Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

culty. In 1687, he went to reside at Goude, where he married. In 1697, he was invited to Harderwic to become professor of Greek and history; and in 1702, he was appointed professor of medicine, and remained in both offices until his death in 1712. He bequeathed to the public library at Utrecht his curious collection of the editions of Quintilian, which he had made at a great expence, and of which there is a catalogue in Masson's critical history of the Republic of Letters, vol. V. Bibliography was his favourite study, in which he was ably assisted by his grandfather Jansson; and to this we probably owe the number of editions, with commentaries, which he published. Among these are: 1. "Hippocratis Aphorismi, Gr. Lat." Amsterdam, 1685, 12mo. 2. "Aurelii Celsi de medicina," with his own additions and those of Constantine and Casaubon, Amsterdam, 1687, 12mo; 1713, 8vo; Padua, 1722, 8vo; with "Serini Sammonici de medicina præcepta saluberrima." 3. Apicii Cælii de obsoniis et condimentis, sive de arte coquinaria libri X." with the notes of Martin Lister, Hamelbergius, Vander Linden, &c. Amsterdam, 1709, 8vo. 4. "Aurelianus de Morbis acutis et chronicis," Amsterdam, 1709, 4to. 5. "Bibliotheca promissa et latens," or an account of books promised, and never published, with the epistles of Velschius on such medical writings as have not been edited, Goude, 1688, 1698, 8vo; 1692, 12mo; Nuremberg, 1699, 8vo; with the additions of Martin Melsuhrerus. 6. "The anatomy of the Muscle," in Flemish, with observations anatomical, medical, and chirurgical, Amst. 1684, 8vo. 7. "Onomasticon rerum inventarum et Inventa nov-antiqua, id est, brevis enarratio ortus et progressus artis medicæ," ibid. 1684, 8vo; a history of the discoveries in medicine, with a marked preference to the merit of the ancients. 8. "Opuscula sive antiquitatum e sacris profanarum specimen conjectans veterum poetarum fragmenta et plagiarorum syllabus," ibid. 1686, 8vo. 9. A new edition of Decker's work, "De scriptis adespotis, pseudepigraphis, et supposititiis, conjecturæ," ibid. 1686, 12mo. 10. An edition of "C. Rutilius Numantianus," ibid. 1687, 12mo. 11. "Amœnitates theologico-philologicæ," ibid. 1694, 8vo. Besides some critical pieces, this volume contains several letters of Bochart, Erasmus, Baudius, Scriverius, and others, and an attempt to prove that Erasmus was a native of Goude, and not of Rotterdam; because, according to the

laws, the place where children are born accidentally, is not accounted their country. 12. "Dissertationes quatuor de mensis, lecticis, et poculis veterum," Harwick, 1701, 4to. These are theses composed by Alstorf, and maintained during the presidency of Almeloveen. 13. "Fasti Consulares," Amst. 1705, 8vo. 14. A beautiful, but not very correct edition of "Strabo," ibid. 2 vols. fol. 15. "De vitis Stephanorum," 1682, 8vo. Besides some other contributions of notes, &c. to editious of the classics, he assisted Drakestein in the publication of the sixth volume of the "Hortus Malabaricus." 1

ALMICI (PETER CAMILLE), a priest of the oratory, was born at Brescia, of a noble family, Nov. 2, 1714, and studied theology, and the Greek and Hebrew languages, in both which he became an excellent scholar. He applied himself chiefly to an investigation of the text of the sacred scriptures, and read with great care the Greek and Latin fathers. His studies were also diversified by an acquaintance with chronology, history both sacred and profane, antiquities, criticism, and whatever belongs to the character of a general scholar. In his own country, he obtained such fame that his advice was thought to be oracular. He died Dec. 30, 1779, in his sixty-fifth year. He published "Critical Reflexions" on Febronius's work, entitled "De Statu Ecclesiæ, et legitima potestate Romani Pontificis ;" some dissertations and other works, particularly one on the "manner of writing the lives of illustrious characters," with an appendix on that peculiar species of biography, writing one's own life. He left also some unpublished works, and among them "a comparison between the Italians and French," and "Thoughts on the life and writings of father Paul Sarpi."

