Racine and other dramatists; and at twenty-five he produced a tragedy, which, in the absence of all theatres, was played before the empress Elizabeth in private, to her great satisfaction. This success encouraged the young poet to greater efforts; but his first strenuous labour was to obtain an established play-house, for which he at length gained permission of the court, chiefly through the influence of the grand-duke Peter. The first Russian theatre was accordingly opened in St. Petersburg, 1756. Nothing beyond the scriptural pieces of Demetrius, bishop of Rostov, had ever before been performed, and that privately, in Muscovy; so that Sumarokov may justly be regarded as the founder of the Russian drama. Among the tragedics he wrote for his theatre, his Demetrius, Semira, and Sinov and Truvor, are reckoned the best; and they are admitted by his countrymen to contain passages as sublime as any in the productions of more modern dramatists. Sumarokov attempted also opera and farce, together with every species of poetry; and his paraphrase of The Psalms' is still a very popular work in Russia. This northern votary of the muses died, aged 59, 1777. JOHN KER, third duke of Roxburgh, was a celebrated collector of books; and from him the Roxburgh Club,' for a time so prominent in the literary world, derived its name. The duke died a bachelor, aged 81, 1804. MAXIMILIAN LEOPOLD, DUKE OF BRUNSWICK, nephew to the king of Prussia, served in that sovereign's army; and, during a sudden inundation of theOder, near Frankfort, attempting to save some of the unfortunate inhabitants from the waters, he fell a sacrifice to his humanity, 24th April, 1785, aged 63. HESTER LYNCH PIOZZI (1739 -1821), was the daughter of Mr. Salusbury, a gentleman of some fortune of Bodvel, Caernarvonshire. At the age of 24, 1763, she married Mr. Henry Thrale, a brewer of great opulence in Southwark, and M. P. for that borough; and soon after her

union she began to cultivate a literary friendship with Dr. Johnson, which, while it drew her into public notice, afforded the great lexicogra pher a considerable share of earthly comfort and happiness. Mr. Thrale had a pretty seat at Streatham-park (now Tooting-common, in the parish of Streatham), Surrey, with both the means and the will to treat a constant houseful of friends with hospitality; and Johnson, being a frequent guest, was there introduced, in the easiest and most agreeable way, to many very influential persons both in church and state. Indeed so attached did both Mr. Thrale and his lady become to the doctor, that they often contrived to scrape acquaintance with strangers of rank and influence, in order that he might gain access to their society. In a quiet part of the mansion, overlooking a pretty lake, was the room devoted to the doctor's use as a dormitory, wherein was one of sir Joshua's portraits of him; and in the grounds near the house was a picturesque root-house, raised high on sleepers, which was converted into a day-study for the same philosopher —a rustic tenement still existing, and wherein many of his essays were composed. On the decease of Mr. Thrale 1781, his widow retired to Bath, but in 1784 re-married. The second object of her choice was signor Piozzi, a Florentine, who taught music in that city. Α warm but very rational expostulation on the part of Dr. Johnson at once and for ever dissolved their friendship; and soon after her inconsiderate union, Mrs. Piozzi accompanied her husband on a visit to his native city, during her abode in which she joined other English residents in the production of a collection of pieces in verse and prose, entitled The Florence Miscellany." 'Observations made in a Journey through France, Italy, and Germany,' is this lively and capricious lady's best prose work, as is her sensible tale, The Three Warnings,' her best poetical one: all her productions

Her

savouring more of the maxim' Vive la bagatelle' than of profundity. She became a second time a widow, and it is curious that, in her old age, her constant pleasure was to talk of her ancient friendship with Johnson; which we must favourably interpret into a symptom of her regret for the ungrateful manner in which she had eventually treated him. Had she reflected, which she was capable enough of doing, (since Johnson, Boswell, and others unite in admitting her good sense, when unfettered by mean considerations), that he is alone the true friend who advises justly, and who remonstrates when advice is fruitless, she would have taken all from him patiently, defended herself resolutely, and still have remained unchangeably his friend. She died at Bath, aged 82, 1821. THOMAS PERCIVAL (1740-1804), born at Warrington, Lancashire, studied medicine at Edinburgh and Leyden, and then settled as a physician at Manchester. In that town he practised with great repute, in a day when a devotion to literature in leisure hours did not operate injuriously to the medical man; and he accordingly gave to the world his sensible Moral Tales,' and other like ethical works. He was the founder and first president of the Manchester Philosophical Society; but that institution became a sort of rallying point for Arian dissenters, of which Dr. Percival was one. The worthy physician also mingled much with some violent political partisans; so that all his attempts to establish mathematical and other societies, and to gain support for dissenting academies at Warrington and Manchester, were constantly frustrated. He died aged 64, 1804. Dr. JOHN SIBTHORP, of Canwick, Lincolnshire, was educated at University college, Oxford, where he succeeded his father, Dr. Humphry Sibthorp, as professor of botany. He travelled twice to Greece, and made a collection of curious plants, which were begun in a splendid form under the title of Flora Græca.' He also

