than Becket,
but unfortunately the greater part of them were his panegyrists, and not his historians, and too much under the
influence of the monkish principles of their days, to deserve much credit. The following list, however, of his
biographers may afford some information to the curious
inquirer, taken from Leland, Bale, Pits, and others.
1. Herbert Bosenham, or Bosscham, or de Hoscham, who
was this archbishop’s secretary, and also present at the
slaughter of him. 2. Edward, a monk, of Canterbury, the
martyr’s most intimate friend. 3. Johannes Sarisburiensis,
who accompanied Becket in his exile, but never countenanced his behaviour towards the king, being as sharp a
writer against the encroachments of the papal see, as any
man of his time. 4. Bartholomseus Iscanus, or Exonensis,
bisiiop of Exeter, where he died in 118k 5. E. a monk
of Eveshatn, who dedicated his book, or wrote it by way
of epistle, to Henry, abbot of Croyland. 6. William Stephens, or Fitz-Stephen, a monk of Canterbury, and, for
at reason, usually called Gulielmus Cantuariensis. He
said to have written three several treatises of the life,
martyrdom, and miracles of St. Thomas Becket; which
are now in the Cotton library: But that, which there carries
his name, seems to have been penned by Johannes Carnotensis, who is the same person with Sarisburiensis above
mentioned, since, in the Quadripartite History, what we
have from him is often to be found, in the same words, in
the life there ascribed to Fitz-Stephen. 7. Benedictus
Petroburgensis, abbot of Peterborough, who died in 1200.
8. Alanus Teukesburiensis, abbot of Tewkesbury, who died
about the same time. 9. Roger, a monk of Croyland, who
lived about 1214. It is observed, that St. Thomas’s miracles were become so numerous in this writer’s time, that
he had matter for seven large volumes, in composing
of which he spent no less than fifteen years. 10. Stephen
Langton, a famous successor of Becket’s in the see of Canterbury, whose work on this subject is said be in the
library of Bene't college. 11. Alexander de Hales, so
called from the monastery of Hales in Gloucestershire,
where he was educated, one of the most eminent schoolmen of his age, and master to Thomas Aquinas, Bonaventure, &c. 12. John Grandison, or Graunston, who died
in 1369. 13. Quadrilogus, or the author of a book, entitled “De vita et processu S.Thomae Cantuariensiset Martyris super Libertate Ecclesiastica.
” It is collected out of
four historians, who were contemporary and conversant
with Becket, viz. Herbert de Hoscham, Johannes Carnotensis, Gulielmus Canterburiensis, and Alanus Teukesburiensis, who are introduced as so many relaters of facts
interchangeably. This book was first printed at Paris in
1495, and is often quoted by our historians, in the reign
of Henry II. by the name of Quadripartita Historia.
14. Thomas Stapleton, the translator of Bede, in whose
book De tribus Thomis, or Of the three Thomas’s, our
saint makes as considerable a figure as either Thomas the
Apostle, or Thomas Aquinas. 15. Laurence Vade, or
Wade, a Benedictine monk of Canterbury, who lived and
died we know not when, or where; unless perhaps he be
the same person with 16. An anonymous writer of Becket’s
life, who appears to have been a monk of that church, and
whose book is said to be in the library at Lambeth. 17.
Richard James, nephew of Dr. Thomas James, some time
keeper of the Bodleian library; a very industrious and
eminent antiquary, who endeavoured to overthrow the
great design of all the above-mentioned authors, in his “Decanonizatio Thomse Cantuariensis et suorum,
” which, with
other manuscript pieces by the same hand, is in the public
library at Oxford. These are the principal writers of our
archbishop’s life besides whom, several other historians
have spoken largely of him as John Bromton, Matthew
Paris, Gervase, &c.
, a dramatic writer, born in 1699, was the son of a linen-draper in Fleet-street,
, a dramatic writer, born in
1699, was the son of a linen-draper in Fleet-street, London, and educated at Merchant Taylors’ school, under the
rev. Dr. Smith, where he made very great proficiency in all
his studies, and gave proofs of extraordinary talents. To
dramatic poetry he appears to have been very early attached,
two pieces of his, “Scipio Afriaanus,
” and “Henry IV.
of France,
” both tragedies, being represented on the stage
before he had completed his twentieth year. He wrote
several other poems, but his genius was limited to a short
career, as he died Feb. 19, 1730-1, in the thirty-second
year of his age.
. Whoever looks for digestion of materials, disposition of parts, and accuracy of narration, in this writer’s historical works, expects what could not exist at that time.
Mr. Warton justly observes, that Beda’s knowledge, if
we consider his age, was extensive and profound: and it is
amazing, in so rude a period, and during a life of no considerable length, he should have made so successful a progress, and such rapid improvements, in scientifical and
philological studies, and have composed so many elaborate
treatises on different subjects. It is diverting to see the
French critics censuring Be da for credulity: they might
as well have accused him of superstition. There is much
perspicuity and facility in his Latin style: but it is void
of elegance, and often of purity; it shews with what grace
and propriety he would have written, had his mind been
formed on better models. Whoever looks for digestion of
materials, disposition of parts, and accuracy of narration,
in this writer’s historical works, expects what could not
exist at that time. He has recorded but few civil transactions: but, besides that his history professedly considers
ecclesiastical affairs, we should remember, that the building of a church, the preferment of an abbot, the canoniza T
tion of a martyr, and the importation into England of the
shin-bone of an apostle, were necessarily matters qf m,uch
more importance in Bede’s conceptions than victories or
revolutions. He is fond of minute description; but particularities are the fault and often the merit of early historians.
The first catalogue of Beda’s works, as vye liare before
observed, we have from himself, at the end of his Ecclesiastical history, which contains all he had written before
the year 731. This we find copied by Leland, who also
mentions some other pieces he had met with of Beda’s, and
points out likewise several that passed under his name,
though in his judgment spurious. John Bale, in the first
edition of his book, which he finished in 1548, mentions
ninety-six treatises written by Beda; and in his last edition
he swells these* to one hundred and forty-five tracts; and
declares at the close of both his catalogues, that there were
numberless pieces of our author’s besides, which he had
not seen. Pits, according to his usual custom, has much
enlarged even this catalogue; though, to do him justice,
he appears to have taken great pains in drawing up this article, and mentions the libraries in which many of these
treatises were to be found. The catalogues given by Trithemius, Dempster, and others, are much inferior to these.
Several of Beda’s books were printed very early, and, for
the most part, very incorrectly; but the first general coU
lection of his works appeared at Paris in 1544, in three volumes in folio. They were printed again in 1554, at the
same place, in eight volumes. They were published in the
same size and number of volumes, at Basil, in 1563, reprinted at Cologne in 1612, and lastly at the same place
in 1688. A very clear and distinct account of the contents of these volumes, the reader may find in the very
learned and useful collection of Casimir Otidin. But the
most exact and satisfactory detail of Beda’s life and writings, we owe to that accurate, judicious, and candid Benedictine, John Mabillon. Neither has any critic exerted
his skill more effectually than he, though largely, and with
copious extracts interspersed. But, perhaps, the easiest,
plainest, and most concise representation of Beda’s writings, occurs in the learned Dr. Cave’s “Hist. Literaria,
”
which has been followed by the editors of the Biog. Britannica.
, a writer of the fourteenth century, of the ancient family of the Belgraves
, a writer of the fourteenth century, of the ancient family of the Belgraves in Leicestershire, was born at the town of Belgrave, about a mile from
Leicester, and educated in the university of Cambridge,
where he applied himself with great diligence and success
to his studies, and afterwards took the degree of D.D.
He entered himself into the order of Carmelite friars, and
distinguished himself by his great skill in the Aristotelian
philosophy and school-divinity, hut he was more remarkable for the strength and subtilty of his lectures, than the
elegance of his style, the study of polite literature being
generally neglected in that age. Pits gives him the character of a man of eminent integrity and piety. He
flourished in 1320, under the reign of king Edward II. and
wrote, among other works, “Theological Determinations,
in one book;
” the subject of which was, Utrum Essentia
Divina possit videri? Whether the Divine Essence could
be seen? and “Ordinary Questions, in one book.
” This
single question, concerning the Divine Essence, is enough
to shew the inutility of the inquiries and studies which engaged the attention of men in that age.
, an English miscellaneous writer, was born in 1745, at Kingston in Surrey, and educated for trade.
, an English miscellaneous writer,
was born in 1745, at Kingston in Surrey, and educated for
trade. After serving an apprenticeship to a hosier in Newgate-street, London, he established a considerable business
for himself, which he carried on successfully, until he began to pay rather too much attention to literary pursuits,
and after keeping shop for twenty years, was obliged
finally to relinquish his trade. He became afterwards the
projector of the “Monthly Mirror,
” a periodical publication principally devoted to the business of the stage, and
which was carried on by him for some years with spirit and
success. He published also “Sadaski, or the wandering
penitent,
” 2 vols. 12mo, a novel in Dr. Hawkesworth’s
manner, and possessing considerable merit. For the stage
he wrote, “The Friends, or the benevolent Planters,
”
Lessons from Life, or Home scenes.
” On the death of his
mother he became possessed of some property, and was in
the quiet pursuit of his literary schemes, when a short but
severe illness carried him off, August 29, 1800.
He was also a man of learning, and gave proofs of his abilities and genius as a writer. The most remarkable of his works was the “History of his own
He was also a man of learning, and gave proofs of his
abilities and genius as a writer. The most remarkable of
his works was the “History of his own times,
” in Latin:
of this, however, nothing remains except a few fragments,
sand three or four books, which Martin du Bellay, William’s brother, has inserted in his memoirs.
, an elegant Scottish writer of the sixteenth century, was descended from an ancient and
,
an elegant Scottish writer of the sixteenth century, was
descended from an ancient and very honourable family in
that kingdom, where his father, Mr. Thomas Bellenden of
Auchiiioul, was director to the chancery in 1540, and clerk
of accounts in 1541. It does not appear when our author
was born, or where educated but from his writings (frequently intermixed with words of Gallic derivation) it was
probably in France. In his youth he served in the court,
and was in great favour with king James V. as himself informs us, which he might very probahly owe to his fine vein
in poetry, that prince being a great admirer, and a proficient in poetical studies. Having this interest with his
prince, he attained extraordinary preferment in the church,
being made canon of Ross, and archdeacon of Murray, to
which last dignity perhaps he opened his passage, by
taking the degree of doctor of divinity at the Sorbonne.
He likewise obtained his father’s employment of clerk of
accounts, which was very considerable, in the minority of
the king before mentioned; but he was afterwards turned
out by the struggle of factions, in the same reign. We have
no direct authority to prove that he had any share in the
education of king James V. but from some passages in his
poems, and from his addressing many of them to that king,
he appears to have been in some measure particularly attached to his person; and from one of them, we may infer
that he had an interest beyond that of bare duty, in forming a right disposition, and giving wholesome instructions
to that prince. But the work which has transmitted his
name to posterity, is his translation of Hector Boethius,
or, as his countrymen call him, Hector Boeis’s History,
from the Latin into the Scottish tongue, which he performedat the command of his royal master admirably, but
with a good deal of freedom, departing often from his
author, although generally for the sake of truth, and sometimes also adding circumstances, which perhaps might not
be known to Hector Boece. This version, as he called it,
was very well received both in Scotland and England. It
does not appear either from his own writings or otherwise,
how he came to lose his office of clerk of accounts; but he
certainly recovered it in the succeeding reign, was likewise made one of the lords of session; and had credit then
at court, perhaps from his zeal in respect to his religion,
for he was a very warm and inflexible Romanist, and laboured assiduously, in conjunction with Dr. Laing, to impede the progress of the reformation. It may with great
probability be conjectured, that the disputes into which he
plunged himself on this subject, made him so uneasy, that
he chose to quit his native country, that he might reside in
a place, where that disposition, instead of being an hindrance, would infallibly recommend him. This (as it is supposed) carried him to Rome, where, as Dempster tells
us, he died in 1550. He was unquestionably a man of
great parts, and one of the finest poets his country had to
boast, and notwithstanding the obsolete language of his
works, they are not slightly imbued with that enthusiasm
which is the very soul of poesy. His great work appeared
in folio at Edinburgh, in 1536, entitled “The History and
Chronicles of Scotland, compilit and newly correctit and
amendit be the reverend and noble clerk Mr. Hector Boeis,
chanon of Aberdene, translated lately be Mr. John Bellenden, archdene of Murray, and chanon of Rosse, at command of James the Fyfte, king of Scottis, imprintet in
Edinburgh be Thomas Davidson, dwelling fornens the
Fryere-Wynde.
” This translation, as has been observed,
was very far from being close, our author taking to himself the liberty of augmenting and amending the history he
published as he thought proper. He, likewise, distinguished
it into chapters as well as books, which was the only distinction employed by Boethius; which plainly proves, that it
was this translation, and not the original, that Richard
Grafton made use of in penning his chronicle, which Buchanan could scarcely avoid knowing, though he never
misses any opportunity of accusing Grafton, as if he had
corrupted and falsified this author, in order to serve his
own purposes and abuse the people of Scotland; 1 which,
however, is a groundless charge. Our author’s work was
afterwards taken into the largest of our British histories, of
which the bishop of Carlisle has given us the following account: “R. Holinshed published it in English, but was
not the translator of it himself: his friend began the work
and had gone a good way in it, but did not, it seems, live
to finish it. In this there are several large interpolations
and additions out of Major, Lesley, and Buchanan, by
Fr. Thinne, who is also the chief author of the whole story
after the death of king James the First, and the only penman of it from 1571 to 1586. Towards the latter end,
this learned antiquary occasionally intermixes catalogues
of the chancellors, archbishops, and writers of that kingdom.
”
to Dr. Richardson, whose authority is a manuscript of the late Roger Gale, esq. our prelate was the writer of the “Codex niger,” or Black Book of the Exchequer.
II. bishop of
London in the reign of king Stephen, was nephew to the
preceding, and son of Walter de Belmeis. Before he
came of age, he was appointed by his uncle archdeacon of
Middlesex: but the bishop was prevailed upon by William,
dean of London, his nephew by his sister Adelina, and by
the prior of Chich, to commit the administration of the
archdeaconry, during Richard’s minority, to Hugh, one
of his chaplains. It was with no small difficulty that
Richard afterwards recovered his archdeaconry out of the
hands of this faithless guardian. In the beginning of October 1151, he was advanced to the see of London, in the
room of Robert de Sigillo, and consecrated at Canterbury
by archbishop Theobald, in the presence of all the bishops
of England, excepting Henry of Winchester, who excused his absence, but warmly approved the choice of
Richard, in a letter to the archbishop. This prelate died
4th May, 1162, leaving behind him a reputation for singular eloquence. According to Dr. Richardson, whose authority is a manuscript of the late Roger Gale, esq. our
prelate was the writer of the “Codex niger,
” or Black
Book of the Exchequer.
, an Italian writer, was born in 1728, the last branch of a noble and ancient family
, an Italian writer, was born in
1728, the last branch of a noble and ancient family in Tuscany. He rendered himself eminent in the literary and
political world, and filled some situations of importance;
and among others, more connected with his favourite pursuits, he was director of the once magnificent gallery of
Florence, of which he wrote “Saggio Historico,
” &c.
“An historical essay concerning the Gallery,
” vol. I. and
II. 1779, 8vo, and which, we believe, was continued in more
volumes, but we find these only noticed in the Monthly Review, vol. LXII. He wrote also the eloges of many eminent characters, a “life of Dante,
” which is much esteemed,
some “academical dissertations,
” and other works without
his name. He died July 31, 1808. His mind was a library
open to all his friends, and his heart a hospitable asylum for
the unhappy. He was learned without pedantry, pious
without superstition, benevolent without ostentation, the
friend of virtue wherever he found it, and his death, it is
added, was as placid and calm as his life had been.
, or Benedetti, a very eminent physician and medical writer of the fifteenth century, was born at Legnano in the territory
, or Benedetti, a very
eminent physician and medical writer of the fifteenth century, was born at Legnano in the territory of Verona.
When he had completed his studies, he went to Greece
and the isle of Candy, as army surgeon, and on his return,
he was made professor of medicine at Padua, where he remained until 1495, when he settled at Venice. The time
of his death is not ascertained, but it appears that he was
alive in 1511. Haller mentions him as at the head of the
original medical writers, and says his style was far preferable to that of his predecessors. His works are, 1. “De
observatione in Pestilentia,
” Venice, 1493, 4to, Bonon,
1516, fol. Basil, 1538, 8vo, &c. 2. “Collectiones medicinæ, sive, aphorismi de medici et ægri officio,
” Leyden,
Anatomiae, sive de historia corporis humani,
lib. v.
” Venice, De omnium
a capite ad calcem morborum causis, signis, differentiis,
indicationibus, et remediis, lib. triginta,
” Venice, Opera omnia in unum collecta,
” Venice,
he Greek Testament, was born June 24, 1687, at Winneden in the duchy of Wirtemberg. He was, says the writer of the meagre account in the Diet. Hist, the first of the Lutheran
, a learned
German divine, principally known in this country for his
excellent edition of the Greek Testament, was born June
24, 1687, at Winneden in the duchy of Wirtemberg. He
was, says the writer of the meagre account in the Diet.
Hist, the first of the Lutheran divines who published a
learned, profound, and complete criticism on the New
Testament, or rather an accurate edition. He became a
critic from motives purely conscientious. The various and
anxious doubts which he entertained, from the deviations
exhibited in preceding editions, induced him to examine
the sacred text with great care and attention, and the result of his labours was, 1. his “Novi Testarmenti Graeci
recte cauteque adornandi prodromus,
” Stutgard, Notitia Nov. Test. Grrcc. recte cauteque adornati,
”
ibid. Novum Test.
Grace, cum introdnctione in Crisin N. T. Apparatu Critico,
et Epilogo,
” ibid. Gnomon Nov. Test, in quo ex nativa verborum vi simplicitas, profunditas, concinnitas sensuum ccelestium indicatur,
” ibid. Apparatus
Criticus
” was published, with many additions, by Phil. D,
Burkius, 4to. Bengal’s most formidable enemies were
Ernesti and Wet stein, neither of whom treated him with
the courtesy that becomes men of letters. His edition of
the New Testament is unquestionably a lasting monument
of the author’s profound learning and solid piety, and has
often been reprinted to gratify the public demand. In
1745, Bengel published “Cyclus, sive de anno magno
solis, luna?, stellarum consideratio, ad incrementum doctrinse propheticre atque astronomies accommodata,
” Ulm,
8vo, and after his death, which took place in Ordo temporifm, a principio per periodos
ceconomise divinoe historicas atque propheticas, at finem
usque ita deductus, ut tota series et quarumvis partium
analogia sempiternae virtutis ac sapientiae cultoribus ex
script. Vet. et Nov. Test, tanquam uno revera documento
proponatur,
” Stutgard, Introduction to his Exposition to the Apocalypse,
” was
translated and published by John Robertson, M. D. London, 1757.
, an eminent physician of the seventeenth century, and a medical writer, was the son of John Ben net of Raynton in Somersetshire, and
, an eminent physician of the
seventeenth century, and a medical writer, was the son of
John Ben net of Raynton in Somersetshire, and became a
commoner of Lincoln college in Qxford, in Michaelmasterm, 1632, being then fifteen years of age. After he had
taken the degrees of bachelor and master of arts, he entered upon the study of physic, but was created doctor in
that faculty elsewhere. He was afterwards chosen a fellow of the college of physicians in London, where he
practised with great success. Dr. Beunet died in April, 1655,
and was buried on the 2d of May, in St. Gregory’s church,
near St. Paul’s, in London. He gave the public a treatise
on Consumptions, entitled “Theatri Tabidorum Vestibuhun, &c.
” Lond. lt>54, 8vo. Also “Exercitationes Diagnosticir, cum hisioriis demonstratives, quibus alinientorum
et sanguinis vitia deteguntur in plerisque morbis, &c.
”
Our author corrected and enlarged a book written originally
by Dr. Thomas MotFet, and entitled “Health’s Improvement, or rules comprising or discovering the nature, method, and manner of preparing all sorts of food used in this
nation,
” Lond.
, or Benno, a writer of the eleventh century, was created a cardinal by the anti-pope
, or Benno, a writer of the eleventh century, was created a cardinal by the anti-pope Guibert, who
assumed the name of Clement III. Benno, who was one
of his most zealous partisans, made many attacks on the
popes, accusing Sylvester II. of magic, Gregory VI. of
simony, &c. and wrote, under the title of a “Life of Gregory VII.
” a bitter satire against that pontiff. He died
about the close of the eleventh century. His life of Gregory was printed in the “Fasciculus rerum Expetendarum
et Fugiendarum,
”
n Ireland, and father, by this lady, of Richard Cumberland, esq. the late dramatic and miscellaneous writer.
Dr. Bentley married a daughter of sir John Bernard, of Branapton, in Huntingdonshire, by whom he had one son, Richard, of whom in the next article, and two daughters, Elizabeth and Joanna. Elizabeth first married Humphrey Ridge, esq. and after his decease the rev. Dr, Favell, rector of Witton, near Huntingdon. Joanna, the Phebe of Dr. Byron’s celebrated pastoral (first published in the Spectator), married the rev. Denison Cumberland, afterward bishop of Kilmore, in Ireland, and father, by this lady, of Richard Cumberland, esq. the late dramatic and miscellaneous writer.
, a French miscellaneous writer, was born at Geneva in 1740, and in early life quitted the mechanical
, a French miscellaneous
writer, was born at Geneva in 1740, and in early life quitted the mechanical employment to which he had been
deslined by his parents, for those studies to which he was invited by the political troubles of his country. As by birth
he was classed among those who are at Geneva called natives, but who do not acquire the rank of citizens, because
born of foreign parents, his first effort was to establish, in
some of his writings, the necessity of equal political rights.
This dispute being referred to arms, Berenger, after his
party was defeated, was banished, along with many others,
by a decree of the sovereign power, February 10, 1770.
On this he retired to Lausanne, and employed his time
in various literary undertakings, until his return to Geneva,
where he died in June, 1807. He published, 1. An edition of the works of Abauzit. 2. “Histoire de Geneve,
depuis son origine jusqu'a nos jours,
” Tableau historiquede revolutions
de Geneve,
” may be considered as a sequel. 3. “Geographic de Busching abregee, &c.
” Busching’s work is
here abridged in some parts and enlarged in others, Lausanne, 1776 79, 12 vols. 8vo. 4. “Collection de tous
les voyages faits autour de monde,
” Amants Republicains, ou Lettrea
de Nicias et Cynire,
” Cours de geographic historique, ancienne et moderne de feu Ostervald,
”
Dictionnaire geographique
” of Vosgien (Ladvocat), Laura and Augustus,
” and of“Cook’s Voyages.
” 9. “J. J. Rousseau justifie envers sa patrie
” and some lesser pieces mentioned in
Ersch’s “France Litteraire.
” M. Bourrit attributes to him
a translation of Howard’s history of Prisons, but this, it is
thought, was executed by mademoiselle Keralio.
f Worlds,” and Voltaire, in his “Micromegas,” have taken many hints and sketches from this eccentric writer. There have been various editions of his works at Paris, Amsterdam,
The earl of.Orrery, in his “Remarks on the life and
writings of Swift,
” has taken occasion to speak of him in
the following manner “Cyrano de Bergerac is a French
author of a singular character, who had a very peculiar turn
of wit and humour, in many respects resembling that of
Swift. He wanted the advantages of learning and a regular education; his imagination was less guarded and correct, but more agreeably extravagant. He has introduced
into his philosophical romance the system of des Cartes,
which was then much admired, intermixed with several fine
strokes of just satire on the wild and immechanical inquiries of the philosophers and astronomers of that age; and
in many parts he has evidently directed the plan which the
dean of St. Patrick’s has pursued.
” This opinion was first
quoted in the Monthly Review (vol. X), when Derrick
translated a. id published Bergerac’s “Voyage to tha
Moon,
” Plurality
of Worlds,
” and Voltaire, in his “Micromegas,
” have taken
many hints and sketches from this eccentric writer. There
have been various editions of his works at Paris, Amsterdam, Trevoux, &c. the last was printed at Paris, 1741, 3
vols. 12 mo.
, a French writer of considerable note, was born at Darnay in Lorraine, December
, a French writer of
considerable note, was born at Darnay in Lorraine, December 31, 1718. In the career of promotion he was first curate of Flangebouche, a small village in Frunche-Comte,
then professor of theology, principal of the college of Besai^on, a canon of the church of Paris, and confessor to
the king’s aunts. Throughout life he was one of the most
strenuous opponents of the modern philosophers of France.
He acquired an early name by some essays on various literary subjects, to which the prizes were adjudged at Besanon and his reputation was considerably heightened by his
very ingenious and plausible work, entitled “Elements
primitifs des Langues, &c.
” Paris, Origine des Dieux du Pagunisme et
les sens des Fables decouvert, par une explication suivie
des Poesies d'Hesiode,
” Paris, 1767, 2 vols. 12mo. When
about the same time he found religion attacked in every
quarter by a combination of men of talents in France, he
determined to endeavour to counteract their schemes.
With this view he wrote “La Certitude des Preuves du
Christianisme,
” Examen critique des Apologistes de la religion Chretienne,
” improperly attributed to Freret; and it was allowed
to have been written with much sense, precision, and moderation. This work, which occasioned more friends and
more enemies to Bergier than any other, passed through
three editions in the same year, besides being translated
into Italian and Spanish. Voltaire, to whom the popularity
of any writings of this tendency must have been peculiarly
unpleasant, affected to answer it in his “Conseils raisonables,
” written with his usual art, but more remarkable for
wit than argument. Bergier answered the “Conseils,
”
the only instance in which he noticed any of his adversaries
in public. He had another more contemptible antagonist,
the noted Anacharsis Cloots, who published what he, and
perhaps no man else, would have called “Certitude des
Preuves du Mahometisme.
” About this time the clergy of
France, sensible of Bergier’s services, gave him a pension
of two thousand livres, and offered him some valuable benefices, but he would only accept of a canonry in Notre
Dame, and it was even against his inclination that he was
afterwards appointed confessor to the mesdames, the last
king’s aunts. Free from ambition, modest and simple in
dress and manners, he was desirous only of a retired life,
and at Paris he lived as he had done in the country, in the
midst of his books. This study produced, successively,
1. “Le Deisme refute par lui-meme,
” Paris, Apologie de la Religion Chretienne contre l'auteur du Christianisme devoid,
” (the baron Holbach) Paris, Examen du
Materialisme, ou refutation du systeme de la Nature,
” Paris, Traite historique et dogmatique de la vraie Religion, &c.
” Paris, Discours sur le
Manage des Protestants,
” Observations
surle Divorce,
” ibid. Encyclopedic methodique,
” 3 vols. 4to. The abbé“Barruel says,
that when this work was first undertaken, some deference
was still paid to religion, and Bergier thought it incumbent
on him to yield to the pressing solicitations of his friends,
lest the part treating of religion should fall into the hands
of its enemies, but in this they were deceived. Bergier,
indeed, performed his task as might have been expected
but in other parts of the work the compilers exceeded their
predecessors in licentious sentiments, and at the same time
availed themselves of the name of Bergier as a cloak. M.
Barbier attributes to our author the sketch of Metaphysics
inserted in the
” Cours d‘etude de l’usage de l'Ecole militaire." In all his works there is a logical arrangement and
precision, and the only objection the French critics have is
to his style, which is sometimes rather diffuse. He died at
Paris, April 9, 1790. He was a member of the academy of
Besangon, and an associate of that of inscriptions and belleslettres.
, a German writer, was born at Laaspa in 1718, and died in 1781. He published,
, a German writer, was
born at Laaspa in 1718, and died in 1781. He published,
1. “Cameralisten Bibliothek,
” a complete catalogue of all
books, pamphlets, &c. on the subjects of political economy,
police, finances, &c. Nuremberg, 1765, 8vo. 2. “A Magazine of Police and Administration, in alphabetical order,
”
Francfort, New Magazine of
Police, &c.
” Leipsic, A collection of the principal German laws, relative to police and
administration,
” Francfort, 4 vols. 1780 81. This last
was continued by professor Beckmann of Gottingen.
ember this year he is said to have accumulated the degrees of bachelor and doctor in divinity; but a writer in the Gent. Mag. 1776 asserts that he never went to Ireland
His way was open now into the very first company. Mr.
Pope introduced him to lord Burlington, and lord Burlington recommended him to the duke of Grafton who,
being lord-lieutenant of Ireland, took him over as one of
his chaplains in 1721, and November this year he is said
to have accumulated the degrees of bachelor and doctor in
divinity; but a writer in the Gent. Mag. 1776 asserts that
he never went to Ireland as chaplain to any lieutenant, and
that he was created D. D. by his college in 1717, when he
was in Italy. The year following he had a very unexpected increase of fortune from Mrs. Vanhomrigh, the
celebrated Vanessa, to whom he had been introduced by
Swift this lady had intended Swift for her heir, but, perceiving herself to be slighted by him, she left near 8000l.
between her two executors, of whom Berkeley was one.
In his life in the Biog. Brit, it is said that Swift had often
taken him to dine at this lady’s house, but Mrs. Berkeley,
his widow, asserts that he never dined there but once, and
that by chance. Dr. Berkeley, as executor, destroyed as
much of Vanessa’s correspondence as he could find. Mr.
Marshal, the other executor, published the “Cadenus and
Vanessa,
” which, according to Dr. Delany, proved fatal
to Stella. May 18, 1724, he was promoted to the deanery
of Derry, worth 1100l. per annum, and resigned his fellowship.
, an English miscellaneous writer, was born, about 1730, at Leeds in Yorkshire, and educated at
, an English miscellaneous
writer, was born, about 1730, at Leeds in Yorkshire, and
educated at the grammar-school in that town. His father,
Xvho was a merchant, and a native of Holland, intended him
for trade and with that view sent him at an early age to
Germany, in order to learn foreign languages. After continuing a few years in that country, he made the tour of
Europe in company with one or more English noblemen.
On their return to Germany they visited Berlin, where
Mr. Berkenhout met with a near relation of his father’s,
the baron de Bielfeldt, a nobleman then in high estimation
with the late king of Prussia; distinguished as one of the
founders of the royal academy of sciences at Berlin, and
universally known as a politician and a man of letters.
With this relation our young traveller fixed his abode for
some time; and, regardless of his original. destination, became a cadet in a Prussian regiment of foot. He soon obtained an ensign’s commission; and, in the space of a few
years, was advanced to the rank of captain. He quitted
the Prussian service on the declaration of war between
England and France in 1756, and was honoured with the
command of a company in the service of his native country. When peace was concluded in 1760, he went to
Edinburgh, and commenced student of physic. During
his residence at that university he compiled his “Clavis
Anglica Lingux Botanicæ
” a book of singular utility to
all students of botany, and at that time the only botanical
lexicon in our language, and particularly expletive of the
Linnsean system. It was not, however, published until
1765.
manner, then touches the heart with force and vehemence. The Holy Scripture was so familiar to this writer, that he adopts its words and expressions in almost every period
Bernard has had the fate of most of the eminent characters during the early ages of the church, to be excessively applauded by one party, and. as much and as unjustly depreciated by the other. Of his austerities and his miracles, little notice need be now taken. The former he was himself willing to allow were unjustifiable, and the latter are probably the forgeries of a period later than his own. In his conduct as well as his writings we see many intolerant prejudices and much superstition a strong predilection for the Roman hierarchy, and particularly for the monastic character. On the other hand, although his learning was but moderate, he could have been no ordinary man who attained such influence, not only over public opinion, but over men of the highest rank and power and he has been praised by the protestant writers for deviating in many respects from the dogmas of the popish religion, and maintaining some of those essential doctrines which afterwards occasioned a separation between the two churches. He denied transubstantiation, allowed of only two sacraments, and placed salvation on the imputation of Christ’s righteousness, denying all works of supererogation, &c. As to his talents, one of his modern biographers allows that his style was lively and florid, his thoughts noble and ingenious, his imagination brilliant^ and fertile in allegories. He is full of sensibility and tenderness, first gains the mind by a delicate and insinuating manner, then touches the heart with force and vehemence. The Holy Scripture was so familiar to this writer, that he adopts its words and expressions in almost every period and every phrase. St. Bernard’s sermons are considered as master-pieces of sentiment and force. Henry de Valois preferred them to all those of the ancients, whether Greek or Latin. It appears that he preached in French that monks who were not learned assisted at his conferences, and that Latin was then not understood by the people. His Sermons are to be seen in old French at the library of the fathers Fuillautines, rue St. Honore at Paris, in a ms. which is very near St. Bernard’s time; and the council of Tours, held in the year 813, ordered the bishops when they delivered the homilies of the fathers, to translate them from Latin into Langue romance, that the people might understand them. This proves that it was the custom to preach in French long before the time of St. Bernard. The best edition of the works of St. Bernard, who is regarded as the last of the fathers, is that of Mabillon, 2 vots. 1690, fol. the first of which contains such pieces as are undoubtedly Bernard’s. Those in the second volume are not of equal authority. Besides the lives prefixed to this edition by various writers, there are three separate lives, one by Lemaistre, Paris, 1649, 8vo; another by Villefore, 1704, 4to and a third by Clemencet, 1773, 4to, which is usually considered as the thirteenth volume of the literary history of France.
by means of strict parsimony, to make a decent figure at the houses to which he was invited. Being a writer of verses, and consequently a dealer in compliments, he was
, count of
Lyons, and a cardinal and statesman of France, was born
at MarceJ de l'Ardeche, May 22, 1715, of a noble and
ancient family, but not very rich which circumstance
induced his friends to bring him up to the church, as the
most likely profession in which he might rise. In this they
were not disappointed, as he gradually attained the highest
ecclesiastical dignities. When young he was placed at
the seminary of St. Sulpice in Paris, and after remaining
there some years, he appeared in the world with every
personal accomplishment that could introduce him into
notice; but his morals appear to have been for some time
an obstruction to promotion. The cardinal de Fleury,
then prime-minister, who had the patronage of all favours,
and who had promised him his countenance, thinking him
of a spirit too worldly for the church, sent for him and
gave him a lecture on his dissipated conduct, concluding
with these words “You can have no expectations of promotion, while I live,
” to which the young abbé“Bernis,
making a profound bow, replied,
” Sir, I can wait"
Some think this bon mot, which became very current, was
not original but it is certain that Bernis remained for a
long while in a state not far removed from poverty, and
yet contrived, by means of strict parsimony, to make a
decent figure at the houses to which he was invited.
Being a writer of verses, and consequently a dealer in
compliments, he was always acceptable, and at length by
madame Pompadour’s interest, was introduced to Louis XV.
The good effects of this, at first, were only an apartment
in the Tuileries, to which his patroness added the furniture,
and a pension of fifteen hundred livres yet it soon led to
greater matters. Having been appointed ambassador to
Venice, he was remarked to have acquired the good opinion
and confidence of a state rather difficult to please in appointments of this description, and of this they gave him a
strong proof, in a contest they had with pope Benedict XIV.
who appointed Bernis as his negociator. On this occasion
the state of Venice approved the choice, the consequence
of which was, that Bernis effected a reconciliation to the
entire satisfaction of both parties. On his return, he became a great favourite at court, acquired considerable influence, and at length, being admitted into the council,
was appointed foreign minister. But in this situation he
was either unskilful or unfortunate the disasters of the
seven years war, and the peace of 1763, were laid to his
charge but according to Duclos, he was less to blame than
his colleagues, and it is certain that in some instances he
has been unjustly censured. It was said, in particular,
that he argued for a declaration of war against Prussia, because Frederick the Great had ridiculed his poetry in the
following line,
m, and of the royal society of London. Like all the other branches of his family, he was a laborious writer. The following are the principal productions of his pen, 1.
, the grandson of the preceding
John, was born at Basil Nov. 4, 1744, and died at Berlin
July 13, 1807. He studied at Basil and Neufchatel, attaching himself chiefly to philosophy, mathematics, and
astronomy. At the age of nineteen, he was invited to the
place of astronomer in the academy of Berlin, and some
years after, having obtained permission to travel, he visited Germany, England, and France, and in his subsequent travels, Italy, Russia, Poland, &c. From the year
1779, he resided at Berlin, where he was appointed head
of the mathematical class of the academy. He was also a
member of the academies of Petersburg^ and Stockholm,
and of the royal society of London. Like all the other
branches of his family, he was a laborious writer. The
following are the principal productions of his pen, 1. “Recueil pour les Astronomes,
” Lettres sur diflPerents sujets, ecrites pendant le cours
d‘un voyage par PAllemagne, la Suisse, la France meridionale, et I’ltalie,in 1774 and 1775,
” 3 vols. 8vo. 1777—79.
3. “Description d'un Voyage en Prusse, en Russie, et en
Pologne, en 1777 et 1778,
” first published in German,
Lettres Astronomiques,
” A collection of voyages,
” in German, 16 vols. 1781—1785. 6. “The Archives, or records of History and Geography,
” in German,
8 vols. 1783 1788. 7. “De la reforme politique des
Juifs,
” translated from the German of Dohm, Elemens d‘Algebre d’Euler,
” from the German, Lyons, Nouvelles litteraires de divers
pais,
” Berlin, Mathematical Magazine,
” and wrote many papers in the
Memoirs of the Berlin Academy, and the Astronomical
Ephemerides, published in Berlin.
, a miscellaneous French writer, whose principal works are well-known in this country, was born
, a miscellaneous French writer,
whose principal works are well-known in this country,
was born at Bourdeaux, about 1749, and made his first
appearance in the literary world in 1774, as the author of
some Idyls, admired for their delicacy and sensibility.
The same year he versified the “Pygmalion
” of Rousseau
and after publishing in Tableaux Anglais,
”
a translation of several English essays, he wrote some romances, of which his “Genevieve de Brabant
” was reckoned the best. He afterwards applied himself to the composition of books for children, particularly his “Ami des
Enfans,
” which has been translated into English, his “Lectures pour les Enfans, &c.
” and published translations of
“Sandford and Merton,
” and some other English books
calculated for the same purpose. All these are included
in the edition of his works published by M. Renouard, Paris, 1803, 20 vols. 18mo, except his “Tableaux Anglais.
”
The “Ami des Enfans,
” the most celebrated and popular of all his works, was honoured with the prize given by
the French academy for the most useful book that appeared in 1784. He was for some time editor of the Monitcur and, in conjunction with Messrs. Ginguene“and
Grouvelle, conducted the
” Feuille villageoise." In
1791, he was proposed as a candidate for tutor to the
Dauphin, but died the same year at Paris, Dec. 21.
, a celebrated French writer, of the order of Jesus, was born at Rouen in Normandy, Nov.
, a celebrated French writer, of the order of Jesus, was born at Rouen in Normandy, Nov. 7, 1681. He was designed for the pulpit,
but the weakness of his frame not allowing him to declaim,
he gave himself up to the quiet but severe studies of the
closet, and produced some critical works of importance,
which his countrymen in their spirit of intolerance thought
fit to suppress and the reading of his “Histoire du peuple de Dieu
” was forbid by the archbishop of Paris, which
the Sorbonne were six years reviewing. The first part of
this work made its appearance in 8 vols. 4to, with a supplement, 1728, reprinted in 1733, 8 vols. 4to, and 10 vols.
12mo; this ends with the times of the Messiah: the second
part came out in 1753 in 4 vols. 4to, and 8 vols. 12mo;
and the third part in 2 vols. 4to, or 5 vols. in 12mo, containing a literal paraphrase of the epistles, was printed in
1758, notwithstanding it was censured and condemned by
the pope and clergy as containing abominable errors.
Abominable absurdities it certainly contained, the history
of the Jews being detailed with all the affectation of sentimental romance. The author died at Pans, Feb. 18,
1758.
was necessarily spent in bringing works of such superior excellence to perfection. He often told the writer of this account, that though some gentlemen pressed him very
, an ingenious Scotch artist, was one of those who owe more to nature than to instruction of his parentage we have no account, but he appears to have been born about 1730, and at the usual time bound apprentice to Mr. Proctor, a seal engraver in Edinburgh. How long he remained with him is uncertain, but for some years after he began business for himself, he pursued the same branch with his teacher. At this time, however, his designs were so elegant, and his mode of cutting so clean and sharp, as soon to make' him be taken notice of as a superior artist. At length by constantly studying and admiring the style of the antique entaglios, he resolved to attempt something of that sort himself; and the subject he chose was a head of sir Isaac Newton, which he executed in a style of such superior excellence, as astonished all who had an opportunity of observing it. But as he was a man of the most unaffected modesty, and as this head was given to a friend in a retired situation in life, it was known only to a few in the private circle of his acquaintance; and for many years was scarcely ever seen by any one who could justly appreciate its merit. Owing to these circumstances, Mr. Berry was permitted to waste his time, during the best part of his life, in cutting heraldic seals, for which he found a much greater demand than for fine heads, at such a price as could indemnify him for the time that was necessarily spent in bringing works of such superior excellence to perfection. He often told the writer of this account, that though some gentlemen pressed him very much to make fine heads for them, yet he always found that, when he gave in his bill for an article of that kind, though he had charged perhaps not more than half the money that he could have earned in the same time at his ordinary work, they always seemed to think the price too high, which made him exceedingly averse to employment of that sort.
, a French writer of considerable note, was born at Issoudun en Berri April 7,
, a French writer of
considerable note, was born at Issoudun en Berri April 7,
1704, and entered among the Jesuits in 1722. He was
professor of humanity at Blois, of philosophy at Rennes
and Rouen, and of divinity at Paris. The talents he displayed in these offices made him be chosen in 1742 to
succeed father Brumoy, in the continuation of his “History of the Gallican Church.
” This he executed with
general approbation. In the worthy rival
of Homer and Sophocles,
” the journalist put coldly in a
note, “We are not acquainted with him.
” But what
raised the anger of Voltaire to its utmost pitch, was a very
just censure of several reprehensible passages in his essay
on general history. The irritated poet declared openly in
1759 against the Jesuit in a sort of diatribe, which he
placed after his ode on the death of the margravine of Bareith. The Jesuit repelled his shafts with a liberal and
manly spirit in the Journal de Trevoux. Upon this the
poet, instead of a serious answer, brought out in 1760 a
piece of humour, entitled “An account of the sickness,
confession, and death of the Jesuit Berthier.
” The learned
Jesuit did not think proper to make any reply to an adversary who substituted ridicule for argument, and continued
the Journal de Trevoux till the dissolution of the society
in France. He then quitted his literary occupations for
retirement. At the close of 1762 the dauphin appointed
him keeper of the royal library, and adjunct in the education of Louis XVI. and of monsieur. But eighteen months
afterwards, when certain events occasioned the dismission,
of all ex-jesuits from the court, he settled at Ossenbourg,
from which the empress queen invited him to Vienna and
he was also offered the place of librarian at Milan, but he
refused all and after residing here for ten years, obtained
permission to go to Bourges, where he had a brother and
a nephew in the church. Here he died of a fall, Dec. 15,
1782, just after being informed that the French clergy
had decreed him a pension of a thousand livres. The
chapter of the metropolitan church gave him distinguished
honours at his interment; a testimony due to a man of
such eminent piety, extensive erudition, and excellent
judgment.
, an ingenious Swiss writer, long known by his labours in various branches of philosophy
, an ingenious Swiss writer, long
known by his labours in various branches of philosophy
and literature, and especially in natural history and political and rural economy, was born at Orbe in Swisserland,
in 1712. In 1739 he was pastor of that village, and in
1744 preacher at Bern, whence he was called by the late
king of Poland, to preside at a board of commerce, agriculture, and useful arts, the operations of which (and, if we are not mistaken, its very existence) were suppressed
by the subsequent troubles of that unhappy country. He
was also a member of the academies of Stockholm, Berlin, Florence, Lyons, &c. His principal works are, 1. “Sermons prononcés a Berne a l‘occasion de la decouverte
d’une CoiTspiration centre Petat,
” Memoires sur la Structure interieure de la Terre,
” Essais sur les usages des montagnes, avec un lettre
sur la Nil,
” Memoires pour servir a
s’instruire des tremblements de terre de la Suisse, principalement pour l'annee 1755, avec quatre Sermons prononcées a cette occasion,
” 1756, 8vo. 5. The same “Memoires,
” published separately, Le Philanthrope,
” Recherches sur les langues anciennes et modernes de la Suisse, et principalement du pays de Vaud,
”
Museum,
” Dictionnaire Universel des Fossiles propres, etdes Fossils accidentels,
” Recueil de divers traités sur l'histoire naturelle de la
Terre etdes Fossiles,
” Morale de l'Evangile,
” Le Thevenon, ou les Journees de la Montagne, 1777, 12mo, 1780, 2 vols. 8vo. 14.
” Essai philosophique et moral sur le Plaisir,“1778, 12mo,
an excellent work, which, from the account given of it in
the Monthly Review, seems highly deserving of a translation. 15.
” Le solitaire du Mont-Jure, recreations d'un
philosophe," 1782, 12mo. The time of this writer’s death
is not ascertained, but he was considerably advanced in
years at the period of this last publication.
ies. The time of his death is not ascertained, but according to a letter of Goselini, a contemporary writer, he was living in 1565. His works are, 1. “Dialogo amoroso e
, an Italian scholar of considerable
celebrity, was born about the beginning of the sixteenth
century, at Bassano. In his early years he shewed a taste
for polite literature, and published some poems that were
read as very extraordinary productions, but unfortunately
he took for his guide the famous, or rather infamous, Peter
Aretin, both in his studies and his morals. Under such
an instructor, we are not to wonder that his irregularities
obstructed his advancement in life. For some time he
earned a subsistence at Venice in the printing-office of
Giolito, and afterwards wandered over Italy and even
France, in quest of better employment, which his misconduct always prevented. At length he was recommended
as secretary to a person of rank, and is said to have gone
to Spain in 1562, in this character, but on his return to
Italy, he resumed his irregularities, and lived as usual on
precarious supplies. The time of his death is not ascertained, but according to a letter of Goselini, a contemporary
writer, he was living in 1565. His works are, 1. “Dialogo amoroso e rime di Giuseppe Betussi e d'altri autori,
”
Venice, II Raverta, dialogo, &c.
” Venice, 1544,
1545, &c. 8vo. 3. Italian translations of Boccaccio’s
three Latin works, “De casibus Virorum etFoerninarum illustrium
” “De claris Mulieribus;
” and “De Genealogia deorum
” the first, Venice, An Italian translation of the
” Seventh book of the Eneid,“Venice, 154G,
8vo, which afterwards made part of an entire translation
of that poem by different hands. 5. li La Leonora, Ragionamento sopra la vera bellezza,
” Lucca, Ragionamento sopra il Catajo, luogo del signor Pio Enea Obizzi,
” Padua, L‘Immagine del tempio di Dorina Giovanna d’Aragona,
dialogo,
” Venice, Letters
” and “Poems
”
in various collections.
he sequel of this work to the flames in his last illness. He adds that “he was a better scholar than writer, and a better writer than pleader.” His private character is
, LL. D. an eminent scholar and civilian, was born at Mortimer in Berkshire in 1725, and educated at All Souls’ college, Oxford, where he took the degree of bachelor of law, July 3, 1753, and that of doctor,
April 5, 1758, and was also a fellow of his college. In
1762, with the permission of the vice-chancellor, and with
the approbation of the regius professor of civil law, whose
ill state of health had at that time deprived the university
of the fruits of his abilities, he gave a course of lectures
in the same school where Blackstone had delivered his
celebrated commentaries, and sometimes, when the class
ef pupils was small, at his own chambers in All Souls’
college. In 1760, he published “A discourse on the study
of Jurisprudence and the Civil Law, being an introduction
to (the above) course of lectures,
” 4to, but we presume
had not sufficient encouragement to publish the whole.
He was admitted into Doctors’ Commons, Nov. 21, 1758,
and was afterwards promoted to be judge of the Cinque
Ports, and chancellor of Lincoln and Bangor. In 1751,
he published “The history of the Legal Polity of the
Roman state and of the rise, progress, and extent of the
'Roman Laws,
” Lond. 4to, a work in which he has made
deep researches into the constitution of the Roman state,
and displays an extensive fund of learning, connected with
the investigation of the civil law. It is much to be lamented that he did not live to complete his plan: but by his
will he expressly forbade any part of his Mss. to be printed, as not being in a fit state for the public eye. Dr. Coote
says he committed the sequel of this work to the flames in
his last illness. He adds that “he was a better scholar
than writer, and a better writer than pleader.
” His private character is represented as truly amiable. As a relation he was affectionate and attentive and as a friend active and disinterested. His patronage of unprotected genius was a constant mark of the benevolence of his heart.
The late Mr. Hindle, and other adepts in music, of which
Dr. Bever was a devoted amateur, attracted his esteem.
Sherwin, the celebrated engraver, owed also the greatest
obligations to him his grateful sense of which he testified
by his valuable present of an unique painting (the only one Sherwin ever executed), of Leonidas taking leave of his
wife and infant son, now or lately in possession of Sam.
Bever, esq. of Mortimer in Berkshire, the doctor’s
younger brother. Dr. Bever died at his house in Doctors’
Commons, Nov. 8, 1791, of an asthma, which probably
would not then have been fatal, if he had suffered himself
to be removed from London to a less turbid air, but in
what concerned his health, he was reluctant to take advice.
He was interred in Mortimer church, Berkshire, and a
mural monument erected, in the chancel, to his memory.
rks continue to be held to this day, prove how little he was injured by the captious quibblings of a writer who was determined to find fault with' that, into the spirit
, a learned divine in the seventeenth century, and bishop of St. Asaph, was born at
Barrow in Leicestershire (where his grandfather, father, and brother, were vicars) in 1636-7. On the 24th of May,
1653, he was admitted of St. John’s college, Cambridge,
and took his degrees of bachelor of arts in 1656, master of arts in 1660, and of doctor of divinity in 1679.
At his coming to the university, he closely applied himself to the study of the learned languages and, by
his great diligence and application, soon became so well
skilled, particularly in all Oriental learning, that when
he was not above eighteen years of age, he wrote a
treatise of the excellency and use of the Oriental tongues,
especially the Hebrew, Chaldee, Syriac, Arabic, and
Samaritan, with a Syriac Grammar, in three books; which
he published when he was about twenty years of age.
He also distinguished himself, at the same time, by his
early piety and seriousness of mind, and by his exemplary sobriety and integrity of life, all which procured
him great esteem and veneration. January 3, 1660-1,
he was ordained deacon in the church of St. Botolph,
Aldersgate, by Robert, bishop of Lincoln and priest, in
the same place, the 31st of that month. About this time,
Dr. Sheldon, bishop of London, collated him to the vicarage of Ealing in Middlesex. On the 22d of November,
1672, he was chosen, by the lord-mayor and aldermen of
London, rector of St. Peter’s, Cornhill, London, and then
he resigned the vicarage of Ealing. He now applied himself, with the utmost labour and zeal, to the discharge of
his ministry, and so instructive was he in his discourses
from the pulpit, so warm and affectionate in his private
exhortations, so regular and uniform in the public worship of the church, and in every part of his pastoral function, and so remarkably were his labours crowned with
success, that as he himself was justly styled “the great
reviver and restorer of primitive piety,
” so his parish was
deservedly proposed, as the best model and pattern, for
the rest of its neighbours to copy after. His singular merit having recommended him to the favour of his diocesan,
bishop Henchman, he was collated by him, on the 22d of
December, 1674, to the prebend of Chiswick, in the cathedral of St. Paul’s, London and, by his successor bishop Compton, he was also, on the 3d of November, 1681,
collated to the archdeaconry of Colchester. In this dignity
he behaved, as he had done before in every station of life,
In a most regular, watchful, and exemplary manner and
not satisfied with the false, or at least imperfect, reports
given in by church-wardens at visitations, he visited everjr
parish within his archdeaconry in person. November the
5th, 1684, he was installed prebendary of Canterbury, and
became also chaplain to king William and queen Mary.
