merit, entitled, " General Analysis, containing New Methods of resolving Problems of every Kind, and of all Degrees to Infinity," 4to. This work, which made its appearance at Paris in 1733, was immediately adopted by the Royal Academy of Sciences, and constitutes the 11th volume of the "Memoirs" of the academy. The author had the modesty to send it into the world under the name of M. Lagny; but it was soon ascertained, that a very small share of the credit arising from it could fairly be awarded to that mathematician. This volume was to be followed by three others, which, from what M. Richer frequently said, were supposed to be completed; but they were never communicated to the public. This circumstance may not improbably be accounted for, by another sudden change which took place in the direction of our author's studies. After he had been first appointed a canon of Provins in Champagne, and then Dean of Notre-Dame in the same town, the perusal of a fragment of Manetho, high-priest of Heliopolis in Egypt, induced him to devote his whole attention to the most profound researches in ancient history. Notwithstanding the obscurity of this relic of antiquity, which the most learned and sagacious men from the days of Origen to the present time have not been able to clear up, he conceived that he thoroughly understood it, and that it furnished him with a clew, by the aid of which he could unravel all the difficulties of ancient history, sacred and profane. Under the influence of this persuasion, he laboured day and night in attempting to illustrate it, till he had produced too immense folio volumes, which no person would undertake to print. Thus circumstanced, he drew up and circulated among several of the learned a memoir, intended to explain, and, if possible, to obtain their approbation of a system, which had cost him so much pains, that his health was ruined, and he proved the victim of constant and increasing infirmities during the latter years of his life. As a specimen of his labours, he published, "A Chronological Series of the Kings of Egypt, determined, according to three Simple Dynasties, from the Fragment of Manetho," in folio. He died about the year 1756. His name frequently appeared in the lists of persons proposed for seats in the Academy of Sciences at Paris; but his instability in his pursuits, and some forbidding peculiarities in his temper, prevented his admission into that Society. Moreri.-M.

RICHIER DE BELLEVAL, PETER, one

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of the founders of French botany, was born at Chalons, in Champagne, in 1558, and was brought up to the practice of medicine. The services he rendered to the town of Pezenas during a contagion caused him to be patronized by the constable Montmorency, and nominated by Henry IV. professor of botany and anatomy in the University of Montpellier. To his zeal for science was owing the establishment of the botanical garden at Montpellier, the earliest institution of the kind in France. For the purpose of enriching it, he made several tours to the Cevennes, and the sea-coast, and sent his pupils to all the ports of Languedoc, Dauphiné, and Provence, at the same time maintaining at his own expence engravers who made draughts of curious plants under his inspection. He was the first botanist who gave copper-plate figures, which are executed with accuracy, but in a hard style, being imitations of the wooden cuts then in use. The Montpellier garden having been destroyed in the troubles consequent upon the death of Henry IV., Richier was extremely active in procuring its restoration, and advanced a considerable sum of his own property for the purpose. He died in 1632, at the age of 74. The sole publication of this botanist was" Onomatologia seu Nomenclatura Stirpium quæ in Horto medico Monspeliensi coluntur," 1598, being an alphabetical catalogue of the plants in the garden of Montpellier, to which is prefixed a dedication to the King, containing an account of the author's botanical labours. A description of five plants is subjoined, as a specimen of the method he intended to employ in a future description of 500 more. The plates of Richier 'having come into the hands of Dr. Gillibert of Lyons, he caused them to be published in 2 vols. 4to., forming a sequel to the "Demonstrations elementaires de Botanique," Lyon, 1796. The memory of this meritorious founder of the science has been perpetuated by Scopoli in his genus Bellevalia, and by Brugniere in his Richieria. Halleri Bibl. Botan. Nouv. Dict. Hist.-A.

