he with his nephew, and fix other perfons belonging to the public li brary, were denounced, under pretence of ariftocracy, by perfons he had never feen or known. Being then at Madame de Choifeul's, he was removed from her house, and conducted to the prifon called Les Magdelonettes. Though, from his great age and bodily infirmities, he was fenfible he could not long furvive the feverity of confinement, ftill he fubmitted to his fate with that calmness and ferenity of mind w ch confcious innocence can alone infpire. So great was the general eftimation of his worth and character, that he was met at the prifon gates by all the prifoners, who vied with each other in teftimonies of affection and refpect; and, in juftice to the jailor, Vaubertrand, it must be admitted, that he fhewed him every humane attention and regard. A feparate chamber was allotted to him and his nephew; where they received, on the evening of their imprifonment, an early vifit from Madame de Choifeul. Such was her fenfibility and friendship for Barthelemy upon this occafion, that the, with others of his zealous friends, loft no time in going to the committees of government to convince them of the innocence and purity of the Abbe's conduct. They haftened to rectify the mistake, and declared they had no intention of including this worthy man in the general order of arrest of all perfons employed in the public library; and they immediately gave directions for his releafe; in confequence of which he was before midnight carried back from prifon to the houfe of Madame de Choifeul, whence he had been taken

the fame morning. In farther tef timony of his virtues and talents'. and to compenfate in fome degree for the infult offered to both, by the momentary fufpicion and im prifonment which he had fuftained, in the October following, the office of principal librarian being vacant by the death of Carra, and the refignation of Chamfort, it was offered to him in the most flattering manner; but he chose to decline it on account of his age and infirmities. Thefe laft increased vifibly; and, about the beginning of 1795, being then in his Soth year, his end rapidly approached, and was probably haftened by the extreme feverity of the feafon. He died on the 30th of April with little corporal fuffering, preferving his fenfes fo entirely to the laft, that he was reading Horace two hours before his death, and was probably unconscious of its approach.

His figure was tall, and of good proportion; and the ftructure of his frame feemed well adapted to fupport the vigorous exertions of his mind. Houdon has finished an excellent buft of this ornament of his age and country. His relations cherish his memory with filial piety; his friends feel his irreparable lofs with conftant regret; to the learned he has left a model of imitation, and to all mankind a useful example.

The following is a lift of his works:

1. Travels of Anacharfis in Greece, in the middle of the 4th century before the Christian æra, 4 vols. 4to. 7 vols. 8vo. Paris, 1788; with a volume of maps, memoirs and defcriptions, inferted in the collection of the Academy of Incriptions.

p. 19.

3. Remarks on the Medal of Xerxes, ibid, 404.

4. On the Infcription of Amy dæ, vol. xxiii. p. 394.

5. Effay towards a Numifmatic Paleography, vol. xxiv. p. 30.

6. Differtation on the two Samaritan Medals of Antigonus, King of Judea, ibid. p. 49.

7. Remarks on Medals published by feveral authors, vol. xxvi. p. 532. 8. Differtation on the Arabian Medals, ibid. p. 557.

9. Reflections on the Alphabet and Language of Palmyra, ibid. P. 577.

10. Memoirs on the Monuments of Rome, vol. xxiii. p. 579.

11. Reflexions on fome Phoeni. cian Monuments, vol. 30, p. 405. 12. Explanation of the Paleftine Mofaic, ib. p. 503.

13. General Reflections on the Affinity of the Egyptian, Phoenician and Grecian Languages, vol. xxxii. P. 212.

14. Remarks on Medals publifhed by different Authors, ib. p. 671.

15. Explanation of an Egyptian Bas-relief, and of the Phoenician Infcription which accompanies it, ib. p. 725.

16. Remarks on the Number of Pieces which were reprefented in the fame Day on the Theatre of Athens. vol. xxxix. p. 172.

17. Remarks on the Medals of the Emperor Antonius, vcl. xli. P. 501.

.

18. Letters to the Authors of the Journal des Scavans: on Phoenician Medals and Infcriptions, in vol. Auguft, 1762, 410. p. 495; Dec. 1761, p. 871; Sept. and Nov. 1763 on S amaritan Medals, April, 1790. He wrote alfo many ar

IF we confider the character of Erafmus, we fhall be immediately, ftruck with his extenfive erudition; and that, heightened by two circumftances.