In 1691, he was offered, but refused the see of Bath and
Wells, then vacant by the deprivation of Dr. Thomas Kenn,
for not taking the oaths to king William and queen Mary.
liut though he refused that see, because, probably, being
a man of a tender conscience, he would not eat Dr. Kenn’s
tread, adtording to the language of those times, he afterwards accepted of that of St. Asaph, vacant by the translation of Dr. George Hooper to Bath and Wells, and was
consecrated July 16, 1704. Being placed in this eminent
station, his care and diligence increased in proportion as
his power in the church was enlarged and now when his
authority was extended to larger districts, he still pursued
the same pious and laborious methods of advancing the
honour and interest of religion, by watching over both
clergy and laity, and giving them all necessary direction
and assistance, for the effectual performance of their respective duties. Accoruingly, he was no sooner advanced
to the episcopal chair, but in a pathetic letter to the clergy
of his diocese, he recommended to them the “duty of
catechising and instructing the people committed to their
charge, in the principles of the Christian religion to the
end they might know what they were to believe and do
in order to salvation
” and told them, “he thought it necessary to begin with that, without which, whatever else
he or they should do, would turn to little or no account,
as to the main end of the ministry.
” And to enable them
to do this the more effectually, he sent them a plain and
easy “Exposition upon the Church Catechism.
” This
good man did not enjoy his episcopal dignity above three
years seven months and twenty days for he died at his
lodgings in the cloisters in Westminster- abbey, March
5, 1707-8, in the seventy-first year of his age, and was
buried in St. Paul’s cathedral. He left the greatest part of
liis estate to the societies for propagating the gospel, and
promoting Christian knowledge. To the curacy of MountSorrel in particular, and vicarage of Barrow in the county
of Leicester, in a thankful remembrance of God’s mercies
vouchsafed to him thereabouts, he bequeathed twenty
pounds a year for ever, on condition that prayers be read
morning and evening every day, according to the Liturgy
of the church of England, in the chapel, and parish church
aforesaid; with the sum of forty shillings yearly, to be divided equally upon Christmas-eve, among- eight poor housekeepers of Barrow, as the minister and churchwardens
should agree, regard being had especially to those who
had been most constantly at prayers, and at the sacrament
of the Lord’s Supper, the foregoing year. And if it should
so happen, that the Common- Prayer could not be read in
the church or chapel aforesaid, his will then was, that what
should have been given in either place for that, be in each
place allowed to one chosen by the vk-ar of Barrow to teach
school, and instruct the youth in the principles of the
Christian religion, according to the doctrine of the church
of England. His works were many, and full of great variety of learning. Those published by himself were a?
follows: 1. “De Linguarum Orientalium, praesertim HeIpraicce, Chaldaica?, Syriacae, Arabicae, et Samaritans, praestantia et usu,
” &c. mentioned above. Loud. Institutionum Chronologicarum libri duo, una cum totidem Arithmetices Chronoiogicae libellis,
” Loud. Swvo'&Kov, sive Pandectse Canonum Ss. Apostolorum, et Conciliorum ab Ecclesia Graeca receptoium
necnon Canonicarum Ss. Patrum Epistolarum una cum
Scholiis antiquorum singulis eorurn annexis, et scriptis
aliis hue spectantibus quorum plurima e Bibliothecae Bodleianae aliarumque Mss. Codicibus nunc primum edita
reliqua cum iisdem Mss. summa fide et diligentia collata,
”
Oxonii, 1672, 2 vols. fol. 4. “Codex Canonum Ecclesiae
Primitivae vindicatus et illustratus,
” Lond. The Church Catechism explained, for the use of the
diocese of St. Asaph,
” Lond. J Private Thoughts upon Religion, digested into
twelve articles, with practical resolutions formed thereupon.
” Written in his younger years (when he was about twenty-three years old), for the settling of his principles
and conduct of life, Lond. 1709. 2. “Private Thoughts
upon a Christian Life or, necessary directions for its beginning and progress upon earth, in order to its final perfection in the Beatific Vision,
” part II. Lond. 1709. 3.
“The great necessity and advantage of Public Prayer and
frequent Communion. Designed to revive primitive piety
with, meditations, ejaculations, and prayers, before, at,
and after the sacrament,
” Lond. One hundred and fifty Sermons and Discourses on several subjects,
” Lond. 170S, &c. in 12 vols. 8vo, reprinted at London, 17iy, in 2 vols. fol. 5. “Thesaurus Theologians
or, a complete system of Divinity, summed up in brief
notes upon select places of the Old and New Testament;
wherein the sacred text is reduced under proper heads;
explained and illustrated with the opinions and authorities
of the ancient fathers, councils, &c.
” Lond. A defence of the book of Psalms, collected
into English metre by Thomas Sternhold, John Hopkins,
and others with critical Observations on the New Version,
compared with the Old,
” Lond. Exposition of the XXXIX Articles,
” Lond. 1710, 1716, fol.
Bishop Beveridge’s character is in general represented
in a most advantageous light. He was a person of the
strictest integrity, of true and sincere piety, of exemplary charity, and of great zeal for religion, and so
highly esteemed, that when he was dying, one of the
chief of his order deservedly said of him, “There goes
one of the greatest and of the best men that ever England
bred.
” He is also celebrated as a man of extensive and
almost universal learning; furnished, to a very eminent
degree, with all useful knowledge; and much to be admired for his readiness in the scriptures, which he had
thoroughly studied, so that he was able to produce suitable
passages from them on all occasions, and happy in explaining them to others. Mr. Nelson says, that he cannot forbear acknowledging the favourable dispensation of Providence to the present age, in blessing it with so many of
those pious discourses, which our truly primitive prelate
delivered from the pulpit; and that he the rather takes
the liberty to call it a favourable dispensation of Providence, because the bishop gave no orders himself that
they should be printed, but humbly neglected them, as
not being composed for the press. But that this circumstance is so far from abating the worth of the sermons,
or diminishing the character of the author, that it raises
the excellency of both, because it shews at once the
true nature of a popular discourse which is to improve
the generality of hearers, and for that purpose to speak
to them in a plain and intelligible style.
Dr. Henry Felton says, that our learned and venerable
bishop delivered himself with those ornaments alone,
which his subject suggested to him, and wrote in that
plainness and solemnity of style, that gravity and simplicity, which gave authority to the sacred truths he taught,
and unanswerable evidence to the doctrines he defended.
That there is something so great, primitive, and apostolical, in his writings, that it creates an awe and veneration
in our mind that the importance of his subjects is above
the decoration of words and what is great and majestic in
itself looketh most like itself, the less it is adorned. The
author of one of the Guardians, having made an extract
out of one of the bishop’s sermons, tells us, that it may
for acuteness of judgment, ornament of speech, and true
sublime, compare with any of the choicest writings of the
ancients, who lived nearest to the apostles’ times. But
the author of a pamphlet published in 1711, entitled “A
short view of Dr. Bevericlge’s Writings,
” passes a very different judgment upon bishop Beveridge’s works, in order
to stop, as he says, the mischief they are doing, and that
which the publication of his Articles may do. With regard
to the bishop’s language, he observes, that he delights in
jingle and quibbling; affects a tune and rhyme in all he
says, and rests arguments upon nothing but words and
sounds, &c. &c. But perhaps this animadverter will “by
some be ranked among the persons, of whom Dr. Lupton
gives the following character
” Those who are censorious
enough to reflect with severity upon the pious strains,
which are to be found in bishop Beveridge, &c. may possibly
be good judges of an ode or essay, but do not seem to
criticise justly upon sermons, or express a just value for
spiritual things.“After all, whatever faults may be found
in bishop Beveridge’s posthumous works, must be charged
to the injudiciousness of his executor. He must himself
have been an extraordinary man who, with all the faults
pointed out by the author of
” The short view," could
have conciliated the good opinion and favour of men of all
principles, and the most eminent patrons of the church
and the estimation in which his works continue to be held
to this day, prove how little he was injured by the captious
quibblings of a writer who was determined to find fault
with' that, into the spirit of which he could not enter. The
life of bishop Beveridge, prefixed to the folio edition of
his works, was written by Mr. Kimber, a dissenting minister of the Baptist persuasion, in London.
, a learned German writer, was born at Carlostadt, Oct. 18, 1522, and studied at Marpurg,
, a learned German writer, was
born at Carlostadt, Oct. 18, 1522, and studied at Marpurg,
and afterwards at Wittemberg, where, being introduced
by Melancthon, to Luther, the latter received him into his
house, and both superintended his studies. In 1542, when
the contest took place between John Frederic, the elector, and prince Maurice, he served under the former, but
the war being over, he returned to Wittemberg. In 1546
he was appointed professor of history, poetry, and mathematics at Grieswald; and in 1549 he visited Paris, and
some other celebrated academies, studied civil law, and
published his “Ephemeris Historica,
” Paris, Animadversiones historic et chronographicae.
”
2. “Opus fastorum antiquitatis Romanae,
” Spire, Fasti Hebraeorum, Atheniensium, et Romanorum.
” 4. “Animadversiones in Taciti Germaniam.
”
5. “Commentarii in Livium, Sallustium, Velleium Paterculum, &c.
”
, a French miscellaneous writer, was born at Remiremont, in the month of March 1748, and died
, a French
miscellaneous writer, was born at Remiremont, in the
month of March 1748, and died at Paris, Feb. 15, 1784.
He was first canon, and afterwards grand -chanter of St.
Chapelle, at Paris. From his infancy he had a turn for
the study of natural history, and assisted Buffon in the
latter volumes of his great work on that subject. He published 1. “Systeme de la Fermentation,
” Catechisme d'Agriculture, ou Bibliotheque des gens
de la campagne,
” Oraison funebre
d'Anne Charlotte de Lorraine, abbesse de Remiremont,
”
Histoire de Lorraine,
” Observation particuliere sur le Myriade,
” and “Materiaux
pour l'histoire naturelle des Salines de Lorraine,
” both
which were printed in Neufchateau’s “Conservateur,
”
vol. II. In the same collection are twenty-five letters
from Buffon to the abbé Bexon. It remains to be noticed,
that as he called himself in his first publication Scipio
Bexon, by way of concealment, some biographers have
supposed that to be his real name.
bears the same sentiments, with much expression of regret for his early errors. Beza was an elegant writer, and a man of great learning. His long life, and the enthusiasm
Beza’s zeal was much tempered in his latter days and when, during an interview with Henry IV. in 1599, in a Tillage of Savoy near Geneva, that prince asked him what he could do for him, Beza expressed no wish but to see peace restored in France. His last will bears the same sentiments, with much expression of regret for his early errors. Beza was an elegant writer, and a man of great learning. His long life, and the enthusiasm with which he inspired his followers, made him be called the Phenix of his age. As a divine, controversialist, and on many occasions, as a negociator, he displayed great abilities, and a faithful adherence to his principles. His numerous writings are now perhaps but little consulted, and his translation of the Psalms into French verse, which was begun by Marot, are no longer in use in the reformed churches but as a promoter of literature, he still deserves high praise, on account of the great diligence and success with which he superintended the college of Geneva for forty years of his life. When on one occasion the misfortunes of the times rendered it necessary to dismiss two of the professors, for whose maintenance there were no longer any funds, Beza, then at the age of seventy, supplied both their places, and gave lectures for more than two years. He was in fact the founder of that college which for the last two centuries has produced so many eminent men; he prescribed its statutes, and left his successors an example which may be said to have descended to our own times. Bayle’s account of Beza, in his usual rambling style, is principally taken from the Latin life published in 1606 by Antonius Fayus, or La Faye. Noel Taillepied, Bolsec, and a doctor of the Sorbonne, named Lainge, or Laingeus, have also written lives of this reformer. Other authorities will be subjoined in the note.
, a noted Socinian writer, was born in 1615, at Wotton-under-Edge, in Gloucestershire.
, a noted Socinian writer, was born in
1615, at Wotton-under-Edge, in Gloucestershire. He was
educated at the free-school in that town and, being a promising youth, was noticed by George lord Berkeley, who
made him an allowance of 10l. a year. While at this
school, he translated Virgil’s eclogues, and the two first
satires of Juvenal, into English verse, both which were
printed at London in 1634, in 8vo. In 1634 he was sent
to Oxford, and entered at Magdalen-hall. June 23, 1683,
he took the degree of bachelor of arts, and soon after was
invited to be master of the school of his native place, but
declined it. May 20, 1691, he took his degree of master
of arts; and the magistrates of Gloucester having chosen
him master of the free-school of St. Mary de Crypt in that
city, he went and settled there, and was much esteemed for
his diligence. Falling, however, into some opinions concerning the Trinity, different from those commonly received, and having expressed his thoughts with too much
freedom, he was accused of heresy: and being summoned
before the magistrates, he exhibited in writing a confession, which not being thought satisfactory, he was obliged
to make another more explicit than the former. When ha
had fully considered this doctrine, he comprised it in twelve
arguments drawn, as he pretended, froai the Scripture
wherein the commonly-received opinion, touching the deity
of the Holy Spirit, is attempted to be refuted . An acquaintance who had a copy of them, having shewed them,
to the magistrates of Gloucester, and to the parliament
committee then residing there, he was committed, Dec. 2,
1645, to the common gaol, till the parliament should take
cognizance of the matter. However, an eminent person
in Gloucester procured his enlargement, by giving security
for his appearance when the parliament should send for
him. June 1616, archbishop Usher, passing through
Gloucester in his way to London, had a conference with
our author, and endeavoured, but in vain, to convince him
of his errors. Six months after he had been set at liberty
he was summoned to appear at Westminster, and the parliament appointed a committee to examine him before
whom he freely confessed, that he did not acknowledge the
commonly-received notion of the divinity of the Holy
Ghost, but, however, was ready to hear what could be
opposed to him, and, if he could not make out his opinion
to be true, honestly to own his error. But being wearied
with tedious and expensive delays, he wrote a letter to sir
Henry Vane, a member of the committee, requesting him
either to procure his discharge, or to make a report of his
case to the house of commons. The result of this was, his
being committed to the custody of one of their officers,
which restraint continued the five years following. He
was at length referred to the assembly of divines then
sitting at Westminster, before whom he often appeared,
and gave them in writing his twelve arguments, which
were published the same year. Upon their publication, he
was summoned to appear at the bar of the house of commons; where being asked, “Whether he owned this treatise, and the opinions therein
” he answered in the affirmative. Upon which he was committed to prison, and the
house ordered, Sept. 6, 1747, that the book should be
called in and burnt by the hangman, and the author be
examined by the committee of plundered ministers. But
Mr. Biddle drew a greater storm upon himself by two tracts
he published in 1648, “A confession of faith touching the
Holy Trinity according to the Scripture
” and “The testimonies of Irenaeus, Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Novatianusy
Theophilus, Origen, also of Arnobius, Lactantius, Eusebius, Hilary, and Brightman, concerning that one God,
and the persons of the Holy Trinity, together with observations on the same.
” As soon as they were published,
the assembly of divines solicited the parliament, and procured an ordinance, inflicting death upon those that held
opinions contrary to the received doctrine about the Trinity, and severe penalties upon those who differed in lesser
matters. Biddle, however, escaped by a dissension in the
parliament, part of which was joined by the army; many
of whom, both officers and soldiers, being liable to the
severities of the ordinance above-mentioned, it therefore
from that time lay unregarded for several years. Biddle
had now more liberty allowed him by his keepers who
suffered him, upon security given, to go into Staffordshire,
where he lived some time with a justice of peace, who entertained him with great hospitality, and at his death left
him a legacy. Serjeant John Bradshaw, president of the
council of state, having got intelligence of this indulgence
granted him, caused him to be recalled, and more strictly
confined. In this confinement he spent his whole substance, and was reduced to great indigence, till he was
employed by Roger Daniel of London, to correct an impression of the Septuagint Bible, which that printer was
about to publish and this gained him for some time a
comfortable subsistence.
, a very learned and voluminous German writer, was born at Naumberg, April 5, 1705, and studied at Wittemberg,
, a
very learned and voluminous German writer, was born
at Naumberg, April 5, 1705, and studied at Wittemberg,
where he was admitted to his master’s degree in 1717, and
soon after made librarian to the city. In 1732 he returned
to Naumberg, ancl was appointed co-rector of the public
school, in which office he continued for nine years, and
in 1741, on the death of John George Scutz, was promoted to be rector. In 1747, the place of rector of the
school of Friedburg becoming vacant, he was invited to
fill it, and accordingly, with the coiTsent of his patrons at
Nauinberg, he removed thither, and added greatly to the
reputation of' the school. He died there in 1772, leaving
a vast number of works in Latin and German, published
during his literary career, some of which involved him in
controversies with his contemporaries, carried on in the
German journals with a considerable degree of animosity.
Harles enumerates above an hundred and fifty articles of
his publication, separately, or in the literary journals, on
subjects of sacred criticism, philology, the arts, poetical
criticism, and some works of whim and imagination; the
following selection will probably afford a sufficient specimen 1. “De insolentia titulorum librariorum,
” Naumberg,
De religione eruditorum,
” ibid. Metelemata philologica,
” ibid. Cur homines montani male audiant?
” ibid.
De Latinitate maccaronica,
” ibid. 6. “De Isopsephis,
” ibid. 7. “Fabulosa de septem dormientibus historia,
” ibid. DearteObliviscendi,
”ibid. De
primis rei metallicae inventoribus,
” ibid. De
antiquitate sodinarum metallicarum,
” ibid. Acta
scholastica,
” Nova acta scholastica.
” 12. “Selecta scholastica,
” Otia litteraria,
” Freiburgh, De vita musica ad Plauti Mostellarium,
” act III.
sc. 2. v. 40, he has collected all that the ancients and
moderns have advanced against music and musicians but,
as this was founded on mistaking the sense of Plautus, it
ocsasioned a long literary contest, in which Bidermann
did not appear to the best advantage. Harles, indeed, allows that his judgment did not always keep pace with his
learning.
, a famous anatomical writer, was born at Amsterdam March 12, 1649. After he had passed through
, a famous anatomical writer, was
born at Amsterdam March 12, 1649. After he had passed
through his academical studies, he applied himself to
physic and anatomy, and took his degree of M. D. He
soon acquired considerable practice; in 1688 was made
professor of anatomy at the Hague, which he quitted in
1694 for the professorship of anatomy and chirurgery at
Leyden; and afterwards William III. of England appointed
him his physician, which he accepted on condition of
holding his professorship. The king died in 1702, and
Bidloo returned to his former employments, in which he
had been interrupted by his constant attendance upon that
prince. He died at Ley den, April 1713, being 64 years
of age. His chief work was his “Anatomia humani corporis,
” in Vindiciae quorundam Delineationum Anatomicarum contra ineptasAnimadversionesF. Ruyschii, &c.
” A letter to Anthony Leeuvvenhoek concerning the animals which are sometimes found in the liver of
sheep or some other animals.
” This was published in Low
Dutch, Delft, Gulielmus Cowper criminis
Literarii citatus coram tribunali nobiliss. ampliss. Societatis
Britanno-Regiae,
” Leyden, Exercitationum Anatomico-Chirurgicarum Decades
dua
”,“Leyden, 1708, 4to. 4. He published likewise a small
piece upon the disease of which king William III. of England died. 5.
” Letters of the Apostles who were martyred,“Amsterdam, 1698, 4to, in Low Dutch verse, of
which, as well as of Latin, he was very fond, and was
thought to have succeeded. He supposes jn this book,
that the apostles wrote these letters before they suffered,
martyrdom, and addressed them to their disciples, in order
to inform them of their last desires, and to instruct them in
what manner they ought to act after themselves were removed from this world. There was published at Leyden,
1719, a miscellaneous collection of our author’s poems in
Low Dutch. His brother, Lambert Bidloo, an apothecary
at Amsterdam, was the author of some Dutch poetry, and
of a work
” De re herbaria,“printed at the end of the
” Catalogue of the Garden of Amsterdam," by Commelin,
Leyden, 1709, 12mo. Lambert’s son, Nicholas, became
first physician to the Czar Peter I., and inspector of the
hospital of St. Petersburgh.
, a French writer, was born at Paris Aug. 24, 1589. His father took the care of
, a French writer, was born at Paris
Aug. 24, 1589. His father took the care of his education
upon himself, and taught him the languages, philosophy,
mathematics, civil law, and divinity. Jerome acquired so
much knowledge in a very short time, that at ten years
of age he published his description of the Holy Land,
entitled “Chorographie, ou Description de la TerreSainte,
” Paris, Discours de la ville de Rome, principales
antiquitez & singularitez d'icelle,
” Traite sommaire de Pelection des papes,
” De l‘excellence des rois & du royaume
de France, traitant de la preseance& des prerogatives des rois
des France par dessus tous les antres, & de causes d’icelles.
”
This book was written in order to confute what Diego
Valdes, counsellor of the royal chamber of Granada, had
published in favour of the precedency of the kings of Spain,
under the title of “De dignitate re gum Hispania?,
” Granada,
ts, 12mo. His grandson, John Paul Bignon, was librarian to the king, a man of great erudition, and a writer of great powers of invention, if he could compose, as we are
Upon his return from his travels, he applied himself to
the practice of the bar with great success. His father procured for him the post of advocate general in the grand
council; which office he discharged with such reputation,
that the king nominated him some time after counsellor of
state, and at last advocate general in the parliament. In
1641 he resolved to confine himself entirely to his business
in the council of state, and therefore resigned his place of
advocate-general to Mr. Briquet his son -in- law,. The year
following he was appointed the king’s librarian. His sonin-law dying in 1645, he was obliged to resume his post
of advocate- general, in order to preserve it for his son.
He had also a considerable share in the ordinance of the
year 1639; and he discharged with great integrity various commissions with which he was intrusted at different
times. Queen Anne of Austria, during her regency, sent
for him to council upon the most important occasions. He
adjusted the differences between Mr. d‘Avaux and Mr.
Servien, plenipotentiaries at Minister and he had a share,
with M. de Brienne and d’ Emery, in making the treaty of
alliance with the states of Holland in 1649. He was appointed, in 1651, to regulate the great affair of the succession of Mantua; and in 1654, to conclude the treaty
with the Hans Towns. Mr. Bignon died, aged 66, on the
7th of April, 1656, of an asthma, with which he waa
seized the autumn before. In 1757, the abbé Perau published Bignon’s life, two parts, 12mo. His grandson,
John Paul Bignon, was librarian to the king, a man of great
erudition, and a writer of great powers of invention, if he
could compose, as we are told he did, four panegyrics on
St. Louis, all different, two of which were pronounced the
same day, one at the French academy, and the other at
the academy of inscriptions. He wrote also “Vie de
Francois Levesque,
” Les Aventures
d‘Abdalla, fils d’Hanif.
”
n mathematics in the works of Wolf, he imbibed likewise a taste for the sceptical philosophy of that writer, and for the system of Leibnitz, which for a time took off his
, an eminent German
philosopher and statesman, was born at Camstadt in Wirtemberg, Jan. 23, 1693; his father was a Lutheran minister. By a singular hereditary constitution in this family,
Biliinger was born with twelve fingers and eleven toes,
which, in his case, is said to have been remedied by amputation when he was an infant. From his earliest years,
he showed an uncommon capacity for study, joined to a
retired and thinking turn of mind. Happening, when
studying at Tubingen, to learn mathematics in the works
of Wolf, he imbibed likewise a taste for the sceptical philosophy of that writer, and for the system of Leibnitz,
which for a time took off his attention from his other studies. When entered on his theological course, he found
himself disposed to connect it with his new ideas on philosophy, and with that view wrote a treatise, “De Deo,
anima, et mundo,
” which procured him considerable fame,
and was the cause of his being chosen preacher at the
castle of Tubingen, and repeater in the school of divinity.
But fancying Tubingen a theatre too contracted, he obtained of one of his friends a supply of money, in 1719,
which enabled him to go to Halle to study more particularly under Wolf himself. This, however, did not produce all the good consequences expected. When after
two years he returned to Tubingen, the Wolfian philosophy was no longer in favour, his patrons were cold, his
lessons deserted; himself unable to propagate his new doctrines, and his promotion in the church was likely to suffer.
In this unpleasant state he remained about four years,
when, by Wolf’s recommendation, he received an invitation from Peter I. to accept the professorship of logic and
metaphysics in the new academy at St. Petersburgh. Thither accordingly he went in 1725, and was received with
great respect, and the academical memoirs which he had
occasion to publish increased his reputation in no small
degree. The academy of sciences of Paris having about
that time proposed for solution the famous problem, on
the cause of gravity, Bilfinger carried off the prize, which
was one thousand crowns. This made his name be known
in every part of Europe, and the duke Charles of Wirtemberg having been reminded that he was one of his subjects,
immediately recalled him home. The court of Russia,
after in vain endeavouring to retain him, granted him a
pension of four hundred florins, and two thousand as the
reward of a discovery he had made in the art of fortification. He quitted Petersburgh accordingly in 1731, and
being re-established at Tubingen, revived the reputation
of that school not only by his lectures, but by many salutary changes introduced in the theological class, which he
effected without introducing any new opinions. His
greatest reputation, however, rests on his improvements
in natural philosophy and mathematics, and his talents
as an engineer seem to have recommended him to the
promotion which the duke Charles Alexander conferred
upon him. He had held many conversations with Bilfinger
on the subject of fortifications, and wished to attach him
to government by appointing him a privy-councillor in
1735, with unlimited credit. For some time he refused a
situation which he thought himself not qualified to fill, but
when he accepted it, his first care was to acquire the knowledge necessary for a member of administration, endeavouring to procure the most correct information respecting
the political relations, constitution, and true interests of
the country. By these means, he was enabled very essentially to promote the commerce and agriculture of his
country, and in other respects to improve her natural resources, as well as her political connections, and he is
still remembered as one of the ablest statesmen of Germany. The system of fortification which he invented is
yet known by his name, and is now the chief means of
preserving it, as he died unmarried, at Stuttgard, Feb. 18,
1750. He is said to have been warm in his friendships,
but somewhat irascible; his whole time during his latter
years was occupied in his official engagements, except an
hour in the evening, when he received visits, and his only
enjoyment, when he could find leisure, was in the cultivation of his garden. To his parents he was particularly affectionate, and gratefully rewarded all those who had
assisted him in his dependent state. His principal works
are 1. “Disputatio de harmonia praestabilita,
”
Tubinguen, De harmonia animi et corporis
humani maxime prsestabilita commentatio hypothetica,
”
Francfort, De
origine et permissione Mali, &c.
” ibid. Specimen doctrinae veterum Sinarum moralis et politicae,
”
ibid. Dissertatio historico-catoptrica de
speculo Archimedis,
” Tubingen, Dilucidationes philosophies; de Deo, anima, &c.
” before
mentioned, ibid. Bilfingeri et Holmanni
epistolae de barmonia praestabilita,
” Disputatio de natura et legibus studii in theologica Thetici,
”
ibid. Disputatio de cuku Dei rationali,
”
ibid. Notae breves in Spinosae methodum.
explicandi scripturas,
” ibid. De mysteriis Christianae fidei generatim spectatis sermo,
” ibid. La Citadelle coupee,
” Leipsic, Elementa physices,
” Leipsic,
, a learned writer, and bishop, in the end of the sixteenth and beginning of the
, a learned writer, and bishop, in
the end of the sixteenth and beginning of the seventeenth
century, was born in the city of Winchester, being the son
of Harman Bilson, the same probably who was fellow of
Merton-college in 1536, and derived his descent by his
grandmother, or great-grandmother, from the duke of t>avaria. He was educated in Winchester school and in
1565 admitted perpetual fellow of New-college, after he
had served two years of probation. October 10, 1566, he
took his degree of bachelor, and April 25, 1570, that of
master of arts; that of bachelor of divinity, June 24, 1579;
and the degree of doctor of divinity on the 24th of January 1580. In his younger years, he was a great lover
of, and extremely studious in, poetry, philosophy, and
physic. But when he entered into holy orders, and applied himself to the study of divinity, which his genius
chiefly led him to, he became a most solid and constant
preacher, and one of the most accomplished scholars of
his time. The first preferment he had was that of master
of Winchester-school he was then made prebendary of
Winchester, and afterwards warden of the college there.
To this college he did a very important service, about the
year 1584, by preserving the revenues of it when they were
in danger of being swallowed up by a notorious forgery, of
which, however, we have only an obscure account. In
1585, he published his book of “The true difference
betweene Christian Subjection and unchristian Rebellion,
”
and dedicated it to queen Elizabeth a work, which, although it might answer her immediate purpose, was of
fatal tendency to Charles I. few books being more frequently quoted by the mal-contents to justify their resistance to that prince. In 1593, he published a very able
defence of episcopacy, entitled, “The perpetuall Government of Christes Church: wherein are handled, the fatherly superioritie which God first established in the patriarkes for the guiding of his Church, and after continued
in the tribe of Levi and the Prophetes and lastlie confirmed in the New Testament to the apostles and their
successors: as also the points in question at this day,
touching the Jewish Synedrion: the true kingdome of
Christ: the Apostles’ commission: the laie presbyterie:
the distinction of bishops from presbyters, and their succession from the apostles times and hands: the calling and
moderating of provinciall synods by primates and metropolitanes the allotting of dioceses, and the popular electing of such as must feede and watch the flock and divers
other points concerning the pastoral regiment of the house
of God.
” On the 20th of April, 15y6, he was elected v
confirmed June the llth, and the 13th of the same month
consecrated bishop of Worcester and translated in May
following to the bishopric of Winchester, and made a
privy-counsellor. In 1599, he published “The effect of
certaine Sermons touching the full Redemption of Mankind
by the death and bloud of Christ Jesus wherein, besides
the merite of Christ’s suffering, the manner of his offering, the power of his death, the comfort of his crosse, the
glorie of his resurrection, are handled, what paines Christ
suffered in his soule on the crosse together with the
place and purpose of his descent to hel after death
” &c.
Lond. 4to. These sermons being preached at Paul’s Cross
in Lent 1597, by the encouragement of archbishop Whitgift, greatly alarmed most of the Puritans, because they
contradicted some of their tenets, but they are not now
thought consonant to the articles of the church of England. The Puritans, however, uniting their forces, and
making their observations, sent them to Henry Jacob, a
learned puritan, who published them under his own name.
The queen being at Farnham-castle, and, to use the bishop’s words, “taking knowledge of the things questioned
between him and his opponents, directly commanded him
neither to desert the doctrine, nor to let the calling which
he bore in the church of God, to be trampled under foot
by such unquiet refusers of trueth and authoritie.
” Upon
this royal command, he wrote a learned treatise, chiefly
delivered in sermons, which was published in 1604, under
the title of “The survey^of Christ’s sufferings for Man’s
Redemption and of his descent to hades or hel for our
deliverance,
” Lond. fol. He also preached the sermon at
Westminster before king James I. and his queen, at their
coronation on St. James’s day, July 28, 1603, from Rom.
xiii. L. London, 1603, 8vo. In January 1603-4, he was
one of the speakers and managers at the Hampton-Court
conference, in which he spoke much, and, according to
Mr. Fuller, most learnedly, and, in general, was one of
the chief maintainers and supports of the church of England. The care of revising, and putting the last hand to,
the new translation of the English Bible in king James Ist’s
reign, was committed to our author, and to Dr. Miles
Smith, afterwards bishop of Gloucester. His last public
act, recorded in history, was the being one of the delegates that pronounced and signed the sentence of divorce
between Robert Devereux, earl of Essex, and the lady
Frances Howard, in the year 1613 and his son being
knighted soon after upon this very account, as was imagined, the world was so malicious as to give him the title
of sir Nullity Bilson. This learned bishop, after having
gone through many employments, departed this life on
the 18th of June, 1616, and was buried in Westminsterabbey, near the entrance into St. Edmund’s chapel, on the
south side of the monument of king Richard II. His character is represented to the utmost advantage by several
persons. Sir Anthony Weldon calls him “an excellent civilian, and a very great scholler
” Fuller, “a deep and
profound scholar, excellently well read in the fathers
”
Bishop Godwin, “a very grave iman and how great a divine (adds he), if any one knows not, let him consult his
learned writings
” Sir John Harrington, “I find but foure
lines (in bishop Godwin’s book) concerning him and if I
should give him his due, in proportion to the rest, I should
spend foure leaves. Not that I need make him better
known, being one of the most eminent of his ranck, and a
man that carried prelature in his very aspect. His rising
was meerly by his learning, as true prelates should rise.
Sint non modo labe mali sed suspicione carentes, not onely
free from the spot, but from the speech of corruption.
”
He wrote in a more elegant style, and in fuller and betterturned periods, than was usual in the times wherein he lived.
It is related of our prelate, that once, when he was preaching a sermon* at St. Paul’s Cross, a sudden panic, occasioned by the folly or caprice of one of the audience,
seized the multitude there assembled, who thought that
the church was falling on their heads. The good bishop,
who sympathized with the people more from pity than
from fear, after a sufficient pause, reassumed and went
through his sermon with great composure.
, the writer of several tracts on theological subjects, and author of that
, the writer of several tracts on
theological subjects, and author of that laborious performance, “Origines ecclesiastic, or the Antiquities of the
Christian church,
” was the son of Mr. Francis Bingham, a
respectable inhabitant of Wakefield in Yorkshire, where
our author was born in September, 1668. He learned the
first rudiments of grammar at a school in the same town,
and on the 26th of May 1684, was admitted a member of
University college in Oxford. There he applied with persevering industry to those studies which are generally considered as most laborious. Though he by no means neglected the writers of Greece or Rome, yet he employed
most of his time in studying the writings of the fathers.
How earnestly he devoted himself to these abstruse inquiries, he had an early opportunity of giving an honourable testimony, which will presently be mentioned more
at large. He took the degree of B. A. in 1688, and on the
1st of July 1689 was elected fellow of the above-mentioned college. His election to this fellowship was attended
with some flattering marks of honour and distinction. On
the 23d of June, 1691, he was created M. A. about four
years after which a circumstance occurred which eventually
occasioned him to leave the university. Being called on
to preach before that learned body, he would not let slip
the opportunity it gave him of evincing publicly his intimate acquaintance with the opinions and doctrines of the
fathers, and at the same time of displaying the zeal with
which he was resolved to defend their tenets concerning
the Trinity, in opposition to the attacks of men in much
more conspicuous stations than himself. Having heard
what he conceived to be a very erroneous statement of
that subject delivered by a leading man from the pulpit
at St. Mary’s, he thought it his duty on this occasion to
point out to his hearers what the fathers had asserted to be
the ecclesiastical notion of the term person. In pursuance
of this determination he delivered a very long discourse on
the 28th of October, 1695, from the famous words of the
apostle, “There are three that bear record in heaven,
&c.
” This sermon, though containing nothing more than
an elaborate defence of the term person, in opposition to
the explanation which he had lately heard, drew a heavy
censure on the preacher from the ruling members of the
university, charging him with having asserted doctrines
false, impious, and heretical, contrary to those of the
catholic church. This censure was followed by other charges
in the public prints, viz. those of Arianism, Tritheism and
the heresy of Valentinus Gentilis. These matters ran so
high, that he found himself under the necessity of resigning his fellowship, and of withdrawing from the university the former of which took place on the 23d of November 1695. How wholly unmerited these accusations
were, not only appears from the sermon itself, now in the
possession of the writer of this article, but also from the
whole tenor of his life and writings, constantly shewing
himself in both a zealous defender of what- is called the
orthodox notion of the Trinity. However, that such a censure was passed, is most certain, as well from domestic tradition, as from the mention which is repeatedly made of
it in the manuscript papers of our author but we are assured that no traces thereof are now to be found in the
books of the university.
Of such importance have the works of this eminent writer been esteemed in foreign countries, that they have all been
Of such importance have the works of this eminent writer been esteemed in foreign countries, that they have all
been correctly translated into Latin by Grichow, a divine
of Halle in Germany, 11 vols. 4to, 1724 38, and were
reprinted in 1751—61. But he did not live to receive
this flattering mark of approbation, for he died in 1723.
Here it may not be amiss to observe how frequently it occurs that the merits of an eminent ancestor derive honour
and emolument on their posterity. It is presumed that
the character of the person whose life we have been writing, was the means of procuring the living of Havant for
his eldest son, and the late learned and excellent bishop
of London, Dr. Lowth, expressly assigns that reason for
bestowing a comfortable living on his grandson. “I venerate (says he in a letter which conveyed the presentation)
the memory of your excellent grandfather, my father’s
particular and most intimate friend. He was not rewarded
as he ought to have been I therefore give you this living
as a small recompense for his great and inestimable merits.
”
We shall conclude this article by giving the general character of this divine As a writer his learning was extensive
and acute his style zealous and persuasive, and his application uncommonly persevering. His temper, on all
common and indifferent occasions, was mild and benevolent and to these he united great zeal in the cause in
which he was engaged. Though his passions were so
wholly subject to the guidance of religion and virtue, that
no worldly losses were sufficient to discompose him, yet
whenever he believed the important interests of the church
to be in danger, he was always eager to step forth in its
defence.
, the second son of the eminent writer before mentioned, was the last of his numerous family, and
, the second son of the eminent writer before mentioned, was the last of his numerous family, and consequently extremely young at the time of his father’s death. Though he died in very early life, yet during the short period of his existence, he pursued his studies with such unremitting 'perseverance, and gave such early proofs of genius and sound understanding, and so strongly evinced his determination to tread in the footsteps of his father, as fully entitle him to a few lines from the pen of the biographer. This young man received his education on the foundation at the Charter-house, from whence he was at the usual age removed to Corpus college in Oxford. In the university he was a most exemplary and persevering student, and was preparing to give public proofs of his diligence, having actually printed every part, except the title-pruge and preface, of a very valuable edition of the Theban story, which was completed and published after his death by a gentleman, into whose hands his papers had fallen, as a security for a sum of money which had been borrowed to facilitate the publication. Whilst he was thus usefully employed, and just as he was on the point of being ordained, with every prospect of promotion from the patronage of archbishop Potter, he was suddenly brought to his grave, at the immature age of 22, by an illness wholly occasioned by -too sedentary a life, and too close an application to his studies. He lies buried in the cloisters of Corpus college, without either monument, inscription, or stone erected to his memory, though it might most truly be said of him, that he fell a martyr to application, industry, and learning.
, a late valuable historical and biographical writer, was born in the parish of St. John’s Clerkenwell, on the 23d
, a late valuable historical and biographical writer, was born in the parish of St. John’s Clerkenwell, on the 23d of November, 1705. His parents were both of them quakers, and his father, Joseph Birch, was a coffee-mill maker by trade. Mr. Joseph Birch endeavoured to bring up his son Thomas to his own business; but so ardent was the youth’s passion for reading, that he solicited his father to be indulged in his inclination, promising, in that case, to provide for himself. The first school he went to was at Hemel-hempsted in Hertfordshire, kept by John Owen, a rigid quaker, for whom Mr. Birch afterwards officiated, some little while, as an usher, but at present he made very little progress. The next school in which he received his education was taught by one Welby, who lived near Turnbull-street, Clerkenwell, a man who never had above eight or ten scholars at a time, whom he professed to instruct in the Latin tongue in the short space of a year and a half, and had great success with Mr. Birch, who afterwards lived with him as an usher; as he also afterwards was to Mr. Besse, the famous quaker in George’s court near St. John’s lane, who published the posthumous works of Claridge. It is farther said, that he went to Ireland with dean Smedley; but in what year he passed over to that country, and how long he resided with the dean, cannot now be ascertained. In his removals as an usher, he always took care to get into a still better school, and where he might have the greatest opportunity of studying the most valuable books, in which he was indefatigable, and stole many hours from sleep to increase his stock of knowledge. By this unremitting diligence, though he had not the happiness of an university education, he soon became qualified to take holy orders in the church of England; and as his early connections were of a different kind, his being ordained was a matter of no small surprise to his old acquaintance. In 1728, he married the daughter of one Mr. Cox, a clergyman to whom he was afterwards curate and in this union he was singularly happy but his felicity was of a short duration, Mrs. Birch dying in less than twelve months after their marriage. The disorder which carried her off was a consumption accelerated by childbearing, and almost in the very article of her death she wrote to her husband the following letter:
quarto edition, in two volumes, of Milton’s prose works, and added a new life of that great poet and writer. Dr. Birch gave to the world', in the following year, his “Memoirs
Having related the more personal and private circumstances of Dr. Birch’s history, we proceed to his various
publications. The first great work he engaged in, was
“The General Dictionary, historical and critical
” wherein
a new translation of that of the celebrated Mr. Bayle was
included and which was interspersed with several thousand lives never before published. It was on the 29th of
April, 1734, that Dr. Birch, in conjunction with the rev.
Mr. John Peter Bernard, and Mr. John Lockman, agreed
with the booksellers to carry on this important undertaking; and Mr. George Sale was employed to draw up the
articles relating to oriental history. The whole design
was completed in ten volumes, folio; the first of which
appeared in 1734, and the last in 1741. It is universally
allowed, that this work contains a very extensive and useful body of biographical knowledge. We are not told
what were the particular articles written by Dr. Birch
but there is no doubt of his having executed a great part
of the dictionary neither is it, we suppose, any disparagement to his coadjutors, to say, that he was superior
to them in abilities and reputation, with the exception of
Mr. George Sale, who was, without controversy, eminently
qualified for the department he had undertaken. The
next great design in which Dr. Birch engaged, was the
publication of “Thurloe’s State Papers.
” This collection,
which comprised seven volumes in folio, came out in 1742.
It is dedicated to the late lord chancellor Hardwicke, and
there is prefixed to it a life of Thurloe but whether it
was written or not by our author, does not appear. The
same life had been separately published not long before.
The letters and papers in this collection throw the greatest
light on the pe'riod to which they relate, and are accompanied with proper references, and a complete index to
each volume, yet was a work by which the proprietors
were great losers. In 1744, Dr. Birch published, in octavo,
a “Life of the honourable Robert Boyle, esq
” which
hath since been prefixed to the quarto edition of the works
of that philosopher. In the same year, our author began
his assistance to Houbraken and Vertue, in their design of
publishing, in folio, the “Heads of illustrious persons of
Great Britain,
” engraved by those two artists, but chiefly
by Mr. Houbraken. To each head was annexed, by Dr,
Birch, the life and character of the person represented.
The first volume of this work, which came out in numbers,
was completed in 1747, and the second in 1752. Our
author’s concern in this undertaking did not hinder his
prosecuting, at the same time, other historical disquisitions: for, in 1747, appeared, in octavo,“His inquiry
into the share which king Charles the First had in the
transactions of the earl of Glamorgan.
” A second edition
ef the Inquiry was published in Miscellaneous works of sir Walter Raleigh
” to which was prefixed the life of that unfortunate and injured man. Previously to this, Dr. Birch
published “An historical view of the negociations between
the courts of England, France, and Brussels, from 1592
to 1617; extracted chiefly from the ms State Papers of
sir Thomas Edmondes, knight, embassador in France, and
at Brussels, and treasurer of the household to the kings
James I. and Charles I. and of Anthony Bacon, esq. brother to the lord chancellor Bacon. To which is added, a
relation of the state of France, with the character of Henry
IV. and the principal persons of that court, drawn up by
sir George Carew, upon his return from his embassy there
in 1609, and addressed to king James I. never before
printed.
” This work, which consists of one volume, in
octavo, appeared in 1749; and, in an introductory discourse
to the honourable Philip Yorke, esq. (the late earl of Hardwicke), Dr. Birch makes some reflections on the utility of deducing history from its only true and unerring
sources, the original letters and papers of those eminent
men, who were the principal actors in the administration
of affairs; after which he gives some account of the lives
of sir Thomas Edmondes, sir George Carew, and Mr. Anthorry Bacon. The “Historical View
” is undoubtedly a
valuable performance, and hath brought to light a variety
of particulars relative to the subjects and the period treated
of, which before were either not at all, or not so fully
known. In 17.51, was published by our author, an edition,
in two volumes, 8vo, of the “Theological, moral, dramatic, and poetical works of Mrs. Catherine Cockburn
”
with an account of her life. In the next year came out
his “Life of the most reverend Dr. John Tillotson, lord
archbishop of Canterbury. Compiled chiefly from his
original papers and letters.
” A second edition, corrected
and enlarged, appeared in 1753. This work, which was
dedicated to archbishop Herring, is one of the most pleasing and popular of Dr. Birch’s performances; and he has
done great justice to Dr. Tillotsou’s memory, character,
and virtues. Our biographer hath likewise intermixed
with his narrative of the good prelate’s transactions, short
accounts of the persons occasionally mentioned; a method
which he has pursued in some of his other publications.
In 1753, he revised. the quarto edition, in two volumes, of
Milton’s prose works, and added a new life of that great
poet and writer. Dr. Birch gave to the world', in the following year, his “Memoirs of the reign of queen Elizabeth, from the year 1581, till her death. In which the
secret intrigues of her court, and the conduct of her favourite, Robert earl of Essex, both at home and abroad,
are particularly illustrated. From the original papers of
his intimate friend, Anthony Bacon, esq. and other manuscripts never before published.
” These memoirs, which
are inscribed to the earl of Hardwicke, give a minute account of the letters and materials from which they are
taken and the whole work undoubtedly forms a very valuable collection in which our author has shewn himself
(as in his other writings) to be a faithfnl and accurate compiler and in which, besides a full display of the temper
and actions of the earl of Essex, much light is thrown on
the characters of the Cecils, Bacons, and many eminent
persons of that period. The book is now becoming scarce,
and, as it may not speedily be republished, is rising in its
value. This is the case, likewise, with regard to the edition of sir Walter Raleigh’s miscellaneous works. Dr.
Birch’s next publication was “The history of the Royal
Society of London, for improving of natural knowledge,
from its first rise. In which the most considerable of those
papers, communicated to the society, which have hitherto
not been published, are inserted in their proper order, as
a supplement to the Philosophical Transactions.
” The
twq first volumes of this performance, which was dedicated
to his late majesty, appeared in 1756, and the two other
volumes in 1757. The history is carried on to the end of
the year 1687 and if the work had been continued, and
had been conducted with the same extent and minuteness,
it would have been a very voluminous undertaking. But,
though it may, perhaps, be justly blamed in this respect,
it certainly contains many curious and entertaining
anecdotes concerning the manner of the society’s proceedings
at their first establishment. It is enriched, likewise, with
a number of personal circumstances relative to the members, and with biographical accounts of such of the more
considerable of them as died in the course of each year.
In 1760, came out, in one volume, 8vo, our author’s “Life
of Henry prince of Wales, eldest son of king James I.
Compiled chiefly from his own papers, and other manuscripts, never before published.
” It is dedicated to his
present majesty, then prince of Wales. Some have objected to this work, that it abounds too much with trifling
details, and that Dr. Birch has not given sufficient scope
to such reflections and disquisitions as arose from his subject. It must, nevertheless, be acknowledged, that it affords a more exact and copious account than had hitherto
appeared of a prince whose memory has always been remarkably popular; and that various facts, respecting several other eminent characters, are occasionally introduced. Another of his publications was, “Letters, speeches,
charges, advices, &c. of Francis Bacon, lord viscount St.
AJban, lord chancellor of England.
” This collection,
which is comprised in one volume, 8vo, and is dedicated
to the honourable Charles Yorke, esq. appeared in 1763.
It is taken from some papers which had been originally in
the possession of Dr. Rawley, lord Bacon’s chaplain, whose
executor, Mr. John Rawley, having put them into the
hands of Dr. Tenison, they were, at length, deposited in
the manuscript library at Lambeth. Dr. Birch, speaking
of these papers of lord Bacon, says, that it can scarcely
be imagined, but that the bringing to light, from obscurity
and oblivion, the remains of so eminent a person, will be
thought an acquisition not inferior to the discovery (if the ruins of Herculaneum should afford such a treasure) of a
new set of the epistles of Cicero, whom our immortal
countryman most remarkably resembled as an orator, a
philosopher, a writer, a lawyer, and a statesman. Though
this, perhaps, is speaking too highly of a collection, which
contains many things in it seemingly not very material, it
must, at the same time, be allowed, that nothing can be
totally uninteresting which relates to so illustrious a man,
or tends, in any degree, to give a farther insight into his
character. To this catalogue we have still to add “Professor Greaves’s miscellaneous works,
” Intellectual System,
” (improved from the Latin edition of Mosheim) his discourse on the
true notion of the Lord’s Supper, and two sermons, with
an account of his life and writings, 1743, in two vols. 4to.
An edition of Spenser’s “Fairy Queen,
” Letters
between col. Robert Hammond, governor of the Isle of
Wight, and the committee of lords and commons at Derbyhouse, general Fairfax, lieut.-general Cromwell, commissary general Ireton, &c. relating to king Charles I. while
he was confined in Carisbrooke-castle in that island. Now
first published. To which is prefixed a letter from John
Ashburnham, esq. to a friend, concerning his deportment
towards the king, in his attendance on his majesty at
Hampton-court, and in the Isle of Wight,
” The life of Dr. Ward,
” which
was finished but a week before his death, was published
by Dr. Maty, in 1766.
royalists gave the name of “foul-mouthed Nedham” who, finding himself somewhat unequal to the Oxford writer, thought fit to ascribe the “Mercurius Aulicus” to several persons,
Sir John’s newspaper which he wrote at Oxford, was
entitled “Mercurius Aulicus, communicating the intelligence and affairs of the court to the rest of the kingdom.
”
It was printed weekly in one sheet, and sometimes more,
in 4to and was chiefly calculated to raise the reputation
of the king’s friends and commanders, and ridicule those
who sided with the parliament. They came out regularly
from the beginning of 1642, to the latter end of 1645,
and afterwards, occasionally. When Birkenhead was
otherwise engaged, Dr. Peter Heylyn supplied his place,
but was not thought so capable of that species of writing,
as he did not excel in popular wit, which is necessary to
render such kind of pieces acceptable to the public. The
parliament thought fit to oppose this court -journal by another on their side of the question, under the title of “Mercurius Britannicus,
” written by Marchmont Nedham, to
whom the royalists gave the name of “foul-mouthed
Nedham
” who, finding himself somewhat unequal to the
Oxford writer, thought fit to ascribe the “Mercurius Aulicus
” to several persons, that his deficiency might do the
less prejudice to his party. Jacob blunderingly calls the
^ Mercurius Aulicus,“a poem. Sir John’s other satirical
works were 1.
” The Assembly-man,“written in 1647,
but printed, as Wood tells us, 1662-3. 2.
” News from
Pembroke and Montgomery or, Oxford Manchestered,“c. 1648. 3.
” St. Paul’s church-yard libri theologici,
politici, historic!, nundinis Paulinis (una cum templo) prostant venales, &c.“printed in three sheets, 1649, 4to.
These sheets were published separately, as if they had
been parts of one general catalogue. An account of them
is in the Cens. Lit. vol. IV. 4.
” The four-legged Quaker,
a ballad, to the tune of the dog and elder’s maid,“5.
” A
new ballad of a famous German prince, without date," &c.
, a French poet and miscellaneous writer, was born at Konigsberg, Nov. 24, 1732, of a family of French
, a French poet and miscellaneous writer, was born at Konigsberg, Nov. 24, 1732, of
a family of French refugees, of the protestant religion.
After completing his education, he became a clergyman of
that communion, and appears to have formed his taste for
oratory and poetry from a frequent perusal of the Bible,
the style of the historical part of which he much admired.
He was a no less warm admirer of Homer. Although a
Prussian by birth, he was a Frenchman at heart, and having
accustomed himself to the language of his family, he felt a
strong desire to reside in what he considered as properly
his native country, conceiving at the same time that the
best way to procure his naturalization would be through
the medium of literary merit. As early as 1762, he published at Berlin a translation of the Iliad, which he called a
free translation, and was in fact an abridgment and this
served to introduce him to D'Alembert, who recommended
him so strongly to the king, Frederick II. that he was admitted into the Berlin academy, received a pension, and
afterwards visited France in order to complete his translation of Homer. A first edition had been printed in 1764,
2 vols. 8vo, but the most complete did not appear until
1780, and was followed by the Odyssey in 1785. Such
was the reputation of both among his countrymen, that
the academy of inscriptions admitted his name on their list
of foreign members. Modern French critics, however,
have distinguished more correctly between the beauties
and defects of this translation. They allow him to have
been more successful in his “Joseph,
” a poem published
first in Joseph
” was followed by “Les
Bataves,
” a poem of which some detached parts had appeared in 1773, under the title of “Guillaume de Nassau,
”
Amsterdam. This was reprinted in Herman and
Dorothea
” of Goethe, and comparing that author with
Homer, whose works, from this opinion, we should suppose he had studied to very little purpose. Some time
before his death, which happened Nov. 22, 1808, he was
admitted a member of the legion of honour. His other
works were 1. “Examen de la Confession de Foi du Vicaire Savoyard,
” De l'influence cles Belles-lettres sur la Philosophic,
” Berlin, Eloge de Corneille,
”
being one of the best preachers of his time.” Felton, in his Classics, commends him as an excellent writer. M. de la Roche, in his memoirs of literature, tells us, that
, an eminent English
divine, was born in London, 1654, and educated at Catherine-hail, Cambridge. In 1690, he was inducted into
the living of South Okenden, Essex, and four years afterwards to the rectory of St. Mary Aldermary, London and
was successively chosen lecturer of St. Olave’s, and of St.
