was to shew, against some heathen objectors, that these calamities had not been more frequent, after the commencement of Christianity, than before; and farther, that it was owing to the Christian religion, that the Roman commonwealth, which did not deserve to continue, was nevertheless then still subsisting. It has gone through several editions: as, Paris, 1506, 1524, and 1526, folio; Cologne, 1536, 1542, 1561, and 1572, 8vo, with the "Apologia de Arbitrii libertate;" at Mentz, in 1615, and lastly by Havercamp at Leyden, 1788, 4to, and 1767, the same edition with a different date. We have an Anglo-Saxon version by king Alfred, which was published with an English translation by the hon. Daines Barrington, in 1773,

8vo.

Orosius also wrote "A Defence of Free Will," against Pelagius, in which he inserted part of St. Augustin's book "De natura & gratia :" he also wrote a tract in the form of a letter, addressed to Augustin, against the Priscillianists and Origenists. The time of his death is not known. Casaubon gives him the character of a very good man, and very zealous for the house of God; but censures him as too easy of belief, and credulous, having advanced many particulars in his history without foundation.'

ORPHEUS, the most celebrated of all the Greeks in the fabulous ages, was distinguished as a teacher of religion and philosophy, and his name became as illustrious among the Greeks, as that of Zoroaster among the Persians, of Buddas among the Indians, or of Thoth, or Hermes, among the Egyptians. But it has happened to Orpheus, as to many other wise men of antiquity, that spurious writings have been ascribed to him, and modern tenets have been obtruded upon the world under the sanction of his name. It has even been questioned, whether Orpheus ever existed. Cicero asserts, on the authority of Aristotle, that there was no such person as the poet Orpheus. But no passage of this kind is at present to be found in the works of Aristotle; and the opinion is contradicted by the general testimony of the ancients, who relate, that Orpheus was a native of Thrace, who flourished before the Trojan war, and passed the greater part of his life in Greece.

Diodorus Siculus relates, that, "having been instructed

1 Gen. Dict.-Moreri.-Barrington's Translation.-Ireland's "Paganism and Christianity compared," 1808, 8vo,

in the religious tenets and ceremonies of his own country, he travelled into Egypt, where he acquired a knowledge of the mysteries of religion, and became an eminent master of philosophy, poetry, and music." Thus qualified, he came among the Greeks, who were at that time a rude and unenlightened people, and by the united powers of poetry, religion, and philosophy, civilized their manners, while wonders have been ascribed by the poets to the power of his music.

Orpheus is said to have improved the lyre, by increasing the number of its strings from four to seven. To him also is ascribed the invention of hexameter verse. He, doubtless, excelled in poetry of various kinds, but it is justly questioned whether he committed any of his verses to writing. He possessed great skill in the art of medicine. Perhaps this circumstance may serve to explain the fable of his recalling his wife Eurydice from hell. The particulars of his death are variously related by different writers; but it is generally agreed, that he died by violent means. After his death, he was ranked among the divinities.'

The whole of the tracts ascribed to Orpheus have been collected and published by Hermann.

ORSATO (SERTORIO), or Ursatus, a celebrated antiquary, historian, grammarian, and poet, was born February 1, 1617, at Padua, of one of the most illustrious families in that city. He applied diligently to the study of antiquities and ancient inscriptions, which occasioned his taking several journies into different parts of Italy. When advanced in life, he was appointed to teach natural philosophy in the university of Padua, and acquitted himself with great success in that office. He died at Venice July 3, 1678. He was a member of the academy of the Ricovrati, and has left a great number of valuable works, some in Latin, others in Italian: the principal among the former are, "Sertum Philosophicum ex variis scientiæ naturalis floribus consertum," Padua, 1635, 4to. 2. "Monumenta Patavina," Padua," 1652, folio. 3. "Commentarius de notis Romanorum," Padua, 1672, folio, a useful work, and much esteemed. It has been inserted in tom. XI. of the "Thesaurus" of Grævius, and is printed separately, Paris, 1723, 12mo, and at the Hague, 1736. The following are his principal Italian works: 4. "A Hist. of Padua, in two

1 Brucker. See an elaborate article by Dr. Burney in Rees's Cyclopædia.

parts," 1678, folio. 5. "I Marmi eruditi," 1669, and 1719, 2 vols. 4to; a curious work, in two parts also. 6. "Chronologia di Reggimenti di Padoua;" revised, with notes, 1666, 4to. 7. Several "Lyric Poems," 1637, 12mo; "Comedies," and other poetical pieces, &c.'

ORSI (JOHN JOSEPH), an Italian grammarian and poet, was born in 1652, at Bologna, son of Mario Orsi, a patrician of that city. His house was a kind of academy, in which several literary men met regularly. He married twice, and died in 1733, aged eighty-one, leaving some ingenious sonnets, pastorals, and many poetical pieces, besides other works in Italian. Some of them may be found in Muratori's and Crescembeni's treatises on poetry. His "Thoughts" on Bouhour's "Maniere de Penser," were published at Modena, 1735, 2 vols. 4to..