RICHMAN, GEORGE WILLIAM, a member of the Imperial Academy of Sciences at Petersburgh, was born at Pernau in 1711, after the decease of his father, who was treasurer to the King of Sweden. Having acquired the rudiments of education in the gymnasium at Revel, he prosecuted his studies at the Universities of Halle and Jena, but applied chiefly to mathematics and philosophy, to which he shewed a particular attachment. In the year 1735 he was made a member of the Imperial Academy

of Sciences at Petersburgh: in 1741 he became extraordinary professor; and in 1745 was appointed ordinary professor of experimental philosophy. Among the subjects which Richman studied, the electricity of bodies, in general, and that of thunder clouds, in particular, had engaged a great deal of his attention. On the discoveries made in this branch of knowledge he had composed a treatise, which he intended to read on the 6th of September 1753, at a public meeting of the members of the academy; and in order to demonstrate what he might advance in this discourse, he omitted no opportunity, upon the appearance of a thunder cloud, of endeavouring to ascertain its strength. For this purpose he had iron bars always standing ready on the top of his house. These received the electrical matter from the clouds, and communicated it to chains, by which it was conducted into one of his rooms where he kept his apparatus. He was attending the usual meeting of the academy on the 26th of July, 1753, a little before noon, when it thundered at a considerable distance; the sky being then clear and the sun shining bright. In the hope of confirming his former observations, or of being able perhaps to make some new ones, he now hurried home, accompanied by Sokolof, an engraver, that the latter might make himself better acquainted with the chief circumstances of the electrical experiment, and be thus enabled to represent it more correctly on a copper-plate which he intended to add to his dissertation. Richman immediately carried the engraver to his apparatus; but while examining it with his head inclined towards it, he received a violent shock, which instantly deprived him of existence. The electrical fluid appeared to have entered at the head, and to have made its way out at the foot.

He was a man of extensive learning; assiduous in his pursuits; and so much distinguished by his piety, integrity, and other good qualities, that he was much lamented by his friends, and regretted by the academy. Philosophical Transactions.-J.

RICIMER, Count and Patrician of the Western empire, and an important civil and military character in the 5th century, was the son of Wallia, daughter of the King of the Visigoths, by a father of Suevian origin. From his youth he served in the Roman armies, where he acquired great reputation by his warlike exploits, and came to be regarded as the ablest commander of the age. Sidonius Apollinaris accumulates in his character of Ricimer all the excellencies of the most celebrated names

in ancient Rome; it appears, however, from his actions, that they had the alloy of perfidy and unprincipled ambition. In the reign of the Emperor Avitus, being one of the chief commanders of the Barbarian troops which formed the defence of Italy, he destroyed, in the year 456, on the coast of Corsica, a fleet of Genseric the Vandal King, destined to ravage the coasts of Gaul or Italy. This success enabled him to avail himself of the public discontents to depose Avitus, and raise to the throne Majorian in 457. The vigour and ability with which this prince maintained his dignity having disappointed Ricimer in his expectations of enjoying the supreme authority under his name, he fomented a sedition among the troops at Tortona, where Majorian was encamped on his return from Gaul, and compelled him,in 461, to abdicate the purple, which act was soon followed by his death. Ricimer then elevated to the throne one Libius Severus, an obscure man, who bore the title of Emperor, during four years, without performing any one imperial function. In that period, and in an interregnum of two years more, Ricimer exercised sovereign authority, amassing treasures, forming a separate army, and negotiating alliances. He cut off a king of the Alans, with all his followers, who had invaded Italy; but he was unable to extend his sway beyond the Alps, where two generals, Ægidius in Gaul, and Marcellinus in Dalmatia, maintained themselves in independence. The Barbarian birth of Ricimer prevented his assumption of the purple; and in 467 he concurred in the inauguration of Anthemius, whose daughter at the same time he married. The new Emperor and. his potent son-in-law passed some years in union; but at length dissentions broke out between them, and Ricimer, withdrawing from Rome, fixed his residence at Milan. There, after a feigned reconciliation with Anthemius, he excited his army to revolt, and with a reinforcement of new Barbarian levies, marched to Rome. After a vigorous resistance, the unfortunate capital was stormed and sacked with every circumstance of cruelty, in July 472, and Anthemius, dragged from his concealment, was murdered by order of Ricimer, who caused Olybrius to be proclaimed in his stead. He himself was shortly after carried off by disease, bequeathing the command of his army to his nephew Gundebald, a Burgundian prince. Univers. Hist. Gibbon.-A.