published Flora Oxoniensis,' and died 1796. (See Thomas Platt, vol. iii.) JOHN FELL, of Cockermouth, was originally a tailor, but acquired some knowledge of the classics, and became a dissenting preacher at Eccles, Suffolk, and afterwards at Thaxsted, Essex. He was subsequently tutor at the academy at Homerton, from which he was dismissed, says his biographer, for reading a newspaper on a Sunday. A subscription of 100 guineas was then made for him to preach sermons on the evidences of Christianity. Four only of these were delivered at the Scots church, Londonwall, when the preacher fell a victim to a dropsy, 1797. Fell was a man of considerable talent, and wrote answers to Farmer's Essay on the Demoniacs," Genuine Protestantism,' and An Essay on the Laws of one's Country.' CHARLES BATTEUX, philosophical professor of the French academy, was eminent for his erudition, as well as his private virtues. His works are various, chiefly on classical literature; and his death was accelerated by grief, in observing that the elementary book which he wrote for the military school at Paris, did not succeed so well as he wished. He died at Paris 1780, aged 67. Among other works he published the four Poetics of Aristotle, Horace, Vida, and Boileau, with notes. WILLIAM BATTIE, born in Devonshire, was educated at Eton and King's college, Cambridge. His wish to study the law was checked by poverty; and he turned his thoughts to physic, and practised at Uxbridge and London, and became physician to St. Luke's. In 1738, he married the daughter of Barnham Goode, under-master of Eton-school, a man whom, for a satirical poem, Pope has immortalized in his Dunciad. Dr. Battie was lampooned for the active part which he took with the college of physicians against Dr. Schomberg, in 1750, in the Battiad, a poem said to be written by Schomberg, Moses Mendez, and Paul Whitehead. Dr. Battie's observations on insanity re

and he devoted himself in improving the catalogues of that valuable collection. Of all his preferments, that which pleased him most was his commissariate of St. Catherine's, of which he has given an elaborate history, with beautiful engravings. He was so fond of antiquities, that he travelled every year in company with his friend Gale, with a Camden's Britannia and a set of maps; and by proceeding about 15 miles a day, examined every place with accuracy. He was cheerful and hospitable; and of his knowledge of antiquities, the best specimen is his listory of Croydon Palace,' and of Lambeth,' &c. He died at South Lambeth, aged 72, 1785. CHARLES MICHAEL DE L'EPEE,born at Paris, became celebrated | for his humane efforts in favour of the deaf and dumb. By his salutary instruction, these unfortunate persons often acquired the knowledge of six different languages, and became profound mathematicians and ready calculators. This benevolent man, after receiving honourable marks of esteem and gratitude from the empress of Russia, the emperor of Germany, and the king of France, died at Paris, 1790. He was succeeded by l'abbé Sicard, as superintendent of institutions for the deaf and dumb. Allen BathurST, descended from the Bathursts of Northamptonshire, was educated at Trinity college, Oxford, under his uncle the president, and was afterwards elected in two parliaments for Cirencester. He opposed Marlborough, and was one of the 12 lords introduced in one day, 1711, to the upper house, to form a majority. He continued firm to his political friends, even in their disgrace, and boldly opposed the attainder of Bolingbroke and Ormond; and in 1718, he showed himself, as a speaker among the peers, the most formidable opponent of the measures of the court. In 1704 he had married Catherine, daughter of sir Peter Apsley, of Sussex, by whom he had four sons and five daughters. His only surviving son was for some