ORSI (FRANCIS JOSEPH AUGUSTINE), an eminent cardinal, was born in 1692, in Tuscany. He entered the Dominican order, in which he taught theology, was afterwards master of the sacred palace, and honoured with the purple by Clement XIII. in 1759. He wrote "Infallabilitas act. Rom. Pont." 1741, 3 vols. 4to; "An Ecclesiastical History of the first six ages of the Church," 20 vols. 4to, or 8vo; the last volume was published in 1761, in which year he died. His history is useful as a collection of records and facts, but is too prolix for general reading.'

ORSINI. See URCINUS.

ORTELIUS (ABRAHAM), a celebrated geographer, was descended from a family originally seated at Augsburg: but his grandfather William Ortelius settled, in 1460, at Antwerp, and dying there in 1511, left Leonard, the father of Abraham, who was born in that city April 1527. In the course of a learned education, he particularly distinguished himself in the languages and mathematics; and afterwards he became so famous for his knowledge in geography, that he was called the Ptolemy of his time. He travelled a great deal in England, Ireland, France, Italy, and Germany, suffering no curiosity to escape his inquiries. In England he became acquainted with Camden (see CAMDEN). When he had finished his travels, he fixed at Antwerp, where he first published his "Theatrum orbis terræ." This work procured him the honour of being ap

1 Fabroni Vitæ Italorum, vol. XIII.-Niceron, vol. XIII.

Moreri.-Dict. Hist.

3 Fabroni Vitæ Ital, vol. VI.

pointed geographer to Philip II. of Spain; and he afterwards published the following pieces: "Thesaurus Geographicus;"" Deorum dearumque capita ex veteribus numismatibus;" "Aurei seculi imago, sive Germanorum veterum mores, vita, ritus, et religio;" "Itinerarium per nonnullas Belgiæ partes." He was possessed of many rarities, in antique statues, medals, and shells. The greatest men of that age were friends to him to his death, which happened in June 1598. Justus Lipsius wrote his epitaph; and several funeral eloges were made of him, which were published, under the title of "Lachrymæ," by Francis Sweerts, who annexed an account of his life. All his works are in Latin.'

ORTON (JOB), an eminent divine among the dissenters, was born at Shrewsbury, Sept. 4, 1717, and at a proper age was sent to the free-school of his native place, where he went through the whole course of grammatical education, having stayed there somewhat more than eight years. In May 1733, he left the school, and went to Warrington, under the care of Dr. Charles Owen, the dissenting minister of that town, where he continued one year; after which, in August 1734, he went to Northampton, under the care of Dr. Doddridge, where he continued above seven years; and such was his progress in study, that in March 1738-9 he was chosen assistant to Dr. Doddridge in the academy; and he began his lectures in this capacity, with reading to the junior students in the classics and geography. About the same time he was examined before a committee of pastors in the neighbourhood, as to his qualifications for the ministerial office, and received an ample testimony of satisfaction and approbation. His first sermon was preached at Welford, in Northamptonshire, on the 15th of April, 1739. After this he continued to preach occasionally in all the neighbouring congregations, excepting on the first Sunday of every month, when he generally assisted Dr. Doddridge at Northampton. Becoming popular, he received several invitations from the congregations at Welford, Rowell, and Harborough, to settle with them as their minister and he was applied to, likewise, by the dissenting society at Salters'-hall, London, to preach there as a candidate; but he thought it best to decline these applica

1 Foppen Bibl. Belg.-Bullart's Academie des Sciences.-Ath, Ox. vol. I.— Saxii Onomast.

tions, as, while he was assistant at Northampton, he was engaged in a very useful employment, and had daily opportunities of improving himself superior to what he should have had in any other station. The enjoyment which he had of Dr. Doddridge's conversation, was esteemed by him as a most peculiar advantage.

In April 1741, died Mr. Berry, the minister of the Presbyterian meeting at Shrewsbury; and about the same time Mr. Dobson, the pastor of the Independent Church in that town, to which Mr. Orton's father belonged, removed to Walsall, in Staffordshire. These two societies being thus vacant, concurred in an invitation to Mr. Orton, to accept the pastoral charge among them, promising, that in that case they would unite together in one congregation. Accordingly, having accepted their offer, he removed, in October 1741, to Shrewsbury, and, on the 18th of that month, preached his first sermon to the united congregations. In the following month, he had the misfortune to lose his father, who died at the age of fifty-two. This event was not only a great personal affliction to Mr. Orton, but brought upon him such a weight of cares, in addition to his various duties as a minister, that his health was materially injured; the consequence of which was, that he was laid under the necessity of having several as, sistants, in succession: as Mr. Francis Boult, who continued at Shrewsbury till the end of the year 1745; Mr. Moses Carter, who died in 1747; and Mr. Joseph Fownes, By Dr. Doddridge's death Mr. Orton lost his much-honoured tutor, father, and friend, whose life he afterwards published. In March 1752, Mr. Orton was invited to assume the pastoral charge of the congregation belonging to Dr. Doddridge. Upon this his people at Shrewsbury were alarmed; and, apprehending that he might listen to the application, they sent him a most respectful, affectionate, and unanimous address, to intreat that he would not leave them. A separate address, to the same purpose, was made to him by the young persons of the society. He had no inclination to quit a situation in which he was comfortable and useful; especially as there were some circumstances at Northampton that were of a discouraging nature. Nevertheless, he thought it a proper piece of respect to take some time to consider of the invitation, which at length he declined.

Not long after this event, another attempt was made to