RICIUS, PAUL, a celebrated converted Jew, who flourished in the 16th century, was a native of Germany, concerning the date of

whose birth or death we have no information. He became professor of philosophy at the University of Pavia, and conducted himself with such ability in that department, that he acquired great reputation, and secured the esteem of many learned men. He appears to have graduated in the medical line, and was so powerfully recommended to the Emperor Maximilian, that he was sent for by that prince, and appointed his physician. He engaged in a controversy with the famous Eckius concerning the philosophical question, whether the heavens are animated, or have a soul? the affirmative of which he defended. He also published several books against the Jews, which reflected great honour on his learning, moderation, and candour. On his merits as a scholar and a man, Erasmus has passed a high encomium, in his "Epistol. Lib. i. Ep. ult." "I was so vastly delighted," says he," with the last conversation which I had with Paul Ricius, that I have a strong desire of enjoying his company more frequently and familiarly. Not to mention his great skill in the Hebrew tongue, and his knowledge in philosophy and divinity; how great is his rectitude of mind, how ardent his thirst after knowledge, how great his candour in teaching, and his modesty in disputations! I was charmed with him the very first time I saw him formerly at Pavia, where he was professor of philosophy; and I am still more delighted with him, now I have an opportunity of viewing him nearer. In short, I take him to be an Israelite indeed, who answers his name well, since his whole pleasure and study, his busy and his leisure hours, are bestowed upon the Holy Scriptures. He shews a mind that is worthy of the most honourable ease." Ricius was the author of "Lib. iv. de Cælesti agricultura;" "De communi Sacramentorum Ratione Sermo;"" De Arcana Dei Providentia Commentariolus in Psalm. i. ;" "De anima Cœli juxta Sanctorum et Philosophorum Traditionem;" "De Sexcentis et tredecim Mosaicæ Sanctionis mandatis ;""De Talmudæorum Codice excerpta Farrago;" "De Novenario Doctrinæ ordine, et de Aristotelici Dogmatis Cohærentia et Nexu;" "De Ratione Procemii," &c.; " De Modo indagandi statuendique cujuslibet Scientiæ Subjectum;" and "In virulentam immanissimamque Turcarum Rabiem, &c. Concio." The pieces above mentioned were published separately at different periods, and were afterwards collected together, and printed in a folio volume at Augsburg, in the year 1541. They are also

inserted in the 1st vol. of Pistorius's "Scrip tores Artis Cabbalisticæ." Ricius was likewise the author of a Latin version of Rabbi Joseph Gecatilja's "Porta Lucis," 1516, 4to. ;"Statera Prudentum," 1632, 8vo.; a Latinversion of the books Sanhedrin and Maccoth in the Mishna, published in 1619, 4to.; and, according to Buxtorf, the Latin version of the book Jezira, which may be seen in Pistorius's collection. Wolfii Bibl. Hebr. Vols. I. et III. Bayle.-M.

RIDLEY, NICHOLAS, an eminent Englishprelate and martyr in the cause of the Refor mation, was descended from an ancient family, and born at Wilmontswyc in Tynedale, Northumberland, at the beginning of the 16th century. As he afforded early evidence of excellent natural abilities, and an inclination for learning, he was placed in a grammarschool at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where he made such a proficiency, that his uncle Dr. Robert Ridley, Fellow of Queen's-college, Cambridge, was induced to take upon himself the care and expence of his future education. By this relation he was entered of Pembroke-hall in that University, about the year 1518. His disposition was open and ingenuous; by the care which had been taken of him, his mind was strongly impressed with principles. of piety; and he possessed an uncommon spirit of constancy and resolution, which made him indefatigable in his studies. With respect to his religious principles, he appears to have been educated a zealous Papist. He studied Greek under Richard Crook, who was the first professor of that language at Cambridge;and in memorial of his diligence in acquiring it, a walk under Pembroke garden-wall still retains the name of Ridley's Walk, where he used to learn and repeat, without book, St. Paul's Epistles in the original tongue. In 1522, he was admitted to the degree of B. A. with great reputation. After having acquired considerable skill in the Latin and Greek languages, he studied the philosophy and theology of the schools; in which he became so expert, that the fame of his talents and acquirements reached Oxford, where the master and fellows of University-college invited him, in 1524, to accept of an exhibition in their house. This invitation he thought proper to decline, and, in the same year, was elected a fellow of his own college. He commenced M. A. in 1525; and in the following year was chosen agent in all causes relating to the churches of Tilney, Soham, and Saxthorpe, belonging to Pembrokehall. Having been ordained priest, for his further improvement in theological knowledge