First, that he was fcarcely ever fixed fix months in a place (excepting at Bafil;) that to this wandering life, which deprived him both of books and leifure, muft be added, a continued bad ftate of health, and the coftant avocation of a vaft correfpondence. Secondly, that his learning was all real, and founded on the accurate perufal of the ancient authors. The numerous editions he published fufficiently evince it; and besides, thofe convenient compilations of all forts, where a modern author can learn to be a profound fcholar, at a very small expence, did not then exift ; every thing was to be fought for in the originals themfelves. But befides this learning, which was common to many, Erafmus poffeffed a genius, without which no writer will ever defcend to pofterity; a genius which could fee through the vain fubtleties of the

A a 4

fchools,

treat every fubject with eloquence and delicacy; fometimes enulate the ancients, often imitate them, and never copy them. As to his morals, they had the poor merit of being regular. In the nobler part of his character I find him very deficient. A parafite of all the great men of his time, he was neither athamed to magnify their characters by the loweft adulation, nor to debate his own by the most impudent folicitations, to obtain prefents which very often he did not want. The adventure of Eppendorf is another proof how much dearer his money was to him than his character. Notwithstanding thefe faults, never man enjoyed a greater perfonal confideration. All. the fcholars, and all the princes of Europe looked upon him as an oracle. Even Charles the Fifth and Francis the Firt agreed in this. If we enquire why this happened to him rather than to fome other great men of a merit equal, and perhaps fuperior to Erainus, we muft fay that it was owing to the time when he lived; when the world, awaking from a fleep of a thousand years, all orders of men applied themfelves to letters with an enthusiasm which produced in them the highest efteem and veneration for one of their principal reftorers. Befides, as the general attention, from piety, from curiofity, from vanity, and from intereft, was directed towards the religious difputes, a great divine was the fafhionable character, and all parties endeavoured to attract or to preserve him. But to which of thofe parties did Erafmus adhere? His writings, and even his conduct, were often equivocal.

they acknowledge that he was often indifcreet. Le Clerc challenges his for the Proteftants, though be blames him for not profefling what he knew to have been the truth; and attributes his reserve folely to tinidity and felf-intereft. Erafmus has certainly expofed all the groffer fuperftitions of the Romish worthip to the ridicule of the pub lic; and had his free opinion been taken, I believe he was a protefiant upon mot of the contested points. But many other motives might refirain him from a declaration. He was always perfuaded, that any fpeculative truths were dearly purchafed at the expence of practical virtue and public peace. Befides, many confiderations might make him balance as to thofe truths: prejudices of education, the authority of the fathers, and a natural inclination to feepticism. Add to this, that really difapprov ing many things in the Proteftant communion, though more in the Romih, by remaining in the loofe fituation of a man who was unwilling to quit the religion of his ancestors, he could blame many things in it with freedom; whereas, had he deferted it, he muft either have fet up a ftandard himfelf, or elfe have enlifted blindly under that of Luther or Ecolampadius. It is furprizing that Erafmus, who could fee through much more plaufible fables, believed firmly in witchcraft.

Anecdotes of the late Dr. James Fordyce.

From the European Magazine.

THIS gentleman was one of the twenty children, by one wife, of Provoit Fordyce, of Aberdeen. He received his education at the Ma

rifchal

richal College of that place, and early devoted himself to the miniHis first preferment, at leaft that we know of, was to be minifter at Brechin, where he officiated as early as the year 1752. He foon after became minifter of Alloa, where he remained until about the year 1760 At that period he came to London, and proposed himself as a candidate for a vacancy at the meeting at Carter's-lane, in which he was unsuccessful. On this occafion it was objected to him, as ftrangely inconfiftent, for any perfon who had fubfcribed the articles of the Scotch confeffion of faith to offer himself in the character of a minifter to a difeuting congregation which had fo very different a creed. This objection, however, was not futliciently powerful to prevent his being chofen as coadjutor of Dr. Lawrence, to the Paftorfhip at Monkwell-ftreet, where he continued to preach to crowded audiences, for a great number of years. In that year he was honoured by the Uhiverfity of Glafgow with the degree of Doctor of Divinity. In May, 1771, he married Mifs Henrietta Cummyng, and in 1775 was involved in a difpute with his coadjutor, the Rev. Thomas Toller, fon-in-law of Dr. Lawrence, at first, as it appears in the letters publifhed on the occafion, on account of the omiffion of fome ceremonials of politeness, which, by want of mutual conceffions increased, until the breach became too wide to be healed. On this occafion Dr. Fordyce took a ftep which was not univerfally approved of by his brethren the diffenters: he engaged to do the duty both of Mr. Toller and himfelf, and caufed the former to be

ejected, without any charge against him (for he was a man of irreproachable character), from his office in the meeting. From this period, if we are not mifinformed, the meeting itself was lefs attended than before, and on Dr. Fordyce's feeling the infirmities of age growing on him, the congregation by degrees dwindled away, and the houfe itfelf has been fince flut up. Finding himself incapable of continuing his exertions as a preacher, in the manner he had been used, he retired, firft into Hampshire, and then to Bath, where he died the ift of October, 1796, at the age of 75.