Dunstan’s in the West. He was likewise appointed chaplain to king William. He preached before the house of
commons Jan. 30, 1699, and in his sermon animadverted
on Mr. Toland for his asserting in his life of Milton, that
Charles I. was not the author of “Icon Basilike,
” and for
some insinuations against the authenticity' of the holy
scriptures which drew him into a controversy with
that author. In 1700, he preached a course of sermons at
Boyle’s lecture, in the cathedral church of St. Paul, which
were afterwards published. In 1707, he was consecrated
to the bishopric of Exeter. Burnet, having mentioned
him and sir William Dawes as raised to bishoprics, tells
us, “that these divines were in themselves men of value
and worth; but their notions were all on the other side.
They had submitted to the government but they, at least
Blackall, seemed to condemn the revolution, and all that
had been done pursuant to it.
” And it is asserted in an
anonymous pamphlet, published in 1705, that he had refused for two years to take the oath of allegiance to king
William. But what contributed most to his fame in his
life- time was a controversy he had with Mr. (afterwards bishop) Hoadly, which was occasioned by his sermon upon
Rom. xiii. 3, 4, entitled, “The Divine Institution of
Magistracy, and the gracious design of its institution,
”
preached before the queen at St. James’s on Tuesday,
March 8, 1708, being the anniversary of her majesty’s
happy accession to the throne, and published by her majesty’s special command. The next year, 1709, Mr.
Hoadly animadverted upon the bishop’s sermon, in a piece,
entitled “Some Considerations humbly offered to the right
reverend the lord bishop of Exeter, occasioned by his lordship’s sermon before her majesty, March 8, 1708.
” Upon
this the bishop published “An Answer to Mr. Hoadly’s Letter,
” dated from Bath, May the 10th, 1709. Mr. Hoadly endeavoured to vindicate himself, in “An humble Reply to the
right reverend the lord bishop of Exeter’s answer; in which
the Considerations offered to his lordship are vindicated,
and an apology is added for defending the foundation of
the present government,
” London, 1709, in 8vo. In this
controversy, bishop Blackall defends the High-church,
Tory, principles (as they usually are called), of the divine
institution of magistracy, and unlimited passive obedience
and non-resistance; which Mr. Hoadly opposes. There
were several pamphlets written on the side of the bishop
against Mr. Hoadly particularly one, entitled, “The best
Answer that ever was made, and to which no answer will
be made
” supposed to be wi'itten by Mr. Lesley, a nonjuring clergyman, and which Mr. Hoadly animadverts upon
in the postscript to his humble reply. The wits in the
Tatler engaged in this controversy on the side of Hoadly,
and with an illiberality not usual in the writers of that paper.
He died at Exeter, Nov. 29, 1716, and was interred in
the cathedral there. Archbp. Dawes, who had a long and
intimate friendship with him, declares, that in his whole
conversation he never met with a more perfect pattern of a
true Christian life, in all its parts, than in him: so much
primitive simplicity and integrity; such constant evenness of mind, and uniform conduct of behaviour; such unaffected and yet most ardent piety towards God such orthodox and steadfast faith in Christ such disinterested and
fervent charity to all mankind such profound modesty,
humility, and sobriety such an equal mixture of meekness
and courage, of cheerfulness and gravity such an exact
discharge of all relative duties and in one word, such an
indifferency to this lower world and the things of it and
such an entire affection and joyous hope and expectation
of things above. He says also, that his “manner of
preaching was so excellent, easy, clear, judicious, substantial, pious, affecting, and upon all accounts truly useful and edifying, that he universally acquired the reputation of being one of the best preachers of his time.
” Felton, in his Classics, commends him as an excellent writer.
M. de la Roche, in his memoirs of literature, tells us, that
our prelate was one of those English divines, who, when
they undertake to treat a subject, dive into the bottom of
it, and exhaust the matter. His works were published by
archbishop Dawes, in 2 vols. fol. 1723, consisting of Practical discourses on our Saviour’s Sermon on the mount, and
on the Lord’s Prayer, together with his sermons preached
at Boyle’s lecture, with several others upon particular occasions.
ition, or to give an imposing air to the encroachments of human authority in matters of religion, no writer ever more intrepidly encountered odium, by exposing error and
“Without ever taking an active part in the disputes
which in his time agitated, and are still agitating, the church
of England, on the article of predestination, it is certain
that Mr. Blackburne was, in the general sentiments of his
creed, what he more than once declared himself to be, a
moderate Calvinist; and his writings place it beyond a
doubt, that he believed himself so much more a Protestant
for being so. His Calvinism, however, was of the largest
and most liberal east. This will be easily understood from
what he thought of the great work of David Hartley on
Man * a book,‘ writes Mr. Blackburne to a friend, in
1750, ’ to which, if I am not exceedingly mistaken, Christianity is, or will be, more beholden than to all the books
besides of the two last centuries. But he has joined necessity and religion together. What of that Ask the
church of England in her articles.'
”While engaged in the controversial field, and maintaining what he believed to be the cause of truth and liberty, Mr, Blackburne, like his admired Luther, pursued
his adversary often with vehemence, and sometimes with
asperity of attack and when either rank or eminence in
the object of his animadversions was likely to lend a sanction to prejudice and superstition, or to give an imposing
air to the encroachments of human authority in matters of
religion, no writer ever more intrepidly encountered odium,
by exposing error and bigotry if it were even found, where
many good and gentle natures will hardly allow it to be
looked for, under the lawn and the mitre. Yet, doubtless,
in the execution of so critical an office, the most acute and
honest judgment might at times fail in discernment, or
carry severity too far. To say, therefore, that Mr. Blackburne never passed an unjust censure, or harboured an
unworthy dislike, as a polemic, would be to suppose that
he was perfect in the most difficult of all tasks the task of
inquiring uito the justness of argument, the integrity of
motives, and the rectitude of conduct of other men like
himself.
the gospel a zealous promoter of civil liberty a close and perspicuous reasoner a keen and energetic writer an attentive, benevolent, and venerable archdeacon an elegant
“Such was Francis Blackburne y a believer of Christianity, from the deepest conviction of its truth a Protestant on the genuine principles of the reformation from
popery; a strenuous adversary of superstition and intolerance, and of every corruption of the simplicity or the
spirit of the gospel a zealous promoter of civil liberty a
close and perspicuous reasoner a keen and energetic
writer an attentive, benevolent, and venerable archdeacon an elegant and persuasive preacher; a faithful pastor and exemplary guide; of unblemished purity of life;
of simple dignity of manners a sincere and cordial friend
an affectionate husband, and an indulgent father in short,
a just, humane, pious, temperate, and independent man.
”
, physician to king William III. and queen Anne, and a very voluminous writer, was son of Mr. Robert Blackmore, an attorney at law. He received
, physician to king William III. and queen Anne, and a very voluminous writer,
was son of Mr. Robert Blackmore, an attorney at law. He
received the first part of his education at a country school,
from whence he was removed to Westminster in the thirteenth
year of his age. He was afterwards sent to St. Edmund’shall, in the university of Oxford, where he continued
thirteen years. He is said to have been engaged for some
time in the profession of a school -master but it is probable he did not long continue in that situation and, says
Dr. Johnson, to have been once a schoolmaster, is the
only reproach which all the perspicacity of malice, animated
by wit, has ever fixed upon his private life. It appears
that he travelled afterwards into Italy, and took the degree of doctor in physic, at the university of Padua. He
also visited France, Germany, and the Low Countries,
and having spent about a year and a half abroad, he returned again to England. On his arrival in London, he
engaged in the practice of physic there, and was chosen,
fellow of the royal college of physicians. He early discovered his attachment to the principles of the revolution;
and this circumstance, together with the eminence which
he had attained in his profession, recommended him to
the notice and favour of king William. Accordingly, in
1697, he was appointed one of his majesty’s physicians in
ordinary he had also a gold medal and chain bestowed
on him by that prince, and received from him the honour of knighthood. Upon the king’s death, he was one
of the physicians who gave their opinions at the opening
of his majesty’s body. When queen Anne ascended the
throne, he was appointed one of her physicians, and continued in that station for some time. Sir Richard Blackmore was the author of a variety of pieces both in prose
and verse and the generality of his productions had
many admirers in his own time for the third edition
of his “Prince Arthur, an heroic poem in ten books,
”
was published in King Arthur, an heroic poem, in twelve
books.
” In A Paraphrase on the book of Job as likewise on the songs of
Moses, Deborah, David on four select Psalms some
chapters of Isaiah and the third chapter of Habbakuk.
”
He appears to have been naturally of a very serious turn,
and therefore took great offence at the licentious and immoral tendency of many of the productions of his contemporary authors. To pass a censure upon these was the
design of his poem, entitled “A Satire upon Wit,
” or
rather the abuse of it, which was first published in 1700.
But this piece was attacked and ridiculed by many different writers, and there seemed to be a kind of confederacy of the wits against him. How much, however,
they felt his reproof, appears from the following circumstance. In Tom Brown’s works are upwards of twenty
different satirical pieces in verse against Blackmore, said
to be written by colonel Codrington, sir Charles Sedley,
colonel Blount, sir Samuel Garth, sir Richard Steele, Dr.
Smith, Mr. William Burnaby, the earl of Anglesea, the
countess of Sandwich, Mr. Manning, Mr. Mildmay, Dr.
Drake, colonel Johnson, Mr. Richard Norton, &c. and
most of these pieces are particularly levelled at our author’s “Satire upon Wit.
” One topic of abuse against
Blackmore was, that he lived in Cheapside. He was
sometimes called the “Cheapside Knight,
” and the “City
Bard;
” and Garth’s verses, in the collection just cited,
are addressed “to the merry Poetaster at Sadlers Hall in
Cheapside.
” In Gibber’s lives we are also told, that “sir
Richard had, by the freedom of his censures on the libertine writers of his age, incurred the heavy displeasure of
Dryden, who takes all opportunities to ridicule him, and
somewhere says, that he wrote to the rumbling of his
chariot-wheels. And as if to be at enmity with Blackmore
had been hereditary to our greatest poets, we find Mr.
Pope taking up the quarrel where Dryden left it, and persecuting this worthy man with yet a severer degree of
satire. Blackmore had been informed by Curl, that Mr.
Pope was the author of a Travestie on the first Psalm,
which he takes occasion to reprehend in his ‘ Essay on PoJite Learning,’ vol. II. p. 270. He ever considered it as
the disgrace of genius, that it should be employed to burlesque any of the sacred compositions, which, as they
speak the language of inspiration, tend to awaken the soul
to virtue, and inspire it with a sublime devotion.
”
mpartial estimate of the character and various productions of Blackmore, will acknowledge, that as a writer, with all his faults, he had considerable merit; that as a man,
On the 16th of November 1713, he began a paper,
printed three times a week, called the “Lay Monk.
”
Only forty numbers of it were published, which, in 1714,
were collected into a volume, under the title of the “Lay
Monastery.
” The Friday’s papers in this collection were
written by Hughes, and the rest by sir Richard. In a letter to Mr. Hughes, he declared that he was not determined to the undertaking by a desire of fame or profit,
hut from a regard to the public good. In 1716, he published in 2 vols. 8vo, “Essays upon several subjects,
” and
in A collection of poems,
” in 1 vol. 8vo. But the
work which procured him the greatest reputation, was his
“Creation, a philosophical poem, demonstrating the Existence and Providence of a God, in seven books.
” This
passed through several editions, and was greatly applauded
by Mr. Addison. Mr. Locke also formed a very favourable opinion of sir Richard Blackmore; although perhaps he
estimated his poetical talents too highly. In 1721, our author
published in 12mo, “A new version of the Psalms of
David, fitted to the tunes used in churches.
” This was
recommended by public authority, as proper to be used in
the churches and chapels of England, but it does not appear to have been generally adopted. Towards the close
of his life, his practice as a physician is said to have declined which might probably arise from the numerous
attempts which were made to lessen his reputation. He
died on the 8th of October, 1729, in an advanced age;
and manifested in his last illness the same fervent piety,
which had distinguished him in his life. He was certainly
a man of considerable learning and abilities, and a most
zealous advocate for the interests of religion and virtue.
He wrote, indeed, too much, and was deficient in point
of taste nor did he take sufficient time to polish his compositions. But he was far from being destitute of genius;
and it is sufficiently manifest, that it was not his dullness,
which excited so much animosity against him. Hardly any
author has ever been more satirized than sir Richard Blackmore, and yet, so far as we can judge from his writings,
there have been few, perhaps none, who have had better
intentions. He had very just ideas of the true ends of
writing and it would have been happy for the world, if
such ideas had been adopted by, and really influenced,
authors of more brilliant genius. And though his historical
and epic poems exposed him to some degree of ridicule,
yet he was far from being a proper object of the extreme
contempt with which he was treated. The merit of his
poem on Creation, and the excellency of his life, might
have procured him better usage. And whatever were
the defects of his compositions, he was justly entitled to
commendation for the morality of their tendency. He
who labours to reform mankind is more deserving of our
esteem, than he who would corrupt them, whatever may
be the powers of genius possessed by the latter, or whatever reputation his wit may have procured him. The
fashion of the times, or the mutual jealousies and animosities of contemporary wits and authors, often occasion great
injustice to be done to worthy men and useful writers.
But time will, generally, in a great degree, remove such
prejudices; and those who form an impartial estimate of
the character and various productions of Blackmore, will
acknowledge, that as a writer, with all his faults, he had
considerable merit; that as a man, he was justly entitled
to great applause. For, numerous as his enemies and opponents were, they seem to have been incapable of fixing
the least imputation upon his character; and those who
personally knew him spoke highly of his virtues. We
think it an act of justice to endeavour to remove from a
worthy man some part of that load of obloquy with which
his memory has been overwhelmed. To this character,
from the Biog. Britannica, we may add, that Dr. Johnson
has increased the number of those liberal-minded men
who have endeavoured to rescue sir Richard Blackmore’s
name from the contempt with which it has been treated,
and to do justice to his abilities as well as his virtues.
To his “Creation
” the doctor has given high praise,
and has drawn the character of it with singular precision
and elegance. From the inaccuracy with which Blackmore in his poems has pronounced the ancient, names
of nations or places, Dr. Johnson has inferred, that the
thirteen years he spent at the university, seem to have
passed with very little attention to the business of the
place. A strong testimony, however, to his diligence
whilst at Edmund-hall, has lately been produced in the
Gentleman’s Magazine, from Turner’s “Book of Providence.
” “Dr. Richard Blackmore,
” says Turner, “my
contemporary and colleague (fellow collegian) at Oxon,
now living, and one of the college in London, was, in his
first years, one of the most eager and diligent students I
ever knew sitting up at his book till twelve, one, two,
and sometimes three o'clock in the morning, and then
lying down only upon his chairs till prayer-time, till his
health broke, and he was constrained by necessity to retire into the country, to repair himself by physic.
”
his works will only hold forth to future generations his knowledge of the law, and his talents as a writer, there was hardly any branch of literature he was unacquainted
His professional abilities need not be dwelt upon. They will be universally acknowledged and admired, as long as his works shall be read, or, in other words, as long as the municipal laws of this country shall remain an object of study and practice and though his works will only hold forth to future generations his knowledge of the law, and his talents as a writer, there was hardly any branch of literature he was unacquainted with. He ever employed much time in reading, and whatever he had read and once digested, he never forgot. He was an excellent manager of his time and although so much of it was spent in an application to books, and the employment of his pen, yet this was done without the parade or ostentation of being a hard student. It was observed of him, during his residence at college, that his studies never appeared to break in upon the common business of life, or the innocent amusements of society; for the latter of which few men were better calculated, being possessed of the happy faculty of making iis own company agreeable and instructive, whilst he enjoyed, without reserve, the society of others. Melancthon himself could not have been more rigid in observing the hour and minute of an appointment. During the years in which he read his lectures at Oxford, it could not be remembered that he had ever kept his audience waiting for him, even for a few minutes. As he valued his own time, he was extremely careful not to be instrumental in squandering or trifling away that of others, who, he hoped, might have as much regard for theirs, as he had for his. Indeed, punctuality was in his opinion so much a virtue, that he could not bring himself to think favourably of any who were notoriously defective in it.
, an ingenious and very learned writer of the last century, was born August 4, 1701, in the city of
, an ingenious and very learned
writer of the last century, was born August 4, 1701, in the
city of Aberdeen. His father, the rev. Mr. Thomas Blackwell, was minister of Paisley in Renfrewshire, from whence
he was removed in 1700 to be one of the ministers of
Aberdeen. He was afterwards elected professor of divinity
in the Marischal college of that city, and in 1717 was presented by his majesty to be principal of the college, in
both which offices he continued until his death in 1728.
His mother’s name was Johnston, of a good family near
Glasgow, and sister to Dr. Johnston, who was many years
professor of medicine in the university of Glasgow. Our
author received his grammatical education at the grammarschool of Aberdeen, studied Greek and philosophy in the
Marischal college there, and took the degree of master of
arts in 1718; which, as he was at that time only seventeen years of age, must be regarded as a considerable testimony of his early proficiency in literature. A farther
proof of it was his being presented, on the 28th of November 1723, by his majesty king George the First, to
the professorship of Greek, in the college in which he had
been educated. He was admitted into this office on the
13th of December in the same year; and after that continued to teach the Greek language with great applause.
His knowledge of that language was accurate and extensive, and his manner of communicating it perspicuous and
engaging. He had a dignity of address which commanded
the attention of the students, a steadiness in exacting the
prescribed exercises which enforced application, and an
enthusiasm for the beauties of the ancients, and utility of
classical learning, which excited an ardour of study, and
contributed much to diffuse a spirit for Grecian erudition
far superior to what had taken place before he was called
to the professorship. Together with his lessons in the
Greek tongue, he gave, likewise, lessons on some of the
Latin classics, chiefly with a view to infuse a relish for
their beauties. To his zeal and diligence in discharging
the duties of his station, it is probable that the world was,
in part, indebted for such men as Campbell, Gerard, Reid,
Beattie, Duncan, and the Fordyces, who have appeared
with so much eminence in the republic of letters. When
the celebrated Dr. Berkeley was engaged in the scheme
of establishing an American university in the Summer
Islands, Mr. Blackwell was in treaty with him for going
out as one of his young professors; but the negociation
did not take effect. In 1735 was published at London, in
octavo, without the name of the bookseller, and without
his own name, our author’s “Enquiry into the Life and
Writings of Homer
” a work, the great ingenuity and
learning of which will be acknowledged by all who have
perused it. It was embellished with plates, designed by
Gravelot, and executed by different engravers. This we
apprehend to be the most esteemed, and it is, in our
opinion, the most valuable, of Mr. Blackwell’s performances. The second edition appeared in 1736; and, not
long after, he published “Proofs of the Enquiry into Homer’s Life and Writings, translated into English being a
key to the Enquiry with a curious frontispiece.
” This
was a translation of the numerous Greek, Latin, Spanish,
Italian and French notes which had been subjoined to the
original work. In 1748, came out, in London, “Letters
concerning Mythology,
” in a large octavo, but without
the bookseller (Andrew Millar’s) name. On the 7th of
October, in the same year, our author was appointed by
his late majesty, George II. to be principal of the Marischal college in Aberdeen, and was admitted to the office on the 9th of November following. He continued,
also, professor of Greek till his death. He is the only
layman ever appointed principal of that college, since the
patronage came to the crown, by the forfeiture of the
Marischal family in 1716 all the other principals having
been ministers of the established church of Scotland.
When Robert and Andrew Foulis, printers at Glasgow, intended to publish an edition of Plato, Mr. Blackwell proposed to furnish them with several critical notes for it,
together with an account of Plato’s Life and Philosophy
but the printers not acceding to the terms which he demanded for this assistance, he promised, by a Latin advertisement in 1751, himself to give an edition of Plato.
His design, however, was not carried into execution nor
did it appear, from any thing found among his papers after his death, that he had made any considerable progress
in the undertaking. On the 3d of March, 1752, he took
the degree of doctor of Laws. In the following year, appeared the first volume of his “Memoirs of the Court of
Augustus,
” in 4to. The second volume came out in Enquiry into the Life of Homer
” was not
free from it it was still more discernible in his “Letters
concerning Mythology
” and was most of all apparent in
his “Memoirs of the Court of Augustus.
” We perceive
in his various productions a mixture of pedantry but it is
not the sober dull pedantry of the merely recluse scholar.
In Dr. Blackwell it assumes a higher form. Together with
the display of his erudition, he is ambitious of talking like
a man who is not a little acquainted with the world. He
is often speaking of life and action, of men and manners; and aims at writing with the freedom and politeness
of one who has been much conversant with the public. But;
in this he is unsuccessful: for though he was not destitute
of genius or fancy, and had a high relish for the beauties
of the ancient authors, he never attained that simplicity of
taste, which leads to true ease and elegance in composition. It is probable, also, that, like many others at
that time, he might be seduced by an injudicious imitation
of lord Shaftesbury; a writer, whose faults have been
found more easily attainable than his excellences.
, a learned English writer of the church of Rome, in the beginning of the seventeenth century,
, a learned English writer of
the church of Rome, in the beginning of the seventeenth
century, was born in the county of Middlesex, and admitted a scholar of Trinity college in Oxford at seventeen years of age, May 27, 1562, probationer in 1565,
being then bachelor of arts, perpetual fellow the year following, and master of arts in 1567. But being more inclined to the Roman catholic than the Protestant religion,
he left his fellowship, and retired to Gloucester hall, where
he continued for some time, and was highly esteemed by
Edmund Rainolds and Thomas Allen, two learned seniors
of that hall. He afterwards went beyond sea, and spent
some time in one of the English seminaries newly erected
to receive the exiled English catholics andwas at last in
1598, with the permission of pope Clement VIII. constituted by Henry cardinal Cajetan, protector of the English
nation at Rome, and superior of the English clergy, with
the authority and name of Archpriest of England, and was
appointed by that pope notary of the apostolic see. This
affair being resented by the English catholic clergy, especially as they imagined that our author was absolutely under the influence of Henry Garnet, provincial of the Jesuits
of England, it occasioned a warm contest between them in
England. The Jesuits wrote and spoke against the secular
priests in so virulent a manner, as to detract very much
from BlackwelPs authority who upon this degraded them
of their faculties, so that when they afterwards appealed
to the pope, he caused them to be declared in a book
schismatics and heretics. They vindicated themselves
from this charge, and procured the censure“of the university of Paris in their favour; which was answered by our
author. He also declared his abhorrence of the Powder
Plot in 1605, and wrote two letters to dissuade the Roman
catholics from all violent practices against the king and
government. He held the office of archpriest till 1607,
when he was succeeded by George Birket. The reason of
this change was, because our author having been seized at
London June 24 the same year, he was committed to prison, and consequently deprived of the liberty required to
act in his office. He was released soon after upon his
taking the oath of allegiance. An account of this aft'air
was published at London, 1607, in 4to, entitled
” The
examination of George Blackwell, upon occasion of his
answering a letter sent by cardinal Bellarmine, who blamed
him for taking the oath of allegiance." He died suddenly
January 12, 1612-3, and was buried, as Mr. Wood supposes, in some church in London. He was esteemed by
those of his own persuasion, and by others likewise, a man
of great learning and piety, and a good preacher.
died in 1623, and was interred at Poictiers in St. Porcharius church, near his brother George. As a writer, he was chiefly known for his vindication of his royal mistress,
, professor of civil law at Poictiers, was born at Dumfermling, in Scotland, in 1539,
descended of an ancient family. He was left an orphan in
the tenth year of his age, and was sent by his uncle, the
bishop of Orkney, to the university of Paris. On his
uncle’s death, by which he seems to have lost the means of
being able to remain at Paris, he returned to Scotland,
but finding no encouragement there, he went again to
Paris, where, by the liberality of Mary, queen of Scotland, he was enabled to pursue his studies in philosophy,
mathematics, and the oriental languages. He then went
to the university of Tholouse, where he studied civil law
for two years and having obtained the patronage of Beaton, archbishop of Glasgow, he was chosen by the parliament of Poictiers one of their counsellors, and afterwards
professor of civil law. He died in 1623, and was interred
at Poictiers in St. Porcharius church, near his brother
George. As a writer, he was chiefly known for his vindication of his royal mistress, when put to death by queen
Elizabeth, written with all that bitterness of resentment
which is natural for a man of spirit to feel, who, by an act
of flagrant injustice, was deprived of his mistress and his
sovereign, his friend and his benefactress. He addresses
himself, in a vehement strain of passion, to all the princes
of Europe, to avenge her death; declaring, that they are
unworthy of royalty, if they are not roused on so interesting and pressing an occasion. He laboured hard to prove
that Henry VIII.' s marriage with Anne Bolen was incestuous a calumny too gross to merit a formal refutation.
This work was entitled “Martyre de Maria Stuart Reyne
d'Escosse,
” Antwerp, Adversus G. Buchanani Dialogum de Jure Ilegni apud
Scotos, pro regibus apologia,
” Pict. De
Vinculo Religionis et Imperii,
” Paris, Sanctarum precationum prsemia,
” a manual of devotions,
Pict. Varii generis poemata,
” ibid. Jacobi I. Magnse Britanniae inauguratio,
” Paris,
stribution of the several heads, and the extracts from them, it seems to be the work of an ingenious writer; one far superior to Joseph Blagrave in style and composition;
, probably a relation of the preceding, was born in the parish of St. Giles, Reading, in
1610, and was a great enthusiast in astrological studies.
He published “An introduction to Astrology,
” An account of
all the Drugs that were sold in the druggists and apothecaries shops, with their dangers and connexions.
” To this
book is subjoined “A new tract of Chirurgery,
” 8vo. He
was also author of “The Astrological practise of Physick,
discovering the true method of curing all kinds of diseases,
by such herbs and plants as grow in our nation,
” 8vo.
In the Biographia Britannica, is an account of a manuscript which had been seen by Dr. Campbell, the author
of that article, and had been bought at the sale of the library of an eminent physician near Covent-garden. In
the first leaf it was said to be written by Mr. J. Blagrave,
and was dedicated to Mr. B. (Backhouse) of Swallowfield.
It appeared, from some mention of the royal society, and
its members, to have been written in 1669, or 1670. The
title was, “A remonstrance in favour of Ancient Learning
against the proud pretensions of the moderns, more especially in respect to the doctrine of the Stars.
” From
the distribution of the several heads, and the extracts from
them, it seems to be the work of an ingenious writer; one
far superior to Joseph Blagrave in style and composition;
and might, possibly, as Mr. Coates conjectures, be an unpublished work of Mr. John Blagrave, the mathematician,
by whose will he inherited an estate in Swallowfield, yet
we know not how to reconcile this with the dates respecting the royal society, which certainly did not exist in the
mathematician’s time. This Joseph Blagrave died in
1679.
noticed, related to Dr. Hugh Blair. He came to London in company with Andrew Henderson, a voluminous writer, who, in his title-pages styled himself A. M. and for some years
, was educated at Edinburgh, and was,
as already noticed, related to Dr. Hugh Blair. He came
to London in company with Andrew Henderson, a voluminous writer, who, in his title-pages styled himself A. M.
and for some years kept a bookseller’s shop in Westminster-hall. Henderson’s first employment was that of an
usher at a school in Hedge-lane, in which he was succeeded by his friend Blair, who, in 1754, obliged' the
world with a valuable publication under the title of “The
chronology and history of the world, from the creation to
the year of Christ 1753. Illustrated in fifty-six tables; of
which four are introductory, and contain the centuries
prior to the first olympiad; and each of the remaining
fifty-two contain in one expanded view fifty years, or half
a century. By the rev. John Blair, LL. D.
” This volume, which is dedicated to lord chancellor Hardwicke,
was published by subscription, on account of the great
expence of the plates, for which the author apologized in
his preface, where he acknowledged great obligations to
the earl of Bath, and announced some chronological dissertations, in which he proposed to illustrate the disputed
points, to explain the prevailing systems of chronology,
and to establish the authorities upon which some of the
particular seras depend. In Dr. Hugh Blair’s life, it has
been noticed that this work was partly projected by him.
In January 1755, Dr. John Blair was elected F. R. S. and
in 1761, F. A. S. In 1756 he published a second edition
of his Chronological Tables. In Sept. 1757, he was appointed chaplain to the princess dowager of Wales, and
mathematical tutor to the duke of York; and, on Dr.
Townshend’s promotion to the deanry of Norwich, the services of Dr. Blair were rewarded, March 10, 1761, with
a prebendal stall at Westminster. The vicarage of Hinckley happening to fall vacant six days after, by the death
of Dr. Moires, Dr. Blair was presented to it by the dean
and chapter of Westminster and in August that year he
obtained a dispensation to hold with it the rectory of Burton Goggles, in Lincolnshire. In September 1763, he
attended his royal pupil the duke of York in a tour to the
continent; had the satisfaction of visiting Lisbon, Gibraltar, Minorca, most of the principal cities in Italy, and
several parts of France and returned with the duke in
August 1764. In 1768 he published an improved edition
of his Chronological Tables, which he dedicated to the
princess of Wales, who had expressed her early approbation of the former edition. To the edition were annexed fourteen maps of ancient and modern geography,
for illustrating the tables of chronology and history. To
which is prefixed a dissertation on the progress of geography. In March 1771 he was presented by the dean
and chapter of Westminster to the vicarage of St. Bride’s,
in the city of London which made it necessary for him
to resign Hinckley, where he had never resided for any
length of time. On the death of Mr. Sims, in April 1776,
he resigned St. Bride’s, and was presented to the rectorjr
of St. John the Evangelist in Westminster and in June
that year obtained a dispensation to hold the rectory of St.
John with that of Horton, near Colebrooke, Bucks. His
brother, captain Blair *, falling gloriously in the service
of his country in the memorable sea-fight of April 12, 1782,
the shock accelerated the doctor’s death. He had at the
same time the influenza in a severe degree, which put a
period to his life June 24, 1782. His library was sold by
auction December 1113, 1781; and a course of his
“Lectures on the canons of the Old Testament,
” has since
appeared.
Such are the only particulars handed down to us respecting the writer of “the Grave.” It is but lately that the poem was honoured
Such are the only particulars handed down to us respecting
the writer of “the Grave.
” It is but lately that the poem
was honoured with much attention, and appears to have
made its way very slowly into general notice. The pious
and congenial Hervey was among the first who praised it.
Mr. Pinkerton in his “Letters of Literature,
” published
under the name of Heron, endeavoured to raise it far above
the level of common productions, and it has of late years
been frequently reprinted but it may be questioned whether it will bear a critical examination. It has no regular
plan, nor are the reflections on mortality embellished bj
any superior graces. It is perhaps a stronger objection
that they are interrupted by strokes of feeble satire at the
expence of physicians and undertakers. His expressions
are often mean, and his epithets ill-chosen and degrading,
“supernumerary horror;
” “new-made widow;
” “sooty
blackbird;
” “strong-lunged cherub;
” “lame kindness,
”
c. &c. “solder of society
” “by stronger arm belaboured
” “great gluts of people,
” &c. are vulgarisms which
cannot be pardoned in so short a production.
, a German writer of some note, was born at Colberg in Pomerania, Jan. 24, 1744,
, a German writer of some note, was born at Colberg in Pomerania, Jan. 24, 1744, and entered into the Prussian service
at the age of fourteen, where he distinguished himself
during the seven years war. After having been in the army
for twenty-one years, the bad state of his health obliged
him to solicit his discharge, which was granted him with
the rank of captain, and from that time he took up his resi-.
dence at Leipsic, devoting his time to literary studies and
pursuits. He was a man of good taste, as well as judgment, and had a very great memory. His original works
were, 1. “An essay on Romance,
” Leipsic, A supplement to Sulzer’s Universal Theory of the
Fine Arts,
” On the German language and literature,
”
printed in Adelung’s Magazine for
, which is equally elegant and faithful. Prefixed is a Life of Tacitus, which is also worthy of this writer, and was admired for strength of sentiment and animation of
, was born at Rennes, Eeb. 25, 1696, and entered early
into the congregation of the oratory, where he was a distinguished professor. The order against wigs, which seems
to have raised very serious scruples, occasioned his quitting
it; but he retained the friendship and esteem of his former
brethren. He then went to Paris, where his talents procured him the professorship of eloquence in the collegeroyal, and a place in the academy of belles lettres. He
published several works, which have been well received by
the public 1. “The Life of the Emperor Julian,
” Paris,
The
History of the Emperor Jovian,
” with translations of some
works of the emperor Julian, Paris, 1748, 2 vols. 12mo, a
book no less valuable than the former, by the art with
which the author has selected, arranged and established
facts, and by the free and varied turns of the translator.
This was abridged by Mr. Duncombe in the “Select
Works of the Emperor Julian,
” To Tacitus,
”
said he, “I am much indebted I ought therefore in justice to dedicate to his glory the remainder of my life.
”
4. “Tiberius, or the six first books of the Annals of Tacitus, translated into French,
” Paris,
unger son of sir Henry Blount, and brother to sir Thomas Pope Blount hereafter mentioned, an eminent writer in the last century, was born at his grandfather’s seat at Upper
, younger son of sir Henry Blount,
and brother to sir Thomas Pope Blount hereafter mentioned,
an eminent writer in the last century, was born at his
grandfather’s seat at Upper Holloway, in the county of
Middlesex, April 27, 1654. He was endowed by nature
with a great capacity, and with a strong propensity to
learning; which excellent qualities were properly cultivated
by the assiduous care of his father, and under so able an
instructor, he quickly acquired an extraordinary skill in
the arts and sciences, without any thing of that pedantry,
which is too frequently the consequence of young men’s
application to study in the common course. His pregnant
parts and polite behaviour brought him early into the
world, so that his father, who was a true judge of men,
thought fit, when he was about eighteen, to marry him to
Eleanora, daughter of sir Timothy Tyrrel, of Shotover in
the county of Oxford, and gave him a very handsome estate, having always respected him as a friend, as well as
loved him with the affection of a father. The year after
his marriage, he wrote a little treatise, which he published
without his name, in defence of Dryden, whose “Conquest of Granada
” was attacked by Richard Leigh, a player.
In Anima
Mnndi,
” in which it is said, and with great probability,
that he had the assistance of his father. It had been long
before handed about in manuscript among the acquaintance
of its author, with several passages in it much stronger than
in that which was transmitted to the press, and licensed by
sir Roger L'Estrange. This, however, did not hinder its
giving great offence, insomuch that complaint was made to
Dr. Compton, then Lord Bishop of London, who, upon
perusal, signified that he expected it should be suppressed,
and intimating, that he would thereupon rest satisfied. But
afterwards, when the Bishop was out of town, an opportunity was taken by some zealous person to burn the book,
which however has been reprinted since. The same year
he published a broad sheet under the title of “Mr.
Hobbes’s last Words and dying Legacy.
” It was extracted
from the “Leviathan,
” and was intended to weaken and
expose his doctrine yet he could be no very warm antagonist, since there is still extant a letter of his to Mr.
Hobbes, wherein he professes himself a great admirer of his
parts, and one who would readily receive his instructions. He
afterwards gave a strong testimony in favour of liberty, in
a pamphlet on the Popish Plot, and the fearof a Popish
successor, entitled, “An Appeal from the country to the
city for the preservation of his majesty’s person, liberty,
property, and the Protestant religion.
” This treatise is
subscribed Junius Brutus, and is the strongest invective
against Popery and Papists that was published even in that
age, when almost all the wit of the nation was pointed that
way. There are in it likewise such express recommendations of the Duke of Monmouth, as might well hinder the
author from owning it, and give it, in the eyes of the lawyers of those times, an air of sedition at least, if not of
treason. In 1680, he printed that work which made
him most known to the world, “The Life of Apollonius
Tyaneus,
” which was soon after suppressed, and only a
few copies sent abroad. It was held to be the most dangerous attempt, that had been ever made against revealed
religion in this country, and was justly thought so, as
bringing to the eye of every English reader a multitude of
facts and reasonings, plausible in themselves, and of the
fallacy of which, none but men of parts and learning can
be proper judges. For this reason it is still much in esteem
with the Deists, and the few copies that came abroad contributed to raise its reputation, by placing it in the lists of
those that are extremely rare. In the same year he published his “Diana of the Ephesians,
” which, as the author
foresaw, raised a new clamour, many suggesting that, under colour of exposing superstition, he struck at all Revelation, and while he avowed only a contempt of the Heathen, seemed to intimate no great affection for the Christian priesthood. The wit, learning, and zeal of our author, had, by this time, raised him to be the chief of his
sect; and he took a great deal of pains to propagate and
defend his opinions in his discourses and familiar letters,
as well as by his books, but he had the usual inconsistency
of the infidel, and we find him owning, in a letter to Dr. Sydenham, that in point of practice, Deism was less satisfactory than the Christian scheme. The noise his former
pieces had made, induced him to conceal, industriously,
his being the author of a book, entitled, “Religio Laici,
”
published in Janus Scientiarum or an Introduction to Geography,
Chronology, Government, History, philosophy, and all
genteel sorts of Learning,
” London, 8vo. He concurred
heartily in the Revolution, and seems to have had very honest intentions of punishing those who were king James’s
evil counsellors, after the government was re-settled, by
declaring the prince and princess of Orange king and
queen. He gave another strong testimony of his sincere
attachment to his principles, and inviolable love to freedom, by a nervous defence of the liberty of the press
wherein he shews that all restraints on it can have no other
tendency than to establish superstition and tyranny, by
abasing the spirits of mankind, and injuring the human understanding. This little piece, therefore, has been always
esteemed one of the best he ever wrote; and has furnished
their strongest arguments to many succeeding writers. The
warmth of Mr. Blount’s temper, his great affection for king
William, and his earnest desire to see certain favourite projects brought about, led him to write a pamphlet, in which,
he asserted king William and queen Mary to be conquerors, which was not well relished by the house of commons. The title of this very singular and remarkable
piece at large, runs thus: “King William and queen
Mary conquerors; or, a discourse endeavouring to prove
that their majesties have on their side, against the late
king, the principal reasons that make conquest a good
title; shewing also how this is consistent with that declaration of parliament, king James abdicated the government, &c. Written with an especial regard to such as
have hitherto refused the oath, and yet allow of the title
of conquest, when consequent to a just war,
”
, father to the preceding, and a considerable writer in the last century, was descended from a very ancient and honourable
, father to the preceding, and
a considerable writer in the last century, was descended
from a very ancient and honourable family, and born December 15, 1602, at his father, sir Thomas Pope Blount’s,
seat at Tittenhanger, in Hertfordshire. He received the
first tincture of letters in the free-school of St. Alban’s,
where he manifested an unusual quickness of parts, and
having qualified himself for the university, was removed
to Trinity-college, in Oxford, and entered a gentleman
commoner there in 1616, before he was full fourteen years
of age. Some years he spent in that learned society, with
great reputation and universal respect, not so much on
account of his family, by which he was nearly related to
the founder, sir Thomas Pope, as from his personal merit.
For in his youth he was of a cheerful disposition, a sprightly
wit, an easy address, and frank and entertaining in conversation, charmed all who were of his acquaintance, and
was justly esteemed as promising a genius as any in the
university. In the year 1618 he took the degree of B.A.
and soon after left Oxford for Gray’s-inn, where for some
time he applied himself to the study of the law, and set
out on his travels in the spring of the year 1634, being
then lately become of age. He made first the tour of France,
part of Spain and Italy, and then passing to Venice, he
there contracted an acquaintance with a Janizary, with
whom he resolved to pass into the Turkish dominions.
With this view he embarked on the 7th of May, 1634, on
board a Venetian galley, in which he sailed to Spalatro,
and thence continued his journey by land to Constantinople. There he was very kindly received by sir Peter
Wich, then our ambassador at the Port. His stay at Constantinople was short, because, having an earnest desire
to see Grand Cairo, and meeting with a sudden opportunity, he readily embraced it, and after a peregrination of
near two years, returned safely into England, where, in
1636, he printed an account of his travels, London, 1636,
4to, which soon after came to a second edition, and in
1638 to a third, in the same size. It was then printed in
12mo, and reached many editions the title of the eighth
runs thus “A Voyage into the Levant, being a brief relation of a Journey lately performed from England by the
way of Venice, into Dalmatia, Sclavonia, Bosnia, Hungary, Macedonia, Thessaly, Thrace, Rhodes, and Egypt,
unto Grand Cairo; with particular observations concerning
the modern condition of the Turks, and other people under
that empire. By sir Henry Blount, knight.
” This book
made him known to the world, and so much noticed, that
shortly after, king Charles I. who desired to fill his court
with men of parts, appointed him one of the band of pensioners, then composed of gentlemen of the first families
in the kingdom. In 1638, his father, sir Thomas Pope
Blount, died, and left him the ancient seat of Blount’s
hall, in Staffordshire, and a very considerable fortune.
On the 21st of March in the succeeding year, the king
conferred on him the honour of knighthood. At the first
breaking out of the civil war, he, following the example
of the elder branches of his illustrious family, who were
eminently loyal, attended the king at York, at Oxford,
and other places, was present at the battle of Edgehill,
and had there (according to a tradition in the family) the
honour of taking care of the young princes. Afterwards
he quitted his majesty’s service, and returned to London,
where he was questioned for his adhering to the king
but he being now grown a very wary and dexterous
speaker, so well excused himself, by alleging his duty on
account of his post, that he escaped all censure, and was
thenceforward well received. It appears, however, that
he had not the courage to be faithful, or that Ije had seriously repented his loyalty to the king, for he complied
with the usurping government so implicitly, that in 1651
he was named on a committee of twenty persons, for inspecting the practice of the law, and remedying its abuses.
He declared himself very warmly against tithes, and
would willingly have reduced the income of parish ministers to one hundred pounds a year. A man of this opinion
must have been very acceptable at that time. His next appearance, however, was more to his credit. He sat with Dr.
Hichard Zouch, Dr. William Clarke, Dr. William Turner, civilians, and with several other eminent persons in the court
of king’s (then called the upper) bench, in Westminster
hall, on the 5th of July, 1654, by virtue of a commission
from Oliver Cromwell, for trying Don Pantalion Saa,
brother to the Portuguese ambassador, for murder, of
which, being found guilty, he was, much to the honour
of the justice of this nation, by sentence of that court, adjudged to suffer death, and was executed accordingly,
Jn, the same year, by the death of his elder brother Thomas Pope Blount, esq. the estate of Tittenhanger descended to him. His great reputation for general knowledge and uncommon sagacity was the reason that his
name was inserted in the list of twenty-one commissioners
appointed, November 1, 1655, to consider of the trade and
navigation of the commonwealth, and how it might be best
encouraged and promoted, in which station he did his
country eminent service. But whatever his compliances
with the forms of government set up between 1650 and
1660, he was received into favour and confidence on the
ling’s restoration, and appointed high sheriff of the county
of Hertford, in 1661. He lived after that as an English
gentleman, satisfied with the honours he had acquired, and
the large estate he possessed, and having passed upwards
uf twenty years in this independent state, be died on the
9th of October, 1682, when he wanted but four months of
four-score, and was two days afterwards interred in the
vault of his family, at Ridge in Hertfordshire. As to what
appears from his writings, he seems to have had strong
parts, a lively imagination, and, in consequence of these,
some very singular opinions. His style was manly, flowing,
and less affected than could be expected, considering the
times in, and the subjects on, which he wrote. A Latin
fragment, published by his son, in his “Oracles of Reason,
” better explains his sentiments than all the rest of his
works, and demonstrates that he was a man of an irregular
way of thinking.
, an eminent writer towards the close of the seventeenth century, was the eldest
, an eminent writer towards the close of the seventeenth century, was the eldest
“son of sir Henry Blount before mentioned, and was born
at Upper Holloway in the county of Middlesex, Sept. 12,
1649. He was carefully educated under the eye of his
father, who took care to acquaint him with the several
branches of polite literature most worthy the notice of a
person of his rank; and so great was the improvement he
made under so able an instructor, that, even in his junior
years, he was considered both as a judicious and learned
man, and on this account, as well as for other marks of
worth and genius, he was, by king Charles II. advanced
to the degree of a baronet, by apatent dated Jan. 27,1679,
in the thirtieth year of his majesty’s reign, and in the lifetime of sir Henry Blount his father. He was elected burgess for St. Albari’s in Hertfordshire, in the parliaments in
the thirtieth and thirty-first of king Charles II. and was
knight of the shire in three parliaments after the Revolution, having also the honour to be elected commissioner of
accounts for the three last years of his life by the house of
commons. He always distinguished himself as a lover of
liberty, a sincere friend to his country, and a true patron
of learning. His strong attachment for literature and criticism, and his extensive acquaintance with the best writers in all ages and sciences, appearecLfully in the
” Censura," which he composed, first for his own use and satisfaction, and then published in the universal language
for the benefit of others. His talents for original remark
appear from his essays, which, in point of learning, judgment, and freedom of thought, are certainly no way inferior to those of the famous Montaigne. His knowledge
and modesty are equally conspicuous in another piece
of his, wherein he presents the public with the fruits of
his reading on natural history, without depriving those
from whom he drew his knowledge, of any part of their
reputation. What he has written on poetry was likewise
drawn together for his own information, and afterwards
sent abroad for public use. Having thus satisfied in his
riper years, the great expectations which his friends had
of him in his youth, having been steady to one party,
without violence towards others, after acquiring honour in
his several public characters, esteem in private conversation, and affection in domestic life, he quietly ended his
days at his seat at Tktenhanger, June 30, 1697, in the
forty-eighth year of his age, and was buried the eighth of
July following, in the vault of his family, at Ridge in
Hertfordshire. He married Jane, daughter of sir Henry
Caesar, of Benington Place in the county of Hertford,
knight, and by her left issue five sons and nine daughters,
but the baronetage is now extinct.
, a miscellaneous writer of the seventeenth century, was born 1618, at Bardsley in W
, a miscellaneous writer of the seventeenth century, was born 1618, at Bardsley in Worcestershire, the son of Myles Blount, of Orleton in Herefordshire, who was the fifth son of Roger Blount of Monkland in the same county. He appears to have supplied
the want of an university education by diligent application,
and after studying the classics, entered himself of the
Inner Temple, and was in due course admitted to the bar.
Being, however, a Roman catholic, he never pleaded, but
after some time resided mostly at Orleton. A sedentary
life having much impaired his health, and the popish plot
breaking out in 1678, he was so hurried from place to
place, that the fatigue brought on a palsy, of which he died
at Orleton, Dec. 26, 1679. Whether by this mention of
the popish plot, his biographer means that he was concerned in it, does not appear. Wood seems to insinuate
that he was only alarmed, as he was known to be a zealous
Roman catholic. He was, however, a man of general
knowledge, and an industrious and useful writer. His
works are, 1. “The Academy of Eloquence, or complete
English rhetoric,
” Glossographia, or a Dictionary of hard words,
” Lond.
The Lamps of the Law, and the Lights of the Gospel,
” ibid. Boscobel; or the history of
his majesty’s escape after the battle of Worcester,
” ibid.
Claustrum regale reseratum,
” or the king’s concealment at Trent in Somersetshire, published by Mrs.
Anne Windham of Trent,” ibid. 1681. Both these now
are among the scarce and high-priced curiosities of the
seventeenth century. Extracts are given from them in
the Addenda to lord Clarendon’s History. 6. “The Catholic Almanac for 1661-2-3, &c.
” 7. “Booker rebuked;
or animadversions on Booker’s Almanac.
” 8. “A Law
Dictionary,
” ibid. 1671, fol. reprinted with additions. 9.
“Animadversions on sir Richard Baker’s Chronicle,
” Oxf.
A World of Errors, discovered in Mr.
Edmund Philips’s World of Words,
” London, Fragmenta Antiquitatis. Ancient tenures of land,
and jocular customs of some manors,
” ibid. Animadversions on Blome’s Britannia,
” not
published. 13. “The art of making Devises, treating of Hieroglyphics, Symbols, &c.
” a translation from the
French, A catalogue of the Catholics,
who lost their lives in the king’s cause, during the civil
war,
” printed at the end of lord Castlemain’s “Catholic
Apology.
” 15. “A Chronicle of England,
” left imperfect, and a history of Herefordshire, a ms. left with his
heirs, but which was probably lost, or has escaped the researches of Mr. Gough. 16. “A pedigree of the Blounts,
”
printed in Peacham’s “Complete Gentleman,
” edit.
d in France, we apprehend justly, as their first critic and bibliographer in Italian literature this writer speaks of the first edition without a date in the following
In order to appreciate these editions, it is necessary to advert to the fate of this extraordinary work in the press. For
about a century, it was circulated in manuscript, and liberties of every kind were taken at every transcription. At length
it was printed for the first time, as has been supposed, in 1470,
and run through various editions to the end of the fifteenth,
and for more than sixty years of the sixteenth century.
During this period it was prohibited by the popqs Paul IV.
and Pius IV. who were in this respect more scrupulous than
their twenty-five or twenty-six predecessors in the papal
chair. Two grand dukes of Tuscany, Cosmo I. and
Francis I. applied one after the other to two other popes,
Pius V. and Gregory XIII. in consequence of which the
academicians were employed to reform the Decameron
important corrections were made, and many passages suppressed, and in this state various editions were permitted
to be printed. But with respect to the ancient editions,
it is now necessary to observe that there are two opinions,
which we shall state, without attempting to reconcile. We
have already noticed that the first edition has been supposed to have been printed in 1470, without a date but
on the other hand, it is contended that the edition of 1471,
by Valdarfer, is not only the first with a date (which those who maintain the existence of the edition of 1470 are disposed to allow), but that in fact there was no previous
edition. Those who are of this latter opinion very naturally ask their antagonists to produce the edition of
1470, or an edition without date that can be supposed of
that period. In England it is certain that no such edition
is known but the French bibliographers seem to be of a
different opinion. Ginguene 1 to whom we are indebted
for the greater part of this life of Boccaccio, who has written the literary history of Italy, and is considered in
France, we apprehend justly, as their first critic and
bibliographer in Italian literature this writer speaks of
the first edition without a date in the following terms
“Elle est sans date et sans nom de lieu ni d'imprimeur,
in-fol. en caracteres inegaux et mal formes.
” (Hist. Litt. d'ltalie, vol. III. p. 129). It remains, therefore, for the
reader to determine whether this is the language of a man
who has seen the book, and describes what he has seen;
and if this be decided in the affirmative, the existence of
the edition is proved, as far as his authority goes. But
it must be confessed Ginguene goes no fa ther. He says
nothing of any library which possesses this treasure, nor
of its supposed value but when he comes to speak of
Valdarfer’s edition of 1471, he informs us that it- has been
valued by bibliomaniacs (bibliomanes) at 3000 francs, or
125l. And this brings us to notice the copy of this edition
recently sold from the duke of Roxburgh’s library, to the
marquis of Blandford, for the immense (and with respect to the value of books, the unprecedented) sum of Two
Thousand Two Hundred And Sixty Pounds. In the catalogue of this library, it is stated that “no other perfect
copy is yet known to exist, after all the fruitless researches
of more than three hundred years;
” but, notwithstanding
this, we find that the French bibliographers set a value on
the edition, as if copies, however rare, were still occasionally to be found. We cannot suppose that the French
booksellers or collectors would fix a price-current on an
article which had not been seen, for three hundred years,
still less that our authority is speaking of imperfect copies,
the value of which can only be estimated by the quantum
of imperfection. It remains also to be noticed that the
French bibliographers speak precisely with the same familiarity of the Junti edition of Florence, 1527, 4to, which
they value at 600 francs, or 25l. and which sold at the
Roxburgh sale for 29 1. no great advance upon the French
price. They certainly speak both of this edition, and of
the 1471, as of rare occurrence, but by no means hint
that the latter is of that extreme rarity imputed to it in
this country .
in the Journal des Savans. On the whole, Boccone appears to have been an industrious and intelligent writer, possessing considerable originality, and deserves to be classed
, an ingenious naturalist,
was born at Palermo, in Sicily, April 24th 1633, of a
wealthy and respectable family, originally from Savona in
Genoa. To improve himself in natural history, particularly in botany, to which he was early attached, he travelled over Sicily, Corsica, Malta, many parts of Germany, Holland, and England, conversing with the most
eminent literary characters in the places he visited, with
whom he afterwards kept up a correspondence. At Paris
he became acquainted with the abbé Bourdalot, to whom
he communicated various observations he had made, which,
were published at Amsterdam in 1674 under the title “Recherches et observations d'Histoire Naturelle.