his uncle sent him to the Sorbonne at Paris, then the most celebrated seminary in Europe for that study; and from thence he went to Louvain, continuing abroad till the year 1529. After his return to Cambridge, he he was chosen junior treasurer of Pembroke-hall, in 1530; and he now applied with great diligence to the reading of the Scriptures, as the safest guides in his theological studies. Two years afterwards, his superior qualifications as a disputant were triumphantly displayed, in the character of one of the opponents to two Oxford scholars, who had challenged all the University of Cambridge to a disputation on two questions in which they had prepared themselves. On this occasion the vain-glorious challengers soon met with a complete defeat, and were obliged to quit the field in disgrace. In 1533, Mr. Ridley was chosen senior proctor of the University; and while he continued in office, the point of the Pope's supremacy was brought before the University, to be examined upon the authority of Scripture. After public disputations had been held, in which the question was thoroughly discussed, the University at length came to a resolution, "That the Bishop of Rome had no more authority and jurisdiction derived to him from God, in this kingdom of England, than any other foreign bishop ;" and this was officially signed by Mr. Ridley, as well as by the vicechancellor and the other proctor. Upon the expiration of his office, in 1534, he proceeded bachelor of divinity, and was appointed chaplain to the University, as well as public orator, having established his character as an excellent preacher, and the best disputant of his

time.

Mr. Ridley lost his generous uncle in the year 1536; but his now well known learning and talents soon procured him another and more powerful patron in Dr. Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, who, in the course of the year following, took him into his family, and made him his chaplain. As a testimony of his approbation, and an earnest of future favour, in 1538 the Archbishop presented him to the vicarage of Herne in East Kent. Here he preached the principles of the Reformation, excepting that he still adhered to the doctrine of the corporal presence in the eucharist; and among other converts which he made to them, was the Lady Fiennes, who proved a distinguished ornament to the cause which she adopted. To enliven the devotion of his parishioners, he also had the Te Deum sung at church in English; which was afterwards

made the subject of an accusation against him. When, in 1539, the act of the six articles was passed, he bore his testimony against the imposition of them, though he himself was not likely to be affected by the penalties of the statute. For he properly distinguished between what he considered to be an useful appointment in the church, and the enforcement of it on conscience, as a point necessary to salvation. By a close application to the study of the Scriptures and of the fathers at Herne, and by friendly conferences with his patron the Archbishop, Mr. Ridley made gradual improvements in religious knowledge, changing his opinions as new light broke in upon his mind, influenced by no worldly motives, but solely by the love of truth; and he faithfully communicated to his people what appeared to him to be the genuine sense and meaning of the word of God, renouncing the comments of the schoolmen and the popish doctors. So diligently and conscientiously did he discharge the duties of his pastoral office, that he gained the general applause of the people in the neighbouring parishes; who, neglecting their own clergy, would assemble from many miles round to hear his sermons. In the year 1540, he went to Cambridge, and proceeded doctor of divinity; probably by the persuasion of Archbishop Cranmer, who was meditating to bring forwards his chaplain into more conspicuous stations. Soon after he had taken his degree, a vacancy happening in the mastership of Pembroke-hall, the Fellows, who were well acquainted with his learning, abilities, and good dispositions, chose him to fill that post. About the same time, through Cranmer's influence, he was nominated chaplain to the King; and this honour was speedily followed by his collation to a prebendal stall in the cathedral church of Canterbury. In this city, when his duty called him to fill the pulpit, he discovered so much integrity and zeal in endeavouring to expose to the people the abuses of popery, that he provoked against him the rage of some of the prebendaries and preachers of what was called the old learning, who, at the Archbishop's visitation in 1541, exhibited charges against him for preaching contrary to the statute of the six articles. On this occasion Dr. Ridley, though he feared not to bear his testimony against any tenet or practice which he discovered to be erroneous, yet, from respect to the authority by which the six articles were enjoined, when called upon for his defence delivered his opinions with so much caution, that the malicious views of his accusers were

