Puerilis, Dialogus," &c. which he afterwards greatly enlarged, and published in English, 2 vols. 8vo. 1745. He died in 1750, after bearing with the greatest fortitude a complication of the most painful disorders.

prince Charies, prince of Wales; and the author tells his highness, that " he had endeavoured to ex. traft out of the chaos of endless controversies the old practice of true piety, which flourished before these controversies were hatched." The design was good; and the re ception this book has met with may be known from the astonishing number of its editions. This prelate died in 1632.

BAXTER (WILLIAM) an eminant critic and grammarian, nephew to the foregoing, born 1650, died 1723- He published excellent editions of" Anacreon" and "Horace," was author of a "Latin Grammar," 1679, and of a "Glossary of the Roman Antiquities," which, how-in Suffolk 1632. In the manuscripts ever, goes no farther than the letter A, and was printed 1726.

BAYARD (LE CHEVALIER)a celebrated French warrior, called the Knight without fear or reproach, alain at the siege of Rebec, 1524.

BAYLE (PETER) author of the Historical and Critical Dictionary, was born Nov. 18, 1647, at Carla, a small town in the county of Foix, and was a most laborious and inde fatigable writer. In one of his letters to Des Maizeaux, he says, that since his goth year he hardly remembers to have had any leisure. He died the 28th of December 1706, after he had been writing the greatest part of the day. Among the pro. duations which do honour to the age of Lewis XIV. Mr. Voltaire has not omitted the "Critical Dictionary" of our author: "It is the first work of the kind (says he), in which a man may learn to think."

BAYLY (LEWIS) author of that most memorable book intituled, "The Practie of Piety." He was born at Caermarthen in Wales, educated at Oxford, made minister of Evesham in Worcestershire about 1611, became chaplain to king James, and was promoted to the sec of Bangor in 1616. His book is dedicated " to the high and mighty "to

BEALE(MARY)a portrait painter in the reign of Charles II. born

of Mr. Oldys, she is celebrated for her poetry, as well as for her painting; and is styled "that masculine poet, as well as painter, the incomparable Mrs. Beale." She died Dec. 28, 1697.

BEARD (JOHN) a very eminent and popular singer on the English stage, was in early life one of the children in the Chapel Royal; but forfeited his station there by his connexion with the drama. He married, first, lady Henrietta, relift of lord Edward Herbert, and only daughter of lord Waldegrave; secondly, a daughter of Mr. Rich, patentee of Covent Garden theatre. He then became one of the proprietors and acting manager of that house, and continued to perform till disqualified by the loss of his hearing. He died in his 75th year, Feb. 5, 1791, in affluent circumstances, and with a moral character perhaps as high as human nature can possess.

BEATON, or BETON(DAVID) archbishop of St. Andrew's in Scotland, and cardinal of the Roman church, born 1494, lost his life by the hands of Norman Lesly, eldest son of the earl of Rothes, about the year 1546. This famous prelate was a man of great parts,

but of boundless pride and ambition, ¡of December 1171. The miracles and withal an eminent instance of said to be wrought at his tomb the instability of what the world were so numerous, that we are told calls fortune. two large volumes of them were kept in that church. His shrine was visited from all parts, and enriched with the most costly gifts and offerings. Though canonized, he was, however, in truth, memorable only for his pride, insolence, and ingratitude to his sovereign Henry II. to which he fell a sacrifice.

ten,

BEAUMONT (SIR JOHN) a poet of some eminence, descended from an ancient family at Grace Dieu in Leicestershire, born 1582. His "Bosworth Field," Mr. Headley tells us, merits a republication, for the easy flow of its numbers, and the spirit with which it is writ. It was first published by his son, together with the rest of his poems, in 12mo. 1629. He was created a baronet by King Charles in 1626, and died two years after. BEAUMONT (FRANCIS), brother of the foregoing, a celebrated dramatic writer, born at Grace-dieu in Leicestershire, about the year 1586, died 1615, before he was 30 years of age, and was buried in the entrance of St. Benedict's Chapel, within St. Peter's Westminster. Beside the plays in which he was jointly concerned with Fletcher, he wrote a little dramatic piece, and other poems, printed together in 1653, 8vo. Beaumont was esteem. ed so good a judge of dramatic compositions, that Ben Jonson sub-should not expire in his hands. As mitted his writings to his correction, and, it is thought, was much indebted to him for the contrivance of his plots.