” In the
course of his travels, he was admitted doctor in medicine
at Padua, was elected member of the Academ. Naturae
Curios, and made botanist to the grand duke of Tuscany.
In 1682, he entered among the Cistertian monks at Florence, and with the habit of the order took the name of
Sylvio, which he affixed to his latter works, but he was
still permitted to continue his researches in natural history.
Returning at length to Sicily, he retired to one of the
houses of the Cistertians near Palermo, where he died,
Dec. 22, 1704. As he had been indefatigable in his researches, his colleciion of plants and other natural productions was very considerable. Sherrard, who saw his hortus
siccus, or specimens of dried plants, in 1697, was so struck
with their number and beauty, that he engaged him to
give a catalogue of them to the public, which he did in
his “Musrco plante rare,
” published at Venice in 4to, the
same year. The catalogue was also published by itself.
Several of his works appear to have been printed while he
was on his travels; the first of them, “De abrotano mare
monitum,
” in Manifesturn
botanicum, de plantis Siculis,
” Catatue, 4to. By an advertisement at the beginning of the work he offers to botanists the seeds of many of the curious and rare plants he had
collected, at moderate prices. Morison published an edition of this work at Oxford in 1674, 4to, under the title of
“Icones et descriptiones rariarum plantarum Sicilian, Melitae, Galliae, et Italioe.
” Many of the plants, Haller says,
were new. The figures are small, and in general not well
delineated or engraved. His next production was “Recherches et observations naturelles,
” published at Paris in
Opcrvazioni natural) ove si contengono materie medico fisiche
e di botanica,
” Bologna. The observations are twenty in
number, and dedicated, or addressed to so many of the
author’s friends and patrons, among whom are many perons of high rank. He is very profuse in his elogia on the
medical virtue of many of the plants, which he praises far
beyond their real value. “Tenere oportet,
” Haller says,
“creduium esse virum et in viribus medicis plantarum liberalem.
” “Musæo di fisica e cli esperienze decorate di
opervazioni naturali,
” Venet.
considered by his countrymen as a man of most extensive learning, but as destitute of elegance as a writer, either in Latin or German, and as unacquainted with the art
, a learned professor
of the university of Helmstadt, was born in 1722, at
Wernigerode. After having been educated at home, with
great care, by his father, who was judge of that city, and
counsellor to the count Stolberg of Wernigerode, he went
in 1739 to the school of Closter-Bergen, near Magdeburgh, then superintended by Steinmez, and in 1741, took
his leave of this school, in a Latin oration, “De societatibus hujus sevi notabilioribus.
” He then went to Halle,
and having early imbibed a taste for oriental languages
and sacred philology, he attached himself particularly to
the two Michaelis’s, father and son, who were then professors in that university. From Halle, he went to Leipsic, where he studied Arabic, Syriac, Chaldaic, Samaritan,
Ethiopian, and rabbinical Hebrew. On his return to Halle
in 1747, he maintained a thesis for his doctor’s degree,
under the presidency of Michaelis the father, “On the
antiquity of the Hebrew language
” and then opened a
course of lectures which were much admired. Notwithstanding this success, however, he left Halle, after a residence of two years, and settled at Helmstadt. Here he
became a most popular teacher, his lectures being attended
by an unusual number of students; and in 1754, the uniYersity secured his services by appointing him professor
extraordinary of oriental languages. About this time,
happening to meet with some works in which the study of
the Armenian, Coptic, and Turkish languages was recommended, he had a great desire to add these to his stock,
and not having been able to obtain the assistance of Jablonski for the Coptic, he determined to learn the others
without a master. Having begun this task at his lisure
hours, in 1756, he made such rapid progress as to be able
to publish, before the conclusion of the year, the first two
chapters of St. Matthew translated from the Turkish into
Latin, with a critical preface on the history and utility
of the Turkish language and the first four chapters of the
same evangelist translated from the Armenian into Latin,
with some considerations on the Armenian language.
These two little works, which were published, the first at
Bremen, and the other at Halle, were criticised with some
severity, perhaps not unjust; but the zeal and industry of
the author, although not altogether successful in these attempts, were still the subject of admiration, and were not
unrewarded. In 1760 he obtained a pension and in 1763,
lest he should accept of the offer of a professorship made
to him by the university of Giessen, that of Helmstadt
conferred on him the title of professor in ordinary of philosophy, with an augmentation of salary. His various
works in the mean time amply confirmed their choice, and
extended his reputation throughout Europe. Of his private life we have no further account, although it was prolonged for many years after this period, as he died of an apoplexy, March 7, 1796. His principal works are, 1. “Evangelium secundum Matthaeum ex versione Æthiopici interpretis in Bibliis polyglottis Anglicanis editum cum Graeco,
c.
” Halle, Evangelium secundum Matthaeum ex versione Persica, &c.
” Helmstadt, 17.50, 4to. 3. Persian translations of Mark, Luke,
and John, 1751, 4to. published separately. 4. “Evangelium secundum Marcum ex versione Arabica, &c.
”
Lerngow, Novum Testamentum ex versione jEthiopica, &c. in Latinum,
” Brunswick, Fragmenta Veteris Test, ex versione
Æthiopici interpretis, et alia quaedam opuscula Æthiopica,
”
Wolfenb. Pseudo-critica Millio-Bengeliana,
” Halle,
, a French lawyer, and political writer, was born at Angers about 1530. In his youth he was supposed,
, a French lawyer, and political writer, was born at Angers about 1530. In his youth he was supposed, but not upon good foundation, to have been a monk. He studied first at Toulouse, and after taking his degrees, read lectures there with much applause, having a design to settle there as law- pro lessor, and with that view he pronounced an oration on public instruction in the schools but finding Toulouse not a sufficiently ample stage for his ambition, he removed to Pans, and began to practise at the bar, where his expectations being likewise disappointed, he determined to apply himself to literary occupations, and in this he had very considerable success. Henry III. who liked to have men of letters about him, admitted him into familiar conversation, and had such an opinion of him, that he sent to prison one John, or Michael de la Serre, who had written against Bodin, and forbid him under pain of death to publish his work but this courtly favour did not last. Thuanus ascribes the king’s withdrawing his countenance to the envy of the courtiers but others think it was occasioned by Bodin' s taking a political part in opposition to the king. He found an asylum, however, with the duke of Alene,on, who made him secretary of his commands, one of the masters of the requests of his palace, and grand master of his waters and forests. The insurgents in the Netherlands at this time intended to declare the duke their sovereign, and were said to be prompted to this by queen Elizabeth of England. Bodin, however, accompanied him into England and Flanders, but he had the misfortune to lose this patron in 1584.
, a voluminous writer, and one of the, revivers of literature in Germany, was born
, a voluminous writer, and one of the, revivers of literature in Germany, was born at Zurich, July 19, 1693, and notwithstanding his father’s design to bring him up to the church, or for trade, he seemed born for the sciences, and particularly the belles lettres. He concealed his dislike, however, for the ministry, until the time when he might have been admitted, and then declined proceeding any farther. His father then would have him pursue trade, and in 1717 sent him to Bergamo for that purpose. This being of course as disagreeable to him as the study of divinity, he returned home after two years, his predilection for poetry growing more and more upon him. Ovid’s Metamorphoses, a translation of which fell in his way, filled his head with poetical images, and the English Spectator formed his morals, while he studied his philosophy in Bayle and Montaigne. The German language was at this time in a barbarous state; literature was at a low ebb, and the pedantic studies of the schools were not to the liking of such a youth as Bodmer. Finding nothing, therefore, to read in his own language, he confined himself to the classics of antiquity, and gave up every other employment, except the study of the history and politics of Swisserland. In history, however, he looked only for men, manners, and language; and was desirous of forming from it a system of psychology.
he Boerhaavian school, and promote the salutary revolution in medical science which this illustrious writer had begun. The celebrated medical school of Edinburgh was the
Among the works attributed to him, without sufficient
authority, or proceeding from his school, being compilations by his students from his lectures, are 1. “Tractatus
de Peste,
” published with other treatises respecting the
plague at Marseilles. Boerhaave was himself infected at
that melancholy period, and in this lays down a mode of
cure. 2. “Consultationes medicse, sive sylloge epistolarum cum responsis,
” Hague, Prselectiones publicae de morbis oculorum,
” dictated by Boerhaave in Introductio in praxin clinicam,
” Leyden, Praxis medica,
” London, De
viribus medicamentorum,
” collected from his lectures in
Experimentet institutiones chemicaV' Paris, 1728, 2 vols. 8vo.
8.
” Methodus discendi Medic-mam,“Amst. 1726, 1734,
8vo; Lend. 1744, the best edition by Haller, Amst. 1751,
2 vols. 4to, under the title of
” Herman ni Boerhaave, viri
summi, suique praeceptoris, methodus studii medici emendata et accessionibus locupletata.“9.
” Historia plantarum quae in horto academico Lugd. Batav. crescunt,“Leyden, 1717, 2 vols. 12mo (under the name of Rome),
Lond. 1731, 1738. 10.
” Prselectiones de calculo,“Lond.
1748, 4to. 13.
” Praelectiones academics?, de morbis
Nervorum," Leyden, 1761, 2 vols. 8vo; Francfort, 1762.
This was edited by James van Eeems, from various manuscript copies of Boerhaave’s lectures. In fact, all the
works enumerated in this list were produced in the same
manner, some in his lifetime, but mostly after his death.
Such was the very extensive reputation of Boerhaave, that
to be his pupil was in some degree accounted a qualification for future honours and practice, and every pupil was
glad to bring away as much as he could in manuscript, to
testify his diligence. The booksellers, very naturally desirous of profiting by the popularity of our author, employed many of these pupils in collating different transcripts, and publishing what was conceived to be the best
text. In this way, doubtless, his reputation might occasionally suffer by the incorrectness or misapprehension
of these transcribers yet even Haller and other eminent
physicians were glad to avail themselves of such assistance,
to extend /the Boerhaavian school, and promote the salutary revolution in medical science which this illustrious
writer had begun. The celebrated medical school of
Edinburgh was the first branch from it which introduced
Boerhaave to this country, all the original founders and
professors of that school having been his pupils.
hat in the first six books there are a great many particulars not to be found in Fordun or any other writer now extant and that, “unless the authors which he pretends to
, a celebrated Scotch historian, was born at Dundee, in the shire
of Angus, about 1470. After having studied at Dundee
and Aberdeen, he was sent to the university of Paris, where
he applied to philosophy, and became a professor of it
there. There also he contracted an acquaintance with several eminent persons, particularly with Erasmus, who kept
a correspondence with him afterwards. Elphinston, bishop
of Aberdeen, having founded the king’s college in that
city about 1500, sent for Boeis from Paris, and appointed
him principal. He took for his colleague Mr. William
Hay, and by their joint labour the kingdom was furnished
with several eminent scholars. Upon the death of his patron, he undertook to write his life, and those of his predecessors in that see. The work is in Latin, and entitled
“Vitae Episcoporum Murthlacensium et Aberdonensium,
”
Paris, unless the authors which he pretends to have seen be hereafter discovered, he will continue to be shrewdly suspected
for the contriver of almost as many tales as Jeoffrey of
Momnouth.
” His 18th book, however, is highly commended by Ferrerius, who says, “that he has treated of
things there in so comprehensive a manner, that he believes no one could have done it more fully or significantly
on the same subject.” His stylo, says another writer, has
all the purity of Caesar’s, and is so nervous both in the
reflections and diction, that he seems to have absolutely
entered into the spirit of Livy, and made it his own. Erasmus, who was intimately acquainted with him, says, in
one of his epistles, “that he was a man of an extraordinary happy genius, and of great eloquence.
” “He was
certainly,
” says another writer, “a great master of polite
learning, well skilled in divinity, philosophy, and history;
but somewhat credulous, and much addicted to the be->
lief of legendary stories. With regard to his other accomplishments, he was discreet, well-bred, attentive, generous,
affable, and courteous.“Dr. Johnson in his Tour in Scotland observes that Hector Boethius may be
” justly reverenced as one of the revivers of elegant learning. The
style of Boethins, though, perhaps, not always rigorously
pure, is formed with great diligence upon ancient models,
and wholly uninfected with monastic barbarity. His history is written with elegance and vigour, but his fabulousness and credulity are justly blamed. His fabulousness,
if he was the author of the fictions, is a fault for which no
apology can be made; but his credulity may be excused
in an age when all men were credulous. Learning was
then rising on the world; but ages, so long accustomed to
darkness, were too much dazzled with its light to see any
thing distinctly. The first race of scholars, in the fifteenth
century, and some time after, were, for the most part,
learning to speak, rather than to think, and were therefore more studious of elegance than of truth. The contemporaries of Boethius thought it sufficient to know what
the ancients had delivered. The examination of tenets
and of facts was reserved for another generation.”
, a learned and pious writer of the seventeenth century, was the son of William Bogan, gentleman,
, a learned and pious writer of the
seventeenth century, was the son of William Bogan, gentleman, and born at Little Hempston in Devonshire, about
the feast of St. John the Baptist in the year 1625. He
became a commoner of St. Alban hall under the tuition of
Mr. Ralph Button in Michaelmas term in 1640. He was
admitted a scholar of Corpus Christi college November the
26th the year following, and left the university when the
city of Oxford was garrisoned for the king, and returned
after the surrender of it to the parliament. October 21,
1646, he took the degree of bachelor of arts, and was
elected probationer fellow of his college the year
following. November 19, 1650, he took the degree of master
of arts, and became a retired and religious student, and
distinguished in the university for his admirable skill in the
tongues. At last, having contracted an ill habit of body
by his intense application to his studies, he died September 1, 1659, and was interred in the middle of the north
cloister belonging to Corpus Christi college, joining to
the south side of the chapel there. “At that time and
before,
” Wood informs us, “the nation being very unsettled, and the university expecting nothing but ruin and
dissolution, it pleased Mr. Began to give by his will to the
city of Oxford five hundred pounds; whereas hud the nation been otherwise, he would have given that money to
his college.
” An original picture of him is to be seen in
the guild-hall of the city of Oxford. Mr. Wood adds,
that he was an excellent tutor, but a zealous puritan and
in his Hist. & Antiq. Univers. Oxon. he gives him the
character of vir studiosus et lingiiarum peritissimus, a studious person, and well skilled in the languages, in which
opinion some learned foreigners who have read his works
concur. He wrote, 1. Additions, in four books, to Francis
Rous’s “Archaeologioc Atticae,
” the fifth edition of which
was published at Oxford, 1658, 4to. These additions relate to the customs of the ancient Greeks in marriages,
burials, feasts, &c. at the close of which, Mr. Bogan, with
great simplicity of manner, gives his reasons for undertaking the work: “The cords,
” he says, “which drew
me to do it (and drawn I was) were three, such as, twisted
together, I could by no means break; viz. l.The importunity of my friend. 2. The necessity of the knowledge
of ancient rites and customs for the understanding of authors. And, 3. the hopes which I had by employment (as by an issue) to divert my humour of melancholy another
way. The causes why I did it no better are as many, viz.
1. Want of years and judgment, having done the most part
of it in my Tyrocinium (when I took more delight in these studies) us appears by the number of the authors which I
have cited. 2. Want of health. And, 3. want of time and
leisure, being called away by occasions that might not be
neglected, and by friends that could not be disobeyed. If
yet I have given but little light, and my labour and oil be
not all lost, I have as much as I desired myself, and thou
hast no more than I owed thee.
” 2. “A view of the
Threats and Punishments recorded in Scripture
alphabetically composed, with some brief observations on sundry
texts,
” Oxford, 1653, 8vo. 3. “Meditations of the mirth
of a Christian Life,
” Oxford, Help to
Prayer both extempore and by a set form as also to Meditation,
” &c. Oxford, Delphi Phcenicizantes, &c.
” published at Oxford, Homerus Æfipo/Jw sive comparatio Homeri cum scriptoribus sacris quoad Normam loquendi.
” In the preface he
declares that it is not his intention to make any comparison
between the sacred writers and their opinions and Homer,
but only of their idioms and ways of speaking. To this
book is added Hesiodus 'Opi^wv; wherein he shews how
Hesiod expresses himself very much after the same manner
%vith Homer, Oxford, 1658, 8vo. He designed likewise
to publish a discourse concerning the Greek particles but
he was prevented by sickness from completing it; and
another treatise concerning the best use of the Greek and
Latin poets. Freytag has bestowed an article on his
treatise on Homer’s style.
apeutics. In 1700 he was dean of the faculty, and after a prosperous career, both as a physician and writer, died in 1718. His principal works are, 1. “De Alkali et Acidi
, a physician of considerable reputation in the seventeenth century, was born at
Leipsic in 1640, and began his studies there, and at Jena.
In 1663 he travelled in Denmark, Holland, England, and
France, and returned by the way of Swisserland in 1665.
The following year he took his degree of M. D. and in 1668
was promoted to the anatomical chair at Leipsic. In 1691
he was appointed city-physician, and in 1691 professor of
therapeutics. In 1700 he was dean of the faculty, and
after a prosperous career, both as a physician and writer,
died in 1718. His principal works are, 1. “De Alkali et
Acidi insuificientia pro principiorum corporum naturalium.
munere gerendo,
” Leipsic, Dissertations
chemico-physicic,
” ibid. Meditationes physico-cheuiicte de aerisin sublunaria infiuxu,
”
ibid. De duumviratu hypocliondrioium,
” ibid. Observatio atque experimenta circa usum spiritns vini externum in hainorragiis
” sistendis,“Leipsic, loS.'i, 4to. 6.
” Exercitatioues
physiologicæ, ibid. De
officio medici duplici, clinini nimirum ac forensis,
” Leipsic, De
renunciatione vulnerum lethalium examen,
” ibid.
, a voluminous political and miscellaneous writer of the seventeenth century, was born at Ringsfield, in Suffolk,
, a voluminous political and miscellaneous writer of the seventeenth century, was born at
Ringsfield, in Suffolk, the only son of Baxter Bohun, who
with his ancestors, had been lords of the manor of Westhall, in that county, from the 25th Henry VIII. In 1663,
he was admitted fellow-commoner of Queen’s college,
Cambridge, and continued there till the latter end of 1666,
when the plague obliged him and others to leave the university. In 1675 he was made a justice of peace for Suffolk, and continued in that office till the second of James
II. when he was discharged, but was restored to that office
in the first of William and Mary. The time of his death
is not mentioned, but he was alive in 1700. He wrote,
1. “An Address to the Freemen and Freeholders of the
nation, in three parts, being the history of three sessions
of parliament in 1678, 1682,and 1683,
” 4to. 2. “A Defence of the Declaration of king Charles II. against a
pamphlet styled, A just and modest Vindication of the
proceedings of the two last Parliaments.
” This was printed
with and added to the Address. 3. “A Defence of Sir
Robert Filmer, against the mistakes and representations of
Algernon Sydney, esq. in a paper delivered by him to the
sheriffs upon the scaffold on Tower-hill, on Friday, Dec.
7, 1683, before his execution there,
” Lond. The
Justice of Peace’s Calling, a moral essay,
” Lond. A Preface and Conclusion to Sir Robert Filmer’s
Patriarcha,
” ibid. A Geographical Dictionary,
” ibid. The History of the Desertion; or an account of all the public affairs of England,
from the beginning of Sept. 1688 to Feb. 12 following,
”
ibid. 1689, 8vo. 8. “An Answer to a piece called The
Desertion discussed (by Jeremy Collier),
” printed at the end
of the “History of the Desertion.
” 9. “The Doctrine of
Passive Obedience and Non-Resistance no way concerned
in the controversies now depending between the Williamites
and the Jacobites,
” ibid. The Life of John Jewell, bishop of Salisbury,
” prefixed to a translation of his Apology, Three
Charges delivered at the general quarter sessions holden at
Ipswich, for the county of Suffolk, in 1691, 1692, and
1693,
” 4to. 12. “The great Historical, Geographical,
and Poetical Dictionary,
” Lond.
it is not sufficient to supply some ephemeral food to the malignity of contemporaries, but to be the writer of all times and all places. This led him to produce those works
attacked, but gave him friends, or rather readers, among
that very numerous class of the public, who, through an
inconstancy cruelly rooted in the human heart, love to see
those humbled whom even they esteem the most. But
whatever favour and encouragement so general a disposition might promise Boileau, he could not avoid meeting
with censurers among men of worth. Of this number was
the duke de Montausier, who valued himself upon an inflexible and rigorous virtue, and disliked satire. But, as
it was of the greatest importance to Boileau to gain over
to his interest one of the first persons about court, whose
credit was the more formidable, as it was supported by
that personal consideration which is not always joined to
it, he introduced into one of his pieces a panegyrical notice of the duke de Montausier, which was neither flat nor
exaggerated, and it produced the desired effect. Encouraged by this first success, Boileau lost no time in giving
the final blow to the tottering austerity of his censurer,
by confessing to him, with an air of contrition, how humiliated he felt himself at missing the friendship of “the
worthiest man at court.
” From that moment, the
worthiest man at court became the protector and apologist
of the most caustic of all writers. Though we attach
less value to the satires of Boileau than to his other
works, and think not very highly of his conduct to his
patron, yet it must be allowed that he never attacks bad
taste and bad writers, but with the weapons of pleasantry;
and never speaks of vice and wicked men but with indignation. Boileau, however, soon became sensible that in
order to reach posterity it is not sufficient to supply some
ephemeral food to the malignity of contemporaries, but
to be the writer of all times and all places. This led him
to produce those works which will render his fame perpetual. He wrote his “Epistles,
” in which, with delicate
praises, he has intermixed precepts of literature and morality, delivered with the most striking truth and the happiest precision; and in 1674 his celebrated mock-heroic, the
“Lutrin,
” which, with so small a ground of matter, contains
so much variety, action, and grace; and his “Art of Poetry,
”
which is in French what that of Horace is in Latin, the
code of good taste. In these he expresses in harmonious
verse, full of strength and elegance, the principles of
reason and good taste; and was the first who discovered
and developed, by the union of example to precept, the
highly difficult art of French versification. Before Boileau, indeed, Malherbe had begun to detect the secret,
but he had guessed it only in part, and had kept his knowledge for his own use; and Corneille, though he had written “Cinna
” and “Polieucte,
” had no other secret than
his instinct, and when this abandoned him, was no longer
Corneille. Boileau had the rare merit, which can belong
only to a superior genius, of forming by his lessons and
productions the first school of poetry in France; and it
may be added, that of all the poets who have preceded
or followed him, none was better calculated than himself
to be the head of such a school. In fact, the severe and
decided correctness which characterizes his works, renders
them singularly fit to serve as a study for scholars in poetry.
In Racine he had a disciple who would have secured him
immortality, even if he had not so well earned it by his
own writings. Good judges have even asserted, that the
pupil surpassed the master; but Boileau, whether inferior
or equal to his scholar, always preserved that ascendancy
over him, which a blunt and downright self-love will ever
assume over a timid and delipate self-love, such as that of
Racine. The author of “Phaedra
” and of “Athaliah
”
had always, either from deference or address, the complaisance to yield the first place to one who hoasted of
having been his master. Boileau, it is true, had a merit
with respect to his disciple, which in the eyes of the latter
must have been of inestimable value, that of having early
been sensible of Racine’s excellence, or rather of what he
promised to become; for it was not easy, in the author of
the “Freres Ennemis,
” to discover that of “Andromache
”
and “Britannicus,
” and doubtless perceiving in Racine’s
first essays the germ of what he was one day to become,
he felt how much care and culture it required to give it
full expansion.
Art of Poetry” is the best composition of that kind extant. “The brevity of his precepts,” says this writer, “enlivened by proper imagery, the justness of his metaphors,
Boileau 1 s character as a poet is now generally allowed
to be that of taste, judgment, and good sense, which predominate in the best of his works as they do in the most
popular of Pope’s writings. The resemblance between
these two poets is in many respects very striking, and in
one respect continues to be so; they are, in France and
England, more read and oftener quoted than any other
poets. Both were accused of stealing from the ancients;
but says an elegant critic of our nation, those who flattered themselves that they should diminish the reputation
of Boileau, by printing, in the manner of a commentary
at the bottom of each page of his works, the many lines he
has borrowed from Horace and Juvenal, were grossly deceived. The verses of the ancients which he has turned
into French with so much address, and which he has happily made so homogeneous, and of a piece with the rest of
the work, that every thing seems to have been conceived
in a continued train of thought by the very same person,
confer as much honour on him, as the verses which are
purely his own. The original turn which he gives to his
translations, the boldness of his expressions, so little forced
and unnatural, that they seem to be born, as it were, with
his thoughts, display almost as much invention as the first
production of a thought entirely new. The same critic,
Dr. Warton, is of opinion that Boileau’s “Art of Poetry
”
is the best composition of that kind extant. “The brevity
of his precepts,
” says this writer, “enlivened by proper
imagery, the justness of his metaphors, the harmony of
his numbers, as far as alexandrine lines will admit, the
exactness of his method, the perspicuity of his remarks,
and the energy of his style, all duly considered, may render this opinion not unreasonable. It is to this work he
owes his immortality, which was of the highest utility to
his nation, in diffusing a just way of thinking and writing,
banishing every species of false wit, and introducing a
general taste for the manly simplicity of the ancients, on
whose writings this poet had formed his taste.
”
, a celebrated French comic writer of native wit and genuine humour, was born at Vic in Auvergne
, a celebrated French comic writer of native wit and genuine humour, was born at Vic in Auvergne in 1694. He came early to Paris, and began to write for the stage. The rest of his life is a moral. As has often been the fate of extraordinary favourites of the muses, though he laboured incessantly for the public, his works procured him only a competency of fame he wanted bread, and while the theatres and coffee-houses of Paris were ringing with plaudits on his uncommon talents to promote their mirth, he was languishing, with a wife and child, under the pressures of the extremest poverty. Yet, melancholy as his situation was, he lost nothing of that pride, which forbid him to creep and fawn at the feet of a patron. Boissi had friends, who would readily have relieved him; but they were never made acquainted with his real condition, or had not that friendly impetuosity which forces assistance on the modest sufferer. He at length became the prey of distress, and sunk into despondency. The shortest way to rid himself at once of his load of misery seemed to him to be death, on which he speculated with the despair of a man who has none of the consolations of religion. His wife, who was no less weary of life, listened with participation as often as he declaimed, in all the warmth of poetic rapture, on the topic of deliverance from this earthly prison, and the smiling prospects of futurity; till at length she took up the resolution to accompany him in death. But she could not bear to think of leaving her beloved son, of five years old, in a world of misery and sorrow; it was therefore agreed to take the child along with them, on their passage into another and a better, and they made choice of starving. To this end, they shut themselves up in their solitary and deserted apartment, waiting their dissolution with immovable fortitude. When any one came and knocked, they fled trembling into a corner, for fear of being discovered. Tneir little boy, who had not yet learned to silence the calls of hunger by artificial reasons, whimpering and crying, asked for bread; but they always found means to quiet him.
oth to enjoy and to adorn, he diligently performed the duties of an able and orthodox divine; a good writer; an excellent preacher, and an attentive parish priest. He appears,
, a pious and useful clergyman of Leicestershire, was born at Leicester in 1679, and at the age of fifteen had made such progress in letters as to be matriculated at St. John’s college, Cambridge. Having taken the degree of B. A. in 1698, he retired to Hinckley in Leicestershire, where he engaged in teaching a small endowed school, and retained that employment until 1732, at the humble salary of 10l. per annum. At the usual age, he was admitted into holy orders to serve the curacy of Stoney Stanton near Hinckley. It appears from the parish register, that he commenced his parochial duties in May 1702; and the care of the parish was confided to him, his rector then residing on another benefice. His stipend was only 30l. a year, as the living was a small one, being then in the open-field state. Nor does it appear that he had made any saving in money from the profits of his school all the property he seems to have brought with him to his curacy was, his chamber furniture, and a library, more valuable for being select than extensive. When Mr. Bold was examined for orders, his diocesan (Dr. James Gardiner, bishop of Lincoln) was so much pleased with his proficiency in sacred learning, that he had determined to make Mr. Bold his domestic chaplain: but the good bishop’s death soon after closed his prospect of preferment as soon as it was opened in that quarter; and Mr. Bold framed his plan of life and studies upon a system of rigid ceconomy and strict attention to his professional duties, which never varied during the fifty years he passed afterwards on his curacy. Remote from polished and literary society, which he was calculated both to enjoy and to adorn, he diligently performed the duties of an able and orthodox divine; a good writer; an excellent preacher, and an attentive parish priest. He appears, from the early age of 24 years, to have formed his plan of making himself a living sacrifice for the benefit of his flock; and to have declined preferment (which was afterward offered to him) with a view of making his example and doctrine the more striking and effective, by his permanent residence and labours in one and the same place. He appears to have begun his ecclesiastical labours in a spirit of self-denial, humility, charity, and piety. He had talents that might have rendered him conspicuous any where, and an impressive and correct delivery. His life was severe (so far as respected himself); his studies incessant; his spiritual labours for the church and his flock, ever invariably the same. His salary, we have already mentioned, was only ZOl. a year, which was never increased, and of which he paid at firsts/, then J2l. and lastly 16l. a year, for his board. It needs scarcely be said that the most rigid ceconomy was requisite, and practised, to enable him to subsist; much more to save out of this pittance for beneficent purposes. Yet he continued to give away annually, 5l.; and saved 5l. more with a view to more permanent charities: upon the rest he lived. His daily fare consisted of water-gruel for his breakfast; a plate from the farmer’s table, with whom he boarded, supplied his dinner; after dinner, one half pint of ale, of his own brewing, was his only luxury; he took no tea, and his supper was upon milk-pottage. With this slender fare his frame was supported under the labour of his various parochial duties. In the winter, he read and wrote by the farmer’s fire-side; in the summer, in his own room. At Midsummer, he borrowed a horse for a day or two, to pay short visits beyond a walking distance. He visited all his parishioners, exhorting, reproving, consoling, instructing them.
, a French writer, was born at Lyons, Feb. 13, 1709, of a distinguished family,
, a French writer, was
born at Lyons, Feb. 13, 1709, of a distinguished family,
and died there in 1793. He wrote, 1. “De la corruption
du gout dans la Musique Francaise,
” De
la Bibliomanie,
” 1761, 8vo, a subject since so ably
handled by Mr. Dibdin. 3. “Discours sur l'Emulation,
”
Essai sur la lecture,
” Renovation des voeux litteraires,
” which was afterwards published.
, a writer, whose whole merit was inventing abominable lies and absurdities
, a writer, whose whole merit was
inventing abominable lies and absurdities against the first
reformers in the sixteenth century; and, by this means
supplying popish missionaries with matter of invective
against them, he was often quoted, and became respected.
He was a Carmelite of Paris, who, having preached somewhat freely in St. Bartholomew’s church, forsook hiaonier,
and fled into Italy, where he set up for a physician,
and married; but soon after committed some crime, for
which he was driven away. He set up afterwards in
Geneva as a physician; but not succeeding in that
protession, he studied divinity. At first he dogmatized privately on the mystery of predestination, according to the principles of Pelagius; and afterwards
had the boldness to make a public discourse against
the received opinion. Upon this, Calvin went to see
him, and censured him mildly. Then he sent for him
to his house, and endeavoured to reclaim him from his
error; but this did not hinder Bolsec from delivering in
public an insulting discourse against the decree of eternal
predestination. Calvin was among his auditors; but,
hiding himself in the crowd, was not seen by Bolsec,
which made him the bolder. As soon as Bolsec had ended
his sermon, Calvin stood up, and confuted all he had been
saying. “He answered, overset, and confounded him,
”
says Beza, “with so many testimonies from the word of
God, with so many passages, chiefly from St. Augustine
in short, with so many solid arguments, that every body
was miserably ashamed for him, except the brazen-faced
monk himself.
” On this, a magistrate who was present
in that assembly, sent him to prison. The cause was discussed very fully, and at last, with the advice of the Swiss
churches, the senate of Geneva declared Bolsec convicted
of sedition and Pelagian ism; and as such, in 1551, banished him from the territory of the republic, on pain of
being whipped if he should return thither. He retired
into a neighbouring place, which depended on the canton
of Bern, and raised a great deal of disturbance there, by
accusing Calvin of making God the author of sin. Calvin,
to prevent the impressions which such complaints might
make upon the gentlemen of Bern, caused himself to be
deputed to them, and pleaded his cause before them. He
was so fortunate, that though he could not get a
determination upon his doctrine, whether it was true or false,
yet Bolsec was ordered to quit the country.
, an ingenious writer and antiquary, in the beginning of the seventeenth century,
, an ingenious
writer and antiquary, in the beginning of the seventeenth
century, was a retainer to the great George Villiers, duke
of Buckingham, under whom he probably enjoyed some
office. He was a Roman catholic; and distinguished Himself by the following curious writings; l.“The Life of
king Henry II.
” intended to be inserted in Speed’s Chronicle; but the author being too partial to Thomas Becket,
another life was written by Dr. Barcham. 2. “The Elements of Armories,
” Lond. Prosopopoeia Basilica,
” a ms. in the Cottonian library. 4.
An English translation of Lucius Florus’s Roman History.
5. “Nero Cæsar, or Monarchic depraved. An historicall
worke, dedicated with leave to the duke of Buckingham,
lord-admiral,
” Lond. Vindiciae Britannicae, or London righted
by rescues and recoveries of antiquities of Britain in general, and of London in particular, against unwarrantable
prejudices, and historical antiquations amongst the learned;
for the more honour, and perpetual just uses of the noble
island and the city.
” It consists of seven chapters. In
the first, he treats “of London before the Britann rebells
sackt and fired it in hatred and defiance of Nero.
” In the
second he shows, that “London was more great and famous in Nero’s days, than that it should be within the
description, which Julius Cæsar makes of a barbarous Britann town in his days.
” In the third, he proves, “that
the credit of Julius Cæsar’s writings may subsist, and yet
London retain the opinion of utmost antiquity.
” In the
fourth, “the same fundamental assertion is upholden with
other, and with all sorts of arguments or reasons.
” The
fifth bears this title, “The natural face of the seat of
London (exactly described in this section) most sufficiently
proved, that it was most antiently inhabited, always presupposing reasonable men in Britain.
” The sixth contains
“a copious and serious disquisition about the old book of
Brute, and of the authority thereof, especially so far forth
as concerns the present cause of the honour and antiquity
of London, fundamentally necessary in general to our national history.
” The last chapter is entitled, <; Special, as
well historical, as other illustrations, for the use of the
coins in my Nero Cæsar, concerning London in and before
that time.“This ms. (for it never was printed) was in the
possession of Hugh Howard, esq and afterwards sold among
Thomas Rawiinson’s to Endymion Porter. Mr. Bolton was
also author of
” Hypercritica, or a rule of judgement for
writing or reading our histories. Delivered in four supercensorian addresses by occasion of a censorian epistle,
prefixed by sir Henry Savile, knt. to his edition of some
of our oldest historians in Latin, dedicated to the late
queen Elizabeth. That according thereunto, a complete
body of our affairs, a Corpus Rerum Anglicarum may at
last, and from among our ourselves, come happily forth in
either of the tongues. A felicity wanting to our nation,
now when even the name thereof is as it were at an end.“It was published by Dr. Hall, at the end of
” Triveti Annales,“Oxford, 1722, 8vo. Bolton likewise intended to
compose a
” General History of England, or an entire and
complete body of English affairs;“and there is in the
Cottonian collection, the outline of a book entitled
” Agon
Heroicus, or concerning Arms and Armories," a copy of
which is in the Biog. Britannica. The time and place of
his death are unknown.
, a French antiquary and miscellaneous writer, was born at Louvres, in the district of Paris, in 1694, and
, a French antiquary and
miscellaneous writer, was born at Louvres, in the district
of Paris, in 1694, and educated for the ecclesiastical profession; but, devoting himself entirely to literature, he
became under-librarian of St. Victor, and distinguished
both by the politeness of his manners, and the variety as
well as assiduity of his studies. In 1727, he was admitted
a member of the academy of inscriptions and belles lettres,
and made many valuable contributions to its memoirs. His
papers are characterised by simple but correct language,
variety of erudition, clearness of argument, and solidity
of criticism. At the instigation of M. Turgot, a place was
created of historiographer of Paris, and Bonamy being
appointed to occupy it, was led to write various memoirs
relative to the history and antiquities of the city; and on
occasion of the bequest of a curious library to the city, he
was made librarian. From the year 174-7, he conducted the
“Journal of Verdun
” with the strictest propriety and decorum, and indeed in every thing displayed candour and
probity, as well as learning. He died at Paris in 1770.
ssion in vocal sounds, the incarnation. Thus the multiform wisdom of God, according to this mystical writer, lies concealed through all nature; and all human knowledge
, a celebrated doctor, cardinal, and saint of the church of Rome, was born
at Bagnarea in Tuscany, 1221. He was admitted into the
order of St. Francis, about 1243; and studied divinity at
the university of Paris under the celebrated Alexander de
Hales, with so much success, that at the end of seven
years he was thought worthy to read public lectures upon
the Sentences. He was created doctor in 1255 along with
St. Thomas Aquinas, and the year after appointed general
of his order, in which office he governed with so much
zeal and prudence, that he perfectly restored the discipline
of it, which had been greatly neglected. Pope Clement IV.
nominated him to the archbishopric of York in England;
but Bonaventure disinterestedly refused it. After the death
of Clement the see of Rome lay vacant almost three years,
and the cardinals not being able to agree among themselves
who should be pope, came at length to a most solemn engagement, to leave the choice to Bonaventure; and to
elect whoever he should name, though it should be even
himself, which, from his modest character, was not very
probable. Accordingly, he named Theobald, archdeacon
of Liege, who was at that time in the Holy land, and who
took the title of Gregory X. By this pope he was made a
cardinal and bishop of Albano; and appointed to assist at
a general council, which was held at Lyons soon after. He
died there in 1274, and was magnificently and honourably
conducted to his grave; the pope and whole council attending, and the cardinal Peter of Tarantais, afterwards
pope Innocent V. making his funeral oration. Sixtus IV.
canonized him in 1482. He. has had the good fortune to
be almost equally praised by popish and protestant writers,
Bellarmine has pronounced Bonaventure a person dear to
God and men; and Luther calls him “vir prtestantissimus,
” a most excellent man. His works were printed at
Rome in 1588, in 8 vols. folio. Excepting his commentary upon the master of the Sentences, they are chiefly on
pious and mystical subjects, and have gained him the name
of the Seraphic doctor. Brucker gives us the following
account of his method of philosophizing, from his treatise
“De reductione Artium ad Theologiam;
” on the “application of Learning to Theology:
” Human knowledge he
divides into three branches, logical, physical and moral.
Each of these he considers as the effect of supernatural
illumination, and as communicated to men through the
medium of the holy scriptures. The whole doctrine of
scripture he reduces to three heads; that which respects
the eternal generation and incarnation of Christ, the study
of which is the peculiar province of the doctors of the
church; that which concerns the conduct of life, which is
the subject of preaching; and that which relates to the
union of the soul with God, which is peculiar to the monastic and contemplative life. Physical knowledge he applies to the doctrine of scripture emblematically. For example, the production of the idea of any sensible object
from its archetype, is a type of the generation of the Logos;
the right exercise of the senses typifies the virtuous conduct of life; and the pleasure derived from the senses represents the union of the soul with God. In like manner,
logical philosophy furnishes an emblem of the eternal
generation and the incarnation of Christ: a word conceived in the mind resembling the eternal generation; its
expression in vocal sounds, the incarnation. Thus the
multiform wisdom of God, according to this mystical writer, lies concealed through all nature; and all human
knowledge may, by the help of allegory and analogy, be
spiritualised and transferred to theology. How wide a
door this method of philosophising opens to the absurdities
of mysticism the reader will easily perceive from this specimen.
, an eminent physician and medical writer, was born at Geneva, March 5, 1620, and following the steps
, an eminent physician and medical writer, was born at Geneva, March 5,
1620, and following the steps of his father and grandfather,
early attached himself to the practice of physic. After visiting several foreign academies, he was admitted doctor
in medicine at Bologna, in 1643, and was soon after made
physician to the duke de Longueville. Though he soon
attained to high credit in his profession, and had a large
share of practice, he dedicated a considerable portion of
his time to reading, and to dissecting such subjects as the
hospital afforded him, with a view of discovering the seats
of diseases, minuting every deviation he observed from the
natural structure of the viscera, or other parts of the body,
and thus opening a new road for improving the science he
cultivated. He also appears to have made extracts of every
thing he deemed worthy of notice, from the various works
he read. His hearing from some accident becoming defective, he withdrew from practice, and employed the last
ten or twelve years of his life in arranging the materials he
had collected. The first fruit of his labour, which he gave
to the public in 1668, was “Pharos Medicoru in,
” 2 vols.
12mo. This was printed again, much improved and enlarged, in 1679, in 4to, under the title of “Labyrinthi
Medici, extricati,
” &c. compiled principally from Bellonius
and Septalius. In 1675, “Prodromus Anatomise practicas,
sive de abditis morborum causis,
” fol.; the precursor of
his principal work, “Sepulchretum, seu Anatome practica,
ex cadaveribus morbo denatis proponens historias et observationes,
” &c. Genev. De sedibus et causis Morborum,
” by which
the “Sepulchretum
” is in a great measure superseded.
The author begins with observations on the appearances of
the brain and other parts of the head; then of the contents of the thorax, abdomen, and pelvis; and lastly, of
the extremities; forming an immense body of dissections,
which he has illustrated by many pertinent and ingenious
observations. “Cours de medicine, et de la chirurgie,
”
Medicina
septentrionalis, collectitia,
” Mercurius compilatitius, seu index medico-practicus,
” Epitome operum Sennerti,
” J. D. Turqueti de
Mayerne, de Arthritide,
” Rohaulti tractatus physicus, e Gallico in Latinam versus,
”
as in some measure to redeem his time, and place him on a footing, both as a scholar, preacher, and writer, with the ablest of his brethren. He knew Greek and Latin usefully,
, a pious and popular dissenting
minister of the Baptist persuasion, was born at Blackwell
in Derbyshire, May 20, 1734, of poor parents, who were
unable to give him any education. He spent a considerable part of his youth in the farming business, and that
of the stocking frame, but appears to have during this time
read much, and at length began to preach among the sect
called the general baptists, throughout the towns and villages in his neighbourhood. In his twenty-third year he
married; and this producing a numerous family, he opened
a school at Button-Ash field. At this time he held the
doctrine of universal redemption, and disliked predestination to such a degree as to ridicule it in a poem (of which he was afterwards ashamed), but he now changed his sentiments and became a zealous Calvinist in that and othei
points supposed to constitute the Calvinistic system. The
consequence of this change was, an avowal and defence of
his new opinions in his first publication, “The Reign of
Grace,
” in which he was encouraged hy the late rev. Henry
Venn, vicar of Huddersfield, who wrote a recommendatory
preface to it. It appeared in 1768, and led to a new and
important aera in his life, being so much approved by the
congregation of particular baptists in Prescot-street, Goodman’s fields, whose pastor was just dead, that they invited
Mr. Booth to succeed him. This invitation he accepted,
and in Feb. 1769, took possession of his pulpit, after being
regularly ordained for the first time. Here he appears for
some years to have spent what time he could spare from
his public labours in laying in a stock of knowledge; and
although he always lamented the want of a regular education, his proficiency, and the extent of his reading were so
great as in some measure to redeem his time, and place
him on a footing, both as a scholar, preacher, and writer,
with the ablest of his brethren. He knew Greek and
Latin usefully, if not critically: the Greek Testament he
went through nearly fifty times by the simple expedient
of reading one chapter every day. General science and
literature, history, civil and ecclesiastical, he investigated
with acuteness in the ablest writers, English, French,
Dutch, and German; and his works show that he particularly excelled in a knowledge of controversial divinity,
and of those arguments, pro and con, which were connected with his opinions as a baptist. After exercising
his ministry in Prescot-street for nearly thirty-seven years,
he died Monday, Jan. 27, 1806, and his memory was honoured by a tablet and inscription in his meeting-house,
recording his virtues and the high respect his congregation entertained for him. Besides the work already mentioned, he published, 1. “The Death of Legal Hope, the
Life of Evangelical Obedience,
” The
Deity of Jesus Christ essential to the Christian Religion,
”
a translation from Abbadie, and occasioned by the subscription controversy, 1770. 3. “An Apology for the Baptists in refusing communion at the Lord’s Table to Pscdobaptists,
” Paedobaptism examined, on the
principles, concessions, and reasonings of the most learned
Psedobaptists,
”
s also taken particular notice of Booth, nor has he omitted either his excellencies or defects: this writer, speaking of Wilks and him, says, “they were actors so opposite
Mr. Gibber has also taken particular notice of Booth,
nor has he omitted either his excellencies or defects: this
writer, speaking of Wilks and him, says, “they were actors so opposite in their manner, that if either of them
could have borrowed a little of the other’s fault, they
would both have been improved by it. If Wilks had sometimes too great a vivacity, Booth as often contented himself with too grave a dignity. The latter seemed too
much to heave up his words, as the other to dart them to
the ear with too quick and sharp a vehemence. Thus
Wiiks would too frequently break into the time and measure of the harmony by too many spirited accents in one
line; and Booth, by too solemn a regard to harmony, would
as often lose the necessary spirit of it: so that (as I have observed) could we have sometimes raised the one and
sunk the other, they had both been nearer the mark.
Yet this could not be always objected to them; they had
their intervals of unexceptionable excellence, that more
than balanced their errors. The master-piece of Booth
was Othello; then he was most in character, and seemed
not more to animate and please himself in it than his spectators. It is true he owed his last and highest advancement to his acting Cato; but it was the novelty and critical
appearance of that character, that chiefly swelled the torrent of his applause; for, let the sentiments of a declaiming patriot have all the sublimity of poetry, and let them
be delivered with all the utmost grace and elocution, yet
this is but one light wherein the excellence of an actor
can shine; but in Othello we may see him in the variety
of nature. In Othello, therefore, I may safely aver, that
Booth shewed himself thrice the actor that he could in
Cato, and yet his merit in acting Cato need not be diminished by this comparison. Wilks often regretted, that
in tragedy he had not the full and strong voice of Booth,
to command and grace his periods with. But Booth used
to say, that if his ear had been equal to it, Wilks had
voice enough to have shewn himself a much better tragedian. Now, though there might be some truth in this, yet
these two actors were of so mixed a merit, that even in
tragedy the superiority was not always on the same side.
In sorrow, tenderness, or resignation, Wilks plainly had
the advantage, and seemed more pathetically to feel, look,
and express his calamity. But in the more turbulent transports of the heart, Booth again bore the palm, and left
all competitors behind him.
”
, create more dissoluteness and misery than it was intended to remove. He also wrote a letter to the writer of the “Present state of the Republic of Letters” in, August
The son of the preceding, who, we have just mentioned,
died in 1758, has obtained a place among the royal and
noble authors, for having published, but without his name,
“Considerations upon the institution of Marriage, with
some thoughts concerning the force and obligation of the
marriage contract; wherein is considered, how far divorces
may or ought to be allowed. By a gentleman. Humbly
submitted to the judgment of the impartial,
” Lond. printed for John Whiston, Tetrachordon,
” and would, if we may conjecture from the effects of the experiment in a neighbouring nation, create more dissoluteness and misery than it
was intended to remove. He also wrote a letter to the
writer of the “Present state of the Republic of Letters
” in,
August History of his own times.
”
His only daughter married Henry earl of Stamford, in
whose son, the title of Earl of Warrington was revived in
1796.
, a French historical and miscellaneous writer of considerable fame, was born at Paris in 1734, of an opulent
, a French historical and
miscellaneous writer of considerable fame, was born at Paris in 1734, of an opulent family, and devoted himself in
his youth to high life and the fine arts. From being first
valet de chambre to Louis XV. he became his favourite >
and on the death of that monarch, he obtained the place of
farmer-general, the duties of which unpopular office he
performed with great assiduity, employing his leisure hours
in cultivating music and general literature. He became one
of the most celebrated composers of songs, and his “Recueil d'airs,
” 4 vols. 8vo, ornamented with fine engravings,
is in high esteem. He composed also the music of the
opera of “Adela de Ponthieu,
” which was performed with
considerable success. Happening to read in De Bure, that
there had been only thirty copies published of the Collection of antient paintings of Rome, coloured after Bartoli’s
designs, he made inquiry for the coppers, had them repaired, and published a second edition of that work. His
other works are: 1.“Essais sur la Musique ancienne et moderne,
” Essai sur l‘histoire chronologique de plus de quatrevingts peuples de l’antiquité,
” Memoires
historiques, de Coucy,
” 2 vols. 8vo. 4. “Pieces interessantes pour servir a l'histoire des regnes de Louis XIII. et
de Louis XIV.
” 12mo. 5. “Lettres sur la Suisse,
” Abregè chronologique des principaux
faits arrives depuis Henoch jusqu'a. Jesus Christ,
” Recueil de vers dedies à Adelaide par le plus heureux
des epoux,
” 16 mo, a tribute to conjugal happiness, so seldom celebrated by poets. La Borde also published a translation of Swinburne’s Travels; a fine edition of the Historical Romances of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries,
printed by Didot, in 11 vols, 12mo.; “Tableaux
topographiques et pittoresques de la Suisse,
” with letter-press and
beautiful engravings by Robert: and lastly, in 1792,
“L'Histoire abregée de la mer du Sud,
” 3 vols. 8vo, containing an analysis of all the voyages to that sea from the
time of Goneville, in the fifteenth century, to that of our
countryman, Capt. Riou, in 1789. In this also he urges the
Spaniards to widen the passage of Nicaragua, which is only
three leagues, and make it navigable, and a communication
between the North and South Seas, pointing out the advantages this would be attended with in voyages from Europe to China. During the Convention, la Borde retired
to Rouen where he hoped to be overlooked, but the spies
of the reigning tyrants discovered him, and conducted him
to Paris, where he was beheaded July 22, 1791. His wife
was the authoress of some “Poems
” imitated fnjm the English, and printed by Didot in 1785, 18mo.
is only promotion was that of prior of the hospital of St. Maria degh Innocenti in Florence. Another writer of the same name [IlAFAELLO Borghini], was author of several
, was born at Florence in 1515
of a noble family, and became a Benedictine monk in 1531.
He was one of the persons appointed to correct the
Decameron of Boccace, by order of the council of Trent, and
performed this curious task for the edition of Florence,
1573, 8vo. But the best known of his works, and which
did him the most honour, is that entitled, “Discovsi di
M. Vincenzo Borghini,
” printed at Florence Riposo della Pittura, e della Scukura,
” published at
Florence in
, an English miscellaneous writer, and poet of considerable merit, was nephew to the preced ng,
, an English miscellaneous
writer, and poet of considerable merit, was nephew to the
preced ng, being the younger son of general George Boscawen, third son of lord Falmouth. He was born August
28, 1752, and was sent to Eton school before he was seven
years old, where he obtained the particular notice and
favour of the celebrated Dr. Barnard. From school he was
removed to Oxford, where he became a gentleman commoner of Exeter college, but left it, as is not unusual with
gentlemen intended for the law, without taking a degree.