completely disappointed. Notwithstanding this, a new attempt to ruin him was privately projected by Dr. Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, and some of his popish associates, who contrived that articles should be exhibited against him before the justices of the peace in Kent, and afterwards before the King and council, which charged him with preaching against auricular confession, calling the ceremonies of the church beggarly ceremonies, and directing Te Deum to be sung in English at Herne. The cognizance of this accusation being referred by the King to Cranmer, he detected the true authors of the persecution, and discovered their malicious design to the King, by whose authority it was immediately crushed.

Hitherto Dr. Ridley had been an unsuspecting believer in the doctrine of transubstantiation; but in the year 1545, while spending a considerable time in retirement at Herne, he employed himself in carefully and dispassionately examining into its truth and evidence. To this subject his attention appears to have been drawn, by the apology of the Zuinglians for their doctrine respecting the eucharist in opposition to Luther, which had been lately published, and was very generally and eagerly read. He had also procured the treatise of Ratramn, a monk of Corbie in the 9th century, written against Paschasius Radbert at the request of the Emperor Charles the Bald, of which we have made particular mention in our life of the author. From this book Dr. Ridley learned, that the doctrine of the real presence, or transubstantiation, was for the first time advanced so lately as about the year 840, and that it met with the strongest opposition from some of the firm supporters of the Catholic church. This discovery razed at once that foundation of authority on which he had been accustomed to establish that doctrine, and prepared him to consider without prejudice what the writers above mentioned had published. He now determined to search the Scriptures more accurately upon the subject, as well as the doctrine of the primitive fathers. As he proceeded, he honestly communicated his discoveries and his scruples to his friend and patron Cranmer, who, knowing the sincerity of the man, and his cool judgment, was prevailed upon to examine this doctrine himself with the utmost care. The result was, that both Dr. Ridley and the Archbishop became fully convinced, that the doctrine in question was not a doctrine of Scripture. The setting aside of this absurd tenet was a very important article of reformation; for, as Cranmer ex

pressed himself, "the taking away of beads, pilgrimages, pardons, and such like popery, was but the lopping a few branches, which would soon spring up again, unless the roots of the tree, which were transubstantiation and the sacrifice of the mass, were pulled up.” And this he acknowledged was owing to conference with Dr. Ridley, "who, by sundry persuasions and authorities of doctors, drew him quite from his old opinion." Towards the close of the year 1545, Cranmer procured for his friend the eighth stall in the church of St. Peter at Westminster. Upon the accession of Edward IV. in 1547, Dr. Ridley, being appointed to preach before the King on AshWednesday, took that opportunity, after confuting the Bishop of Rome's pretended claims to authority and power, to discourse concerning the abuses of images in churches, and ceremonies, particularly the use of holy water for driving away devils; which Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, who was among his auditors, made an unsuccessful attempt to defend in a letter which he sent to him on the following Monday. About this time, the Fellows of Pembroke-hall presented their master to the church of Soham, in the diocese of Norwich; and upon the bishop's disputing the presentation, he was admitted to it by a command from the King. Of the high respect in which his abilities and learning were held a proof was given a few days afterwards, when he was united in a commission with the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishops of Durham and Rochester, and six others, for the purpose of examining the cause of the Earl of Northampton, whose Countess had been guilty of adultery, and to pass such a sentence as should be warranted by Scripture, and the judgment of the primitive Christians.

In September 1547, a vacancy having taken place in the bishopric of Rochester, Dr. Ridley was promoted to that dignity, and consecrated with the yet-unaltered rites and forms usual on such occasions in the Roman church, after he had taken an oath by which he renounced the usurped jurisdiction of the Roman pontiff. During the following year, he appears to have been employed in reforming the liturgy, conjointly with Archbishop Cranmer, five other prelates, and some learned divines; and in 1549, he was appointed one of the commissioners empowered to search after all Anabaptists, heretics, and contemners of the book of common prayer. In consequence of being put into this commission, he was involved in the indelible reproach of having contributed to