BECKFORD (WILLIAM) a patriotic chief magistrate of the city of London, who died in that office, with which he had been for the second time invested, June 21, 1770, aged 65. He shewed himself the stedfast friend of his king and country, and was the only man of his time who with firmness yet with humility dared tell a king upon his throne (surrounded by his courtiers) the plain and honest truth, whereby he vindicated the loyalty while he evinced the independent spirit of the city of London. Convinced that our liberties belong to posterity as well as to ourselves, he resolved that the share committed to his trust

a citizen he was eminently decorated with the virtues of humanity and affability; as a senator (member for London) watchful over the rights of the people, and as a magistrate unremittingly active in see. ing those rights legally executed. That his character night ever be

BEAUSOBRE (ISAAC DE) a very learned protestant writer, of French original, born at Niort in 1659, died 1738. BECCARIA (MARQUIS) a cele-held in the most honourable and brated French writer "On Crimes and Punishments," died Nov. 29, 1794.

BECKET (THOMAS) archbishop of Canterbury in the reign of Henry II. was born in London 1119, and was assassinated in the cathedral church of Canterbury on the 29th

grateful remembrance, the corporation erected his statue in their Guildhall, and recorded in the inscription the magnanimous speech which he is said to have addressed to the king in vindication of the people's right to remonstrate to the throne.

BEDA, or BEDE, surnamed the

Venerable, an English monk, and his poor flock, to whom he became an eminent writer of ecclesiastical a physician and an almoner, as well history, was born 673, át Wear- as a spiritual director. He died mouth in the bishoprick of Durham, 1755, with the blessings of all good and died about 735. His ecclesi- men upon him. astical History of England commences at the invasion of Julius Cæsar, and ends A. D. 723.

BELLIN (GENTIL) a Venetian painter, born 1421, died 1501. BELSUNCE, the benevolent bi-moirs." shop of Marseilles, worthy to be recorded as the friend and benefactor of mankind. During the plague of 1720, he was constantly visiting

wherever learning is known. In his private character, he was hearty, sincere and warm in his friendships; loved hospitality and respect; and, in conversation, he tempered the hard-mouthed severity of the critic with a peculiar strain of vivacity and pleasantry.

one of the great saints of the Romish
communion.

BERNERS (JULIANA) prioress
of Sopewell Nunnery, near St. Al-
ban's, one of the earliest female
writers in England, was daughter
of sir James Berners, of Roding
Berners in Essex (who was behead-
ed in the reign of Richard II.) She
was very beautiful, of great spirit,
and loved masculine exercises, such

BERKELEY (DR. GEORGE) the learned and ingenious bishop of Cloyne in Ireland, was born in that kingdom, at Kilerin, near Thomas-as hawking, hunting, &c. and so town, the 12th of March 1684, and thoroughly was she skilled in them, died Jan. 14, 1753. The excellence that she wrote treatises of hunting, of his moral character is conspicuous hawking, and heraldry, printed at in his writings, which were chiefly St. Alban's, folio, 1486. She was in defence of the Christian religion born about the beginning of the 15th against Atheists and Infidels. His century, but the time of her dephilosophical discoveries, particu- cease is unknown. Nothing can larly of the medical virtues of tar. more strongly mark the barbarism water, were of great service to man- of the times in which she lived, kind. Dr. B. was certainly a very than the indelicate expressions used amiable as well as very great man; by this lady, equally incompatible and Pope is scarcely thought to with her sex and profession. have said too much when he ascribes to

"Berkeley every virtue under Heaven."

BERKENHOUT (DR. JOHN) long distinguished in the literary world for his productions in various sciences. He had experienced many different situations in life, having in his youth been a captain both in the Prussian and English service, and in the year 1765 he took his degree of M. D. at Leyden. He went with the commissioners to America, where he was imprisoned by the congress; on which account he afterwards enjoyed a pension from government. He died April 3, 1791, aged 60.