He then studied the law, as a member of the Middle Temple, and the practice of special pleading under Mr. (afterwards judge) Buller: was called to the bar, and for a time
went the Western circuit. Nor were his legal studies unfruitful, as he published an excellent work under the title
of “A Treatise of Convictions on Penal Statutes; with
approved precedents of convictions before justices of the
peace, in a variety of cases; particularly under the Game
Laws, the Revenue Laws, and the Statutes respecting Manufactures, &c.
”
ears before his death a constant and able assistant in the “British Critic.” He is also the supposed writer of“The Progress of Satire, an essay, in verse, with notes, containing
Being an excellent classical scholar, and warmly attached to literary pursuits, he published, in 1793, the
first volume of a new translation of Horace, containing the
“Odes, Epodes, and Carmen Seculare.
” This being much
approved, was followed, in Satires, Epistles, and Art of Poetry,
” thus completing
a work, which, though Francis’s translation still holds its
popularity, is, in the judgment of all classical men, very
greatly superior to it, in many essential points of merit.
In 1801 he published a small volume of original poems,
in which, if he does not take a lead among his contemporaries, he at least discovers an elegant taste, a poetical
mind, and a correct versification. He was for several years
before his death a constant and able assistant in the “British
Critic.
” He is also the supposed writer of“The Progress
of Satire, an essay, in verse, with notes, containing remarks on ‘The Pursuits of Literature’,
” A
Supplement to the same,
” Pursuits.
”
al accession of cold, proved fatal on the sixth of that month. The character of Mr. Boscawen, says a writer, whom we know to have been one of his intimate friends, could
Mr. Boscawen’s constitution was delicate, and probably not improved by close confinement to the duties of his commissionership. He had, consequently, for several years suffered much by asthmatic affections of the lungs, which gradually exhausted the powers of life, and in the beginning of May, 1811, from an accidental accession of cold, proved fatal on the sixth of that month. The character of Mr. Boscawen, says a writer, whom we know to have been one of his intimate friends, could it be truly drawn, would exhibit a consummate picture of every thing that is amiable and estimable in human nature, improved by knowledge and exalted by religion. In every possible relation of life, whatever was kind, whatever was affectionate, whatever was benevolent, might with certainty be expected from him. That excellent institution, the Literary Fund, he considered almost as his child; and his affection to it was testified, not only by contributions, but by annual verses in its praise, and assiduous attendance on its meetings. Within five days of his death he wrote a copy of verses for its anniversary, and even contemplated the design of attending it. A new edition of his Horace, much improved by his long continued attention, is intended to be brought forward, accompanied by the original, and by many additional notes.
is having published some pieces of Desargues on perspective, and having adopted the opinions of this writer, which were adverse to those of Le Brim and the ablest academicians.
, a French engraver, was born at Tours, and gave the first lessons of perspective in the academy of painting at Paris. He had great judgement in that branch as well as in architecture. He left, 1. Three good tract on the manner of drawing the orders of architecture, 1684, folio; on the art of engraving, 1645, 8vo; on perspective, 1682, 8vo. 2. Representation of dirers human figures, with their measures, taken from the antiques at Rome, Paris, 1656; a pocket volume all engraved. His plates in aqua fortis, but in a peculiar method, are agreeable. The work of Bosse on the art of engraving was re-published some years ago, with the remarks and augmentations of M. Cochin the younger. Bosse died in his own country about the year 1660, according to Jombert. Bosse was a turbulent character,* and created many enemies, particularly owing to his having published some pieces of Desargues on perspective, and having adopted the opinions of this writer, which were adverse to those of Le Brim and the ablest academicians. This produced a controversy, in which he so displeased the academicians that they expelled him from their society.
, an Italian scholar and writer of considerable eminence, was born at Verona in 1427, and in
, an Italian scholar and writer of
considerable eminence, was born at Verona in 1427, and
in 1451 entered the congregation of the regular canons of
St. John of Lateran, where he bore several employments,
as visitor of the order, procurator-general, and abbot of
Fiesole in Tuscany. Cosmo de Medici, who had a high
respect for him, spent seventy thousand crowns in the
repairs of that monastery, and it was in the church belonging to it that Bosso delivered the ensigns of the cardinalship to John de Medici, afterwards pope Leo X. Sixtus VI. also employed him in many important affairs, particularly in reforming the religious houses of Genoa, and
other neighbouring districts, and he thrice offered him a
valuable bishopric, which he refused. He vigorously opposed the decree of pope Innocent VIII. which ordered
all sorts of monks to pay part of their yearly revenues to
the clerks of the apostolic chamber. Hermolaus Barbarus
was his pupil and guest at Fiesole, and Picus of Mirandula,
his friend. He died at Padua in 1502. Mr. Roscoe says
he was a profound scholar, a close reasoner, and a convincing orator; and to these united a candid mind, an inflexible integrity, and an interesting simplicity of life and
manners. His literary productions were, l.“De Instituendo Sapientia animo,
” Bologna, De veris
et salutaribus animi gaudiis,
” Florence, Epistolar. Lib. tres,
” or rather three volumes, printed Recuperationes Fsesulanse,
” a rare and beautiful book, said to have been printed in 1483. His whole
works were published by P. Ambrosini, at Bologna, 1627,
with the exception of the third book, or volume, of letterS|
which, on account of its extreme rarity, was at that time
unknown to the editor. His moral writings were very
highly esteemed; and one of his pieces on female dress,
“de vanis mulierum ornamentis,
” excited a considerable
interest. The editor of Fabricius throws some doubts on
the date of the “Recuperationes,
” and if there be letters
in it dated
, bishop of Meaux, an eminent French writer and preacher, was born at Dijon, 27th of September 1627. He
, bishop of Meaux, an eminent French
writer and preacher, was born at Dijon, 27th of September 1627. He received the first rudiments of his education
there, and in 1642 was sent to Paris to finish his studies at
the college of Navarre. In 1652 he took his degrees in
divinity, and soon after went to Metz, where he was made
a canon. Whilst he resided here, he applied himself
chiefly to the study of the scriptures, and the reading of
the fathers, especially St. Augustine. In a little time he
became a celebrated preacher, and was invited to Paris,
where he had for his hearers many of the most learned men
of his time, and several persons of the first rank at court.
In 1669 he was created bishop of Condom, and the same
month was appointed preceptor to the dauphin; upon
which occasion, and the applause he gained in the discharge of so delicate an office, pope Innocent XI. congratulated him in a very polite letter. When he had almost finished the education of this prince, he addressed
to him his “Discours surl'Histoire Universelle,
” which was
published in
hall come nearer the truth by adopting Bossuet’s character as contrasted with that of Fenelon by the writer of the “Letters concerning Mythology,” who represents him as
In estimating the character of this celebrated prelate, we
must not be guided by d'Alembert’s desultory and artful
Eloge, who, however, struggles in vain to conceal the
truth, that Bossuet was, with all his taste and talents, a furious bigot in favour of the Catholic religion, and while he
affected to dislike persecution, either submitted to the exercise of it, or promoted it by the asperity of his writings.
We shall come nearer the truth by adopting Bossuet’s character as contrasted with that of Fenelon by the writer of
the “Letters concerning Mythology,
” who represents him
as a prelate of vast parts, learned, eloquent, artful, and
aspiring. By these qualities he rose to the first dignities in
the Gallican church: while another of finer fancy and
better heart (Fenelon), humble, holy, and sincere, was
censured at Rome, and disgraced at the French court.
Both were intrusted with the education of princes, and acquitted themselves of those duties in a very different manner. The one endeavoured to make his royal pupil noble,
virtuous, and just, a father to his people, ana a friend to
mankind, by the maxims of his inimitable Telemaque. The
other in his discourses upon universal history, is perpetually
turning his prince’s eyes from mankind to the church, as
the sacred object of his care, from whose everlasting stem
whoever separates is lost: and for whose interests, in the
extirpation of heresy, and aggrandizement of her ministers,
he is, like his father Lewis XIV. to exert all the power he
has received from God.
, or William Worcester, an ancient English writer, acquainted with history, antiquities, heraldry, physic, and
, or William Worcester, an
ancient English writer, acquainted with history, antiquities,
heraldry, physic, and astronomy, was born at Bristol
about 1415; his father’s name was Worcester, and his
mother’s Botoner, hence he often names himself William
Wyrcester, alias Botoner; and hence the error in Pits,
and others, of making two distinct persons of the two names.
He studied at Hart-hall, Oxford, 1434. He had been exercised in wars above 44 years; and had so faithfully served
sir John Fastolff that he left him one of his executors. He
wrote many books, the first of which, that was printed, was
his translation from the French, of “Cicero de Senectute,
” which he addressed to William Wainfleet, bishop of
Winchester. He tells us that he presented it to the bishop
at Asher [JSsher] August 10, 1475, but received no reward
(nullum regardum recepide episcopo). He wrote also “Antiquities of England;
” “Abbreviations of the Learned;
”
“Medicinal collections;
” a book of Astrology; another
of Astronomy; besides a particular treatise, gratefully preserving the life and deeds of his master, under the title of
“Acta Domini Johannis Fastolff;
” “the Acts of John duke
of Bedford;
” “Polyandrium Oxoniensium, or memoirs of
Oxford Students;
” and other lesser pieces; of which see
Tanner Bibl. Brit. p. 115. His “Annals of England
”
were printed by Hearne at the end of his “Liber Niger
Scaccarii,
” p. Itinerary
” was published
from a ms. not improbably the original, in the library at
Corpus Christi college, Cambridge, by Mr. James Nasmith, fellow of the said college, Cantab. 1778, 8vo. Fuller cites a book of Botoner’s, containing all the ancient
gentry of the county of Norfolk, long preserved in the
county, but not now extant. He also wrote something in
poetry, as that htimoroirs ballad in Nasmith’s edition of his
Itinerary, called " Comedia a<i Monasterium Hulme/' &c.
and a long chronographical epitaph in verse, on the lady
Milicent Fastoif; in the possession of Richard Poley, esq.
late prothonotary of the common pleas. He is supposed
to have died about 1490. The son of this Worcester,
among other things, also made a collection of several authentic instruments relating to the English wars and government in France; which he dedicated to king Edward
IV. containing a catalogue of the princes, dukes, earls,
barons, bannerets, knights, and other persons of eminence,
who were of the regent’s court. A copy of this collection,
in quarto, was some time in the custody of the late Brian
Fairfax, esq. one of the commissioners of the customs.
, a law- writer of great reputation in France, was born at Paris, April 16,
, a law-writer of
great reputation in France, was born at Paris, April 16,
1719, of an honourable family. His father, who was also
a lawyer, spared no expence in his education. From the
age of sixteen he studied jurisprudence with such perseverance and success as to be admitted to a doctor’s degree in
1747. Being employed to prepare the articles on jurisprudence and canon law for the Encyclopaedia, he wrote those
on council, decretals, &c. but, for what reason we are
not told, they gave offence to the encyclopedists, who became on that account his enemies, and prevented him for
some time from attaining the rank of professor, which wag
the object of his ambition. Bouchaud, however, consoied
himself by cultivating a taste for modem poetry. He
translated several of the dramas of Apostolo Zeno into
French, and published them in 1758, 2 vols. 12mo, and in
1764 he translated the English novel of “Lady Julia Mandeville.
” In the interval between these two, he published
“Essai sur la poesie rhythmique,
” Traité de Timpot
du vingtieme sur les successions, et de l'impot sur les marchandises chez les Romains,
” a very curious history of the
taxes which the ancient emperors imposed. In 1766, on
the death of M. Hardron, he was elected into the French
academy, notwithstanding the opposition of the encyclopedists, whose dislike seems not ill calculated to give us a favourable idea of the soundness of his principles. This was
followed by a law professorship, and some years after he
was advanced to the professorship of the law of nature and
nations in the royal college of France. He was nominated
to this by the king in 1774, and was the first professor, it
being then founded. On this he wrote in the memoirs of
the academy, a curious paper concerning the societies that
were formed hy the Roman publicans for the receipt of the
taxes. The body of the publicans was taken from the order of knights, and had great influence and credit. They
were called by Cicero “the ornament of the capital,
” and
the “pillars of the state.
” Th“knights, though rich, entered
into associations, when the taxes of a whole province were
farmed out by the senate, because no individual was opulent
enough to be responsible for such extensive engagements;
and the nature of these societies or associations, and the
various conventions, commercial a>id pecuniary engagements, occupations, and offices, to which they gave rise,
form the subject of this interesting paper, which was followed by various others on topics of the same nature. In
1777 he published his
” Theorie des traits de commerce
entre les nations,“the principles of which seem to be
founded on justice and reciprocal benefits. In 1784 appeared another curious work on the ancient Roman laws and
policy, entitled,
” Recherches historiques surla Police des
Romains, concernant les grands chemins, les rues, et les
marches.“His
” Commentaire sur les lois des clouze tables," first published in 1767, was reprinted in 1803, with
improvements and additions, at the expense of the French
government, and he was employed in some treatises intended for the national institute, when he died, Feb. 1,
1804, regretted as aprofound and enlightened law-writer. It
is remarkable that in his essay on commercial treaties abovementioned, he contends for our Selden’s Mare Clausum,
as the opinion of every man who is not misled by an immoderate zeal for his own country.
, a French historian and miscellaneous writer, was born at Quimper, Nov. 4, 1690, and entered among the Jesuits
, a French historian
and miscellaneous writer, was born at Quimper, Nov. 4,
1690, and entered among the Jesuits in 1706. In 1710,
after finishing his course of philosophy, he taught Latin at
Caen, and afterwards rhetoric at iSevers. From that time
he remained principally in the college of Louis le Grand
at Paris, until his death, Jan. 7, 1743, employing himself
in writing. Besides the part which he took for many years
in the “Memoires de Trevoux,
” he wrote: i. “Anacr^on
and Sappho,
” dialogues in Greek verse, Caen, Recueil d' observations physiques tirees des meilleurs
ecrivains,
” Paris, Histoire
des guerres et des negociations qui precederent le traite
de Westphalie sous le regne de Louis XIII. &c.
” 1727,
4to, and 2 vols. 12mo, taken from the Memoirs of count
d'Avaux, the French ambassador. This history still enjoys high reputation in F.rance. 4. “Exposition de la
Doctrine Chretienne par demandes et par reponses,
” Histoire du traite de Westphalie,
” 2 vols. 4to,
and 4 vols. 12mo, a superior work to that mentioned before,
and highly praised by all French historians. It did not
appear until after his death, in 1744. Besides these he
wrote several pieces of a lighter kind, as an ingenious
romance, entitled “Voyage Merveilleux du prince FanFeredin dans la Romancie, &c.
” Amusement philosophique sur le Langagedes Betes,
”
, a French medical writer, was born at Servian, in the diocese of Beziers, May 14, 1690,
, a French medical writer, was born
at Servian, in the diocese of Beziers, May 14, 1690, and
created doctor in medicine, at Montpellier, in 1717.
Enjoying, during the course of a long life, a considerable portion of reputation, he was, in succession, made professor in
mathematics, and secretary to the academy at Beziers,
member of the royal society at Montpeliier, and corresponding member of the academy of sciences at Paris. He
was also author of several ingenious dissertations: “On
the properties of Rhubarb,
” published at Beziers, Inaugural Thesis.
” “Sur la cause de
la Pesanteur,
” Avis et remedes, contre la Peste,
” Beziers, On Asthma and on
the Gout,
” in which complaints he recommends the Venice
soap as a powerful auxiliary; “Sur la maniere de traiter
la Petite Verole,
” Beziers, On the best method of preserving the district of
Beziers from that disease;
” “Recueil des lettres, et autres
pieces pour servir a I'histoire de Pacademie de Beziers,
”
Observations sur l'anasarque, le hydropesies de poitrine,
des pericarde, &c.
”
and in that they both happened to encourage a public clamour which had little solid foundation. The writer of archbishop' Boulter’s Life in the Biog. Brit, seems to doubt
* Dr. Welsted, a physician, was also The primate maintained a son of the
of this golden election, and when he doctor’s, as a commoner, at Hart-halt
became poor in the latter part of his in Oxford; and would effectually have
life, the archbishop, though he was no provided for him, if the young gentlerelation, gave him, at the least, two man had not died before he had taken
hundred pounds a year, till his death, a degree. Dr. Welsted was one of the
Nor did his grace’s kindness to the editors of the Oxford Pindar, and
doctor’s family end with his decease-, esteemed an excellent Greek scholar.
and some time after he was preferred to the same honour
by Dr. Thomas Tenison, archbishop of Canterbury. In
these stations he was under a necessity of appearing often
at court, where his merit obtained him the patronage of
Charles Spencer, earl of Sunderland, principal secretary
of state, by whose interest he was advanced to the rectory
of St. Olave in Southwark, and to the archdeaconry of
Surrey. The parish of St. Olave was very populous, and
for the most part poor, and required such a liberal and vigilant pastor as Dr. Boulter, who relieved their wants,
and gave them instruction, correction, and reproof. When
king George I. passed over to Hanover in 1719, Dr. Boulter was recommended to attend him in quality of his chaplain, and also was appointed tutor to prince Frederic, to
instruct him in the English tongue; and for that purpose
drew up for his use “A set of Instructions.
” This so recommended him to the king, that during his abode at
Hanover, the bishopric of Bristol, and deanery of Christchurch, Oxford, becoming vacant, the king granted to
him that see and deanery, and he was consecrated bishop
of Bristol, on the fifteenth of November, 1719. In this
last station he was more than ordinarily assiduous in the
visitation of his diocese, and the discharge of his pastoral
duty; and during one of these visitations, he received a
letter by a messenger from the secretary of state, acquainting him, that his majesty had nominated him to the archbishopric of Armagh, and primacy of Ireland, then vacant
by the death of Dr. Thomas Lindsay, on the 13th of July,
1724-, and desiring him to repair to London as soon as
possible, to kiss the king’s hand for his promotion. After
some, consultation on this affair, to which he felt great repugnance, he sent an answer by the messenger, refusing
the honour the king intended him, and requesting the secretary to use his good offices with his majesty, in making
his excuse, but the messenger was dispatched back to him.
by the secretary, with the king’s absolute commands that
he should accept of the post, to which he submitted,
though not without some reluctance, and soon after addressed himself to his journey to court. Ireland was at
that juncture not a little inflamed, by the copper-coin
project of one Wood, and it was thought by the king and
ministry, that the judgment, moderation, and wisdom of
the bishop of Bristol would tend much to allay the ferment.
He arrived in Ireland on the third of November, 1724,
had no sooner passed patent for the primacy, than he
appeared at all the public boards, and gave a weight and
vigour to them; and, in every respect, was indefatigable
in promoting the real happiness of the people. Among
his other wise measures, in seasons of great scarcity in,
Ireland, he was more than once instrumental in averting a
pestilence and famine, which threatened the nation. When
the scheme was set on foot for making a navigation, by a
canal to be drawn from Lough -Neagh to Newry, not only
for bringing coal to Dublin, but to carry on more effectually an inland trade in the several counties of the north
of Ireland, he greatlv encouraged and promoted the design, not only with his counsel but his purse. Drogheda
is a large and populous town within the diocese of Armagh,
and his grace finding that the ecclesiastical appointments
were not sufficient to support two clergymen there, and
the cure over-burthensome for one effectually to discharge,
he allotted out of his own pocket a maintenance for a second curate, whom he obliged to give public service every
Sunday in the afternoon, and prayers twice every day.
He had great compassion for the poor clergy of his diocese, who were disabled from giving their children a proper education, and maintained several of the sons of
such in the university, in order to qualify them for future
preferment, He erected four houses at Drogheda for the
reception of clergymen’s widows, and purchased an estate
for the endowment of them, after the model of primate
Marsh’s charity; which he enlarged in one particular: for
as the estate he purchased for the maintenance of the
widows, amounted to twenty-four pounds a year more than
he had set apart for that use, he appointed that the surplus
should be a fund for setting out the children of such,
widows apprentices, or otherwise to be disposed of for the
benefit of such children, as his trustees should think proper.
He also by his will directed, which has since been performed, that four houses should be built for clergymen’s
widows at Armagh, and endowed with fifty pounds a year.
During his life, he contracted for the building of a stately
market-house at Armagh, which was finished by his executors, at upwards of eight hundred pounds expence. He
was a benefactor also to Dr. Stevens’s hospital in the city
of Dublin, erected for the maintenance and cure of the
poor. His charities for augmenting small livings, and
buying of glebes, amounted to upwards of thirty thousand
pourids, besides what he devised by his will for the like
purposes in England. Though the plan of the incorporated society for promoting English protestant working
schools, cannot be imputed to primate Boulter, yet he
was the chief instrument in forwarding the undertaking,
which he lived to see carried into execution with consider,
able success. His private charities were not less munificent, but so secretly conducted, that it is impossible to
give any particular account of them: it is affirmed by
those who were in trust about him, that he never suffered
an object to leave his house unsupplied, and he often sent
them away with considerable sums, according to the judgment he made of their merits and necessities. With respect
to his political virtues, and the arts of government, when
his health would permit him he was constant in his attendance at the council-table, and it is well known what weight
and dignity he gave to the debates of that board. As he
always studied the true interest of Ireland, so he judged,
that the diminishing the value of the gold coin would be a
means of increasing silver in the country, a thing very
much wanted in order to effect which, he supported a
scheme at the council- table, which raised the clamours of
unthinking people, although experience soon demonstrated
its wisdom. He was thirteen times one of the lords justices,
or chief governors of Ireland; which office he administered
oftener than any other chief governor on record. He embarked for England June 2, 1742, and after two days illness died at his house in St. James’s place, Sept. 27, and
was buried in Westminster-abbey, where a stately monument has been erected to his memory. His deportment
was grave, his aspect venerable, and his temper meek and
humble. He was always open and easy of access both to
rich and poor. He was steady to the principles of liberty,
both in religion and politics. His learning was universal,
yet more in substance than shew; nor would his modesty
permit him to make any ostentation of it. He always preserved such an equal temper of mind that hardly any thing
could ruffle, and amidst obloquy and opposition, steadily
maintained a resolution of serving his country, embraced
every thing proposed for the good of it, though by persons
remarkable for their opposition to him: and when the most
public-spirited schemes were introduced by him, and did
not meet with the reception they deserved, he never took
offence, but was glad when any part of his advice for the
public good was pursued, and was always willing to drop
some points, that he might not lose all; often saying,
“he would do all the good to Ireland he could, though
they did not suffer him to do all he would.
” His life was
mostly spent in action, and therefore it is not to be expected that he should have left many remains of his learning behind him nor do we know of any thing he bath
written, excepting a few Charges to his clergy at his visitations, which are grave, solid, and instructive, and eleven
Occasional Sermons, printed separately. In 1769, however,
were published, at Oxford, in two volumes 8vo, “Letters
written by his excellency Hugh Boulter, D. D. lord primate of all Ireland, &c. to several ministers of state in
England, and some others. Containing an account of the
most interesting transactions which passed in Ireland from
1724 to 1738.
” The originals, which are deposited in the
library of Christ church, in Oxford, were collected by
Ambrose Philips, esq. who was secretary to his grace, and
lived in his house during that space of time in which they
bear date. They are entirely letters of business, and are
all of them in Dr. Boulter’s hand-writing, excepting some
few, which are fair copies by his secretary. The editor
justly remarks, that these letters, which could not be intended for publication, have been fortunately preserved,
as they contain the most authentic history of Ireland, for
the period in which they were written: “a period,
” he
adds, “which will ever do honour to his grace’s memory,
and to those most excellent princes George the first and
second, who had the wisdom to place confidence in so
worthy, so able, and so successful a minister; a minister
who had the rare and peculiar felicity of growing still
more and more into the favour both of the king and of the
people, until the very last day of his life,
” It is much to
be regretted that in some of his measures, he was opposed
by dean Swift, particularly in that of diminishing the gold
coin, as it is probable that they both were actuated by an
earnest desire of serving the country. In one affair, that
of Wood’s halfpence, they appear to have coincided, and
in that they both happened to encourage a public clamour
which had little solid foundation. The writer of archbishop'
Boulter’s Life in the Biog. Brit, seems to doubt whether
he assisted Ambrose Philips in the paper called the
“Freethinker;
” but of this we apprehend there can be no
doubt. It was published while he held the living of St.
Olave’s.
, a French dramatic writer and satirist, was born in 1638, at Mussi-l'évêque in Burgundy.
, a French dramatic writer
and satirist, was born in 1638, at Mussi-l'évêque in Burgundy. He was not brought up at school, and could only
speak the rude provincial dialect of his country, when he
came to Paris in 1651, yet, by the perusal of good books,
with his good memory, he was soon able to converse and
to write elegantly in French. Having composed, by order of Louis XIV. a book of no great merit, entitled “Of
the proper study of sovereigns,
” Merry Muse;
” but it was again suppressed. He
afterwards got into favour once more, and was made receiver of the excise at Montlugon, where he died of a violent colic, aged 63, Sept. 5, 1701. He wrote several
theatrical pieces, and other works. The chief of them
are, “Æsop in the city,
” and “Æsop at court;
” which
long remained to the stage. These two pieces and the
following are an agreeable satire on the ridiculous manners
or the several ages and conditions of life. His verse in
general is harmonious, but his style sometimes negligent,
yet in general easy and suitable to the subject. 2. The
“Mercure galante,
” or “La comedie sans titre,
” in which
he ingeniously ridicules the rage for getting a place in the
Mercure galaut. 3. “La satyre des satyres,
” in one act.
Boiltau’s satirical notice of Boursault, to avenge Moliere,
with whom he had had a difference, gave occasion to this
piece, which Boileau had interest enough and meanness
enough to prevent being played. The satirist being some
years afterwards at the baths of Bourbon, Boursault, at that
time receiver of the excise at Montluc/>n, repaired thither
on purpose to offer him his purse and his services. At this
act of generosity Boileau was much affected; and they
immediately engaged in a mutual friendship, of which
Boursault was highly deserving by the gentleness of his
manners, and the cheerfulness of his disposition. He behaved with less tolerance, however, towards his other censors; and was able sometimes to chastise them with effect.
A cabal having prevented the success of the first representation of “Æsop in the city,
” the author added to it a
fable of the dog and the ox, applying the moral of it to
the pit; which so effectually silenced the cabal, that the
piece had a run of forty-three nights without interruption.
Thomas Cornell le had a sincere regard for Boursault, whom
he used to call his son, and insisted on his applying to be
admitted a member of the academy. Boursault desired to
be excused on account of his ignorance, adding with his
usual simplicity, “What would the academy do with an
ignorant and illiterate (ignare & non Lettre) member, who
knows neither Latin nor Greek?
” “We are not talking
(returned Corneille) of a Greek or Latin academy, but of
a French academy; and who understands French better
than you?
” There are likewise by him, 1. Some romances, “The marquis de Chavigny,
” “The prince de
Conde
” which are written with spirit “Artemisia and
Polyanthus and,
” We should only believe what we see.“2. A collection of letters on subjects of respect, obligation,
and gallantry; known under the name of
” Lettres a Babet;“now forgotten. 3.
” Lettres nouvelles,“with fables, tales, epigrams, remarks, bon-mots, &c. 3 vols. 12mo,
several times reprinted, though mostly written in a loose
and inelegant style: a miscellany, which was very popular when ii first came out; but is much less at present, as
the tales and bon-mots which Boursault has collected, or
put into verse, are found in many other books. His fables
have neither the simplicity of those of La Fontaine, nor
the elegant precision of Phaedrus. There is an edition of
the
” Theatre de Boursault," in 3 vols. 1746, 12mo.
ariations to which a tale frequently repeated is always liable, or to the neglect of veracity in the writer, it certainly differed from accounts which had been orally given
This is the narrative which, after thirty years, Mr. Bower gave the public as a genuine account. Whether owing to the inaccuracy of those who had formerly heard it, to the variations to which a tale frequently repeated is always liable, or to the neglect of veracity in the writer, it certainly differed from accounts which had been orally given by him too much not to furnish some suspicions of the author. On his arrival in England it appears to have been his first object to procure att introduction to some persons of respectability in the country destined for his’ future residence. He had heard of Dr. Aspinwall soon after his arrival; and that divine having formerly belonged to the order of Jesuits, he waited on him, and was kindly received. By this gentleman he was introduced to Dr. Clarke; and to them both he opened, as he says, his mind, without disguise, respecting his doubts relative to his faith. After several conferences with these gentlemen, and some with Berkeley, the bishop of Cloyne, then dean of Londonderry, added to his own reading and reasoning, he obtained, as he says, the fullest conviction that many of the favourite doctrines of Rome were not only evidently repugnant to scripture and reason, but wicked, blasphemous, and utterly inconsistent with the attributes of the supreme and infinite being. He therefore withdrew himself from the communion of the church without further delay, took leave of the provincial, quitted the order, and broke off all connection with those of the communion. This happened in the month of November, 1726.
will be well printed in your edition, notwithstanding the absence of Senblerus” The same celebrated writer had long before told Mr. Bowyer, “No one’s thoughts will have
Though it is not our intention to notice the works printed by Mr. Bowyer, excepting when he himself contributed to them by prefaces, notes, or other additions, yet
we shall mention his having been the printer, in 1742, of
the additional book of the Dunciad; as he received, on this
occasion, testimonies of regard both from the great poet
and his learned commentator. Among other friendly expressions of Dr. Warburton, he says, “I have never more
pleasure when there (in London), than when I loll and
talk with you at my ease, de qualibet ente, in your diningroom:
” And again, “The Greek I know will be well
printed in your edition, notwithstanding the absence of Senblerus
” The same celebrated writer had long before told
Mr. Bowyer, “No one’s thoughts will have greater weight
with me than your own, in whom I have experienced so
much candour, goodness, and learning.
” It is not, however, to be concealed, that a difference afterwards arose
between them, in which, as is commonly the case, each
party was confident that he was right. Mr. Bowyer, who
thought himself slighted, used often to remark, that, “after
the death of the English Homer, the letters of his learned
friend wore a different complexion.
” “But, perhaps,
”
as Mr, Nichols candidly and judiciously observes, “this
may be one of the many instances, which occur through,
life, of the impropriety of judging for ourselves in cases
which affect our interest or our feelings.
” Mr. Bowyer,
indeed, had a great sensibility of temper with regard to
any neglects which were shewed him by his literary friends,
in the way of his business. This did not proceed from a
principle of avarice, but from a consciousness of the respect
which was due to him from his acquaintance, as the first
of his profession: for he expressed his resentment as
strongly in cases where profit could be no material object,
as he did in more important instances. Dr. Squire, then,
dean of Bristol, not having appointed him to print a sermon
which had been preached before the house of commons,
on the general fast day, Feb. 13, 1761, Mr. Bowyer wrote
to the doctor, upon the occasion, an expostulatory letter.
Nor was this the only evidence he gave how much he was
offended, when he thought that a slight had been put upon
him from a quarter where he imagined he had a natural
claim to favour.
Michaelis. 2. Of the Sabbatical years, from the same. 3. Of the years of Jubilee; from an anonymous writer, in Masson’s Histoire Critique de la Republique des Lettres.”
He was very desirous that Mr. Clarke’s book should be
translated and reprinted in France; and he took some pains,
though without success, to get it accomplished. In 1773,
three little tracts were published by him, under the title of
“Select Discourses 1. Of the Correspondence of the Hebrew months with the Julian, from the Latin of Professor
Michaelis. 2. Of the Sabbatical years, from the same. 3.
Of the years of Jubilee; from an anonymous writer, in
Masson’s Histoire Critique de la Republique des Lettres.
”
In The Origin of Printing, in two essays. 1. The substance of Dr.
Middleton’s Dissertation on the Origin of Printing in England. 2. Mr. Meerman’s Account of the Invention of the
Art at Harlem, and its progress to Mentz, with occasional
remarks; and an appendix.
” (See Richard Atkins.) The
original idea of it was Mr. Bowyer’s; but it was completed
by Mr. Nichols. The two learned friends, whose assistance
is acknowledged in the preface, were the rev. Dr. Henry
Owen, and the late Mr. Cæsar de Missy. Though this
work appeared without a name, it was immediately judged
to be Mr. Bowyer’s, and was well received in the world of
letters, and justly spoken of in terms of great commendation, both at home and abroad. A second edition, with
very considerable improvements, was published in 1776,
and a Supplement in 1781. When Mr. Nichols was engaged
in printing the “Original Works of Dr. King of the Commons,
” and the “Supplement to Swift,
” Mr. Bowyer, by
suggesting useful hints, and adding some illustrations, assisted him in both these undertakings. Our eminent printer
now drew to the end of his literary career, which he closed
with a new edition, in 1777, of Dr. Bentley’s “Dissertation on the Epistles of Phalaris.
” Dr. Bentley was a writer
whom he had always held in the highest estimation. In the
republication of this great critic’s Dissertation, Mr. Bowyer
inserted the remarks which had occurred to him in the
course of many years attention to the subjects there treated
of; and ascribed them to the respective authors irom whose
books or personal communication they were selected. He
was much indebted, on this occasion, to the friendly assistance of Dr. Salter and Dr. Owen.
, a writer who would scarcely have deserved notice, if he had not been
, a writer who
would scarcely have deserved notice, if he had not been
obtruded on the public as the author of Junius’s Letters,
was the second son of Alexander Macauley, esq. of the
county of Antrim, in Ireland. He was born in 1746; was
educated at Trinity college, Dublin; and was designed
for the bar; but, instead of prosecuting his original views,
came over to London, where, under the patronage of Mr.
Richard Burke, he soon became known both in the literary
and fashionable world. A propensity to extravagance had
already reduced him to considerable embarrassments,
when, in 1777, he married a lady of good fortune; but
this relief was only temporary; for the same expensive
habits still continued, and at length obliged him to accompany lord Macartney to Madras, in the capacity of a
second secretary. He remained there after his lordship’s
return, and died in 1791, having for some years previously
to his death, held the lucrative office of master attendant,
with little advantage to his circumstances. He wrote in
Ireland, a political periodical paper, called “The Freeholder,
” in Whig,
” published in Almon’s newspaper,
the London Courant, in 1780. In I?y4, he also wrote a
few periodical essays called “The Indian Observer,
” published at Madras. These were reprinted in an 8vo volume,
in 1798, by thejate Mr. Laurence Dundas Campbell, with
a view to establish an assertion which Almon first made,
if we mistake not, purporting that Mr. Boyd was the author of Junius; but unfortunately the reader has “the
bane and antidote
” both before htm in this volume, and
few attempts of the kind can be conceived more injudicious than a comparison between the styles of Boyd and Junius. Boyd wrote after Junius, and, like most political
writers, aims at his style; and the only conclusion which
his friends have arrived at amounts tu this absurdity, that
an imitator must be an original writer; and even this in the
case of Mr. Boyd is peculiarly unfortunate, for his imitations are among the most feeble that have been ever attempted. Mr. Campbell returned to the charge, however,
in 1800, with a publication of “The miscellaneous works
of Hugh Boyd, the author of the Letters of Junius: with
an account of his Life and Writings,
” 2 vols. 8vo.
, a Scotch writer of considerable reputation in the sixteenth century, the son
, a Scotch writer of considerable reputation in the sixteenth century, the son of
Robert Boyd, of Pinkill in Ayrshire, was born Jan. 13,
1562. Having lost his father early, he was educated under
the inspection of his uncle, Mr. James Boyd, of Trochrig,
who, with the then unpopular title of “Archbishop of
Glasgow,
” performed the offices of minister of the Barony
parish in that city. Young Boyd, in his nature lively
and headstrong, soon grew weary of academical discipline,
quarreled with his preceptors, renounced his studies, and,
eager to become a man of the world, presented himself at
court. It is not unlikely that in this scheme ae relied chit fly
on the patronage of liobert, fourth lord Boyd, who was
probably the cousin-gernran of Boyd’s father. All, however, that we learn of his proficiency at cm:;c is, that he
fought one duel, and was engaged in numberless broils.
His relations advised him to follow the profession of arms
in the Low Countries, for they could not tolerate his impetuous and unruly temper, and perhaps they were little
inclined or little able to support him in a manner of life
which had no determined object or aim. Boyd readily
consented to become a soldier; but he chose France rather
than the Low Countries, for the theatre of his future
achievements. He went therefore to Paris, furnished with
a small stock of money, all of which he soon lost at dice.
This the author of his life ascribes to some secret fate,
“occulto veluti fato
” but says his more recent biographer, lord Hailes, we may absolve fate, for when the raw
and self-sufficient go amongst sharpers, they ought to ascribe their ruin to folly.
, a lexicographer and miscellaneous writer, was born June 13, 1667, at the city of Castres in Upper Languedoc.
, a lexicographer and miscellaneous writer, was born June 13, 1667, at the city of Castres in Upper
Languedoc. His great-grandfather and grandfather were
masters of the riding-school at Nismes; his father was
president of the supreme court at Castres, and his mother
was Catherine, daughter of Campdomerius, a celebrated
physician, circumstances which have been recorded to
prove that he was of a good family. He was certainly of a
conscientious one, his relations being exiles for their adherence to the protestant religion. He was first educated
by his mother’s brother, Campdomerius, a noted divine
and preacher of the reformed church, and then was sent to
the protestant school at Puy Laurent, where he applied
assiduously, and excelled all his schoolfellows in Greek
and Latin. In 1685, when the persecution prevailed
against the protestants in France, he followed his uncle to
Holland, and pressed by want, was obliged to enter into
the military service in 1687; but soon, by the advice of
his relations, returned to his studies, and went to the university of Franeker, where he went through a regular course
of education, and added to philosophy, divinity, history,
&c. the study of the mathematics. In 1689 he came over
to England, and the hopes of being able to return to France,
which the protestants in general entertained, being disappointed, he was obliged to have recourse to his pen for a
livelihood. His first employment appears to have been to
transcribe and prepare for the press Camden’s letters from
the Cotton ian library, for Dr. Smith, who afterwards published them. In 1692, he became French and Latin tutor
to Allen Bathurst, esq. eldest son of sir Benjamin Bathurst,
who, being much in favour with the princess Anne of Denmark, afterwards queen of Great Britain, he had hopes of
some preferment at court. With this view he paid great
attention to his pupil’s education (who was afterwards lord Bathurst), and for his use composed two compendious
grammars, the one Latin, the other French; but the latter
only was printed, and to this da,y is a standard book. His
hopes of preferment, however, Appear to have been fallacious, which his biographer attributes to his siding with
a different party from the Bathurst family in the political
divisions which prevailed at that time in the nation, Boyer,
like the rest of his countrymen who had fled hither for religion, being a zealous whig. After this, having made
himself master of the English tongue, he became an author
by profession, and engaged sometimes alone, and sometimes in conjunction with the booksellers, in various compilations, and periodical works of the political kind, particularly a newspaper called the “Post-Boy;
” the “Political
State of Great Britain,
” published in volumes from History of William III.
” 3 vols. 8vo “Annals of the reign of Queen Anne,
” 11 vols. 8vo, and a
“Life of Queen Anne,
” fol. all publications now more
useful than when published, as they contain many state
papers, memorials, &c. which it would be difficult to find
elsewhere; but his name is chiefly preserved by his French
Dictionary, 1699, 4to, and a French Grammar, of both
which he lived to see several editions, and which still continue to be printed. His political principles involved him
with Swift, who often speaks contemptuously of him, and
with Pope, who has given him a place in the Dunciad. He
died Nov. 16, 1729, at a house he had built in Five Fields,
Chelsea, and was buried in Chelsea church-yard.
October 1679, aged fifty-eight; leaving behind him the character of an able general, statesman, and writer. He had issue by his lady, two sons and five daughters. His
Soon after this affair, his lordship, with sir Charles
Coote, lately made earl of Montrath, and sir Maurice
Eustace, were constituted lords justices of Ireland, and
commissioned to call and hold a parliament. Some time
before the meeting of the parliament, he drew with his
own hand the famous act of settlement, by which he fixed
the property, and gave titles to their estates to a whole nation. When the duke of Ormond was declared lord lieutenant, the earl of Orrery went into Munster, of which
province he was president. By virtue of this office, he
heard and determined causes in a court called the residency-court; and acquired so great a reputation in his
judicial capacity, that he was offered the seals both by the
king and the duke of York after the fall of lord Clarendon;
but, being very much afflicted with the gout, he declined
a post that required constant attendance. During the first
Dutch war, in which France acted as a confederate with
Holland, he defeated the scheme formed by the duke de
Beaufort, admiral of France, to get possession of the harbour of Kinsale, and took advantage of the fright of the
people, and the alarm of the government, to get a fort
erected under his own directions, which was named Fort
Charles. He promoted a scheme for inquiring into, and
improving the king’s revenue in Ireland; but his majesty
having applied great sums out of the revenue of that kingdom which did not come plainly into account, the inquiry was never begun. Ormond, listening to some malicious insinuations, began to entertain a jealousy of
Orrery, and prevailed with the king to direct him to lay
down his residential court; as a compensation for which,
his majesty made him a present of 8000l. Sir Thomas
Clifford, who had been brought into the ministry in England, apprehensive that he cpuld not carry his ends in
Ireland whilst Orrery continued president of Munster,
procured articles of impeachment of high treason and misdemeanours to be exhibited against him in the English
house of commons; but his lordship being heard in his
place, gave an answer so clear, circumstantial, and ingenuous, that the affair was dropt. The king laboured in
vain to reconcile him to the French alliance, and the reducing of the Dutch. At the desire of the king and the
duke of York, he drew the plan of an act of limitation,
by which the successor would have been disabled from encroaching on civil and religious liberty; but the proposing
thereof being postponed till after the exclusion-bill was
set on foot, the season for making use of it was past. The
iing, to hinder his returning to Ireland, and to keep him
about his person, offered him the place of lord-treasurer;
but the earl of Orrery plainly told his majesty that he was
guided by unsteady counsellors, with whom he could not
act. He died in October 1679, aged fifty-eight; leaving
behind him the character of an able general, statesman,
and writer. He had issue by his lady, two sons and five
daughters. His writings are these: 1. “The Irish colours
displayed; in a reply of an English Protestant to a letter
of an Irish Roman catholic,
” London, An
answer to a scandalous letter lately printed, and subscribed
by Peter Walsh, procurator for the secular and regular
popish priests of Ireland, entitled A letter desiring a just
and merciful regard of the Roman catholics of Ireland,
given about the end of October 1660, to the then marquis,
now duke of Ormond, and the second time lord lieutenant of
that kingdom. By the right honourable the earl of Orrery, &c. being a full discovery of the treachery of the
Irish rebels since the beginning of the rebellion there, necessary to be considered by all adventurers, and other
persons estated in that kingdom,
” Dublin, A poem on his majesty’s happy restoration.
” 4. “A
poem on the death of the celebrated Mr. Abraham CowJey,
” London, The history of Henry V.
a tragedy,
” London, Mustapha, the son
of Soliman the Magnificent, a tragedy,
” London, Ifi67,
fol. and 1668. 7. “The Black Prince, a tragedy,
”
London, Triphon, a tragedy,
” London,
Parthenissa, a romance in three volumes,
” London,
A Dream.
” In this piece
he introduces the genius of France persuading Charles II.
to promote the interest of that kingdom, and act upon
French principles. He afterwards introduces the ghost of
his father, dissuading him from it, answering all the arguments the genius of France had urged, and proving to him
from his own misfortunes and tragical end, that a kind’s
is lordship’s writings, although it must be confessed that he does not appear to much advantage as a writer. The charge made by lord Orford, that the Biographia Britannica
There is some use in retaining this list of his lordship’s writings, although it must be confessed that he does not appear to much advantage as a writer. The charge made by lord Orford, that the Biographia Britannica is a “defence of every body,” never appeared better founded than in the high character given of lord Orrery’s poetry, a character probably borrowed from such cr.tics as Aubrey and Winstanley. Jt would have been quite sufficient to have vindicated his poems from the general contempt with which they have sometimes been mentioned.
s, wrote “A pious meditation upon a Broomstick, in the style of the honourable Mr. Boyle.” A certain writer, by way of making reprisals upon Swift for his treatment of
In 1664 he was elected into the company of the royal
mines; and was all this year taken up in the prosecution
of various good designs, which probably was the reason
why he did not send abroad any treatises either of religion
or philosophy. The year following, however, appeared,
8. “Occasional Reflections upon several subjects; whereto
is prefixed a discourse about such kind of thoughts,
”
A pious meditation upon a Broomstick, in the style of the honourable Mr. Boyle.
” A certain
writer, by way of making reprisals upon Swift for his treatment of Mr. Boyle, which he affirms to be as cruel and
unjust as it is trivial and indecent, has observed, that, from
this very treatise, which he has thus turned into ridicule,
he borrowed the first hint of his Gulliver’s Travels. He
grounds his conjecture upon the following passage, to be
found in the Occasional Reflections: “You put me in
mind of a fancy of your friend Mr. Boyle, who was saying,
that he had thoughts of making a short romantic story,
where the scene should be laid in some island of the
southern ocean, governed by some such rational laws and
customs as those of the Utopia or the New Atalantis. And
in this country he would introduce an observing native,
that, upon his return home from his travels made in Europe, should give an account of our countries and manners
under feigned names; and frequently intimate in his relations, or in his answers to questions that should be made
him, the reasons of his wondering to fi-nd our customs so
extravagant, and differing from those of his own country.
For your friend imagined that, by such a way of exposing
many of our practices, we should ourselves be brought
unawares to condemn, or perhaps to laugh at them; aikl
should at least cease to wonder, to find other nations think
them as extravagant as we think the manners of the Dutch
and Spaniards, as they are represented in our travellers’
books.
” The same year Mr. Boyle published an important
work, entitled, 9. “INew experiments and observations
upon Cold; or, an experimental history of cold begun:
with several pieces thereunto annexed,
”
he, may not a little improve both a statesman, a critic, and a divine, as well as they will make the writer pass for all three.” In 1687, Mr. Boyle published, 36. “The
In June 1686, his friend Dr. Gilbert Burnet, afterwards
bishop of Salisbury, transmitted to him from the Hague the
manuscript account of his travels, which he had dra.vn up
in the form of letters, addressed to Mr. Boyle: who, in
his answer to the doctor, dated the 14th of that month, expresses his satisfaction in “finding, that all men do not
travel, as most do, to observe buildings and gardens, and
modes, and other amusements of a superficial and almost
insignificant curiosity; for your judicious remarks and reflections, says he, may not a little improve both a statesman, a critic, and a divine, as well as they will make the
writer pass for all three.
” In 1687, Mr. Boyle published,
36. “The martyrdom of Theodora and Dydimia,
” 8vo; a
work he had drawn up in his youth. 37. “A disquisition
about the final causes of natural things; wherein it is enquired, whether, and, if at all, with what caution, a naturalist should admit them.
” With an appendix, about vitiated light,
method of husbanding his remaining time for the benefit of the learned. In doing this, as a certain writer says, he preferred generals to particulars; and the assistance
In the month of May this year, our author, though very
unwillingly, was constrained to make his complaint to the
public, of some inconveniences under which he had long
laboured; and this he did by “an advertisement about the
loss of many of his writings addressed to J. W. to be communicated to those of his friends that are virtuosi; which
may serve as a kind of a preface to most of his mutilated
and unfinished writings.
” He complains in this advertisement of the treatment he met with from the plagiaries,
both at home and abroad; and though it might have been
difficult in any other man to have done so, without incurring the imputation of self-conceit and vanity, yet Mr.
Boyle’s manner is such, as only to raise in us an higher
esteem and admiration of him. This advertisement is inserted at length in his life.
He now began to find that his health and strength, notwithstanding all his care and caution, gradually declined,
as he observes in a letter to M. le Clerc, dated May 30,
1689; which put him upon using every possible method of
husbanding his remaining time for the benefit of the
learned. In doing this, as a certain writer says, he preferred generals to particulars; and the assistance of the
whole republic of letters to that of any branch, by what
ties soever he might be connected therewith. It was with
this view, that he no longer communicated particular discourses or new discoveries to the royal society; because
this could not be done, without withdrawing his thoughts
from tasks which he thought of still greater importance.
It was the more steadily to attend to these, that he resigned
his post of governor of the corporation for propagating the
gospel in New England; nay, he went so far as to signifyto the world, that he could no longer receive visits as usual,
in an advertisement, which begins in the following manner.
“Mr. Boyle finds himself obliged to intimate to those of his
friends and acquaintance, that are wont to do him the honour and favour of visiting him, 1. That he has by some
unlucky accidents, namely, by his servant’s breaking a bottle of oil of vitriol over a chest which contained his
papers, had many of his writings corroded here and
there, or otherwise so maimed, that without he himself 'fill
up the lacunae out of his memory or invention, they will not
be intelligible. 2. That his age and sickliness have for a
good while admonished him to put his scattered, and partly
defaced, writings into some kind of order, that they may
not remain quite useless. And, 3. That his skilful and
friendly physician, sir Edmund King, seconded by Mr.
Boyle’s best friends, has pressingly advised him against
speaking daily with so many persons as are wont to visit
him, representing it as what cannot but much waste his spirits,
” &c. He ordered likewise a board to be placed over
his door, with an inscription signifying when he did and
did not receive visits.
physicians whom he named, and that gome of the most valuable might be preserved. “Indeed,” says the writer of his life, “it is highly reasonable to suppose, that many
Among the other great works, which by this means he
gained time to finish, there is reason to believe, that one
was a collection of elaborate processes in chemistry; concerning which he wrote a letter to a friend, which is still
extant; but the piece itself was never published, though
we read in the letter, “that he left it as a kind of hermetic
legacy to the studious disciples of that art.
” Besides these
papers, committed to the care of one whom he esteemed
his friend, he left also very many behind him at the time
of his death, relating to chemistry; which, as appears by a
Jetter directed to one of his executors, he desired might
be inspected by three physicians whom he named, and that
gome of the most valuable might be preserved. “Indeed,
”
says the writer of his life, “it is highly reasonable to suppose, that many important discoveries were contained in
them; chemistry being his favourite study, and opening
to him perpetually such a new scene of wonders, as easily
persuaded him of the possibility of transmuting metals into
gold. This persuasion of his is evident from several parts
of his writings, and was avowed by himself to the great Dr.
Halley, the lateroyal astronomer, who related to me his
conversation with him upon that subject. And it was probably in consequence of this opinion, that he took so much
pains to procure, as he did in August 1689, an act for the
repeal of a statute made in the fifth year of king Henry IV.
against the multiplying of gold and silver.
”
lordship, with the following particulars of his character: “The character of John earl of Cork, as a writer and as a man, may partly be collected from his own works, and
His last work was posthumous, “Letters from Italy,
”
written in The
character of John earl of Cork, as a writer and as a man,
may partly be collected from his own works, and partly
from the testimonies which have been given of him by some
of the most distinguished among his contemporaries. I
shall only beg leave to add, that, in every domestic and
social relation, in alltthe endearing connections of life, as
a husband, a father, a friend, a master, he had few equals.
The lustre which he received from rank and title, and from
the personal merit of his family, he reflected back, unimpaired and undhninished; and though ‘the post of honour’
which he chose and preferred was ‘a private station,’
though he was neither a statesman nor a soldier, like the
first lord Cork, the first lord Orrery, and his own father;
the rival of Palladio, like the late lord Burlington; or the
rival of Bacon, like Mr. Robert Boyle; yet in a general
taste for literature, or, as they are commonly called, polite studies, he was by no means inferior to his ancestors.
Being much in the great world at the beginning of his life,
he despised and detested it when he arrived at years of reflection. His constitution was never strong, and he was
very thankful that it was not so; as his health was a true
and no very irksome excuse to avoid those scenes, by
which his body would have been hurt, and his mind offended. He loved truth even to a degree of adoration. He
was a real Christian; and. as such, constantly hoped for a
better life, there trusting to know the real causes of those
effects, which here struck him with wonder, but not with
doubt.
”
te rev. John Duncombe some “Observations on the Antiquities of Reculver;” which are inserted by that writer in his History of Reculver and Herne: and, in 1784, appeared
This was his principal literary production; but being of
a most liberal and communicative disposition, he was at
all times ready to assist his friends with hints and observations on any subject which had engaged his attention.