years chancellor of England, and made a peer by the title of lord Apsley. Lord Bathurst was employed about the person of Frederic prince of Wales, and of his son George III.; at whose accession he resigned his offices for a pension of 1200l. In his private character lord Bathurst was a man of great generosity, and affable in manners; and his long and familiar acquaintance with Pope, Swift, and Addison, prove him to have possessed wit, taste, and erudition. He was attached to rural amusements, and fond of conviviality. He drank regularly his bottle after dinner, and laughed at the temperate regimen of Dr. Cadogan, which 50 years before Dr. Cheyne had recommended to him, assuring him that he would not live seven years more if he did not abstain from wine. He died 1775, aged 91. POMPEO BATONI, a native of Lucca, eminent as a painter. His best piece is Simon the magician contending with St. Peter, preserved at Rome in the great church dedicated to the apostle. Batoni died 1787, aged 79. CHARLES COUNT DE VERGENNES, a French statesman. He, in 1755, was sent as ambassador from France to Constantinople; where his good conduct merited the thanks of his master, and the approbation of Maria Theresa, and of Catherine of Russia. He was in 1771 ambassador in Sweden, and promoted the revolution which made Gustavus master of his country; and on the accession of Louis XVI, he was recalled to be minister of foreign affairs. Whilst he spread the influence of France through Europe, he eagerly promoted general tranquillity. In his politics towards the English he greatly erred; and by supporting the Americans in their revolt against the mother country, he laid the foundation of a system which hurled his master from his throne. His treaty of peace with England, in 1783, was followed by a commercial treaty, which proved beneficial o both countries. He died 1 787, aged 68, and was magnificently bu

ried by the order of Louis, who shed tears of affection over the ashes of his favourite minister. WILLIAM WHITEHEAD was born 1715 at Cambridge, where his father was a baker. He obtained, at the age of 14, a nomination to Winchester college, and there obtained a prize for a poem which Pope set to the scholars, when he visited the school in company with lord Peterborough. Though respectable in the school for abilities, he lost the election to New college for want of friends, and entered at Clare hall, | Cambridge, where as the son of a baker, he had a claim to a scholarship. In 1742 he became fellow, and then engaged in the family of lord Jersey, as tutor to his son, and to his friend general Stevens. Amidst the independence of his situation, he directed his thoughts to dramatic composition, and produced his Ro. man Father,' and his Creusa,' which met with great applause. In 1754 he accompanied his pupil and lord Nuneham on the continent, and through Germany passed to Italy, and returned through Switzerland, Germany, and Holland, in 1756. The views of Rome were not lost on the imagination of a man of genius and of taste; and on his return, he presented to the public his elegy, written at Haut-villiers, an ode on the campagna of Rome, and five eclogues. By the interest of lady Jersey, he was appointed secretary and register to the order of the Bath, and two years after succeeded Cibber as poetlaureat. Thus raised to independence, he continued the friend of the two noblemen over whose education he had presided; and the many days which he passed at Nuneham and Middleton park, were proofs of the goodness of his heart, as much as of the virtues, and the grateful generosity of his pupils. In the midst of these pleasing assiduities of friendship, he devoted much of his time to the muses; and besides his occasional odes, he wrote the School for Lovers,' a comedy acted at Drury-lane, 1762. He died suddenly, after a

short confinement, 1785. JOHN ENTICK, a clergyman and schoolmaster at Stepney, known as the author of a Latin and of a spelling dictionary. He also wrote a history of the war terminated in 1763, a history of London abridged from Stow, and other works. He died 1780. CATHERINE MACAULAY, daughter of John Sawbridge, Esq. In 1760 she married Dr. Macaulay, a physician, and after his death she took for her second husband, 1778, the Rev. Mr. Graham, brother to the empiric of that name. She displayed an extraordinary love of liberal principles; and her conduct was often so romantic, that in 1785 she passed over to America, to become acquainted with Washington, who continued one of her regular correspondents. She died 1791. She published the history of England from James I. to the Brunswick line, Remarks on Hobbes's Rudiments of Government,' and other works, tinged with her peculiar political sentiments; and her friend Dr. Wilson so much admired her enthusiasm in favour of liberty, that he set up her statue in the chancel of his parish church of Walbrook, which was very properly removed by the next incumbent. MARY ROBINSON, known for her genius and misfortunes, was born at Bristol, where her father, an American, was captain of a ship; and at the age of fifteen she married Mr. Robinson, an attorney, which proved the source of much misery. Her husband was unfortunate and extravagant, and after accompanying him to a jail, she turned her thoughts to the stage. As her person was pleasing, and her abilities respectable, she appeared with credit in the characters of Juliet, Ophelia, Rosalind, Imogene, Viola, &c. Whilst rising in the public estimation under Garrick, she unfortunately attracted, in the character of Perdita, the attention of the prince of Wales; and those who ought to have defended his virtue, became the criminal encouragers of a licen tious amour, which this frail woman