BERNARD (ST.) one of the fathers of the church, born 1091, in the village of Fountaine in Burgundy, died 1153, after having founded 160 monasteries, wrought innumerable miracles, and become

BERNIER (FRANCIS) surnamed the Mogul on account of his voyages and residence in the Mogul's country, born at Angers in France, died at Paris 1688.

BERNINI, or BERNIN (JOHN LAWRENCE) commonly called Cavaliero Bernin, born at Naples, was famous for his skill in painting, sculpture, architecture, and mecha nics. He died at Rome 1680.

BERNIS (CARDINAL) one of the most remarkable men in the reign of Louis XV. as a courtier, a man of letters, and a negotiator. He was born 1714, and died at Rome Nov. 1794.

BERNOUILLI (DANIEL) a very celebrated philosopher and mathematician, born at Groningen, Feb. 9, 1700, died in March 1782. He was extremely respected at Basil; and to bow to Daniel Bernouilli when they met him in the streets, was one of the first lessons

と

t

which every father gave his children.

cellence in the art of engraving on wood, and brother to Thomas Bewick, an artist of equal or superior merit, still living. These ingeni. ous brethren have carried their art

BERULLE (PETER) a celebrated cardinal, who founded the congregation of The Oratory in France. He was born 1575, greatly distin- to a state of perfeétion which will guished himself by his piety, his not easily be surpassed. The first moral virtues, and his learning, and work that attracted the notice of the died while performing mass at the public, and at once established their altar, Oct. 2, 1629. reputation, was a "History of Qua drupeds," 8vo. 1790, with figures on wood. It was eagerly sought after by the curious, and has been followed by many other proofs of their abilities, the last of which is a "History of British Birds," 8vo. 1797; on which John was engag ed, in conjunction with his brother, when a consumption carried him

zealous promoter and defender of the reformed church, born at Vezelai, in Burgundy, June the 24th, 1519, died 1605.

BETTERTON (THOMAS) a famous English actor, generally styled the English Roscius, born in Tothillstreet, Westminster, 1635. He made his first appearance on the stage in 1656 or 1657, at the opera-house in Charter-house Yard, under the dircation of sir William D'Avenant, and, having for many years borne away the palm from all his competi-off, Dec. 5, 1795. tors, died April 1710, and was in- BEZA (THEODORE) a most terred in Westminster Abbey. Mr. Booth, who knew him only in his decline, used to say, that he never saw him, off or on the stage, but he learned something from him; and BINGHAM (JOSEPH) born at frequently observed that Betterton Wakefield, in Yorkshire, 1668. He was no actor: that he put on his wrote a learned and laborious work, part with his clothes, and was the " Origines Ecclesiasticæ, or the Anvery man he undertook to be, till tiquities of the Christian Church;" the play was over, and nothing the 1st volume of which was pubmore. So exact was he in follow-lished 1708, in 8vo. and it was ing nature, that the look of surprize completed afterwards in 9 volumes be assumed in the character of Hamlet astonished Booth (when he first personated the Ghost) to such a degree, that he was unable to proceed in his part for some moments. See Cibber's Apology, Tatler, No. 167, and Davies's Dramatic Miscellanies, for a particular account of this emi

nent man.

more. He died August 17, 1723.

BION (of Smyrna) a Greek Bu colic poet, flourished about 288 B.C.

BIRCH (THOMAS) a distinguished historical and biographical writer, born in the parish of St. John, Clerkenwell, London, Nov. 23, 1705, of parents who were Quakers. His death was occasioned BEVERIDGE (WILLIAM) a by a fall from his horse, and haplearned English divine, bishop of pened Jan. 9, 1766. Of his variSt. Asaph, born at Barrow, in ous publications the principal was, Leicestershire, 1638, died 1707," The General Dictionary, historical leaving behind him many learned and critical," in 10 vols. folio; the first of which was published in 1734 the last in 1741.

and valuable works.

BEWICK (JOHN), of great ex