Thus, in 1783, we find him communicating to the late rev.
John Duncombe some “Observations on the Antiquities
of Reculver;
” which are inserted by that writer in his History of Reculver and Herne: and, in 1784, appeared a
small work of 25 pages in quarto, with three plates, entitled “A Collection of the minute and rare Shells lately
discovered in the sand of the sea-shore near Sandwich, by
William Boys, esq. F. S. A. considerably augmented, and
a11 their figures accurately drawn, as magnified with the
microscope, by George Walker, bookseller at Faversham;
”
which in the preface is candidly acknowledged, by the
editor, to be the joint production of Mr. Boys and himself,
assisted by their common friend, the late Edward Jacob,
esq. of Faversham. Plancus, in a treatise “De Conchis
minus notis,
” printed at Venice in
two different souls on different occasions. These last accounts are in some degree confirmed by the writer of his life in Gibber’s collection, who says that while Boyse
Although there is too much reason to believe that no
part of Boyse’s character has been misrepresented in the
preceding narrative, he must not be deprived of the evidence which Mr. Nichols’s correspondent has advanced in
his favour. He assures us that he knew him from the year
1732 to the time of his death; and that he never saw any
thing in his wife’s conduct that deserved censure; that he
was a man of learning; and when in company with those
by whom he was not awed, an entertaining companion;
but so irregular and inconsistent in his conduct, that it
appeared as if he had been actuated by two different souls
on different occasions. These last accounts are in some
degree confirmed by the writer of his life in Gibber’s collection, who says that while Boyse was in his last illness
he had no notion of his approaching end, nor “did he
expect it until it was almost past the thinking of.
” His
mind, indeed, was often religiously disposed; he frequently thought upon that subject; and probably suffered
a great deal from the remorse of his conscience. The early
impressions of his good education were never entirely
obliterated; and his whole life was a continual struggle
between his will and reason, as he was always violating his
duty to the one, while he fell under the subjection of the
other. It was, adds the same author, in consequence of
this war in his mind, that he wrote a beautiful poem called
“Recantation.
”
other part of his character; and some have thence pronounced a hasty judgment upon his fidelity as a writer upon the English law. It seems, indeed, to be a fashion to discredit
, a celebrated English lawyer
in the thirteenth century, was, according to Mr. Prince,
born in Devonshire; and studied at Oxford, where he took
the degree of LL. D. Applying himself afterwards to the
study of the laws of England, he rose to great eminence at
the bar; and, in 1244, was by king Henry III. made one
of the judges itinerant. At present he is chiefly known by
his learned work, “Delegibus et consuetudinibus Angliae,
”
the first printed edition of it was in Anciennes Loix des Francois.
” After this,
the admirers of Bracton will not apprehend much from this
determined enemy to his reputation as an English lawyer.
, a popular and very voluminous writer on gardening and agriculture in the last century, was one of
, a popular and very voluminous
writer on gardening and agriculture in the last century, was
one of the first who treated these subjects in a philosophical
manner, and certainly possessed considerable botanical
knowledge, although his general conduct was little entitled
to respect. He first made himself known to the public by
two papers printed in the Philosophical Transactions: one
on the motion of the sap in vegetables, the other on the
quick growth of mouldiness in melons. He became a
fellow of the royal society, and was chosen, Nov. 10, 1724,
professor of botany at Cambridge, but in a manner which
reflects little credit on him. His election was procured by
a pretended verbal recommendation from Dr. Sherrard to
Dr. Bentley, and pompous assurances that he would procure the university a public botanic garden by his own private purse and personal interest. The vanity of his promises was soon discovered, as well as his almost total ignorance of the learned languages; and as he neglected to
read lectures, the university made no difficulty in permitting Dr. Martyn to do it. Mr. Bradley, however, read a
course of lectures on the Materia Medica in 1729 at the
Bull inn, which he published next year at London, 8vo,
and of which the reader may see a humorous criticism in the
Grub-street Journal, No. 11* In 1731, his conduct became so scandalous, that it was in agitation to dismiss him.
from his professorship, but he died soon after, Nov. 5,
1732. He was the author of several publications, chiefly
on gardening and agriculture, consisting of two folio volumes, four quarto, and nearly twenty in octavo, which are
enumerated in Mr. Nichols’s Life of Bowyer. His “New
Improvement of Planting and Gardening, both philosophical and practical,
” Gentleman’s and Gardener’s Kalendar.
” His “Philosophical Account of the Works of Nature,
” General Treatise of Husbandry
and Gardening,
” 1726, 2 vols. 8vo; and of his “Practical
Discourses concerning the four elements, as they relate to
the growth of plants,
” Dictiona-ium Botanicum,
” Historia plantarum Suceuientarum,
”
irth of the pretended prince of Wales. He died on the nineteenth of August, 1700. He was an accurate writer, and a curious and diligent searcher into our ancient records;
, a noted historian and physician of
the seventeenth century, was born in the county of Norfolk,
and admitted in Caius college in Cambridge, February 20,
1643. He took his degree of bachelor of physic in 1653,
and was created doctor in that faculty September 5, 1660,
by virtue of the king’s mandatory letters. On the first of
December the same year, he was, in pursuance of king
Charles’s mandate, elected master of his college, upon the
resignation of Dr. Bachcroft. About the year 1670, or as
some think not until 1685, he was appointed keeper of the
records in the Tower of London; in which office he employed himself in perusing those most valuable monuments
in his possession, with a view to his historical works. Some
time after, he was chosen regius professor of physic in the
university of Cambridge. In 1679, he wrote a letter to
Dr. Sydenham, on the influence of the air, &c. which is
published among that learned person’s works. But his
largest and most considerable performance was, “An Introduction to the old English History,
” in which he maintains these three propositions: 1. That the representatives
of the commons in parliament, viz. knights, citizens, and
burgesses, were not introduced till the forty-ninth of
Henry III.; 2. That William, duke of Normandy, made
an absolute conquest of the nation; 3. That the succession
to the crown of England is hereditary (descending to the nearest of blood), and not elective: And “A complete
History of England, from the first entrance of the Romans,
unto the end of the reign of king Richard II.
” in three vols.
fol. about which he was employed several years, and which
was printed 1685 and 1700, usually bound in two volumes.
In the year 1681 he was chosen one of the representatives
for the university of Cambridge, in that parliament which
met at Oxford; and again in 1685, in the parliament of
king James II. He was likewise physician in ordinary to
this king; and, on the twenty -second of October, 1688,
was one of those persons who gave in their depositions concerning the birth of the pretended prince of Wales. He
died on the nineteenth of August, 1700. He was an accurate writer, and a curious and diligent searcher into our
ancient records; but his impartiality has been called in
question, particularly by those who contend for the higher
antiquity of parliaments, and a larger proportion of popular influence in the constitution. Tyrell wrote his “General History of England,
” in opposition to that of Brady.
Dr. Gilbert Stuart, who hated all Scotch historians except himself, maintains that Hume executed his History
on Brady’s principles; allowing Brady to pdssess an excellent understanding and admirable quickness, Dr. Stuart asserts also, that he was the slave of a faction. Dr.
Brady’s other publications were, “An Answer to Mr. Petyt’s Book on Parliaments,
” London, An Historical Treatise of Cities and Burghs or Boroughs,
”
ibid.
, M. A. rector of St. George the Martyr, Southwark, and vicar of Wickham-Skeith, a political writer, who has been sometimes mistaken for the subject of our last
, M. A. rector of St. George the Martyr, Southwark, and vicar of Wickham-Skeith, a political
writer, who has been sometimes mistaken for the subject
of our last article, was, however, probably of the same age,
although we have no account of his early life. He was of
Caius college, Cambridge, where he proceeded B. A. 1766,
and M. A. 1769. When he had obtained the latter degree, he wrote an ethical essay, entitled “Conscience,
”
intended for one of the Seatonian prizes; but an accidental delay which it met with on the road, occasioned its
being presented to the vice-chancellor two days after the
appointed time, and on that account it could not be admitted to the competition. Mr. Brand, however, published his poem in a quarto pamphlet in 1772, and it was
allowed to possess considerable merit, but not enough to
procure it a place among the favourite poems of the day.
From this time we find him devoting his attention to political subjects, which produced in succession; 1. “Observations on some of the probable effects of Mr. Gilbert’s bill,
with remarks deduced from Dr. Price’s account of the national debt,
” The Alteration of the Constitution of the House of Commons, and the inequality
of the Land-Tax, considered conjointly,
” A
Defence of the pamphlet ascribed to John Reeves, esq. and
entitled ‘ Thoughts on the English government,’ addressed
to the members of the loyal associations against republicans
and levellers,
” An historical essay
on the principles of Political Associations in a state; chiefly
deduced from the French, English, and Jewish Histories;
with an application of those principles, in a comparative
view of the associations of the year 1792, and that recently
instituted by the Whig Club,
” A determination of the average depression of the price of wheat
in war, below that of the preceding peace; and of its readvance in the following; according to its yearly rules,
from the Revolution to the end of the last peace; with
remarks on their greater variations in that entire period/*
1800, 8vo. 6.
” A Letter to **** ******, esq. on Bonaparte’s proposals for opening a negociation for peace; in
which the British guarantee of the crown of France to the
house of Bourbon, contained in the triple and quadruple
alliances, and renewed by the treaty of 1783, is considered;
together with the conduct of our national parties relating
to it,“1800, 8vo, an argument more ingenious than satisfactory, and unfortunately leading to an impracticable
conclusion. 7.
” A Refutation of the Charge brought
against the marquis Wellesley, on account of his conduct
to the nabob of Oude. From authentic documents,“1807,
8vo. This was the last of Mr. Brand’s political works. As
a divine, we know only of a
” Fast Sermon,“published
by him in 1794, and a
” Visitation Sermon," 1800. In
1797, he was presented by the lord chancellor (Loughborough) to the rectory of St. George’s in Southwark, vacant by the death of the rev. Joseph Pote, the value of
which Mr. Brand procured to be increased by act of parliament, in 1807, but did not live long enough to profit
by it, as he died Dec. 23, 1808, leaving a numerous
family.
. 12mo; and Murdoch’s new loxodromic tables, for the construction of marine charts. This industrious writer died March 21, 1742, aged only twenty-nine. His eloge was composed
, a member of the French academy of sciences, was born at Paris, Sept. 14, 1713, of a good family, and after having studied humanities in the Mazarin college, and a course of philosophy in the college of Beauvais, applied himself more particularly to medicine and law, and the oriental languages in the royal college. The great progress which he made in the latter, occasioned his being invited to Rheims to teach these languages, and to fill a professor’s chair; but this he declined out of respect to his father, who wished him to appear at the bar. Neither this, however, nor languages, were to his own liking, and his parents, after some consideration, allowed him to pursue his inclination for medicine, and natural history, to which he added a taste for general literature and criticism. In 1737, he began to give extracts from the London Philosophical Transactions, and this with so much judgment and ability as to excite the attention of the literati of France, who after revolving the plan, conceived that a translation of the Transactions with notes would be more useful than these extracts, and agreed that M. de Bremond should be requested to undertake it. He accordingly began the work, and published four vols. 4to. including the years 1731—1736, withacomplete index, and notes pointing out where the subjects are treated in the memoirs of other learned bodies, or in separate publications: some of these notes are complete dissertations. The royal society, on this, honoured him with the title of secretary; and on March 18, 1739, he was admitted into the French royal academy of sciences. The same year he read a learned paper on respiration. He joined afterwards with M. Morand, a celebrated surgeon, in collecting and translating all the English publications respecting Mrs. Stephens’s remedy for the stone, which once was thought infallible. He translated likewise Dr. Halley’s experiments on sea water, and Hauksbee’s experiments, 2 vols. 12mo; and Murdoch’s new loxodromic tables, for the construction of marine charts. This industrious writer died March 21, 1742, aged only twenty-nine. His eloge was composed by M. cle Mairan, then secretary to the academy.
, “a writer,” says Phillips, “of pastorals, sonnets, canzons and madrigals,
, “a writer,
” says Phillips, “of
pastorals, sonnets, canzons and madrigals, in which kind of
writing he keeps company with several other contemporary emulators of Spenser and sir Philip Sidney,
” flourished in the reign of queen Elizabeth, but very little is
known of his personal history. Sir Egerton Brydges produces very probable evidence that he was of a Staffordshire
family. He was a writer, says Dr. Percy, of some fame in
the above reign, and published an interlude entitled “An
Old Man’s Lesson, and a Young Man’s Love,
” 4to, and
many other little pieces in prose and verse, the titles of
which may be seen in Winstanley, Ames’s Typography,
and Osborn’s Harleian Catalogue. He is mentioned with
great respect by Meres in his second part of Wit’s Commonwealth, 1598, p. 283, and is alluded to in Beaumont and
Fletcher’s Scornful Lady, act 2, and again in Wit without
money, act 3, The ballad of Phillida and Corydon, reprinted by Percy, is a delicious little poem; and if we
may judge from this and other specimens given in our
references, his poetical powers were distinguished by a
simplicity at once easy and elegant.
, advocate of the parliament of Paris, and an eminent law writer and pleader, was born at Montrotier, about four leagues from
, advocate of
the parliament of Paris, and an eminent law writer and
pleader, was born at Montrotier, about four leagues from
Lyons, Feb. 24, 1656. After studying languages and philosophy at Lyons, he came to Paris in 1677 to apply himself to law, and in 1680 was appointed an advocate. Having conceived a preference to the written over the common law, -he made the former his particular study, and
traced its origin with the true spirit of an antiquary. This
course of study produced a very much improved edition of
the works of Claude Henrys, 1708, 2 vols. fol. and afterwards a work of great utility in the French law, which he
undertook at the request of the chancellor D'Aguesseau,
entitled “Recueil des principals questions de droit qui
se jugent diversement dans differens tribunaux du royaume,
”
an eminent English divine and controversial writer, the son of Thomas Brett, gent. of Spring-grove, in the parish
an eminent English divine and controversial writer, the son of Thomas Brett, gent. of Spring-grove, in the parish of Wye, in Kent, by Letitia, his wife, the daughter and heir of John Boys, esq. of Bettishanger, near Sandwich, in that county, was born at the seat of the latter, 3d Sept. 1667. His father disliking the situation of the old house at Wye, where his ancestors had lived for many generations, rebuilt it in a more commodious place, near a small grove of trees and a pleasant spring of water in the same parish, from whence he gave it the name of Spring-grove. He came and settled there in 1674, and sent his son to its grammar-school; the master of which was then John Paris, A. M. but he dying about three years after, was succeeded by Samuel Pratt, under whose instruction the youth remained until 1684.
, a dramatic writer of the reign of king James I. appears to have been held in high
, a dramatic writer of the reign
of king James I. appears to have been held in high estimation by the wits of that time, but there are many disputes as to his works, and no information concerning his
life. The various dramatic annalists assign him from one
to six plays. The controversy seems of little consequence,
unless that it gave rise to a storyof Oliver Cromwell’s
having acted a part in one of his supposed plays, entitled
“Lingua,
” the part of one ambitious for a crown and
that his ambition was first excited by personating this character. The story, however, seems as doubtful as the
author of the play.
son sir Orlando, may be seen in the Biog. Brit. vol. VI. p. 3740. The lord-keeper is known as a law writer, by his “Conveyances, being select precedents of deeds and instruments
, a lawyer of considerable eminence, was the son of Dr. John Bridgeman, bishop
of Chester, and educated to the profession of the law, in
which, as he disapproved of the usurpation, he made no
figure until the restoration, when on May 13, 1660, he was
called to be a serjeant by the king’s special writ, and on
June 1, was advanced to be lord chief baron of the exchequer, from which, Oct. 22, he was removed to be lord chief
justice of the common pleas. While he presided in this’
court, his reputation was at its height for equity and moderation. In 1667, when the great seal was taken from
lord Clarendon, the king delivered it, August 13, to sir
Orlando, with the title of Keeper. After this, his good
name began to decline: he was timid and irresolute, and
his timidity still increased with his years: nor was his
judgment equal to all the difficulties of his office. His
Jady, a woman of cunning and intrigue, was too apt to interfere in chancery suits; and his sons, who practised under him, did not bear the fairest characters. He was desirous of an union with Scotland, and a comprehepsion
with the dissenters: but was against tolerating the papists.
He is said to have been removed from his office for refusing
to affix the seal to the king’s declaration for liberty of conscience, Nov. 17, 1672. The time of his death we have
not been able to ascertain, but a singular account of his
son sir Orlando, may be seen in the Biog. Brit. vol. VI.
p. 3740. The lord-keeper is known as a law writer, by his
“Conveyances, being select precedents of deeds and instruments concerning the most considerable estates in
England,
”
, an eminent Roman catholic priest and writer in the reign of queen Elizabeth, was born at Worcester, in 1538.
, an eminent Roman catholic
priest and writer in the reign of queen Elizabeth, was born
at Worcester, in 1538. In 1555 he was entered of Exeter
college, Oxford, according to Pits, which Wood doubts;
but he took his degree of B. A. in I 559, and M. A. in 1562,
at which last time he was a member of Christ church. He
and the celebrated Campian were so esteemed for their
talents, as to be selected to entertain queen Elizabeth with
a public disputation in 1566. Bristow was afterwards, in
July 1567, made a fellow of Exeter college, by the interest
of sir William Petre, who had founded some fellowships in
that college, and who would have promoted him further,
had he not laid himself open to the suspicion of holding
popish tenets; and this appeared more plainly by his quitting the university on carvlinal Alan’s invitation. He went
then to Doway, and after prosecuting his theological studies in that academy, was admitted to his doctor’s degree
in 1579, and, says his biographer, was Alan’s “right hand
upon all occasions.
” He was made prefect of studies,
lectured on the scriptures, and in the absence of Alan acted
as regent of the college. His intense studies, however,
injured a constitution originally very weak, and after a
journey to Spa, which had very little effect, he was recommended to try his native air. On his return to England,
he resided for a very short time with a Mr. Bellamy, a gentleman of fortune, at Harrow on the Hill, where he died
Oct. 18, 1581. The popish historians concur in expressing the loss their cause suffered by his death, he being
teemed “an Alan in prudence, a Stapleton in acuteness, a
Campian in eloquence, a Wright in theology, and a Martin in languages.
” He wrote, 1. “Dr. Bristow’s motives,
”
Antwerp, A Reply to William Fulk (his ablest antagonist), in defence of
Dr. Allen (Alan’s) articles, and book of purgatory,
” Louvain, Fifty-one demands, to be proposed
by catholics to heretics,
” London, Veritates Aurese S. R. Ecclesiae,
” Tabula in summam theologicam S. Thomse Aquinatis,
” An Apology in defence of Alan and himself,
” and
notes upon the Rheims Testament.
The preceding facts may be sufficient to illustrate Dr. Brocklesby’s character. His future fame as a writer must rest on his publications, of which the following is, we
He was interred Dec. 18, in the church-yard of St. Cle^
jnent Danes, in a private manner, according to his request.
His fortune, amounting to near 30,000l. after a few legacies to friends and distant relations, was divided between
his two nephews, Robert Beeby, esq. and Dr. Thomas
Young. The preceding facts may be sufficient to illustrate
Dr. Brocklesby’s character. His future fame as a writer
must rest on his publications, of which the following
is, we believe, a correct list: 1. “Dissertatio Inaug.
de Saliva Sanaet Morbosa,
” Lug. Bat. An
Essay concerning the Mortality of the Horned Cattle,
”
Eulogium Medicum, sive Oratio Anniyersaria Harveiana habita in Theatris Collegii Regal is Me-?
dicorum Londinensium, Die xviii Octobris,
” Œconomical and Medical Observations from 1738 to
1763, tending to the improvement of Medical Hospitals,
”
An Account of the poisonous root lately
found mixed with Gentian,
” Phil. Trans. N. Case
of a Lady labouring under a Diabetes,
” Med. Observ. No.
III. 7. “Experiments relative to the Analysis and Virtues of Seltzer Water,
” ibid. vol. IV. 8. “Case of an
Encysted Tumour in the Orbit of the Eye, cured by
Messrs, Bromfield and Ingram,
” ibid. 9. “A
Dissertation on the Music of the Antients.
” We do not know the
date of this last article, but believe it to be amongst his
early literary amusements. When Dr. Young was at Leyden, a professor, understanding he was a nephew of Dr.
Brocklesby’s, shewed him a translation of it in the German language.
credit the author had obtained: accordingly in the following year they were attacked by an anonymous writer, said to be Mr. Justamond, in a pamphlet, entitled “Notes on
, an eminent English surgeon, was born in London, in 1712, and studied surgery
under the celebrated Ranby, by whose instructions he was
soon enabled to practise on his own account. In 1741, he
began to give lectures on anatomy and surgery, and soon
found his theatre crowded with pupils. Some years after,
in conjunction with the rev. Mr. Madan, he formed the
plan of the Lock hospital, into which patients were first
received Jan. 3, 1747, and was made first surgeon to that
establishment, an office he filled with advantage to the
patients and credit to himself for many years. With a
view of contributing to its success, he altered an old
comedy, “The City Match,
” written in A Narrative of a Physical Transaction with Mr. Aylet, surgeon, at
Windsor.
” This is a controversial piece of no consequence now, but the author clears himself from the imputation of having treated his antagonist improperly. Ira
1767, he published “Thoughts concerning the present
peculiar method of treating persons ^inoculated for the
Small-pox.
” This relates to the Suttons, who were now
in the zenith of their reputation. He thinks their practice of exposing their patients to the open air in the midst
of winter, of repelling the eruption, and checking or preventing the suppurative process, too bold, and hazardous,
On the whole, however, he acknowledges, they were deserving of commendation, for the improvements they had
introduced, in the treatment, both of the inoculated and
natural small-pox. His next work, the most considerable
one written by him, was “Chirurgical Cases and Observations,
” published in Notes
on Chirurgical Cases and Observations, by a Professor of
Surgery.
” The strictures contained in these notes are
keen and ingenious, and, though evidently the produce of
ill-humour, yet seem to have had the effect of preventing
so general a diffusion of the cases, as the character of the
author would otherwise have procured them. They have
never been reprinted. About this time the author took a
spacious mansion in Chelsea park, which he enlarged,
altered, and furnished in an elegant style. Hither he retired, after doing his business, which he began gradually
to contract into a narrower circle. With that view, a few
years after, he gave up his situation as surgeon to the Lock
hospital. His other appointments he kept to the time of
his death, which happened on the 24th of November, 1792,
in the 80th year of his age.
, an amiable and ingenious writer, was a native of Ireland, where he was born in the year 1706.
, an amiable and ingenious writer,
was a native of Ireland, where he was born in the year 1706.
His father, the rev. William Brooke of Rantavan, rector
of the parishes of Killinkare, Mullough, Mybullough, and
Licowie, is said to have been a man of grent talents and
worth; his mother’s name was Digby. His education appears to have been precipitated in a manner not very usual:
after being for some time the pupil of Dr. Sheridan, he
was sent to Trinity college, Dublin, and from thence removed, when only seventeen years old, to study law in
the Temple. Dr. Sheridan was probably the means of
his being introduced in London to Swift and Pope, who
regarded him as a young man of very promising talents.
How long he remained in London we are not told*, but on
his return to Ireland he practised for some time as a chamber counsel, when an incident occurred which interrupted
his more regular pursuits, and prematurely involved him
in the cares of a family. An aunt, who died at Westmgath
about the time of his arrival in Ireland, committed to him
the guardianship of her daughter, a lively and beautiful
girl between eleven and twelve years old. Brooke, pleased
with the trust, conducted her to Dublin, and placed her
at a boarding-school, where, during his frequent visits, he
gradually changed the guardian for the lover, and at length
prevailed on her to consent to a private marriage. In the
life prefixed to his works, this is said to have taken place
before she had reached her fourteenth year: another account, which it is neither easy nor pleasant to believe,
informs us that she was a mother before she had completed
that year. When the marriage was discovered, the ceremony was again performed in the presence of his family.
For some time this happy pair had no cares but to please
each other, and it was not until after the birth of their
third child that Brooke could be induced to think seriously
how such a family was to be provided for. The law had
long been given up, and he had little inclination to resume a profession which excluded so many of the pleasures
of imagination, and appeared inconsistent with the feelings
of a mind tender, benevolent, and somewhat romantic.
Another journey to London, however, promised the advantages of literary society, and the execution of literary
schemes by which he might indulge his genius, and be
rewarded by fame and wealth. Accordingly, soon after
his arrival, he renewed his acquaintance with his former
friends, and published his philosophical poem, entitled
“Universal Beauty.
” This had been submitted to Pope,
who, probably, contributed his assistance, and whose manner at least is certainly followed. At what time this occurred is uncertain. The second part was published in
1735, and the remainder about a year after. What fame
or advantage he derived from it we know not, as no mention is made of him in the extensive correspondence of
Pope or Swift. He was, however, obliged to return to
Ireland, where for a short time he resumed his legal profession.
inciples, which were those of the strictest kind, with his continual ambition to shine as a dramatic writer.
During his residence in Ireland, he kept up a literary
correspondence with his London friends, but all their letters were consumed by an accidental fire. Two from Pope,
we are told, are particularly to be lamented, as in one of
these he professed himself in heart a protestant, but apologized for not publicly conforming, by alleging that it
would render the eve of his mother’s life unhappy. Pope’s
filial affection is the most amiable feature in his character;
but this story of his declining to conform because it would
give uneasiness to his mother, falls to the ground when,
the reader is told that his mother had been dead six: or
seven years before Brooke went to Ireland. In another
letter, he is said, with more appearance of truth, to have
advised Brooke to take orders, “as being a profession
better suited to his principles, his disposition, and his genius, than that of the law, and also less injurious to his
health.
” Why he did not comply with this advice cannot
now be known; but, before this time, he appears to have
been of a religious turn, although it is not easy to reconcile his principles, which were those of the strictest kind,
with his continual ambition to shine as a dramatic writer.
, a French writer of great learning, was born at Dijon, in 1709, and became a
, a French writer of great
learning, was born at Dijon, in 1709, and became a counsellor of parliament, in 1730, and president a worker in
1742. During the leisure which his public employments
afforded, he cultivated most of the sciences, and was allowed to be well acquainted with all. Voltaire only has
attacked his literary reputation, and this his countrymen
ascribe to the malice which that writer was seldom anxious
to conceal. Buffon, on the contrary, regarded him as a
scholar of the first rank, an acute philosopher, and an original and valuable writer; nor was he less estimable in
private life. In 1774 he was appointed president of the
parliament of Burgundy, but died soon after, at Paris, in
1777, whither he had come to visit his married daughter.
He was a member of the academy of Dijon, of the inscriptions and belles lettres, and other learned societies. He
wrote: 1. “Lettres sur la Decouverte de la ville d'Herculaneum,
” Histoire des Navigations aux
Terres Australes,
” Du
culte des dieux Fetiches, ou parallele de l'ancienne idolatrie avec celle des peuples de Nigritie,
” Traite de la formation mecanique des Langues,
”
Histoire de
la Republique Romaine dans la cours du VII siecle, par
Salluste,
” Dijon, 3 vols. 4to. This may be accounted his
principal work, and was long his principal employment.
He was so sensible of the loss of Sal lust’s principal work,
that he resolved to collect his fragments with greater care
than had ever been employed before; and by the most
accurate arrangement to trace out as near as possible the
plan and chief features of that work, and then to connect
these fragments in the manner of Freinshemius in his
“Fragmenta Livii.
” But as De Brosses soon became
sensible of the difficulty of assimilating his Latin diction
to that of Sallust, he changed his first design, and resolved
on translating both the fragments and his author’s histories
of the Catilinarian and Jugurthine wars into French, and
to attempt to supply the lost work from other ancient
writers. The first volume opens with a preface containing
remarks on the various methods of writing history, and
some information concerning Roman names, ranks, magistracies, and elections. The body of the work itself begins
with a translation of, and commentary on, Sallust’s Jugurthine war. The notes subjoined to this part treat chiefly
of the geography and population of Africa, and the text is
illustrated by a map of Africa, a plan of Meteilus’s march
against Jugurtha, and its illustration by a military connoisseur. After this follows the restoration of Sallust’s five
books, continued in vol. II. comprizing the war with Mithridates: a description of the Pontus Euxinus, with the
adjacent countries; the Gladiatorian war, raised by Spartacus, and the war of Greta. The third volume contains a
translation of the Catilinarian war, with its sequel, illustrated with historical and political notes; Sallust’s two letters to Caesar, commonly styled “Orat. de Rep. ordinanda,
” which De Brosses considers as genuine; a very minute collection of all the notices of Sallust’s life, writings,
gardens, buildings, and even of the remains discovered in
later times. The whole concludes with the abb Cassagne’s “Essay on the Art of composing History, and on
the works of Sailust.‘-’ Industrious as M. de Brosses has
been in this work, we believe that in the life of Sailust, at
least, he has been improved upon by Henry Stuart, esq.
in his late elaborate publication,
” The works of Sailust,“1806, 2 vols. 4to, Besides these, De Brosses contributed
many learned papers to the Paris and Dijon memoirs, but
his family disown 3 vols. of
” Lettres historiques et critiques sur l'Italie," published in 1799 in his name.
rtations, but also with supplements, which sometimes leave the reader in a doubt, whether the modern writer is not a successful rival of the ancient: this was first published
, an eminent classical scholar and
editor, was born at Tanay, a small village of the Nivernois, in 1722, and died at Paris, Feb. 12, 1789, at the
age of 67. In his youth he made it his practice to write
notes in every book that he read; and the margins of severaHn his library were entirely filled with them. Until his
last moment he pursued the same 'method of study. All
these he arranged wonderfully in his memory; and if it
had been possible after his death to have put his papers in
that order which he alone knew, they would have furnished
materials for several curious volumes. With this method,
and continued labour for twelve hours a day, the abbé
Brotier acquired an immense stock of various knowledge.
Except the mathematics, to which it appears he gave little
application, he was acquainted with every thing; natural
history, chemistry, and even medicine. It was his rule
to read Hippocrates and Solomon once every year in their
original languages. These he said were the best books
for curing the diseases of the body and the mind. But the
belles lettres were his grand pursuit. He had a good
knowledge of all the dead languages, but particularly the
Latin, of which he was perfectly master: he was besides
acquainted with most, of the languages of Europe. This
knowledge, however extensive, was not the only part in
which he excelled. He was well versed in ancient and
modern history, in chronology, coins, medals, inscriptions,
and the customs of antiquity, which had always been objects of his study. He had collected, a considerable quantity of materials for writing a new history of France, and
it is much to be regretted that he was prevented from undertaking that work. The akl>6 Brotier recalls to our remembrance those laborious writers, distinguished for their
learning, Petau, Sirmond, Labbu, Cossart, Hardouin, Souciet, &c. who have done so much honour to the college
of Louis XIV. in which he himself was educated, and where
fre lived several years as librarian; and his countrymen
say he is the last link of that chain of illustrious men, who
have succeeded one another without interruption, for near
two centuries. On the dissolution of the order of Jesuits,
the abbe Brotier found an asylum equally peaceful and
agreeable in the house of Mr. de la Tour, a printer, eminent in his business, who has gained from all connoisseurs
a just tribute of praise for those works which have come
from his press. It was in this friendly retirement that the
abbe Brotier spent the last twenty-six years of his life, and
that he experienced a happiness, the value of which he
knew how to appreciate, which arose from the care, attention, and testimonies of respect, bestowed upon him both
by Mr. and Mrs. de la Tour. It was there also that he
published those works which will render his name immortal; an edition of Tacitus, enriched not only with notes
and learned dissertations, but also with supplements, which
sometimes leave the reader in a doubt, whether the modern writer is not a successful rival of the ancient: this
was first published in 1771, 4 vols. 4to, and reprinted in
1776, in 7 vols. fcvo. He published also in 1779, 6 vols.
12mo, an edition of Pliny the naturalist, which is only a'
short abridgment of what he had prepared to correct and
enlarge the edition of Hardouin, and to give an historical
series of all the new discoveries made since the beginning
of this century; an immense labour, which bespeaks the
most extensive erudition. To these two editions, which
procured the abbe Brotier the applauses of all the literati
in Europe, he added in 1778, 8vo, an edition of Rapin on
gardens, at the end of which he has subjoined a history of
gardens, written in Latin with admirable elegance, and
abounding in the most delightful imagery: for the abbe
was not one of those pedants, according to the expression
of the poet, “herisses de Grec & de Latin;
” he possessed a lively imagination, and a fine taste, with clearness
and perspicuity; and above all, a sound judgment, which
never suffered him to adopt in writing any thing that
was not solid, beautiful, and true. His other works are,
1. “Examen de PApologie de M. I 7 Abbe de Prades,
” Conclusiones ex universa Theologia,
” Traite des Monnoies Romanies, Grecques, et
Hebr. compares avec les Monnoies de France, pour l'intelligencederEcriture Sainte, et de tous les auteurs Grecs,
et Remains,
” Prospectus d'une edit. Lat.
de Tacite,
” Supplementa, lib. 7.
loAnnal. Taciti,
” 17 v 55, 8vo. 6.“Cl. viri de la Caille
vita
”7 1763, 4to. 7. “Phaedri Fabularum, lib. v. cum
notis et suppl. access. Parallela J. de la Fontaine Fabulse,
”
Memoire du Levant
” Brumoy’s Theatre,
” Parolles Memorables,
” a work
of which Mr. Seward has made great use in his “Anecdotes.
”
, an ingenious English writer, descended from the Browns of Colstown near Haddington in Scotland,
, an ingenious English writer, descended from the Browns of Colstown near Haddington in Scotland, was born in Northumberland, Nov. 5, 1715, at Rothbury, of which place his father was curate, but removed
almost immediately after to the vicarage of Wigton in.
Cumberland, where, at a grammar-school, he received the
first part of his education; and was thence removed, May
8, 1732, to St. John’s college in Cambridge. He remained
here, till in 1735 he took the degree of B. A. then returned
to Wigton, and soon after went into orders. His first settlement was in Carlisle, being chosen a minor canon and
lecturer in the cathedral there. This situation he afterwards resigned, on being reproved for omitting the Athanasian creed, which it is said was merely accidental. His
pride, however, was hurt, and next Sunday he read the
creed, out of course, and immediately after resigned. In
1739 he took a M. A. degree at Cambridge. In the rebellion of 1745, he acted as a volunteer at the siege of Carlisle, and behaved himself with great intrepidity; and, after
the defeat of the rebels, when some of them were tried at
Carlisle in 1746, he preached two excellent sermons in the
cathedral, “on the mutual connection between religious
truth and civil freedom; and between superstition, tyranny,
irreligion, and licentiousness.
” These are to be found in
the volume of his sermons.
Brown now began to make no small figure as a writer 5 and in 1751, published Jiis “Essays on Shaftesbury’s Char
Brown now began to make no small figure as a writer 5
and in 1751, published Jiis “Essays on Shaftesbury’s Characteristics,
” 8vo, a work written with elegance and spirit,
aud so applauded as to be printed a fifth time in 1764.
This was suggested to him by Warburton, and to Warburton by Pope, who told Warburton that to his knowledge
the Characteristics had done more harm to revealed religion in England than all the works of infidelity put together. He is imagined to have had a principal hand in
another book, published also the same year, and called
w An essay on musical expression;“though the avowed
author was Mr. Charles Avison. (See Avison.) In 1754
he printed a sermon,
” On the use and abuse of externals
in religion: preached before the bishop of Carlisle, at. the
consecration of St. James’s church in Whitehaven, and soon
after he was promoted to Great Horkesiey in Essex; a living conferred upon him by the late earl of Hard wick e. His
next appearance was as a dramatic writer. In 1755, hk
tragedy “Barbarossa,
” was produced upon the stage, and
afterwards his “Athelstan
” in
t mistakes, very instructing as well as amusing. “Observations” were printed upon it by an anonymous writer, and Dr. Brown defended himself in “Remarks.” He published in
Between the first and second volume of the Estimate, he
republished Dr. Walker’s “Diary of the Siege of Londonderry;
” with a preface, pointing out the useful purposes
to which the perusal of it might be applied. He was, about
this time, presented by the bishop of Carlisle, Dr. Osbaldeston, to the vicarage of St. Nicholas in Newcastle upon
Tyne, resigning Great Horkesley in Essex; and was made
one of the chaplains in ordinary to his present majesty.
These were all the preferments our author ever received;
and, as this was supposed to be no small mortification to a
man of Dr. Brown’s high spirit, so it was probably this
high spirit which was the cause of it; for such was his temper that he never could preserve his friends long, and he
had before this time quarrelled with Warburton and lord
Hardwicke. In 1760 he published an additional dialogue
of the dead, between “Pericles and Aristides,
” being a
sequel to a dialogue of lord Lyttelton’s between “Pericles
and Cosmo.
” This is supposed by some to have been designed as a vindication of Mr. Pitt’s political character,
against some hints of disapprobation by lord Lyttelton;
while others have not excluded a private motive of resentment. It is said that lord Lyttelton in a numerous and
mixed company neglected to take notice of our author in
so respectful a manner as he thought he deserved; and in
revenge, weak enough certainly, he composed the dialogue. His next publication was “The Cure of Saul,
” a
sacred ode; which was followed the same year by a “Dissertation on the rise, union, and power, the progressions,
separations, and corruptions of poetry and music,
” 4to.
This is a pleasing performance, displays great ingenuity,
and, though not without mistakes, very instructing as well
as amusing. “Observations
” were printed upon it by an
anonymous writer, and Dr. Brown defended himself in “Remarks.
” He published in 8vo, History of the
rise and progress of Poetry through its several species:
”
being the substance of the above work concerning poetry
only, for the benefit of classical readers not knowing in
music. The same year, he printed a volume of “Sermons,
” most of which had been printed separately; and in
1765, “Thoughts on Civil Liberty, Licentiousness, and Faction;
” a piece, drawn up with great parade, and assuming
a scientific form, with an intention to censure the opposers of administration at that time. A sermon on the
“Female character and education,
” preached the 16th of
May, 1765, before the guardians of the asylum for deserted
female orphans.
l as form the best excuse, for this. genius was extensive; for, besides his being so elegant a prose writer in various kinds of composition, he was a poet, a musician,
Dr. Brown was a man of uncommon ingenuity, but unfortunately tinctured with an undue degree of self-opinion,
and perhaps the bias of his mind to insanity will assign this
best cause, as well as form the best excuse, for this.
genius was extensive; for, besides his being so elegant a
prose writer in various kinds of composition, he was a poet,
a musician, and a painter. His learning does not, however, appear to have been equal to his genius. His invention was, indeed, inexhaustible; and hence he was led to
form magnificent plans, the execution of which required a
greater depth of erudition than he was possessed of. In divinity, properly so called, as including an extensive knowledge of the controverted points of theology, and a critical
acquaintance with the Scriptures, he was not deeply conversant. All we can gather from his sermons is, that his
ideas were liberal, and that he did not lay much stress on
the disputed doctrines of Christianity. His temper, we
are told, was suspicious, and sometimes threw him into disagreeable altercations with his friends; but this arose, in a
great measure, if not entirely, from the constitutional disorder described above, a very suspicious turn of mind being one of the surest prognostics of lunacy. He has been
charged with shifting about too speedily, with a view to
preferment; and it was thought, that his “Thoughts on
Civil Liberty, Licentiousness, and Faction,
” seemed to
have something of this appearance. He, however, in that
performance endeavoured to remove the objection, by observing, that, if he had indirectly censured those whom he
had formerly applauded, he never was attached to men, but
measures; and that, if he had questioned the conduct of
those only who were then out of power, he had heretofore
questioned their conduct with the same freedom, when in
the fulness of their power. Upon the whole, Dr. Brown’s
defects, which chiefly arose from a too sanguine temperament of constitution, were compensated by many excellencies and virtues. With respect to his writings, they
are all of them elegant. Even those which are of a more
temporary nature may continue to be read with pleasure,
as containing a variety of curious observations; and in his
Estimate are many of those unanswerable truths that can
never be unseasonable or unprofitable.
, an able and learned minister and writer among the protestant dissenters, and who was remarkable for
, an able and learned minister and
writer among the protestant dissenters, and who was remarkable for a mental disorder of a most extraordinary
kind, was born at Shepton-Mallet, in Somersetshire, about
1680. He was instructed in grammar by the rev. Mr.
Cumming, who was pastor of a congregation in that town;
from whence he was removed to Bridgewater, and finished
Jiis studies under the care of the rev. Mr. Moor. As he
possessed uncommon parts, which had been improved by
the most assiduous application, he was very early thought
qualified for the ministry; so that he began to preach some
time before he was twenty years of age. His talents soon
rendered him so conspicuous among the dissenters, that he
was chosen minister of a considerable congregation at
Portsmouth, in which situation he continued some years.
In 1706, he published a small treatise, entitled “A caveat
against evil Company.
” In 1709, he published, in one
volume, 8vo, “The true character of the real Christian.
” He
discharged the duties of the pastoral office at Portsmouth
with so much fidelity and diligence, as procured him universal esteem; but, in 1716, he removed to the great regret of his congregation, in consequence of his being invited to accept of the pastoral charge of the congregation
of protestant dissenters in the Old Jewry, London, which
was one of the most considerable in the kingdom. In
1720, he published, in one volume, 12mo, “Hymns and
Spiritual Songs, in three books.
” In Sermons,
” and about the same time a “Letter to the rev. Thomas Reynolds,
” in which he censures
that gentleman and other dissenters for requiring of their
brethren explicit declarations of their belief in the doctrine of the Trinity. At the Old Jewry he continued to
preach for about seven years with the greatest reputation,
mid was much beloved and esteemed by his congregation:
but, in 1723, a complicated domestic affliction, the loss of
his wife, and of an only son, so deeply affected him, that
he was at first in a state little different from distraction; and
the disorder which his imagination had sustained from the
shock that he had received, at length settled into a melancholy of a very extraordinary nature. He desisted from
the duties of his function, and could not be persuaded to
join in any act of worship, either public or private. He
imagined, " that Almighty God, by a singular instance of
divine power, had, in a gradual manner, annihilated in
him the thinking substance, and utterly divested him of
consciousness: that though he retained the human shape,
and the faculty of speaking, in a manner that appeared to
others rational, he had all the while no more notion of what
he said than a parrot. And, very consistently with this,
he looked upon himself as no longer a moral agent, a subject of reward or punishment. 7 ' He continued in this persuasion to the end of his life, with very little variation.
Nothing grieved him more, than that he could not persuade others to think of him as he thought of himself. He
sometimes considered this as questioning his veracity,
which affected him in the most sensible manner; and he
often took pains, by the most solemn asseverations, to remove such an imputation. At other times, and in a more
gloomy hour, he would represent the incredulity which was
manifested towards him, as a judicial effect of the same
divine power jhat had occasioned this strange alteration in
him, as if God had determined to proceed against him in
this way, and would have no application made in his behalf. Upon this account, for a long while, he was unwilling that any prayers should be made for him; which,
he would say, could be warranted by nothing but a faith
in miracles, and even refused to say grace at table, or if
urged to it, appeared in the greatest distress. At the beginning of his disorder, he was so unhappy in himself, as
to have frequent propensities to deprive himself of life;
but he afterwards grew more serene, and appeared to have
little or no terror upon his mind. He considered himself
as one who, though he had little to hope, had no more to
fear, and was therefore, for the most part, calm and composed; and when the conversation did not turn upon himself, as it was generally rational and very serious, so was
it often cheerful and pleasant. But his opinion concerning himself occasionally led him into inconsistencies; and
when these were pointed out to him, he sometimes appeared much puzzled.
on of years, and the effect of a design early formed, and long pursued. It is, indeed, adds the same writer, to be wished, that he had longer delayed the publication, and
In 1646, he printed “Enquiries into vulgar and common Errors,
” small folio, a work, says his biographer,
which, as it arose not from fancy and invention, but from
observation and books, and contained not a single discourse
of one continued tenor, but an enumeration of many unconnected particulars, must have been the collection of
years, and the effect of a design early formed, and long
pursued. It is, indeed, adds the same writer, to be
wished, that he had longer delayed the publication, and
added what the remaining part of his life might have furnished. He published in 1673 the sixth edition, with
some improvements. This book, like his former, was received with great applause, was answered by Alexander
Koss, and translated into Dutch and German, and afterwards into French. It might, Dr. Johnson thinks, now be
proper to reprint it with notes, partly supplemental and
partly emendatory, to subjoin those discoveries which the
industry of the last age has made, and correct those mistakes which the author has committed, not by idleness or
negligence, but for want of Boyle’s and Newton’s philosophy.
The reputation of Browne encouraged some low writer to publish, under his name, a book called “Nature’s cabinet
The reputation of Browne encouraged some low writer
to publish, under his name, a book called “Nature’s cabinet unlocked,
” translated, according to Wood, from the
physics of Magirus, but Browne advertised against it. In
1658, the discovery of some ancient urns in Norfolk gave
him occasion to write “Hydriotaphia, Urn -burial, or a
discourse of Sepulchral Urns,
” 8vo, in which he treats
with his usual learning, on the funeral rites of the ancient
nations; exhibits their various treatment of the dead; and
examines the substances found in these Norfolk urns.
There is, perhaps, none -of his works which better exemplifies his reading or memory. To this treatise was
added “The Garden of Cyrus, or the Quincunxial lozenge, or net-work plantation of the ancients, artificially,
naturally, mystically considered.
” This is a more fanciful
performance than the other, but still it exhibits the fancy
of a man of learning. Besides these, he left some papers
prepared for the press, of which two collections have been
published, the first by Dr. Thomas Tennison, afterwards
archbishop of Canterbury, in 1684, 8vo, entitled, “A
Collection of Miscellaneous Tracts,
” and these, with what
had been published in his life-time, were printed in one
vol. fol. in 1686. In 1690 his son, Dr. Edward Browne,
of whom we have already spoken, published a single tract,
entitled “A Letter to a friend upon occasion of the death
of his intimate friend,
” 8vo. The second collection was
of the “Posthumous Works,
” edited in
an to lose the stability which it had obtained in the time of Elizabeth; and was considered by every writer as a subject on which he might try his plastic skill, by moulding
In 1716 there appeared a book of his in 12mo, entitled
“Christian Morals,
” published from the original and correct manuscript of the author, by John Jeffery, D. D. archdeacon of Norwich. It was dedicated by our author’s
daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Littleton, to David, earl of Buchan. Of this a second edition was published in 1756 by
Mr. John Payne, bookseller, and one of Dr. Johnson’s early
patrons, who solicited him to write a life of sir Thomas.
This, of which we have availed ourselves in the preceding
account, may be classed among Dr. Johnson’s best biographical performances, and the present article may be very
properly concluded with his character of Browne’s works.
After mentioning the various writers who have noticed
Browne, he adds, “But it is not on the praises of others,
but on his own writings, that he is to depend for the esteem of posterity; of which he will not easily be deprived,
while learning shall have any reverence among men: for
there is no science in which he does not discover some
skill; and scarce any kind of knowledge, profane or sacred,
abstruse or elegant, which he does not appear to have cultivated with success. His exuberance of knowledge, and
plenitude of ideas, sometimes obstruct the tendency of his
reasoning, and the clearness of his decisions: on whatever
subject he employed his mind, there started up immediately so many images before him, that he lost one by
grasping another. His memory supplied him with so many
illustrations, parallel or dependent notions, that he was
always starting into collateral considerations: but the spirit and vigour of his pursuit always gives delight; and the
reader follows him, without reluctance, through his mazes,
in themselves flowery and pleasing, and ending at the
point originally in view. To have great excellencies, and
great faults, ‘ magn<e virtutes nee minora vitia, is the
poesy/ says our author, l of the best natures.’ This poesy
may be properly applied to the style of Browne: it is
vigorous, but rugged; it is learned, but pedantic; it is
deep, but obscure; it strikes, but does not please; it commands, but does not allure; his tropes are harsh, and his
combinations uncouth. He fell into an age, in which our
language began to lose the stability which it had obtained
in the time of Elizabeth; and was considered by every
writer as a subject on which he might try his plastic skill,
by moulding it according to his own fancy. Milton, in
consequence of this encroaching licence, began to introduce the Latin idiom; and Browne, though he gave less
disturbance to our structures and phraseology, yet poured
in a multitude of exotic words; many, indeed, useful and
significant, which, if rejected, must be supplied by circumlocution, such as commensality for the state of many
living at the same table; but many superfluous, as a paralogical for an unreasonable doubt; and some so obscure,
that they conceal his meaning rather than explain it, as
arthriticai analogies for parts that serve some animals in the
place of joints. His style is, indeed, a tissue of many languages; a mixture of heterogeneous words, brought together from distant regions, with terms originally appropriated to one art, and drawn by violence into the service
of another. He must, however, be confessed to have augmented our philosophical diction; and in defence of his
uncommon words and expressions, we must consider, that
he had uncommon sentiments, and was not content to express in many words that idea for which any language
could supply a single term. But his innovations are sometimes pleasing, and his temerities happy: he has many
verba ardentia, forcible expressions, which he would never
have found, but by venturing to the utmost verge of propriety; and flights which would never have been reached,
but by one who had very little fear of the shame of falling.
”
, a laborious Italian writer, was born at Florence towards the conclusion of the fifteenth
, a laborious Italian writer, was
born at Florence towards the conclusion of the fifteenth
century. Having meddled in 1522 in the plot formed by
some Florentine citizens against cardinal Julius de Medicis,
afterwards pope Ciement VII. he was obliged to expatriate
himself, and withdrew into France. The Medici being
driven out of Florence in 1527, this revolution brought
him back to his country, where the liberty with which he
chose to speak against the monks and priests, raised a
suspicion of his being attached to the opinions of Luther.
He was put into prison, and would not have escaped an
ignominious death but for the kind offices of his friends;
who procured a mitigation of his punishment to an exile of
two years. He then retired to Venice with his brothers,
who were printers and booksellers, and employed their
presses in printing the greater part of his works, of which
the most known and the most in request, is the, whole Bible
translated into Italian, with annotations and remarks, which
was put by the papists in the number of heretical books of
the first class; but the protestants held it in such high
esteem that it passed through several editions. The most
ample and the most scarce is that of Venice, 1546 and
1548, 3 vols. folio. Brucioli pretends to have made his
translation from the Hebrew text: but the truth is, that,
being but moderately versed in that language, he made
use of the Latin version of Pagnini. His other works are,
1. Italian translations of the natural history of Pliny, and
several pieces of Aristotle and Cicero. 2. Editions of Petrarch and Bocace, with notes. 3. “Dialogues,
” Venice,
, a French writer of a singular character for versatility, was born at Aix, in
, a French writer of a singular character for versatility, was born at Aix, in 1640,
and trained in the reformed religion, in defence of which
he published some controversial pieces, particularly against
Bossuet’s “Exposition de la Foi,
” or Exposition of the
faith; but the prelate, instead of answering, converted
him. Brueys, become catholic, combated with the Protestant ministers, with Jurieu, Lenfant, and La Roche; but
his airy spirit not rightly accommodating itself to serious
works, he quitted theology for the theatre. He composed,
jointly with Palaprat, his intimate friend, several comedies
full of wit and gaiety. We have also of this writer a
prosaic paraphrase or commentary on Horace’s art of poetry.
In his latter years he became again a controversial writer,
and, as his countrymen say, imitated Bellarmine and
Moliere by turns. He died at Moritpellier in 1723, aged
eighty -three; and all his dramatic pieces were collected,
1735, in 3 vols. 12mo. His comedies have some merit,
but his tragedies and other works are deservedly sunk into
oblivion.
, a celebrated French writer, was born at Rouen, Aug. 26, 1688, and commenced his noviciate
, a celebrated French writer, was
born at Rouen, Aug. 26, 1688, and commenced his noviciate among the Jesuits of Paris, Sept. 8, 1704. In 1706,
he began his philosophical course in the royal college, and
in 1708 was sent to Caen to complete his studies that he
might take orders. Some of his pieces are dated from
that city in 1710 and 1712, and one from Bourges in 1719.