The following is a lift of Dr. Fordyce's works:

1. The Eloquence of the pulpit. An Ordination Sermon. To which is added, A Charge. 12mo. 1752. 2. An Effay on the Action proper for the Pulpit.

Both thefe are printed at the end of Theodorus. A Dialogue concerning the Art of Preaching. By Mr. David Fordyce. Third Edition. 12mo. 1755

3. The Methods of promoting Edification by Public Inftitutions. An Ordination Sermon. To which is added, A Charge. 12mo. 1754.

These were delivered at the Ordination of Mr. John Gibson, Minifter of St. Ninian's, May 9, 1754. 4. The Temple of Virtue. A Dream. 12mo. 1757. The zd Edition, much altered. 12mo. 1775. 5. The Folly, Infamy, and Mifery of unlawful Pleasure. A Sermon, preached before the General Affembly of the Church of Scotland, May 25, 1760. 8vo. 1760.

6. A Sermon, occafioned by the Death of the Rev. Dr. Samuel Lawrence,

Lawrence, who departed this life Oct. 1, 1760. With an Addrefs at his Interment. 8vo. 1760.

7. Sermons to Young Women. 2 vols. 12mo. 1766.

8. The Character and Conduct of the Female Sex, and the Advantages to be derived by young Men from the fociety of virtuous Women: A Difcourfe in three parts. Delivered in Monkwelltreet Chapel, Jan. 1, 1776. 8vo. 1776.

9. Addreffes to young Men. 2 vols. 12mo. 1777.

10. The delufive and perfecuting Spirit of Popery. A Sermon preached in Monkwell-treet, on 10th of Feb. being a day appointed for a General Faft. Svo. 1779.

11. Charge delivered in Monkwell-ftreet Meeting, at the Ordination of the Rev. James Lindfey. 8vo. 1783.-Printed with the Sermon preached by Dr. Hunter on that occafion.

12. Addreffes to the Deity. 12mo. 1785. 13. Poems.

12m0. 1786.

Account of the Royal Society of England, from Hutton's Mathematical and Philofophical Dictionary.

The Royal Society of England is an academy or body of perfons, fuppofed to be eminent for their learning, inftituted by King Charles -the IId, for promoting natural knowledge.

This once illuftrious body originated from an affembly of ingenious men, refiding in London, who, being inquifitive into natural knowledge, and the new and experimental philofophy, agreed, about the year 1645, to meet weekly on a certain day, to difcourfe upon fuch fubjects. Thefe meetings, it is

faid, were fuggefted by Mr. Theo dore Haak, a native of the Palatinate in Germany; and they were held fometimes at Dr. Goddard's lodgings in Wood-ftreet, fometimes at a convenient place in Cheapfide, and fometimes in or near Gresham College. This affembly feems to be that mentioned under the title of the Invisible, or Philofophical College, by Mr. Boyle, in fome letters written in 1646 and 1647. About the years 1648 and 1649, the company which formed thefe meetings began to be divided, fome of the gentlemen removing to Oxford, as Dr. Wallis and Dr. Goddard, where, in conjunction with other gentlemen, they held meetings alfo, and brought the ftudy of natural and experimental philofophy into fashion there; meeting firft in Dr. Petty's lodgings, afterwards at Dr. Wilkins's apartments in Wadham College, and, upon his removal, in the lodgings of Mr. Robert Boyle; while thote gentlemen who remained in London continued their meetings as before. The greater part of the Oxford Society coming to London about the year 1659, they, met once or twice a week in Term-time at Grefham College, till they were difperfed by the public diftractions of that year, and the place of their meeting was made a quarter for foldiers. Upon the Reftoration, in 1660, their meetings were revived, and attended by many gentlemen, eminent for their character and learning.

They were at length noticed by the government, and the king granted them a charter, firft the 15th of July 1662, then à more ample one the 22d of April 1663, and thirdly the 8th of April 1663,

by