He appears indeed to have passed several years in the
country, where he taught rhetoric. In 1713, he returned
to Paris to study theology, and in 1722 he was again at
Paris, where he took the vows in the society of Jesuits,
and was intrusted with the education of the prince of Talmont. About the same time he assisted in the “Memoirs
of the Arts and Sciences,
” and continued his labours in
that journal until History of the Gallican church,
” of which six volumes
had been published by fathers Longueval and Fontenay.
In 1725, he was appointed professor of mathematics, and
filled that chair for six years with much reputation. It was
probably in this situation that he read his lecture, on the
“use of mathematical knowledge in polite literature,
”
now printed in the second volume of his works, nor did his
various public employments prevent his publishing many
other works, which were well received by the public. In
1722 he published, but without his name, his “Morale
Chretienne,
” Paris, a small volume, of which four editions
were soon bought up. In 1723, he also published the first
of his three letters, entitled “Examen du poema (de M. Racine) sur la grace,
” 8vo, and in La vie de
Timperatrice Eleonore,
” taken from that by father Ceva;
the same year, “Abreg des vertus de soeur Jeanne Silenie
de la Motte des Goutes,
” Moulins, 12mo; and a new edition of father Mourgues “Traite de la Poesie Francoise,
”
with many additions, 12mo. But the work which contributed most to his reputation was his “Greek Theatre,
”
entitled “Theatre des Grecs, contenant des traductions
ct analyses des tragedies Grecques, des discours et des remarques concernant la theatre Grec, &c.
” Brumoy,
” says Dr. Warton, “has displayed the excellencies of the Greek tragedy in a judicious and comprehensive manner. His
jtranslations are faithful and elegant; and the analysis of
those plays, which on account of some circumstances in
ancient manners would shock the readers of this age, and
would not therefore bear an entire version, is perspicuous
and full. Of all the French critics, he and the judicious
Fenelon have had the justice to confess, or perhaps the
penetration to perceive, in what instances Corneille and
Racine have falsified and modernized the characters, and
overloaded with unnecessary intrigues the simple plots of
the ancients.
”
, an Italian writer to whom atheism has been generally, but unjustly, imputed, was
, an Italian writer to whom atheism
has been generally, but unjustly, imputed, was born atNola
in the kingdom of Naples, about the middle of the sixteenth century. His talents are said to have been considerable, but this is hardly discoverable from his works: he
early, however, set up for an inquirer and innovator, and
very naturally found many things in the philosophy and
theology then taught in Italy, which he could not comprehend. Being fond of retirement and study, he entered
into a monastery of Dominicans, but the freedom of his
opinions, and particularly of his censures on the irregularities of the fraternity, rendered it soon necessary to
leave his order and his country. In 1582, he withdrew to
Geneva, where his heretical opinions gave offence to Calvin and Beza, and he was soon obliged to provide for his
safety by flight. After a short stay at Lyons he came to
Paris, and his innovating spirit recommended him to the
notice of multitudes, who at this time declared open hostilities against the authority of Aristotle. In a public disputation, held in the royal academy, in 1586, he defended,
three days successively, certain propositions concerning
nature and the world, which, together with brief heads of
the arguments, he afterwards published in Saxony, under
the title of “Acrotismus,
” or “Reasons of the physical
articles proposed against the Peripatetics at Paris.
” The
contempt with which Bruno, in the course of these debates,
treated Aristotle, exposed him to the resentment of the academic professors, who were zealous advocates for the old system; and he found it expedientto leave thekingdom of France.
According to some writers, he now visited England, in the
train of the French ambassador Castelneau, wherehe was hospitably received by sir Philip Sydney and sir Fulke Gre.ville,
and was introduced to queen Elizabeth. But though it is
certain from his writings that he was in England, he probably made this visit in some other part of his life, and we
should suppose before this, in 1583 or 1584. For, about
the middle of the same year in which he was at Paris, we
find him, at Wittenburg, a zealous adherent of Luther.
In this city he met with a liberal reception, and full permission to propagate his doctrines: but the severity with
which he inveighed against Aristotle, the latitude of his
opinions in religion as well as philosophy, and the contempt
with which he treated the masters of the public schools,
excited new jealousies; and complaints were lodged
against him before the senate of the university. To escape
the disgrace which threatened him, Bruno, after two years
residence in Wittenburg, left that place, and took refuge
in Helmstadt, where the known liberality of the duke of
Brunswick encouraged him to hope for a secure asylum.
But either through the restlessness of his disposition, or
through unexpected opposition, he went next year to
Francfort, to superintend an edition of his works, but before it was completed was obliged again, probably from
fear of persecution, to quit that city. His next residence
was at Padua; where the boldness with which h.e taught
his new doctrines, and inveighed against the court of
Rome, caused him to be apprehended and brought before
the inquisition at Venice. There he was tried, and convicted of his errors. Forty days being allowed him to deliberate, he promised to retract them, and as at the expiration of that term, he still maintained his errors, he obtained
a further respite for forty days. At last, it appearing that
he imposed upon the pope in order to prolong his life, sentence was finally passed upon him on the 9th of February
1600. He made no offer to retract during the week that
was allowed him afterwards for that purpose, but underwent his punishment on the 17th, by being burnt at a stake.
wered in “A Letter to Jacob Bryant, esq.” Dr. Priestley, indeed, was not likely to be persuaded by a writer who insinuated that his “necessity” of philosophers was no other
About this time was published Mr. Wood’s “Essay on.
the original genius and writings of Homer.
” Of this posthumous work, Mr. Bryant was the editor, the author having left his Mss. to his care; and in the same year, the
“Vindiciae Flavians),
” a tract on the much disputed testimony of Josephus to Christ, was printed, and a few copies sent to a bookseller in either university; but as the
pamphlet appeared without the name of its author, and no
attention was shewed it, Mr. Bryant recalled them, and
satisfied himself with distributing the copies thus returned
amongst a few particular friends. The new light, however, which Mr. Bryant threw upon the subject, and the
acuteness with which the difficulties attending it were discussed, soon brought the work into notice, and Mr. Bryant
published it with his name in 1780, and has effectually vindicated the authenticity of the passage in question. It is
no mean testimony of his success in this undertaking, that
Dr. Priestley confessed that Mr. Bryant had made a complete convert of him. That his conversion, however, extended no farther than the present subject, appeared in the
same year, when Mr. Bryant published “An Address to
Dr. Priestley, upon his doctrine of Philosophical Necessity illustrated,
” 8vo, which the doctor with his usual rapidity, answered in “A Letter to Jacob Bryant, esq.
”
Dr. Priestley, indeed, was not likely to be persuaded by a
writer who insinuated that his “necessity
” of philosophers was no other than the “predestination
” of Calvinists.
With respect to the “Vindiciae Flavians,
” it yet remains
to be mentioned that there is a great affinity between this
publication, and the observations on the same subject of a
learned Frenchman. See a letter to Dr. Kippis, at the
end of his life of Dr. Lardner, by Dr. Henley, where the
arguments for and against the authenticity of the passage
are distinctly stated.
, a law- writer and antiquary, son and heir of John Bry<lal, esq. of the Rolls
, a law-writer and antiquary, son and heir of John Bry<lal, esq. of the Rolls
Liberty, was born in Somersetshire about 1635, and became a commoner of Queen’s college, Oxford, in Michaelmas term, 1651, where he took a degree in arts in -1655,
but left the university without completing it by determination. He then settled in Lincoln’s inn, and after the
usual course of law studies was admitted to the bar. After
the restoration he became secretary to sir Harbottle Grirnston, master of the rolls. When he died is uncertain, as
he survived the publication of Wood’s Athenae, from which
we have extracted this brief notice of him, but he appears
to have been living in 1704. He published several law
treatises, some of which are still in estimation: 1. “Jus
imaginis apud Anglos, or the Law of England relating to
the Nobility and Gentry,
” Jus Sigilli; or the law of England touching the four principal
Seals, the great seal, privy seal, exchequer seal, and the
signet; also those grand officers to whose custody those
seals are committed,
” Speculum Juris
Anglicani; or a view of the Laws of England, as they are
divided into statutes, common-law, and customs,
” Jus criminis, or an abridgment of the laws of
treason, murther, conspiracies, poisonings, &c.
” Camera Regis, or a short view of Lon^
don, viz. antiquity, &c, officers, courts, customs, franchises,
” &c. Decus et tutamen; or a prospect of the laws of England, framed for the safeguard of
the king’s majesty,
” Ars transferendi; of
sure guide to the conveyancer,
” Non
compos mentis; or, the law relating to natural fools, mad
folks, and lunatic persons,
” Lex Spuriorum; or, the law relating to bastardy, collected from the
common, civil, and ecclesiastical laws,
” Declaration of the divers preheminences or privileges
allowed by the laws and customs of England, unto the firstborn among her majesty’s subjects the temporal lords in
parliament,
” Jura
Coronae; or, his majesty’s royal rights and prerogatives
asserted against papal usurpations, and all other antimonarchical attempts and practices,
”
, the last writer on music in the Greek language that has come to our knowledge,
, the last writer on music in the Greek language that has come to our knowledge, flourished under the elder Paiaeologus, about the year 1320, and it is probable that he was a descendant of the house of Brienne, an ancient French family, that went into Greece during the crusades, at the beginning of the thirteenth century. His work is divided into three books, all which are confined to harmonics: the first is a kind of commentary on Euclid; and the second and third little more than explanations of the doctrines of Ptolemy. Meibomius had promised a Latin translation of this book, but dying before it was finished, Dr. 'Wallis performed the task, and it now constitutes a part of the third volume of his works, published at Oxford, 1699, 3 vols. fol.
, a medical writer of great popularity, descended of a respectable family in R
, a medical writer of great popularity, descended of a respectable family in Roxburghshire,
was born at Ancram in the year 1729. Having passed
through the usual school education, he was sent to the
university at Edinburgh. His inclination leading him to
mathematics, he became so considerable a proficient in
that branch of science, as to be enabled to give private
lessons to many of the pupils. Having made choice of medicine for his profession, he attended the lectures of the
several professors, necessary to qualify him for practice;,
and as he was of a studious turn of mind, his progress ia
knowledge may be supposed to have been equal to his application.
After having passed a period of not less than nine years
at the university, he first settled in practice at Sheffield,
in Yorkshire. He was soon afterwards elected physician to
a large branch of the Foundling hospital then established at
Ackworth. In the course of two years he reduced the annual number of deaths among the children from one half
to one in fifteen; and by the establishment of due regulations for the preservation of health, greatly diminished the
previously burthensome expense of medical attendance.
In this situation, he derived from experience that knowledge of. the complaints, and of the general treatment of
children, which was afterwards published in “The Domestic Medicine,
” and in the “Advice to Mothers;
”
works which, considering their very general diffusion, have
no doubt tended to ameliorate the treatment of children,
and consequently to improve the constitutions of the present generation of the inhabitants of this country. When
that institution was dissolved, in consequence of parliament
withdrawing their support from it, Dr Buchan returned to
Edinburgh, where he became a fellow of the royal college
of physicians, and settled in the practice of his profession,
relying in some measure on the countenance and support
of the relations of the lady he married, who was of a respectable family in that city. On the death of one of the
professors, the doctor offered himself as a candidate for
the vacant chair, but did not succeed.
The genius and erudition of Buchanan have procured him, as a writer, the applause even of his enemies: but, as a man, he has been
The genius and erudition of Buchanan have procured
him, as a writer, the applause even of his enemies: but,
as a man, he has been the subject of the most virulent invectives. Far from confining themselves to truth, they
have not even kept within the bounds of probability; and
some of the calumnies which have been published against
him, related by Bayle, are calculated only to excite our
risibility. The learned John Le Clerc has very ably shewn,
that there is much reason to conclude, that many of the
severe censures which have been thrown out against Buchanan, were the result of ignorance, of prejudice, and of
party animosity. That he was himself influenced by some
degree of partiality to the party with which he was connected, that he was sometimes deceived by the reports of
others, and that in the earlier part of his History, his zeal
for the honour of his country has led him into some misrepresentations, may be admitted: but we do not apprehend
that he wilfully and intentionally violated the truth, or that
there is any just ground for questioning his integrity. Le
Clerc observes, that as to the share which Buchanan had
in public affairs, it appears even from the Memoirs of sir
James Melvil, who was of the opposite party, that “he
distinguished himself by his probity, and by his moderation.
” The prejudices of many writers against him have
been very great: he had satirized the priests, and many
of them therefore were his most inveterate enemies; he
was generally odious to the bigotted advocates for the Romish church, and to the partisans of Mary; and his free
and manly spirit rendered him extremely disagreeable to
court flatterers and parasites, and the defenders of tyranny.
His dialogue " De Jure Regni/' which certainly contains
some of the best and most rational principles of government, whatever may be thought of some particular sentiments, and which displays uncommon acuteness and extent of knowledge, has been one source of the illiberal
abuse that has been thrown out against him. But it is a
performance that really does him great honour; and the
rather, because it was calculated to enforce sound maxims
of civil policy, in an age in which they were generally
little understood. Some farther testimonies of authors
concerning him may be found in our references.
, esq. a very ingenious but unfortunate writer, was born at St. Thomas, near Exeter, about 1685, and educated
, esq. a very ingenious but unfortunate writer, was born at St. Thomas, near Exeter,
about 1685, and educated at Christ-church, Oxford. His
father, Gilbert Budgell, D. D. descended of an ancient
family in Devonshire; his mother, Mary, was only
daughter of Dr. William Gulston, bishop of Bristol, whose
sister Jane married dean Addison, and was mother to the
famous Addison. After some years stay in the university,
Mr. Budgell went to London, and was entered of the Inner Temple, in order to study law, for which his father
always intended him; but his inclinations led him more to
study polite literature, and keep company with the genteelest persons in town. During his stay at the Temple,
he contracted a strict intimacy and friendship with Addison, who was first cousin to his mother; and when Addison was appointed secretary to lord Wharton,
lord-lieutenant of Ireland, he offered to make his friend Eustace one of the clerks of his office, which Mr. Budgell
readily accepted. This was in April 1710, when he was
about twenty-five years of age. He had by this time read
the classics, the most reputed historian^ and the best
French, English, and Italian writers, and became concerned with Steele and Addison, not in writing the Tatler,
as has been asserted, but the Spectator, which was begun
in 1711. Ail the papers marked with an X were written
by him, and the whole eighth volume is attributed to Addison and himself, without the assistance of Steele. Several little epigrams and songs, which have a good deal of
wit in them, together with the epilogue to the “Distressed
Mother,
” which had a greater run than any thing of the
kind before, were also written by Mr. Budgell near this
time; all which, together with the known affection of Addison for him, raised his character so much as to give him
considerable consequence in the literary and political
world. Upon the laying down of the Spectator, the
Guardian was set up; and to this work our author contributed, along with Addison and Steele. In the preface it
is said, that those papers marked with an asterisk were
written by Mr. Budgell.
Mr. Budgell, as a writer, is very agreeable; not argumentative, or deep, but ingenious
Mr. Budgell, as a writer, is very agreeable; not argumentative, or deep, but ingenious and entertaining; and
his style was thought peculiarly elegant, and almost
ranked with Addison’s, and it is certainly superior to that
of most English writers. Besides what are above mentioned, he published: “Memoirs of the Lives and Characters of the family of the Boyles,
”
, a learned metaphysician, and voluminous writer, was born in Poland, of French parents, May 25, 1661. His parents
, a learned metaphysician, and voluminous writer, was born in Poland, of French parents,
May 25, 1661. His parents having removed to Rouen, he
was educated there, and afterwards entered among the Jesuits at Paris in 1679, and took the four vows “in 1695.
In 1698 he went to Rome, not at the invitation of the general of his order, as has been asserted, but merely to see
that celebrated city, in which he remained about four
months, and then returned to Paris, where he passed the
greater part of his life in the Jesuits college. Here he was
first employed on the
” Memoires de Trevoux,“and afterwards wrote his numerous separate publications. He died
May 17, 1737. His eloge appeared in the
” Memoires“in the same year, but principally regards his writings, as
his life appears to have passed without any striking or characteristic circumstances, being entirely devoted to the
composition of works of learning or piety, of which the
following is supposed to be a correct list: 1. Some French
verses on the taking of Mons and Montmelian, inserted in
the
” Recueil de vers choisis,“Paris, 1701, 12mo. 2.
” La
vie de PHermite de Compiegne,“Paris, 1692, 1737, 12mo.
3.
” Vie de Dominique George,“abbot of Valricher, Paris,
1696, 12mo. 4.
” Pratique de la memoire artificielle
pour apprendre et pour retenir la chronologic, Phistoire
universeile, c.“Paris, 1701, 3 vols. and often reprinted
and extended to 4 vols. 5.
” Verites consolantes du Christianisme,“ibid. 1718, 2d edit. 16mo. 6.
” Histoire de
Porigine du royaume de Sicile et de Naples,“ibid. 1701,
12mo. 7.
” La pratique des devoirs des cures,“from the
Italian, Lyons, 1702, 12mo. 8.
” Abrege de l‘histoire
d’Espagne,“Paris, 1704, 12mo. 9.
” Examen de prejuges vulgaires pour disposer F esprit a juger sainement
detout,“ibid. 1704, 12mo. 10.
” Les Abeilles,“a fable.
11.
” Le degat du Parnasse, ou La Fausse litterature,“a
poem, ibid. 1705. 12.
” La vie du comte Louis de Sales,“ibid. 1708, 12mo, afterwards translated into Italian, and
often reprinted. 13.
” Grammaire Franchise sur un plan
nouveau,“ibid. 1709, 12mo, often reprinted. 14. e6 Le
veritable esprit et le saint emploi des fetes de l'eglise,
”
ibid. 1712, 12mo. 15. “Les prlncipes du raisonnement
exposes en deu:: logiques nouvelles, avec des remarques
sur les logiques,
” &c. ibid. Geographic universelle avec le secours des vers artificiels et avec
des cartes,
” ibid. Homere en
arbitrage,
” ibid. Hist, chronologique da
dernier siecle, e.
” from the year Introduction a l‘histoire de maisons souveraines de
l’Europe,
” Paris, Exercice dela
piete,
” &c. ib. Tableau chronologique de l'histoire universelle en forme de jeu,
” Paris,
Nouveau x elomens d'histoire et de geographic,
” Paris, Sentimens Chretien sur les
principales verites de la religion,
” in prose and verse, and
with engravings, Traite* des premieres verites,
” Paris, First Truths, and the
origin of our opinions explained; with an inquiry into the
sentiments of moral philosophers, relative to our primary
notions of things,
” 8vo. The author has proved himself
to be a metaphysician of considerable abilities, and with
many it will be no diminution of his merit, that he starts
some principles here, which were afterwards adopted and
expanded by Drs. Reid, Oswald, and Beattie, under the
denomination of common sense. To prove how much
these gentlemen have been indebted to him, appears to be
the sole object of this translation, and especially of the
preface, which, says one of the literary Journals, “though
it is not destitute of shrewdness, yet is so grossly illiberal,
that we remember not to have read any thing so offensive
to decency and good manners, even in the rancorous productions of some of the late controvertists in metaphysics.
The writer hath exceeded Dr. Priestley in the abuse of the
Scotch doctors; but with a larger quantity of that author’s
virulence, hath unluckily too small a portion of his ingenuity and good sense, to recompense for that shameful affront to candour and civility which is too flagrant in every
page, to escape the notice or indignation of any unprejudiced reader.
”
es, a famous anabaptist preacher; Dr. Lewis Du Moulin, an independent; and by M. De Marets, a French writer, who tells us, “that the author, though a professed priest of
Whilst he remained minister of this parish, the providence of God wonderfully interposed for the preservation
of his life; for his lodgings being near a powder-mill, Mr.
Morgan, a gentleman of the parish, represented to him.
the danger of his situation, and at the same time invited
him to his own house. Mr. Bull, at first, modestly declined the offer, but after some importunity accepted it;
and, not many days after his removal to Mr. Morgan’s, the
mill was blown up, and his apartment with it. In this part
of his life he took a journey once a year to Oxford, where
he stayed about two months, to enjoy the benefit of the
public libraries. In his way to and from Oxford, he always
paid a visit to sir William Masters, of Cirencester, by
which means he contracted an intimacy with Mr. Alexander pregory, the minister of the place, and after some
time married Bridget, one of his daughters, on the 20th
of May, 1658. The same year he was presented by the
lady Pool, to the rectory of Suddington St. Mary, near
Cirencester, in Gloucestershire. The next year, 1659,
he was made privy to the design of a general insurrection in favour of king Charles II. and several gentlemen
of that neighbourhood who were in the secret, chose
his house at Suddington for one of the places of their
meeting. Upon the restoration, Mr. Bull frequently
preached for his father-in-law, Mr. Gregory, at Cirencester, where there was a large and populous congregation; and his sermons gave such general satisfaction,
that, upon a vacancy, the people were very solicitous to
have procured for him the presentation; but the largeness
of the parish, and the great duty attending it, deterred
him Trom consenting to the endeavours they were making
for that purpose. In 1662, he was presented by the lord
high-chancellor, the earl of Clarendon, to the vicarage of
Suddington St. Peter, which lay contiguous to Suddington
St. Mary, at the request of his diocesan Dr. Nicholson,
bishop of Gloucester, both livings not exceeding 100l. a
year. When Mr. Bull came first to the rectory of Suddington, he began to be more open in the use of the liturgy of the church of England, though it was not yet
restored by the return of the king; for, being desired to
marry a couple, he performed the ceremony, on a Sunday
morning, in the face of the whole congregation, according
to the form prescribed by the book of common -prayer.
He took the same method in governing these parishes, as
in that of St. George’s, and with the same success; applying himself with great diligence to the discharge of his
pastoral functions, and setting the people an admirable
example in the government and œconomy of his own
family. During his residence here, he had an opportunity of confirming two ladies of quality in the protestant
communion, who were reduced to a wavering state of mind
by the arts and subtleties of the Romish missionaries. The
only dissenters he had in his parish were quakers; whose
extravagances often gave him no small uneasiness. In
this part of his life, Mr. Bull prosecuted his studies with
great application, and composed most of his works during
the twenty-seven years that he was rector of Suddington.
Several tracts, indeed, which cost him much pains, are entirely lost, through his own neglect in preserving them;
particularly a treatise on the posture used by the ancient
Christians in receiving the Eucharist; a letter to Dr. Pearson concerning the genuineness of St. Ignatius’ s epistles; a
long one to Mr. Glanvil, formerly minister of Bath, concerning the eternity of future punishments; and another,
on the subject of popery, to a person of very great quality.
In 1669, he published his Apostolical Harmony, with a
view to settle the peace of the church, upon a point of the
utmost importance to all its members; and he dedicated it
to Dn William Nicholson, bishop of Gloucester. This
performance was greatly disliked, at first, by many of the
clergy, and others, on account of the author’s departing
therein from the private opinions of some doctors of the
church, and his manner of reconciling the two apostles St.
Paul and St. James, as to the doctrine of justification. It
was particularly opposed by Dr. Morley, bishop of
WinChester; Dr. Barlow, Margaret-professor of divinity at Oxford; Mr. Charles Gataker, a presbyterian divine; Mr. Joseph Truman, a non-conformist minister; Dr. Tully, principal of St. Edmund’s-hall; Mr. John Tombes, a famous
anabaptist preacher; Dr. Lewis Du Moulin, an independent; and by M. De Marets, a French writer, who tells
us, “that the author, though a professed priest of the
church of England, was more addicted to the papists, remonstrants, and Socinians, than to the orthodox party.
”
Towards the end of 1675, Mr. Bull published his “Examen Censuræ,
” &c. in answer to Mr. Gataker, and his
“Apologia pro Harmonia,
” &c. in reply to Dr. Tully. Mr.
Bull’s notion on this subject was “That good works, which
proceed from faith, and are conjoined with faith, are a
necessary condition required from us by God, to the end
that by the new and evangelical covenant, obtained by
and sealed in the blood of Christ the Mediator of it, we
may be justified according to his free and unmerited
grace.
” In this doctrine, and throughout the whole book,
Mr. Bull absolutely excludes all pretensions to merit on
the part of men; but the work nevertheless excited the
jealousy of many able divines both in the church and
among the dissenters, as appears from the above list.
About three years after, he was promoted by the earl of
Nottingham, then lord chancellor, to a prebend in the
church of Gloucester, in which he was installed the 9th of
October, 1678. In 1680, he finished his “Defence of
the Nicene Faith,
” of which he had given a hint five years
before in his Apology. This performance, which is levelled
against the Arians and Socinians on one hand, and the
Tritheists and Sabellians on the other, was received with
universal applause, and its fame spread into foreign countries, where it was highly esteemed by the best judges of
antiquity, though of different persuasions. Five years after
its publication, the author was presented, by Philip Sheppard, esq. to the rectory of Avening in Gloucestershire, a
very large parish, and worth two hundred pounds per annum. The people of this parish, being many of them
very dissolute and immoral, and many more disaffected to
the church of England, gave him for some time great trouble and uneasiness; but, by his prudent conduct and diligent discharge of his duty, he at last got the better of their
prejudices, and converted their dislike iuto the most cordial love and affection towards him. He had not been
long at Avening, before he was promoted, by archbishop
Sancroft, to the archdeaconry of Landaff, in which he was
installed the 20th of June, 1686. He was invited soon
after to Oxford, where the degree of doctor in divinity
was conferred upon him by that university, without the
payment of the usual fees, in consideration of the great
and eminent services he had done the church. During the
reign of James II. the doctor preached very warmly against
popery, with which the nation was then threatened. Some
time after the revolution, he was put into the commission
of the peace, and continued in it, with some little interruption, till he was made a bishop. In 1694, whilst he
continued rector of Avening, he published his “Judicium
Ecclesia? Catholicse, &c.
” in defence of the “Anathema,
”
as his former book had been of the Faith, decreed by the
first council of Nice. The last treatise which Dr. Bull
wrote, was his “Primitive Apostolical Tradition,
” &c.
against Daniel Zwicker, a Prussian. All Dr. Bull’s Latin
works, which he had published by himself at different times,
were collected together, and printed in 1703, in one volume in folio, under the care and inspection of Dr. John
Ernest Grabe, the author’s age and infirmities disabling
him from undertaking this edition. The ingenious editor
illustrated the work with many learned annotations, and
ushered it into the world with an excellent preface. Dr,
Bull was in the seventy-first year of his age, when he was
acquainted with her majesty’s gracious intention of conferring on him the bishopric of St. David’s; which promotion he at first declined, on account of his ill state of health
and advanced years; but, by the importunity of his friends,
and strong solicitations from the governors o*f the church,
he was at last prevailed upon to accept it, and was accordingly consecrated in Lambeth-chapel, the 29th of April,
1705. Two years after, he lost his eldest son, Mr. George
Bull, who died of the small-pox the 11th of May, 1707, in,
the thirty-seventh year of his age. Our prelate took his
seat in the house of lords in that memorable session, when
the bill passed for the union of the two kingdoms, and
spoke in a debate which happened upon that occasion, in
favour of the church of England. About July after his
consecration, he went into his diocese, and was received
with all imaginable demonstrations of respect by the gentry and clergy. The episcopal palace at Aberguilly being
much out of repair, he chose the town of Brecknock for
the place of his residence; but was obliged, about half a
year before his death, to remove from thence to Abermarless, for the benefit of a freer air. He resided constantly in his diocese, and carefully discharged all the episcopal functions. Though bishop Bull was a great admirer
of our ecclesiastical constitution, yet he would often lament the distressed state of the church of England, chiefly
owing to the decay of ancient discipline, and the great
number of lay-impropriations, which he considered as a
species of sacrilege, and insinuated that he had known instances of its being punished by the secret curse which
hangs over sacrilegious persons. Some time before his
last sickness, he entertained thoughts of addressing a circular letter to all his clergy; and, after his death, there was
found among his papers one drawn up to that purpose. He
had greatly impaired his health, by too intense and unseasonable an application to his studies, and, on the 27th of
September, 1709, was taken with a violent fit of coughing,
which brought on a spitting of blood. About the beginning of February following, he was seized with a distemper, supposed to be an ulcer, or what they call the inward
piles; of which he died the 17th of the same month, and
was buried, about a week after his death, at Brecknock/
leaving behind him but two children out of eleven.
As a writer he has conferred some obligations on the profession. His “Introduction
As a writer he has conferred some obligations on the profession. His “Introduction to the law relative to Trials at
Nisi Prius,
”
, a learned French writer, member of the academies of Besanc, on, Lyons, and Dijon, and
, a learned French writer,
member of the academies of Besanc, on, Lyons, and Dijon,
and a corresponding member of the academy of inscriptions, was born in 1699, and was professor of divinity in
the university of Besangon from the year 1728; and afterwards dean. He had a surprising memory, and although
devoted to controversial -studies, was of a mild and affable
disposition. His works are of two kinds; some turning
on religious matters, and others on literary inquiry. They
are all accurate and solid; but we are not to look in them
for elegance of style. The principal of them are: 1 “History of the establishment of Christianity, taken from Jewish
and Pagan authors alone,
” The existence of God demonstrated by nature,
” 2 vols. 8vo. 3.
“Answer to some objections of unbelievers to the Bible,
”
3 vols. 12mo. 4. “De apostolica ecclesise Gallicanae origiue,
” Memoirs on the Celtic tongue,
”
Researches into the history of
Cards,
” A dissertation on the history of
France,
”
dness, but not without frequent checks of conscience. One day being at play with his companions (the writer of his life tells us), a voice suddenly darted from heaven into
, author of the justly-admired allegory
of the “Pilgrim’s Progress,
” was born at Elstow, near
Bedford, Wilt thou leave thy sins and go to
heaven, or have thy sins and go to hell!
” This put him
into such a consternation, that he immediately left his
sport; and looking up to heaven, thought he saw the Lord
Jesus looking down upon him, as one highly displeased
with him, and threatening him with some grievous punishment for his ungodly practices. At another time, whilst
he was uttering many oaths, he was severely reproved by
a woman, who was herself a notorious sinner: she told
him he was the ugliest fellow for swearing that ever she
heard in all her life, and that he was able to spoil all the
youth of the town, if they came but into his company.
This reproof coming from a woman, whom he knew to be
very wicked, filled him with secret shame; and made him,
from that time, very much refrain from it. His father
brought him up to his own business, which was that of a
tinker. Being a soldier in the parliament army, at the
siege of Leicester, in 1645, he was drawn out to stand
sentinel; but another soldier of his company desired to
take his place, to which he agreed, and thus escaped being
shot by a musket-ball, which took off his comrade. About
1655 he was admitted a member of a baptist congregation
at Bedford, and soon after was chosen their preacher. In
1660, being convicted at the sessions of holding unlawful
assemblies and conventicles, he was sentenced to perpetual
banishment, and in the mean time committed to gaol, from
which he was discharged, after a confinement of twelve
years and an half, by the compassionate interposition of
Dr. Barlow, bishop of Lincoln. During his imprisonment,
his own hand ministered to his necessities, making many
an hundred gross of long-tagged thread laces, a trade which
he had learned since his confinement. At this time he
also wrote many of his tracts, particularly the “Pilgrim’s
Progress.
” Afterwards, being at liberty, he travelled into
several parts of England, to visit and confirm the brethren,
which procured him the epithet of Bishop Bunyan. When
the declaration of James II. for liberty of conscience was
published, he, by the contributions of his followers, built
a meeting-house in Bedford, and preached constantly to
a numerous audience. He died in London of a fever,
1688, aged sixty. He had by his wife four children, one
of whom, named Mary, was blind. This daughter, he
said, lay nearer his heart whilst he was in prison, than all
the rest; and that the thought of her enduring hardship
would be sometimes almost ready to break his heart, but
that God greatly supported him by these two texts of
scripture, “Leave the fatherless children, I will preserve
them alive; and let the widows trust in. me. The Lord
said, Verily it shall be well with thy remnant; verily I
will cause the enemy to entreat thee well in the time of
evil.
” Jer. xlix. 11. and chap. xv. 11. His works are collected in two volumes in folio, printed at London in 1736-7,
and reprinted in 1760, and often since in various forms.
The continuator of his life, in the second of those volumes,
tells us, that “he appeared in countenance to be of a
stern and rough temper, but in his conversation mild and
affable; not given to loquacity, or much discourse in company, unless some urgent occasion required it; observing
never to boast of himself or his parts, but rather seem low
in his own eyes, and submit himself to the judgment o
others; abhorring lying and swearing; being just in all
that lay in his power to his word; not seeking to revenge
injuries, loving to reconcile differences, and making friendship with all. He had a sharp quick eye; accompanied
with an excellent discerning of persons, being of good
judgment and quick wit. As for his person, he was tall of
stature, strong boned, though not corpulent: somewhat
of a ruddy face, with sparkling eyes, wearing, his hair oil
his upper lip, after the old British fashion; his hair reddish, but in his latter days time had sprinkled it with gray;
his nose well-set, but not declining or bending, and his
mouth moderately large; his forehead something high,
and his habit always plain and modest.
”
, a moral and political writer, was born at Madderty, in Perthshire, Scotland, in the latter
, a moral and political writer, was born at Madderty, in Perthshire, Scotland, in the latter end of the year 1714. His father was minister of that parish, and his mother was aunt to the celebrated historian Dr. Robertson. His grammatical education he received at the school of the place which gave him birth, where he discovered such a quickness and facility in imbibing literary instruction, that his master used to say, that his scholar would soon acquire all the knowledge that it was in his power to communicate. In due time young Burgh was removed to the University of St. Andrew’s, with a view of becoming a clergyman in the church of Scotland; but he did not continue long at the college, on account of a bad state of health, which induced him to lay aside the thoughts of the clerical profession, and enter into trade, in the linen, way; which he was enabled to do with the greater prospect of advantage, as he had lately obtained a handsome fortune by the death of his eldest brother. In business, however, he was not at all successful; for, by giving injudicious credit, he was soon deprived of his property. Not long after this misfortune, he came to London, where his first employment was to correct the press for the celebrated Mr. Bowyer; and at his leisure hours he made indexes. After being engaged about a year in this way, during which, he became acquainted with some friends who were highly serviceable to him in his future plans of life, he removed to Great Marlow, in Buckinghamshire, as an assistant at the free grammar-school of that town; and whilst he continued in this situation, the school is said to have been considerably increased. During his residence at Marlow, he met with only one gentleman who was suited to his own turn of mind. With that gentleman, who was a man of piety, and of extensive reading in divinity, though no classicai scholar, he contracted a particular friendship. At Marlow it was that Mr. Burgh first commenced author, by writing a pamphlet, entitled Britain’s Remembrancer," and which was published, if we mistake not, a little after the beginning of the rebellion, in 1745. This tract contained an enumeration of the national blessings and deliverances which Great Britain had received; with pathetic exhortations to a right improvement of them, by a suitable course of piety and virtue. It appeared without Mr. Burgh’s name, as was the case with his works in general, and was so much read and applauded by persons of a religious temper, that it went through five editions in little more than two years, was reprinted in Scotland, Ireland, and America, and again in London 1766. Mr. Barker, at that time one of the most eminent ministers among the protestant dissenters in London, spoke highly of it, in a sermon preaghed at Salters’-hall and publicly thanked the unknown author, for so seasonable and useful a performance.
the enjoyment of a long and pleasant old age. In his youth he passed some time in Holland, and was a writer in the Journal de l'Europe. On his return he was much caressed
, was born at Rheims in 1691,
and was member of the academy of belles-lettres at Paris,
He died in that city Oct. 8, 1785, at the age of ninetyfour, at that time the father of French literature, and
perhaps the oldest author in Europe. His great tranquillity of mind, and the gentleness of his disposition,
procured him the enjoyment of a long and pleasant old
age. In his youth he passed some time in Holland, and
was a writer in the Journal de l'Europe. On his return he
was much caressed by the learned, and in his latter days
had a pension of 2000 livres granted, without any application, by the last king of France. At ninety-two his
health was robust, his memory extensive, and he composed
and wrote with facility. His works are, 1. “A treatise on
the Authority of the Popes,
” History of the Pagan Philosophy,
” The*ologie pa'ienne.
” 3. “General History of Sicily,
” Porphyry on Abstinence from Meats,
”
History of the Revolutions of Constantinople,
” 3 vols. 12mo, 1750. 6. “Life of Grotius,
” Life of Erasmus,
” 1761, 12mo. 9.
” Life of cardinal
du Perron," 1768, 12mo. The historical works of M. de
Burigny are esteemed for the accuracy and abundance of
the facts they contain. But he is a cold narrator; has but
little force and expression in his portraits, and is sometimes rather prolix in his details. His Life of Grotius is a
very valuable work, and was published in English in 1754,
8vo. For that of Erasmus, Dr. Jortin may be consulted.
entitled “A Vindication of Natural Society,” 1756, 8vo. To assume the style and character of such a writer, who had passed through all the high gradations of official
It is certain, however, that about 1753 he came to London, and entered himself, as already noticed, as a student
of the Middle Temple, where he is said to have studied,
as in every other situation, with unremitting diligence.
Many of his habits and conversations were long remembered at the Grecian coffee-house (then the great rendezvous of the students of the Middle Temple), and they
were such as were highly creditable to his morals and his
talents. With the former, indeed, we should not know
jhow to reconcile a connection imputed to him at this time
with Mrs. Woffington, the actress, if we gave credit to the
report; but it is not very likely, that one in Mr. Burke’s
narrow circumstances would have been admitted to more
than a slight acquaintance with a lady of that description.
Though by the death of his elder brother, he was to have
succeeded to a very comfortable patrimony, yet as his.
father was living, and had other children, it could not be
supposed that his allowance was very ample. This urged
him to draw upon his genius for the deficiency of fortune,
and we are told that he became a frequent contributor to
the periodical publications. His first publication is said to
have been a poem, which did not succeed. There is no
certain information, however, concerning these early productions, unless that he found it necessary to apply with
so much assiduity as to injure his health. A dangerous
illness ensued, and he resorted for medical advice to Dr.
Nugent, a physician whose skill in his profession was
equalled only by the benevolence of his heart. He was,
if we are not mistaken, a countryman of Burke’s, a Roman
catholic, and at one time an author by profession. This
benevolent friend, considering that the noise and various
disturbances incidental to chambers, must retard the recovery of his patient, furnished him with apartments in
his own house, where the attention of every member of
the family contributed more than medicine to the recovery
of his health. It was during this period that the amiable
manners of miss Nugent, the doctor’s daughter, made a
deep impression on the heart of Burke; and as she could
not be insensible to such merit as his, they felt for each,
other a mutual attachment, and were married soon after
his recovery. With this lady he appears to have enjoyed
uninterrupted felicity. He often declared to his intimate
friends, “That, in all the anxious moments of his public
life, every care vanished when he entered his own house.
”
Mr. Burke' s first known publication, although not immediately known, was his very happy imitation of Bolingbroke, entitled “A Vindication of Natural Society,
” The critics knew the turn of his
periods; his style; his phrases; and above all, the matchless dexterity of his nietaphysical pen: and amongst these,
nobody distinguished himself more than the lately departed
veteran of the stage, Charles Macklin; who, with the
pamphlet in his hand, used frequently to exclaim at the
Grecian coffee-house (where he gave a kind of literary law to the young Templars at that time),
” Oh! sir, this must
be Harry Bolingbroke: I know him by his cloven foot."
But much of this account is mere assumption. Macklin,
and such readers as Macklin, might be deceived; but no
man was deceived whose opinion deserved attention. The
public critics certainly immediately discovered the imitation, and one at least of them was not very well pleased
with it. We are told, indeed, that lord Chesterfield and
bishop Warburton were at first deceived; but this proves
only the exactness of the imitation; a more attentive perusal discovered the writer’s real intention.
Mr. Burke’s fame as a writer was now established; and what added another wreath to this character
Mr. Burke’s fame as a writer was now established; and what added another wreath to this character were some pamphlets written before the peace of 1763. These introduced him to the acquaintance of the late Mr. Fitzherbert, father of the present lord St. Helen’s; a gentleman who esteemed and protected men of letters; and who possessed, with a considerable share of elegant knowledge, talents for conversation which were very rarely equalled. Through the medium of Mr. Fitzherbert, and owing to some political essays in the Public Advertiser, he became acquainted with the late marquis of Rockingham, and the late lord Verney; events which opened the first great dawn of his political life: and soon after his acquaintance with lord Rockingham, a circumstance took place which gave this nobleman an opportunity to draw forth Mr. Burke' s talents. The administration formed in 1763, under the honourable George Grenville, becoming unpopular from various causes, his majesty, through the recommendation of his uncle, the duke of Cumberland, appointed a new ministry, of which the duke of Grafton and general Conway were secretaries of state, and the marquis of Rockingham first lord of the treasury. In this arrangement, which took place in 1765, Mr. Burke was appointed private secretary to the marquis of Rockingham, and soon after, through the interest of lord Verney, was returned one of the representatives in parliament for the borough of Wendover in Buckinghamshire. On this he prepared himself for becoming a public speaker, by studying, still more closely than he had yet done, history, poetry, and philosophy; and by storing his mind with facts, images, reasonings, and sentiments. He paid great attention likewise to parliamentary usage; and was at much pains to become acquainted with old records, patents, and precedents, so as to render himself complete master of the business of office. That he might communicate without embarrassment the knowledge which he had thus acquired, he frequented, with many other men of eminence, the Robin Hood society; and, thus prepared, he delivered in the ensuing session his maiden speech, which excited the admiration of the house, and drew very high praise from Mr. Pitt, afterwards earl of Chatham. The proceedings of the administration with which Mr. Burke was connected, belong to history; and it may be sufficient here to notice, that the principal object which engaged their attention was the stamp-act, which had excited great discontents in America. Mr. Grenville and his party, under whose auspices this act was passed, were for inforcing it by coercive measures; and Mr. Pitt and his followers denied that the parliament of Great Britain had a right to tax the Americans. By Mr. Burke’s advice, as it has been said, the marquis of Rockingham adopted a middle course, repealing the act to gratify the Americans, and passing a law declaratory of the right of Great Britain to legislate for America in taxation, as in every other case. But by whatever advice such a measure was carried, it argued little wisdom, the repeal and the declaratory act being inconsistent with each other. The ministry were therefore considered as unfit to guide the helm of a great empire, and were obliged to give way to a new arrangement, formed under the auspices of Mr. Pitt, then earl of Chatham. This change created a considerable deal of political commotion; and the public papers and pamphlets of that day turned their satire against the newly-created earl of Chatham; they charged him with weakening and dividing an interest which the public wished to be supported; and lending his great name and authority to persons who were supposed to be of a party which had been long held to be obnoxious to the whig interest of the country. Though these charges were afterwards fully refuted by the subsequent conduct of the noble earl, the late ministry were entitled to their share of praise, not only for being very active in promoting the general interests of the state by several popular acts and resolutions, but by their uncommon disinterestedness; as they shewed, upon quitting their places, that they retired without a place, pension, or reversion, secured to themselves or their friends. This was a stroke which the private fortune of Mr. Burke could ill bear; but he had the honour of being a member of a virtuous administration; he had the opportunity of opening his great political talents to the public; and, above all, of shewing to a number of illustrious friends (and in particular the marquis of Rockingham) his many private virtues and amiable qualities, joined to a reach of mind scarcely equalled by any of his contemporaries.
d in the Public Advertiser, and had been preceded by many other anti-ministerial letters by the same writer, under other signatures. They were at that time, and have often
The parliament being dissolved in 1768, Mr. Burke was
re-elected for Wendover. The opposition to the duke of
Graf ton’s administration consisted of two parties, that of
the marquis of Rockingham, and that of Mr. Grenville, but
these two parties had nothing in common except their dislike of the ministry. This appeared very strikingly in a
pamphlet written by Mr. Grenville, entitled “The present
state of the Nation,
” which was answered by Burke, in
“Observations on the present state of the Nation.
” One
of the first subjects which occupied the attention of the
new parliament was the expulsion of Wilkes for various
libels, and the question, whether, after being so expelled,
he was eligible to sit in the same parliament. Burke, on
this occasion, endeavoured to prove that nothing but an
act of the legislature can disqualify any person from sitting
in parliament who is legally chosen, by a majority of electors, to fill a vacant seat. It is well known that his friend
Dr. Johnson maintained a contrary doctrine in his “False
Alarm;
” but in this as well as other occasions during the
American war, difference of opinion did not prevent a cordial intercourse between two men whose conversation during their whole lives was the admiration and ornament of
every literary society. The question itself can hardly be
said to have ever received a complete decision. All that
followed was the expulsion of Wilkes during the present
parliament, and the rescinding of that decision in a future
parliament, without argument or inquiry, in order to gratify those constituents who soon after rejected Wilkes with
unanimous contempt.
The proceedings on this question gave rise to the celebrated letters signed Junius, which appeared in the Public Advertiser, and had been preceded by many other
anti-ministerial letters by the same writer, under other
signatures. They were at that time, and have often since
been attributed to Mr. Burke, and we confess we once,
and indeed for many years, were strongly of this opinion,
but after the recent publication of these celebrated Letters, with Junius’s private correspondence with Mr. Henry
Woodfall, the printer of the Public Advertiser, and with
Mr. Wilkes r it is as impossible to attribute them to Burke,
as it is at present to discover any other gentleman to whom
they may, from any reasonable grounds, be ascribed. It
may be added too, that in a confidential conversation with
Dr. Johnson, he spontaneously denied them, which, as the
doctor very prpperly remarks, is more decisive proof than
if he had denied them on being asked the question.
As a writer he is still higher; and judging of him from his earliest to
As a writer he is still higher; and judging of him from
his earliest to his latest productions, he must be considered as one of those prodigies which are sometimes given
to the world to be admired, but cannot be imitated; he
possessed all kinds of styles, and gave them to the head
and heart in a most exquisite manner: pathos, taste, argument, experience, sublimity, were all the ready colours
of his palette, ani from his pencil they derived their
brightest dyes. He was one of the few whose writings
broke the fascinating links of party, and compelled all to
admire the brilliancy of his pen. He was a firm professor
of the Christian religion, and exercised its principles in
its duties; wisely considering, “That whatever disunites
man from God, disunites man from man.' 7 He looked
within himself for the regulation of his conduct, which was
exemplary in all the relations of life; he was warm in his
affections, simple in his manners, plain in his table, arrangements, &c. &c. and so little affected with the follies
and dissipations of what is called
” the higher classes,"
that he was totally ignorant of them; so that this great
man, with all his talents, would be mere lumber in a modern drawing-room; not but that he excelled in all the refinements as well as strength of conversation, and could at
times badinage with great skill and natural ease; but what
are these to a people where cards and dice constitute their
business; and fashionable phrases, and fashionable vices,
their conversation?
er of this illustrious body, he continued to serve his fellow-citizens till his death, in 1750. As a writer, he was distinguished less by his originality than by his clear
, an eminent civilian,
descended from one of those noble families of Lucca,
which, upon their embracing the Protestant religion, were
obliged, about two centuries and a half since, to take refuge in Geneva, was born at Geneva in 1694, where he
became honorary professor of jurisprudence in 1720.
After travelling into France, Holland, and England, he
commenced the exercise of his -functions, and rendered
his school famous and flourishing. One of his pupils was
prince Frederic of Hesse-Cassel, who, in 1734, took him
to his residence, and detained him there for some time.
Upon his return to Geneva, he surrendered his professorship; and in 1740 entered into the grand council, and,
as a member of this illustrious body, he continued to serve
his fellow-citizens till his death, in 1750. As a writer,
he was distinguished less by his originality than by his
clear and accurate method of detailing and illustrating the
principles of others; among whom, are Grotius, PufTendorf, and Barbeyrac. His works are: “Principles of
Natural Law, 77 Geneva, 1747, 4to, often reprinted, translated into various languages, and long used as a text-book
in the university of Cambridge; and
” Political Law,“Geneva, 1751, 4to, a posthumous work, compiled from
the notes of his pupils, which was translated into English
by Dr. Nugent, 1752, 8vo. His
” Principles of Natural
Law“were re-published in the original by Professor de
Felice, Yverdun, 1766, 2 vols. with additions and improvements. Another posthumous work of our author,
was his
” Elemens du Droit Naturel," being his text-book
on the Law of Nature, and admirable for perspicuity and
happy arrangement. Burlamaqui was much esteemed in
private life, and respected as a lover of the fine arts, and
a patron of artists. He had a valuable collection of pictures and prints; and a medal of him was executed by
Dassier, in a style of superior excellency.
, an eminent law- writer, was born at Winton in Westmoreland some time about the beginning
, an eminent law-writer, was born at
Winton in Westmoreland some time about the beginning
of the last century; he was educated at Queen’s college,
Oxford, which university conferred on him March 22. 1762,
the honorary degree of LL. D. He died at Orton, of
which place he had been vicar forty-nine years, Novembet 20, 1785. He was one of his majesty’s justices of the
peace for the counties of Westmorland and Cumberland,
and was made by bishop Lyttelton chancellor of the diocese
of Carlisle. In 1755, he first published his “Justice of
Peace and Parish Officer, upon a plan entirely new, and
comprehending all the law to the present time, 57 2 vols.
8vo, reprinted in the same form in 1756, and in the same
year in folio, in 1757, 3 vols. 8vo, &c. The fourteenth
edition was enlarged to 4 vols. 8vo, in which form it has
passed, with gradual amendments and improvements,
through various editions; the last of which is the twentyfirst. In 1760 he published his
” Ecclesiastical Law,“2
vols. 4to, which afterwards was reprinted in 4 vols. 8vo.
Both works were strongly recommended by Judge Blackstone, and both are extraordinary examples of unrivalled
popularity and permanence. In 1764 he wrote
” A History of the Poor Laws,“8vo, and in 1776
” Observations
on the Bill proposed in parliament for erecting County
Workhouses.“He likewise published
” The History and
Antiquity of the two counties of Westmoreland and Cumberland, " in conjunction with Joseph Nicolson, esq. nephew to the bishop of Carlisle, 1771, 2 vols. 4to, in which
work he has given the above brief notices of himself.
ish plot was in agitation. This book procured our author an honour never before or since paid to any writer: he had the thanks of both houses of parliament, with a desire
About six months after he returned to Scotland, where
he declined accepting the living of Saltoun, offered him
by sir Robert Fletcher of that place, resolving to travel for
some time on the continent, in 1664, he went over into
Holland; where, after he had seen what was remarkable
in the Seven Provinces, he resided for some time at Amsterdam, and afterwards at Paris. At Amsterdam, by the
help of a learned Rabbi, he increased his knowledge in
the Hebrew language, and likewise x became acquainted
with the leading men of the different persuasions tolerated
in that country: among each of whom, he used frequently
to declare, he had met with men of such real piety and
virtue, that he contracted a strong principle of universal
charity. At Paris he conversed with the two famous
ministers of Charenton, Dailie and Morus. His stay in
France was the longer, on account of the great kindness
with which he was treated by the lord Holies, then ambassador at the French court. Towards the end of the
year he returned to Scotland, passing through Londo/rr,
where he was introduced, by the president sir Robert
Murray, to be a member of the royal society. In 1665,
he was ordained a priest by the bishop of Edinburgh, and
presented by sir Robert Fletcher to the living of Saitoun,
which had been kept vacant during his absence. He soon
gained the affections of his whole parish, not excepting the
presbyterians, though he was the only clergyman in Scotland that made use of the prayers in the liturgy of the
church of England. During the five years he remained at
Saitoun, he preached twice every Sunday, and once on
one of the week-days; he catechized three times a-week,
so as to examine every parishioner, old or young, three
times in the compass of a year: he went round the parish
from house to house, instructing, reproving, or comforting
them, as occasion required: the sick he visited twice a
day: he administered the sacrament four times a year, and
personally instructed all such as gave notice of their intention to receive it. All that remained above his own necessary subsistence (in which he was very frugal), he gave
away in charity. A particular instance of his generosity
is thus related: one of his parishioners had been in execution for debt, and applied to our author for some small
relief; who inquired of him, how much would again set
him up in his trade: the man named the sum, and he as
readily called to his servant to pay it him: “Sir,” said he,
“it is all we have in the house.” “Well,” said Mr. Burnet, “pay it this poor man: you do not know the pleasure
there is in making a man glad.” This may be a proper
place to mention our author’s practice of preaching extempore, in which he attained an ease chiefly by allotting many
hours of the day to meditation upon all sorts of subjects,
and by accustoming himself, at those times, to speak his
thoughts aloud, studying always to render his expressions
correct. His biographer gives us here two remarkable
instances of his preaching without book. In 1691, when
the sees, vacant by the deprivation of the nonjuring
bishops, were filled up, bishop Williams was appointed to
preach one of the consecration -sermons at Bow-church;
but, being detained by some accident, the archbishop of
Canterbury desired our author, then bishop of Sarum, to
supply his place; which he readily did, to the general satisfaction of all present. In 1705, he was appointed to preach
the thanksgiving-sermon before the queen at St. Paul’s; and
as it was the only discourse he had ever written before-hand,
it was the only time that he ever made a pause in preaching, which on that occasion lasted above a minute. The
same year, he drew up a memorial of the abuses of the
Scotch bishops, which exposed him to the resentments of
that order: upon which, resolving to confine himself to
study, and the duties of his function, he practised such a
retired and abstemious course, as greatly impaired his
health. About 1668, the government of Scotland being in
the hands of moderate men, of whom the principal was sir
Robert Murray, he was frequently consulted by them; and
it was through his advice that some of the more moderate
presbyterians were put into the vacant churches; a step
which he himself has since condemned as indiscreet. In
1669, he was made professor of divinity at Glasgow; in
which station he executed the following plan of study.
On Mondays, he made each of the students, in their turn,
explain a head of divinity in Latin, and propound such
theses from it as he was to defend against the rest of the
scholars; and this exercise concluded with our professor’s
decision of the point in a Latin oration. On Tuesdays, he
gave them a prelection in the same language, in which he
proposed, in the course of eight years, to have gone
through a complete system of divinity. On Wednesdays,
he read them a lecture, for above an hour, by way of a
critical commentary on St. Matthew’s Gospel;' which he
finished before he quitted the chair. On Thursdays, the
exercise was alternate; one Thursday, he expounded a
Hebrew Psalm, comparing it with the Septuagint, the
Vulgar, and the English version; and the next Thursday,
he explained some portion of the ritual and constitution
of the primitive church, making the apostolical canons his
text, and reducing every article of practice under the head
of one or other of those canons. On Fridays, he made
each of his scholars, in course, preach a short sermon upon
some text he assigned; and, when it was ended, he observed upon any thing that was defective or amiss in the
handling of the subject. This was the labour of the mornings: in the evenings, after prayer, he every day read
some parcel of scripture, on which he made a short
discourse; and, when that was over, he examined into
the progress of their several studies. Ail this he performed
during the whole time the schools were open; and, in
order to acquit himself with credit, he was obliged to study
hard from four till ten in the morning; the rest of the day
being of necessity allotted, either to the care of his pupils,
or to hearing the complaints of the clergy, who, rinding he
had an interest with men of power, were not sparing in
their applications to him. In this situation he continued
four years and a half, exposed, through his principles of
moderation, to the censure both of the episcopal and presbyterian parties. The same year he published his “Modest and free Conference between a Conformist and a Nonconformist.
” About this time he was entrusted, by the
duchess of Hamilton, with the perusal and arrangement
of all the papers relating to her father’s and uncle’s
ministry; which induced him to compile “Memoirs of the
Dukes of Hamilton,
” and occasioned his being invited to
London, to receive farther information, concerning the
transactions of those times, by the earl of Lauderdale; between whom and the duke of Hamilton he brought about
a reconciliation. During his stay in London, he was offered a Scotch bishopric, which he refused. Soon after
his return to Glasgow, he married the lady Margaret Kennedy, daughter of the earl of Cassilis. In 1672, he published his “Vindication of the Authority, Constitution, and
Laws, of the Church and State of Scotland,
” against the
principles of Buchanan and others; which was thought, at
that juncture, such a public service, that he was again
courted to accept of a bishopric, with a promise of the
next vacant archbishopric, but he persisted in his refusal
of that dignity. In 1673, he took another journey to
London; where, at the express nomination of the king,
after hearing him preach, he was sworn one of his majesty’s
chaplains in ordinary. He became likewise in high favour
with his majesty and the duke of York . At his return to
Edinburgh, finding the animosities between the dukes of
Hamilton and Lauderdale revived, he retired to his station
at Glasgow; but was obliged the next year to return to
court, to justify himself against the accusations of the duke
of Lauderdale, who had represented him as the cause and
instrument of all the opposition the measures of the court
had met with in the Scotch parliament. Thus he lost the
favour of the court; and, to avoid putting himself into the
hands of his enemies, he resigned the professor’s chair at
Glasgow, and resolved to settle in London, being now
about thirty years of age. Soon after, he was offered the
living of St. Giles’s Cripplegate, which he declined accepting, because he heard that it was intended for Dr.
Fowler, afterwards bishop of Gloucester. In 1675, our
author, at the recommendation of lord Holies, and notwithstanding the interposition of the court against him, was
appointed preacher at the Rolls chapel by sir Harbottle
Grimstone, master of the Rolls. The same year he was
examined before the house of commons in relation to the
duke of Lauderdale, whose conduct the parliament was
then inquiring into. He was soon after chosen lecturer of
St. Clement’s, and became a very popular preacher. In
1676, he published his “Memoirs of the Dukes of Hamilton;
” and the same year, “An account of a Conference
between himself, Dr. Stillingfleet, and Coleman.
” About
this time, the apprehensions of popery increasing daily, he
undertook to write the “History of the Reformation of the
Church of England.
” The rise and progress of this his
greatest and 'most useful work, is an object of too great
curiosity to require any apology on account of its length.
His own account of it is as follows: “Some time after I
had printed the ‘ Memoirs of the Dukes of Hamilton,’
which were favourably received, the reading of these got
me the acquaintance and friendship of sir William Jones,
then attorney-general. My way of writing history pleased
him; and so he pressed me to undertake the History of
England. But Sanders’s book, that was then translated
into French, and cried up much in France, made all my
friends press me to answer it, by writing the History of
the Reformation. So now all my thoughts were turned
that way. I laid out for manuscripts, and searched into
all offices. I got for some days into the Cotton Library.
But duke Lauderdale hearing of my design, and apprehending it might succeed in my hands, got Dolben, bishop
of Rochester, to divert sir John Cotton from suffering me
to search into his library. He told him, I was a great
enemy to the prerogative, to which Cotton was devoted,
even to slavery. So he said, I would certainly make an ill
use of all 1 had found. This wrought so much on him,
that I was no more admitted, till my first volume was published. And then, when he saw how I had composed it,
he gave me free access to it.
” The first volume of this
work lay near a year after it was finished, for the perusal
and correction of friends; so that it was not published tiii
the year 1679, when the affair of the popish plot was in
agitation. This book procured our author an honour never
before or since paid to any writer: he had the thanks of
both houses of parliament, with a desire that he would
prosecute the undertaking, and complete that valuable
work. Accordingly, in less than two years after, he
printed the second volume, which met with the same general approbation as the first: and such was his readiness
in composing, that he wrote the historical part in the
compass of six weeks, after all his materials were laid in
order. The third volume, containing a supplement to the
two former, was published in 1714. “The defects of
Peter Heylyn’s
” History of the Reformation,“as bishop
Kicolson observes,
” are abundantly supplied in our
author’s more complete history. He gives a punctual account of all the affairs of the reformation, from its beginning in the reign of Henry VIII. to its final establishment
under queen Elizabeth, A. D. 1559. And the whole is
penned in a masculine style, such as becomes an historian,
and is the property of this author in all his writings. The
collection of records^ which he gives at the end of each
volume, are good vouchers of the truth of what he delivers
in the body of the history, and are much more perfect than
could reasonably be expected, after the pains taken, in
queen Mary’s days, to suppress every thing that carried
the marks of the reformation upon it.“Our author’s performance met with a very favourable, reception abroad, and
was translated into most of the European languages; and
even the keenest of his enemies, Henry Wharton, allows it
to have
” a reputation firmly and deservedly established.“The most eminent of the French writers who have attacked
it, M. Varillas and M. Le Grand, have received satisfactory
replies from -the author himself. At home it was attacked
by Mr. S. Lowth, who censured the account Dr. Burnet
had given of some of archbishop Cranmer’s opinions, asserting that both our historian and Dr. Stillingfleet had imposed upon the world in that particular, and had
” unfaithfully joined together“in their endeavours to lessen
episcopal ordination. Our author replied to Mr. Lowth,
in some
” letters. in answer“to his book. The next assailant was Henry Wharton, who, under the name of Anthony
Harrner, published
” A specimen of some Errors and
Defects in the History of the Reformation,“1693, 8vo, a
performance of no great candour; to which, however, our
historian vouchsafed a short answer, in a
” Letter to the
Bishop of Lichfield.“A third attack on this History was
made by Dr. Hickes in
” Discourses on Dr. Burnet and
Dr. Tillotson;“in which the whole charge amounts to no
more than this, that,
” in a matter of no great consequence,
there was too little care had in copying or examining a
letter writ in a very bad hand,“and that there was some
probability that Dr. Burnet
” was mistaken in one of his
conjectures.“Our author answered this piece, in a
” Vindication“of his History. The two first parts were translated into French by M. de Rosemond, and into Latin by
Melchior Mittelhorzer. There is likewise a Dutch translation of it. In 1682, our author published
” An abridgment of his History of the Reformation," in 8vo, in which
he tells us, he had wholly waved every thing that belonged
to the records, and the proof of what he relates, or to the
confutation of the falsehoods that run through the popish
historians; all which is to be found in the History at large.
And therefore, in this abridgment, he says, every thing is
to be taken upon trust; and those who desire a fuller satisfaction, are referred to the volumes he had before published.
es, in disposing of ecclesiastical Benefices and Church-lands;” which being attacked bv an anonymous writer, Dr. Burnet published, the same year, “An answer to the Animadversions
During the affair of the popish plot, Dr. Burnet was
often consulted by king Charles, upon the state of the
nation; and, about the same time, refused the vacant
bishopric of Chichester, which his majesty offered him,
“provided he vvould entirely come into his interest.
” But,
though his free access to that monarch did not procure him
preferment, it gave him an opportunity of sending his
majesty a most remarkable letter , in which, with great
freedom, he reprehends the vices and errors both of his
private life and his government The unprejudiced part
he acted during the time the nation was inflamed with the
discovery of the popish plot; his candid endeavours to
save the lives of Staley and the lord Stafford, both zealous
papists; his temperate conduct in regard to the exclusion
of the duke of York; and the scheme of a prince regent,
proposed by him, in lieu of that exclusion; are sufficiently
related in his “History of his own Time.
” In Life of sir Matthew Hale,
” and
his “History of the Rights of Princes, in disposing of
ecclesiastical Benefices and Church-lands;
” which being
attacked bv an anonymous writer, Dr. Burnet published,
the same year, “An answer to the Animadversions on the
History of the Rights of Princes.
” As he was about this
time much resorted to by persons of all ranks and parties,
as a pretence to avoid the returning of so many visits, he
built a laboratory, and, for above a year, went through a
course of chemical experiments. Upon the execution of
the lord Russel, with whom he was familiarly acquainted,
he was examined before the house of commons, with respect to that lord’s speech upon the scaffold, in the penning of which he was suspected to have had a hand. Not
long after, he refused the offer of a living of three hundred pounds a year, in the gift of the earl of Halifax, who
would have presented him, on condition of his residing
*till in London. In 1683, he went over to Paris, where
he was well received by the court, and became acquainted
with the most eminent persons, both popish and protestant.
This year appeared his “Translation and Examination of a
Letter, writ by the last General Assembly of the Clergy
of France to the Protestants, inviting them to return to
their Communion, &c.;
” also his “Translation of Sir
Thomas More’s Utopia,
” with a “Preface concerning the
Nature of Translations.
” The year following, the resentment of the court against our author was so great, that he
was discharged from his lecture at St, Clement’s, by virtue
of the king’s mandate to Dr. Hascard, rector of that parish;
and in December the same year, bv an order from the
lord-keeper North to sir Harbottle Grimstone, he was forbidden preaching any more at the Rolls chapel. In 1685
came out our author’s “Life of Dr. William Bedell, Bishop
of Kilmore in Ireland.
” Upon the death of king Charles,
and accesion of king James, having obtained leave to go
out of the kingdom, he went first to Paris, where he lived
in great retirement, to avoid being involved in the conspiracies then forming in favour of the difke of Monmbuth.
But, having contracted an acquaintance with brigadier
Stouppe, a protestant officer in the French service, he
was prevailed upon to take a journey with him into Italy,
and met with an agreeable reception at Rome and Geneva. After a tour through the southern parts of France,
Italy, Switzerland, and many places of Germany, of which
he has given an account, with reflections on their several
ojovernments, &c. in his “Travels,
” published in Translation of Lactantius,
concerning the Death of the Persecutors.
” The high favour shewn him at the Hague disgusting the English court,
king James wrote two severe letters against him to the
princess of Orange, and insisted, by his ambassador, on
his being forbidden the court; which, at the king’s importunity, was done; though our author continued to be
employed and trusted as before. Soon after, a prosecution
for high-treason was commenced against him, both in
Scotland and England; but the States refusing, at the demand of the English court, to deliver him up, designs were
laid of seizing his person, and even destroying him, if he
could be taken. About this time Dr. Burnet married Mrs.
Mary Scott, a Dutch lady of large fortune and noble extraction. He had a very important share in the whole
conduct of the revolution in 1688; the project of which he
gave early notice of to the court of Hanover, intimating,
that the success of this enterprise must naturally end in an
entail of the British crown upon that illustrious house. He
wrote also several pamphlets in support of the prince of
Orange’s designs, which were reprinted at London in 1689,
in 8vo, under the title of “A Collection of eighteen Papers relating to the affairs of Church and State during the
Reign of King James II. &c.
” And when his highness
undertook the expedition to England, our author accompanied him as his chaplain, notwithstanding the particular
circumstances of danger to which he was thereby exposed.
At Exeter, after the prince’s landing, he drew up the association for pursuing the ends of his highness’s declaration. During these transactions, Dr. Crew, bishop of Durham, who had rendered himself obnoxious by the part he
had acted in the high-commission court, having proposed
to the prince of Orange to resign his bishopric in favour of
Dr. Burnet, on condition of an allowance of 1000l. per
annum out of the revenue, our author refused to accept it
on those terms. But king William had not been many
days on the throne before Dr. Burnet was advanced to the
see of Salisbury, and consecrated March 31, 1689 . Our
prelate had scarcely taken his seat in the house of lords,
when he distinguished himself by declaring for moderate
measures with regard to the clergy who scrupled to take
the oaths, and for a toleration of the protestant dissenters;
and when the bill for declaring the rights and privileges of
the subject, and settling the succession of the crown, was
brought into parliament, he was the person appointed by
king William to propose naming the duchess (afterwards electress) of Brunswick, next in succession after the
princess of Denmark and her issue; and when this succession afterwards took place, he had the honour of being
chairman of the committee to whom the hill was referred.
This made him considered by the house of Hanover as
one firmly attached to their interests, and engaged him in
an epistolary correspondence with the princess Sophia,
which lasted to her death. This year bishop Buruet addressed a “Pastoral Letter
” to the clergy of his diocese,
concerning the oaths of allegiance and supremacy to king
Wiliiam and queen Mary; in which having grounded their
majesties title to the crown upon the right of conquest,
some members of both houses took such offence at it, that
about three years after, they procured an order for burning
the book by the hands of the common executioner. After
the session of parliament was over, the bishop went down
to his diocese, where, by his pious, prudent, and vigilant
discharge of the episcopal functions, he gained universal
esteem.
ly spent in dissipation; for, being warmly devoted to the cause of the whigs, he commenced political writer against the administration of the four last years of queen Anne.
, the third and youngest son of the
bishop, had an education equally advantageous with that
of his two elder brothers. When he had acquired a sufficient preparation of grammatical learning, he was sent
to the university of Oxford, where he becam^a commoner
of Merton-college. After this, he studied two years at
Leyden, from whence he seems to have made a tour
through Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. Having chosen
the profession of the law, he was entered at the Temple,
where he appears to have contracted wildness of disposition,
and irregularity of conduct. To this part of his character
there are frequent allusions in the satirical publications of
the times; and particularly in Dr. Arbuthnol’s notes and
memorandums of the six days preceding the death of a
right reverend prelate. Mr. Thomas Burnet was even
suspected of being one of the Mohocks mentioned in the
Spectator, whose extravagant and cruel exploits made
much noise, and excited no small degree of terror at that
period. Swift, in one of his letters to Stella, has the following passage: “Young Davenant was telling us, how
he was set upon by the Mohocks, and how they ran his
chair through with a sword. It is not safe being in the
streets at night. The bishop of Salisbury’s son is said
to be of the gang. They are all whigs. A great lady
sent to me, to speak to her father, and to lord treasurer,
to have a care of them, and to be careful likewise of myself; for she heard they had malicious intentions against
the ministry and their friends. I know not whether there
be any thing in this, though others are of the sante opinion.
” The report concerning Mr. Burnet might be
groundless; but it is certain that his time was not wholly
spent in dissipation; for, being warmly devoted to the
cause of the whigs, he commenced political writer against
the administration of the four last years of queen Anne.
No less than seven pamphlets of this kind, though without
his name, were written by him, in 1712 and 1713. His
first was entitled “A Letter to the People, to be left for
them at the Booksellers; with a word or two of the Bandbox Plot.
” This small tract is drawn up in short paragraphs, after the manner of Mr. Asgill; but not in ridicule
of that author, who is spoken of in terms of high commendation. Another piece of Mr. Burnet’s was: “Our
Ancestors as wise as we, or ancient Precedents for modern
Facts, in answer to a Letter from a noble Lord;
” which
was followed by “The History of Ingratitude, or a second
Part of ancient Precedents for modern Facts,
” wherein
many instances are related, chiefly from the Greek and
Roman histories, of the ungrateful treatment to which the
most eminent public characters have been exposed; and
the whole is applied to the case of the duke of Marlborough. A subsequent publication, that had likewise a reference to the conduct of the ministry towards the same
great general, and which was dedicated to him, was entitled “The true Character of an honest Man, especially
with relation to public Affairs.
” Another of Mr. Burnet’s
tracts, which was called “Truth, if you can find it; or a
Character of the present Ministry and Parliament,
” was
entirely of an ironical nature, and sometimes the irony
is well supported. But our author’s principal political
pamphlet, during the period we are speaking of, was, “A
certain Information of a certain Discourse, that happened
at a certain Gentleman’s House, in a certain County:
written by a certain Person then present; to a certain
Friend now at London; from whence you may collect the
great Certainty of the Account.
” This is a dialogue in
defence of the principles and conduct of the whigs; and
it gave such offence to queen Anne’s Tory ministry, that
on account of it, Mr. Burnet was taken into custody in
January 1712—13. He wrote, also, “Some new Proofs
by which it appears that the Pretender is truly James the
Third;
” in which, from the information, we suppose, of
his father, he gives the same account, in substance, of the
Pretender’s birth, that was afterwards published in the
bishop’s History of his own Time. What Mr. Burnet endeavours to make out is, that three supposititious children
Vol. VII. C c
were introduced; and consequently, that the “Pretender
was James the Third;
” or, to put it more plainly, “the
third pretended James.
” Whilst our young author, notwithstanding his literary application and engagements, still
continued his wild courses, it is related, that his father
one day seeing him uncommonly grave, asked what he
was meditating. “A greater work,
” replied the son,
“than your lordship’s History of the Reformation.
”
“What is that, Tom?
” “My own reformation, my
lord.
” “I shall be heartily glad to see it,
” said the bishop, “but almost despair of it.
” This, however, was
happily accomplished, though, perhaps, not during the
life of the good prelate, and Mr. Burnejt became not only
one of the best lawyers of his time, but a very respectable
character. After the accession of king George the First,
he wrote a letter to the earl of Halifax, on “the Necessity
of impeaching the late Ministry,
” in which he urges the
point with great zeal and warmth, and shews the utmost
dislike of treating with any degree of lenity, a set of men
whose conduct, in his opinion, deserved the severest punishment. He insists upon it, that the makers of the treaty
of Utrecht ought to answer for their treasons with their
heads. The letter to the earl of Halifax, which appeared
with Mr. Burnet’s name, was followed by an anonymous
treatise, entitled “A second Tale of a Tub; or the
History of Robert Powel the Puppet-Showman.
” This
work, which is a satire on the earl of Oxford and his ministry, and is far from being destitute of wit and humour, hath
never had the good fortune (nor, indeed, did it deserve it,) of being read and admired like the original “Tale of
a Tub.
” The author himself, in the latter part of his life,
wished it to be forgotten; for we are well informed that
he sought much for it, and purchased such copies as he
could meet with, at a considerable price. Soon after his
father’s death, he published “A Character of the right
reverend father in God, Gilbert lord bishop of Sarum;
with a true copy of his last Will and Testament.
” In ridicule of this publication, was printed in Hudibrastic
verse, and with a very small portion of merit, “A certain
dutiful Son’s Lamentation for the Death of a certain right
reverend; with the certain Particulars of certain Sums and
Goods that are bequeathed him, which he will most certainly
part with in a ctrtain time.
” In Homerides;
” which exposed
him to the lash of Mr. Pope, and occasioned that great poet
to give him a place, though not with remarkable severity,
in the Dunciad. He was likewise concerned in a weekly
paper, called “The Grumbler.
” He was, however, soon,
taken from these literary occupations, by being appointed
his majesty’s consul at Lisbon, where he continued several years. Whilst he was in this situation, he had a
dispute with lord Tyrawley, the ambassador, in which the
merchants sided with Mr. Burnet. During the continuance
of the dispute, the consul took an odd method of affronting-'
his antagonist. Employing the same taylor, and having
learned what dress his lordship intended to wear on a birthday, Mr. Burnet provided the same dress as liveries for
his servants, and appeared himself in a plain suit. It is
said, that in consequence of this quarrel (though how truly, may, perhaps, be doubted), the ambassador and
consul were both recalled. Upon Mr. Burnet’s return to
his country, he resumed the profession of the law. In
1723, he published, with a few explanatory notes, the
first volume of his father’s “History of his own Time;
”
and, in Reflections historical and political.
” When Mr.
Burnet gave to the public, in of whom I
take this opportunity to say with pleasure, and which your
lordship, I am sure, will allow me to say with truth, that
for his knowledge of the world, and his able judgment of
things, he was equalled by few, and excelled by none of
his contemporaries.
” The following clause in our learned
judge’s will was the subject of conversation after his decease, and was inserted in the monthly collections, as
being somewhat extraordinary. “I think it proper in this
solemn act to declare, that as I have lived, so I trust I
shall die, in the true faith of Christ as taught in the
Scriptures; but not as taught or practised in any one visible church that I know of; though I think the church of
England is as little stuffed with the inventions of men as
any of them; and the church of Rome is so full of them,
as to have destroyed all that is lovely in the Christian
religion.
” This clause gave occasion to the publication
of a serious and sensible pamphlet, entitled: “The true
Church of Christ, which, and where to be found, according to the Opinion of the late judge Burnet; with
an Introduction concerning divine worship, and a caution
to gospel preachers; in which are contained, the Reasons
for that Declaration in his last Will and Testament.
” A
judgment may be formed of his abilities in his profession,
from his argument in the case of Ryal and Rowls. In
1777 were published in 4to, “Verses written on several
occasions, between the years 1712 and 1721.
” These
were the poetical productions of Mr. Burnet in his youth,
of whom it is said by the editor, that he was connected in
friendship and intimacy with those wits, which will for
ever signalise the beginning of the present century; and
that himself shone with no inconsiderable lustre amidst the
constellation of geniuses which then so illustriously adorned
the British hemisphere.
, lord Monboddo, a learned writer of the eighteenth century, was descended from the ancient family
, lord Monboddo, a learned writer of the eighteenth century, was descended from the ancient family of the Burnetts of Leys, in Kincardineshire, and was born at the family seat of Monboddo, in October or November, 1714. He was first educated at the parish school of Laurencekirk, whence he went to King’s college, Aberdeen, and after the usual courses there, studied civil law at Groningen. On his return in 1738, he was admitted to the Scotch bar, where he acquired considerable practice. During the rebellion in 1745, when the administration of justice was interrupted, he went to London, where he became acquainted with some of the literati of the time, particularly Mallet, Thomson, and Armstrong. These visits he often repeated, and enlarged his acquaintance and correspondence with the succeeding generations of learned men, most of whom he survived. During his practice at the Scotch bar, he was particularly distinguished for the part he took in the celebrated Douglas cause, and was eminently instrumental in assisting the family of Douglas, in the prosecution of a suit which was finally determined in their favour. On the death of his relation lord Milton, in 1767, he was promoted to the bench by the title of lord Monboddo, which political intrigue delayed for some time.
, a most ingenious and learned writer, was born at Croft, in Yorkshire, about the year 1635. His first
, a most ingenious and learned
writer, was born at Croft, in Yorkshire, about the year
1635. His first education was at the free-school of North-Alverton, in that county, from whence he was removed in
June 1651, to Clare-hall in Cambridge, where he had
Dr. Tillotson for his tutor. Dr. Cud worth was at that time
master of Clare-hall, but removed from it to the mastership
of Christ’s college, in 1654; and thither our author followed him. Under his patronage he was chosen fellow in
1657, commenced M. A. in 1658, and became senior
proctor of the university in 1661; but it is uncertain how
long after ward she continued his residence there. He was
afterwards governor to the young earl of Wiltshire, son of
the marquis of Winchester, with whom he travelled abroad ^
and gave such satisfaction, that, soon after his return to
England, he was invited and prevailed on by the first duke
of Ormond, to travel in the same capacity with the young
earl of Ossory, his grace’s grandson and heir-apparent.
These honourable connections introduced him into what
may properly be called the world: in which he afterwards
confirmed the reputation he already had for talents ad
learning, by the publication of his “Telluris theoria sacra,
orbis nostri originem & mutationes generales, quas olim
subiit et subiturus est, complectens.
” This Sacred Theory
of the Earth was originally published in Latin, in 2 vols.
4to, the two first books concerning the deluge, and paradise, 1681; the two last, concerning the burning of the
world, and the new heavens and new earth, in 1689. The
uncommon approbation this work met with, and the particular encouragement of Charles II. who relished its
beauties, induced the author to translate it into English.
Of this translation he published the two first books in 1684,
folio, with an elegant dedication to the king; and the two
last in 1689, with a no less elegant dedication to queen
Mary. “The English edition,
” he tells us, “is the same in
substance with the Latin, though, he confesses, not so
properly a translation, as a new composition upon the
same ground, there being several additional chapters in it,
and several new moulded.
”
unfortunately, the most objectionable in the whole work; and being immediately adopted by an infidel writer, gave such support to the complaints of the clergy, that it
But all this proved insufficient; and the storm raised
against him was rather increased than abated, by the encomium which Mr. Charles Blount, the deistical author of
the “Oracles of Reason,
” thought proper to bestow upon
his work. Blount, in a letter to his friend Gildon, tells him,
that “according to his promise, he has sent him a translation
of the seventh and eighth chapters, and also the appendix, of the great and learned Dr. Burnet’s
” Arehseologiae
philosophic^," &c. a piece which he thinks one of the
most ingenious he ever read, and full of the most acute
as well as learned observations. The* seventh and eighth
chapters, here translated for Mr. Gildon’s use, were, unfortunately, the most objectionable in the whole work; and
being immediately adopted by an infidel writer, gave such
support to the complaints of the clergy, that it was judged
expedient, in that critical season, to remove him from his
place of clerk of the closet. He withdrew accordingly
from court; anc if Mr. Oldmixon can be credited, ac-.
tually missed the see of Canterbury, upon the death of Tillotson, on account of this very work, which occasioned him to
be then represented by some bishops as a sceptical writer.
He then retired to his studies in the Charter-house, without seeking, or perhaps desiring, any farther preferment;
for he does not appear to have been a man of ambition;
and there he lived, in a single state, to a good old age,
dying Sept. 27, 1715.
n, in 1699, wrote a Latin ode in its praise, which has been prefixed to many editions of it. An able writer, Dr. Warton, in his “Essay on Pope,” has not scrupled, from
Of the Sacred Theory of the Earth, which is the principal
of all his productions, the substance is this: between the beginning and end of the world, he supposes several intermediate periods, in which he conceives that nature undergoes
various changes. Those which resp'ect this terraqueous
globe, he believes to have been recorded in the sacred
Scriptures. From these compared with profane history,
he attempts to prove, that the primaeval earth as it rose
out of chaos, was of a different form and structure from
the present, and was such, that from its dissolution would
naturally arise an universal deluge. Such a change in the
state of the globe, he infers from the general aspect of its
surface in the present day; and he argues, that since it is
the nature of fluids to form a smooth surface, the earth,
which was at first a chaotic mass in a fluid state, as it gradually became solid by the exhalation of the lighter particles of air and water, would still retain its regular superficies, so that the new earth would resemble an egg. The
earth, in this paradisaical state, he supposes to be capable
of sending forth its vegetable productions without rain,
and to enjoy a perpetual serene and cloudless atmosphere.
In process of time, he conceived that the surface of the
earth, by the continual action of the rays of the sun, would
become so parched, as to occasion vast fissures, through
which the waters of the great abyss, contained within the
bowels of the earth, would be sent forth by means of elastic
vapours, expanded by heat, and acting with irresistible
force upon their surface; whence a universal deluge would
ensue, and in the violent concussion, lofty mountains,
craggy rocks, and other varieties in the external form of
the earth, would appear. Our theorist also conjectures,
that the earth, in its original state, owed its universal
spring to th*e coincidence of the plane of the ecliptic with
that of the equator; and supposes that, at the deluge, the
pole of the ecliptic changed its position, and became oblique to the plane of the equator. From similar causes
he conceives that the final conflagration will be produced. This theory is well imagined, supported with
much erudition, and described with great elegance of
diction; but it can only be considered as an ingenious
fiction, which rests upon no other foundation than mere
conjecture.
Yet it would be endless to transcribe all the encomiums
passed on it. Mr. Addison, in 1699, wrote a Latin ode
in its praise, which has been prefixed to many editions of
it. An able writer, Dr. Warton, in his “Essay on Pope,
”
has not scrupled, from this single work, to rank Dn Burnet with the very few, in whom the three great faculties of
the understanding, viz. judgment, imagination, and memory, have been found united. According to him, there
have existed but few transcendant geniuses, who have been
singularly blessed with this rare assemblage of different
talents; and Burnet, in his Theory, he thinks has displayed
an imagination very nearly equal to that of Milton.
time entertained the highest opinion of the Author. “I acknowledge him (says he) to be an ingenious writer; and if he had taken a right method, and had made a considerable
But, notwithstanding these encomiums on Burnet, it
cannot be Affirmed that his Theory is built upon principles
of mathematics and sound philosophy; on the contrary,
men of science were displeased at him for presuming to
erect a theory, which he would have received as true, without proceeding on that foundation. Flamstead is reported
to have told him, somewhat peevishly, that “there went
more to the making of a world, than a fine-turned period,
”
and that “he was able to overthrow the Theory in one sheet
of paper.
” Others attacked it in form. Mr. Erasmus Warren,
rector of Worlington, in Suffolk, published two pieces against
it soon after its appearance in English, and Dr. Burnet answered them; which pieces, with their answers, have been
printed at the end of the later editions of the Theory.
Mr. John Keill, Savilian professor of geometry in Oxford,
published also an Examination of it in 1698, to which Dr.
Burnet replied; and then Mr. Keill defended himself.
Burnet’s reply to Keill is subjoined to the later editions
of his Theory; and KeilPs Examination and Defence,
together with his “Remarks and Defence upon Whiston’s
Theory,
” were reprinted together in I acknowledge him (says he) to be an ingenious writer; and if he had taken a right
method, and had made a considerable progress in those
sciences that are introductory to the study of nature, I
doubt not but he would have made a very acute philosopher. It was his unhappiness to begin at first with the
Cartesian philosophy; and not having a sufficient stock of
geometrical and mechanical principles to examine it
rightly, he too easily believed it, and thought that there
was but little skill required 'in those sciences to become a
philosopher; and therefore, in imitation of Mons. Des
Cartes, he would undertake to shew how the world was
made; a task too great, even for a mathematician.
”
The character of Burns will still be incomplete, without some notice of his abilities as a prose- writer; for of these we have ample proofs in his familiar correspondence.
The character of Burns will still be incomplete, without some notice of his abilities as a prose-writer; for of these we have ample proofs in his familiar correspondence. That his letters were never intended for the public eye, that many of them are mutilated, and that some, perhaps, might have been suppressed, are deductions which do not affect their merit as the effusions of a very uncommon mind, enriched with knowledge far beyond what could have been reasonably expected in his situation. He appears to have cultivated English prose with care, and certainly wrote it with a sprightly fluency. His turns of expression are various and surprizing, and, when treating the most common topics, his sentiments are singular and animated. His letters, however, would have attained a higher portion of graceful expression, and would have been more generally pleasing, had they not been too frequently the faithful transcripts of a disappointed mind, gloomily bent on one set of indignant and querulous reflections. But with this, and another exception which might be made to these letters, from a frequent imitation of the discursive manner of Sterne, they must ever be considered as decided proofs of genius. They contain many admirable specimens of critical acumen, and many flights of humour, and observations on life and manners, which fully justify our belief that, had he cultivated his prose talents only, he might have risen to very high distinction in epistolary or essay writing. Upon the whole, Burns was a man who undoubtedly possessed great abilities with great failings. The former he received from nature, he prized them highly, and he improved them; the latter were exaggerated by circumstances less within his controul, and by disappointments which, trusting to the most liberal encouragement ever offered to genius, he could not have foreseen. They may yet serve to guard ambitious and ardent minds from similar irregularities and wanderings, and to explain why such a man, after the first burst of popular applause was past, lived and died more unhappily than would probably have been the case had he never known what it was to be caressed and admired.
healths proposed to him, drawn up with all the virulence of disappointment for a verdict against the writer. Long before these events, he published “A Treatise on the
, M.D. and F. R. S. and F. S.A. an
eminent antiquary, of whom our accounts are very scanty,
was born at Rjppon in Yorkshire 1697, and educated hi
Christ church college in Oxford for some time, but took
his degree in some foreign university; and on his settling
at York, became very eminent in his profession. In 1745
it is said that he proposed joining himself to the pretender,
then at Manchester; but that his friends had interest sufficient to dissuade him from a measure which must have terminated in his ruin. His conduct, therefore, appears to
have unjustly exposed him to censure, if his own account
may be relied on, to this purpose, that “going out of
York, with leave of the mayor, &c. to take care of his estates, on the approach of the rebels, he was taken by
them, and in consequence of that was apprehended Dec. 3,
1745, and detained till March 25, 1746—7.
” This is explained in “British liberty endangered, demonstrated by
the following narrative, wherein is proved from facts, that
J. B. has hitherto been a better friend to the English constitution, in church and state, than his persecutors. Humbly dedicated to the most reverend and worthy the archbishop of Canterbury, late of York (Herring). With a
proper preface, by John Burton, of York, M. D.
” London,
3 749. There was afterwards published “An account of
what passed between Mr. George Thomson of York, and
doctor John Burton of that city, physician and manmidwife, at Mr. sheriff Jubb’s entertainment, and the consequences thereon, by Mr. George Thomson,
” London,
A Treatise on the Non-naturals, in which the
great influence they have on human bodies is set forth, and
mechanically accounted for. To which is subjoined, a
short Essay on the Chin-Cough, with a new method of
treating that obstinate distemper,
” York, 1738, 8vo. In
the title of this work, he calls himself “M. B. Cant, and
M. D. Rhem.
” by which it would appear that his bachelor’s
was a Lambeth degree, and that he graduated as doctor at
Rheims. In 1751, he published “An Essay towards a
complete new system of Midwifery,
” 8vo, and in A Letter to William Smellie, M. D. containing critical
and practical remarks upon his Treatise on the theory and
practice of Midwifery,
” 8vo. But the work by which he is
principally known, and for which he was employed in
making collections during his latter years, was, his “Monasticon Eboracense; and the Ecclesiastical History of Yorkshire, &c.
” the first volume of which was published in
ons in folio, so that the bookseller acquired an estate by it. This book was compiled by our learned writer with a view of relieving his own melancholy; but it encreased
, author of the “Anatomy of Melancholy,
” the younger brother of William Burton, the
antiquary, the subject of the next article but one, was born
at Lindley, Feb. 8, 1576, and had his grammatical education
at Sutton-Colfield; after which, in 1593, he was admitted
a commoner of Brazen-nose college, and elected a student
of Christ church, in 1599, under the tuition (though only for form’s sake) of Dr. John Bancroft, afterwards bishop of
Oxford. He took the degree of B. D. in 16 14, and was
in that year admitted to the reading of the sentences. In
1616, the dean and chapter of Christ church presented
him to the Vicarage of St. Thomas in Oxford, in which
parish he always gave the sacrament in wafers; and George
lord Berkeley bestowed upon him the rectory of Segrave
in Leicestershire. Both these preferments he held till his
decease, which happened at Christ church, January 25,
1639—4O. He was a curious calculator of nativities, and
among others, of his own; and the time of his death answering exactly to his own predictions, it was whispered in the
college, that (to use Anthony Wood’s language), rather
than there should be any mistake in the calculation, he
sent up his soul to heaven through a slip about his neck; but
for this insinuation there appears little foundation. He was
a general scholar and severe student, of a melancholy yet
humourous disposition, and appears to have been a man of
extensive learning, which his memory enabled him to produce upon every subject. In his moral character, he was a
man of great integrity, plain-dealing, and chanty. He
was principally known as the author of a very celebrated
and popular work, entitled “The Anatomy of Melancholy,
”
published first in quarto, and which afterwards went through
several editions in folio, so that the bookseller acquired an
estate by it. This book was compiled by our learned writer
with a view of relieving his own melancholy; but it encreased to such a degree, that nothing could divert him
but going to the bridge foot, and hearing the ribaldry of
the bargemen, which seldom failed to throw him into a
violent fit of laughter. In the intervals of his vapours, he
was one of the most facetious companions in the university.
The “Anatomy of Melancholy
” is for the greater part a
cento, though a very ingenious one. The quotations,
which abound in every page, are pertinent; but if the
author had made freer use of his invention, and less of his
common -place book, his work, perhaps, would have been
more valuable. However, he generally avoids the affected
language, and ridiculous metaphors, which were common
in that age. On Mr. Burton’s monument in Christ church
is his bust, with his nativity, and this description by himself, put up by his brother: “Faucis notus, paucioribus
ignotus, hie jacet Democritusjunior, cui vitam dedit et mortem Melancholia. Obiit viii. Id. Jan. A. C. MDCXXXIX.
”
He left behind him a choice collection of books, many of
which he bequeathed to the Bodleian library, and that of
Brazen-nose college. He left also a hundred pounds, for
a fund to purchase five pounds’ worth of books, every year,
for the library of Christ church.
rriar of Manchester, who, in his” Illustrations of Sterne,“has ingeniously pointed out how much that writer owes to Burton. Mr. T. Warton, in his History of Poetry, had
“Burton upon Melancholy,
” says archbp. Herring (Letters, but for nearly a
century, the perusal of it was confined to those readers
who are called
” The Curious;“and within our memory
it was usually rejected from the catalogues of eminent
booksellers, as a work fitter for the stalls. Of late years,
however, its reputation has revived in an uncommon degree, partly by incidental notices of it by Dr. Johnson,
Messrs. Steevens and Malone, and the other annotators of
Shakspeare, and partly by the attention paid to it by Dr.
Ferriar of Manchester, who, in his
” Illustrations of Sterne,“has ingeniously pointed out how much that writer owes to
Burton. Mr. T. Warton, in his History of Poetry, had also
frequently referred to the
” Anatomy." All this not only
raised the price of the old editions, but encouraged the
publication of a new one in 1800, which sold rapidly; yet
Burton is a writer so much above the common level, that
we suspect that, even now, he has acquired more purchasers than readers.
, an eminent teacher and writer on commerce, was born Jan. 3, 1728, in the district of Lunebourg,
, an eminent teacher and writer
on commerce, was born Jan. 3, 1728, in the district of
Lunebourg, and was for thirty years director of the commercial academy at Hamburgh, to which young men from
all parts of Europe resorted for education in that branch.
This establishment was indeed the only one of its kind, as
professor Busch not only instructed his pupils in the
theory, but afforded them opportunities of being introduced to the practice of commerce, for which purpose he
had connexions with the first houses in Hamburgh, and
himself acquired that experience which gives a peculiar
value to his writings; these are all in the German language: 1. “The Theory of Commerce,
” Hamburgh, On Banks,
” ibid. On
the Circulation of Money,
” ibid. Various Essays on Commerce,
” ibid. 2 vols. 8vo.
5. “On Mathematical Studies as applicable to the business
of civil life,
” 8vo. 6. “Encyclopædia of Mathematics,
”
ibid. Experience and observations,
” ibid. A
circumstantial account of the Commercial Academy of
Hamburgh,
” 12mo; and in The Merchant’s
Library,
” eight numbers of which were to be published
annually, which perhaps is the work noticed above, “Experience,
” &c.
n in 1607, either at Villa Franca in Beaujolais, or at Lyons, and became a very frequent and admired writer, although little of his fame has reached modern times. He died
, a French Jesuit, was born in
1607, either at Villa Franca in Beaujolais, or at Lyons,
and became a very frequent and admired writer, although
little of his fame has reached modern times. He died in
1678. His French poetry is now forgot, but his Latin
poetry published at Lyons in 1675, 8vo, still has some admirers; and in his “Scanderbeg,
” an epic poem, and
his “Rhea,
” are some animated passages. He published
also an abridgment of the History of France, and another,
in Latin, of the universal history, called “Floscoli Historiarum,
” which he afterwards translated into French, under
the title “Parterre historique,
” Lyons, Memoires
de Ville Tranche en Beaujolais,
”
, an ingenious writer of the seventeenth century, was born in 1559, at High Wycomb,
, an ingenious writer of the seventeenth century, was born in 1559, at High Wycomb, in
Buckinghamshire; and entered a student into Magdalen
hall, Oxford, in 1579, where he took a degree in arts;
and was translated to Magdalen college, and made one of
the bible clerks. Soon after, he became master of the
free school at Basingstoke in Hampshire; and had the
cure of a small church in the neighbourhood. About 1600
he was promoted to the vicarage of Lawrence Wotton, in
Hampshire; which Wood thinks a very inadequate preferment for a scholar of his abilities. There, however, he
appears to have remained until his death, March 29, 1647,
in his eighty-eighth year. He wrote: 1. “The Feminine
Monarchy; or a Treatise on Bees,
” Oxon. Rhetoricee libri duo,
” Oxon. De
propinquitate matrimonium impediente regula generalis,
”
on the marriage of cousin-germans, a work much approved
by Dr. Prideaux, Oxon. 1625, 4to. 4. “Oratoriae libri duo,
”
Oxon. English Grammar,
”
Oxon. The Principles of Music,
” Lond. Grammar/' with a specimen of his
orthography from his
” Treatise on Bees.“Of his
” Principles uf Music," Dr. Burney says* that it was the only
theoretical or didactic work published on the subject of
music during the reign of king Charles I. and that it contains more knowledge in a small compass than any other
of the kind in our language; but the Saxon and new characters he uses, in order to explode such letters as are
redundant, or of uncertain powers, render this musical
tract somewhat difficult to peruse.
one of the king’s chaplains, and obtained a prebend in Winchester cathedral. Commencing a political writer, he espoused the cause of lord North in all the measures of
, late bishop of Hereford, was born at Hamburgh, probably of English parents, Dec. 1717. In his early days he acted as private tutor in the family of Mr. Child the banker. He was then a popular preacher in London, and possessed of sound parts, indefatigable industry, a good figure, and agreeable manners. Being introduced to Mr. Bilson Legge, he assisted that gentleman in the political controversy with lord Bute^ and rendered him farther services in calculations on public finance. It was probably through this connection that Dr^Hayter, bishop of London, appointed Mr. Butler his first chaplain, who obtained also the living of Everley in Wiltshire, about the same time. On the recommendation of lord Onslow, he was constituted one of the king’s chaplains, and obtained a prebend in Winchester cathedral. Commencing a political writer, he espoused the cause of lord North in all the measures of administration, and particularly in that of the American war, which he endeavoured to justify in several pamphlets. In reward of these services, he was n^ade archdeacon of Surrey, and procured-a Lambeth degree of D. D. from the archbishop of Canterbury. His next promotion was to the see of Oxford, which was given him by the minister (lord North) in 1777, on the advancement of Dn Lowth to the bishoprick of London; and the living of Cuddesden was held by Dr. Butler at the same time, being annexed to the see of Oxford; but this preferment was rendered locally unpleasant from the circumstance of his not having been regularly graduated at either of the universities. He, however, retained it till 1788, when he was advanced to the bishopric of Hereford, over which he presided until his death at his palace at Hereford, Dec. 10, 1802. He was twice married. His first wife was the mistress of a boarding-school in Westminster; his second, the sister and one of the coheiresses of sir Charles Vernon, of Farnham in Surrey; but he had issue by neither. He underwent the operation of lithotomy at the age of sixty, which he long survived, although in his latter days he was kept alive by great care and attention. Although charitable and even munificent in his lifetime, he left a very considerable fortune to his executors and friends. He was an eloquent, pleasing, and impressive preacher, always from short-hand notes, and very distinct and audible in his delivery, although his voice was weak.
ance, in a certain degree, the cause of superstition. 'Under that apprehension, an able and spirited writer, who was understood to be a clergyman of the church of England,
Dr. Butler being thus brought back into the world, his
merit and talents soon introduced him to particular notice,
and paved the way for his rising to those high dignities
which he afterwards enjoyed. In 1736, he was appointed
clerk of the closet to queen Caroline; and, in the same
year, he presented to her majesty a copy of his celebrated
treatise, entitled “The Analogy of Religion, natural and
revealed, to the constitution and course of Nature.
” His
attendance upon his royal mistress, by her especial command, was from seven to nine in the evening every day;
and though this was interrupted by her death in 1737, yet
he had been so effectually recommended by her, as well
as by the late lord chancellor Talbot, to his majesty’s favour, that, in the next year, he was raised to the highest
order of the church, by a nomination to the bishopric of
Bristol; to which see he was consecrated on the 3d of
December, 1738. King George II. not being satisfied with
this proof of his regard to Dr. Butler, promoted him, in
1740, to the deanry of St. Paul’s London; into which he
was installed on the 24th of May in that year, and finding
the demands of this dignity to be incompatible with his
parish duty at Stanhope, he immediately resigned that
rich benefice. Besides our prelate’s unremitted attention
to his peculiar obligations, he was called on to preach several discourses on public occasions, which were afterwards
separately printed, and have since been annexed to the
later editions of the Sermons at the Rolls chapel. In 1746,
upon the death of Dr. Egerton, bishop of Hereford, Dr. But>
ler was made clerk of the closet to the king; and in 1750, he
received another distinguished mark of his majesty’s favour,
by being translated to the see of Durham on the 16th of October in that year, upon the decease of Dr. Edward
Chandler. Our prelate, being thus appointed to preside
over a diocese with which he had long been connected,
delivered his first, and indeed his last charge to his clergy,
at his primary visitation in 1751. The principal subject
of it was, “External Religion.
” The bishop having observed, with deep concern, the great and growing neglect
of serious piety in the kingdom, insisted strongly on the
usefulness of outward forms and institutions, in fixing and
preserving a sense of devotion and duty in the minds of
men. In doing this, he was thought by several persons to
speak too favourably of pagan and popish ceremonies, and
to countenance, in a certain degree, the cause of superstition. 'Under that apprehension, an able and spirited
writer, who was understood to be a clergyman of the
church of England, published in 1752, a pamphlet, entitled “A serious inquiry into the use and importance of
External Religion: occasioned by some passages in the
right reverend the lord bishop of Durham’s Charge to the
Clergy of that diocese; humbly addressed to his lordship.
” Many persons, however, and, we believe, the greater
part of the clergy of the diocese, did not think our prelate’s
charge so exceptionable as it appeared to this author.
The charge, which was first printed at Durham, was afterwards annexed to Dr. Butler’s other works, by Dr. Halifax.
By his promotion to the see of Durham, our worthy bishop
was furnished with ample means of exerting the virtue of
charity, the exercise of which was his highest delight. But
this gratification he did not long enjoy. He had been but
a short time seated in his new bishopric, when his health
began visibly to decline; and having been complimented,
during his indisposition, upon account of his great resignation to the divine will, he is said to have expressed some
regret, that he should be taken from the present world so
soon after he had been rendered capable of becoming
much more useful in it. In his last illness, he was carried
to Bristol, to try the waters of that place; but, these proving ineffectual, he removed to Bath, where, being past
recovery, he died on the 16th of June, 1752. His corpse
was conveyed to Bristol, and interred in the cathedral
there, where a monument, with an inscription, is erected
to his memory. On the greatness of bishop Butler’s intellectual character we need not enlarge; for his profound
knowledge, and the prodigious strength of his mind, are
amply displayed in his incomparable writings. His piety
was of the most serious and fervent, and perhaps somewhat
of the ascetic kind. His benevolence was warm, generous,
and diffusive. Whilst he was bishop of Bristol, he expended, in repairing and improving the episcopal palace,
four thousand pounds, which is said to have been more
than the whole revenues of the bishopric amounted to,
during his continuance in that see. Indeed he used to say
that the deanery of St. Paul’s paid for it. Besides his
private benefactions, he was a contributor to the' Infirmary
at Bristol, and a subscriber to three of the Hospitals at
London. He was, likewise, a principal promoter, though
not the first founder, of the Infirmary at Newcastle, in
Northumberland. lu supporting the hospitality and
dignity of the rich and powerful diocese of Durham, he was
desirous of imitating the spirit of his patron, bishop Talbot. In this spirit, he set apart three clays every week for
the reception and entertainment of the principal gentry of
the country. Nor were even the clergy who had the
poorest benefices neglected by him. He not only occasionally invited them to dine with him, but condescended
to visit them at their respective parishes. By his will, he
left five hundred pounds to the society for propagating the
gospel in foreign parts, and some legacies to his friends
and domestics. His executor was his chaplain, the rev.
Dr. Nathaniel Forster, a divine of distinguished literature,
who was especially charged to destroy all his manuscript
sermons, letters, and papers. Bishop Butler was never
married. The bishop’s disposition, which had in it a natural ca’st of gloominess, was supposed to give a tincture
to his devotion. As a proof of this, and that he had even
acquired somewhat of a superstitious turn of mind, it was
alleged, that he had put a. cross in his chapel at Bristol.
The cross was a plain piece of marble inlaid. This circumstance, together with the offence which some persons had
taken at his charge delivered at Durham, might possibly
give rise to a calumny, that, almost fifteen years after his
death, was advanced concerning him, in an obscure and
anonymous pamphlet, entitled “The Root of Protestant
Errors examined.
” It was there said, that our prelate died
in the communion of the church of Rome. Of this absurd
and groundless charge, we shall take no other notice, than
to transcribe what the worthy and learned Dr. Porteus has
written concerning it, in his Life of Archbishop Seeker.
“This strange slander, founded on the weakest pretences
and most trivial circumstances that can be imagined, no
one was better qualified to confute than the archbishop;
as well from his long and intimate knowledge of bishop
Butler, as from the information given him at the time by
those who attended his lordship in his last illness, and
were with him when he died. Accordingly, by an article
in a newspaper, signed Misopseudes, his grace challenged
the author of that pamphlet to produce his authority for
what he had advanced; and in a second article defended
the bishop against him; and in a third (all with the same signature) confuted another writer, who, under the name
of ‘A real Protestant,’ still maintained that ridiculous
calumy. His antagonists were effectually subdued, and
his superiority to them was publicly acknowledged by a
sensible and candid man, who signed himself, and who
really was ‘A dissenting Minister.’ Surely, it is a very
unwise piece of policy, in those who profess themselves
enemies to popery, to take so much pains to bring the
most respectable names within its pale; and to give it the
merit of having gained over those who were the brightest
ornaments and firmest supports of the protestant cause.
”