2

ALMODOVAR (DUKE D'), a diplomatic character, deserves some notice here, as a man of literature, although we know but little of his personal history. After having been ambassador from the court of Spain to the courts of Petersburgh, Lisbon, and St. James's, he filled an honourable station at Madrid, where he employed his leisure hours in literary pursuits. In 1781, hè published a kind of journal, entitled "Decada Epistolen," where he periodical accounts of French works, &c. He then, un

gave

1 Moreri.-Biog. Universelle. The latter makes him nephew, instead of grandson, to Jansson.

2 Biog. Universelle.-Mandelli's Collection d' opuscles, vol. XXXVIII. art. 8. VOL. II. D

der the name of Malode Luque, undertook a translation of the abbé Raynal's celebrated philosophical and political history of the two Indies, a work proscribed in Spain, and consequently almost unknown, and he made such alterations as satisfied the inquisition itself that it would not be a dangerous publication. He died at Madrid in 1794.

1.1

1

ALMON (JOHN), a bookseller, author, and editor, was born at Liverpool, about the year 1738, and was educated at Warrington. About 1748 he was put apprentice to a bookseller at Liverpool, but in 1756 he went to sea, as a common seaman. In 1758 or 1759, he returned to England, and came to London, where, it is said, he soon became known to several wits of the day, as Dr. Goldsmith, Churchill, Lloyd, and Wilkes. His turn, however, was for political writing; and in 1759 he published "The conduct of a late noble commander (lord George Sackville) examined." This was followed by a compilation, in sixpenny numbers, of "A Military Dictionary," or an account of the most remarkable battles and sieges from the reign of Charlemagne to the year 1760. Soon after, he wrote various political letters in the Gazetteer newspaper, which he collected and published under the title of "A collection of interesting letters from the public papers.' About the same time he published "A Review of his Majesty (George II's) reign;" and when Mr. Pitt resigned in 1761, he wrote "A Review of his Administration." other publications were, "A Letter to the right hon. George Grenville;" "An history of the Parliament of Great Britain, from the death of queen Anne to the death of George II." "An impartial history of the late War from 1749 to 1763;"" A Review of lord Bute's administration." When Wilkes's infamous essay on woman was brought to light, Mr. Almon wrote an answer to Kidgell, the informer's, narrative. In 1763, he commenced bookseller in Piccadilly, and published "A Letter concerning libels, warrants, and seizure of papers, &c. ;""A history of the Minority during the years 1762-1765;" "The Political Register," a periodical work, and the general receptacle of all the scurrility of the writers in opposition to government; "The New Foundling Hospital for Wit," a collection of fugitive pieces, in prose and verse, mostly of the party kind: "An Asylum," a publication of a similar

Biog. Universeltes

His

sort; "Collection of all the Treaties of Peace, Alliance, and Commerce, between Great Britain and other powers, from the revolution in 1688 to the present time ;"" The Parliamentary Register," an account of the debates in parliament; "The Remembrancer," another monthly collection of papers in favour of the American cause; "A collection of the Protests of the House of Lords;" "Letter to the earl of Bute," 1772.; "Free Parliaments, or a vindication of the parliamentary constitution of England, in answer to certain visionary plans of modern reformers;" "A parallel between the siege of Berwick and the siege of Aquilea," in ridicule of Home's tragedy, the Siege of Aquilea; "A Letter to the right hon. Charles Jenkinson," 1782. These were mostly, if not all, anonymous, and they are enumerated here for the information of those who form collections of political pamphlets.

The works which he more publicly avowed are, "Anecdotes of the Life of the Earl of Chatham," 2 vols. 4to, and 3 vols. 8vo; "Biographical, Literary, and Political Anecdotes of several of the most eminent persons of the present age, never before printed," 3 vols. 8vo, 1797. Both contain many curious particulars of the political characters and contests of his day, picked up from the various members of parliament who frequented his shop, aud confided in him. His last publication was a collection of Mr. Wilkes's pamphlets and letters, with a life, in which he praises that gentleman in the most extravagant manner, while he relates facts concerning his character that elsewhere might have been accounted defamation. In all his political career he was attached to the party which supported Wilkes, and opposed the measures of government in the early part of the present reign. At that time it was not surprising that many of his pamphlets were popular, or that he should be able to boast of an intimacy with men of rank in the political world. He had the hardihood to publish writings which booksellers of established reputation would have rejected, and he ran little risk, as the expence of printing was defrayed by his employers, while he had the profits of the sale. Even of those which, upon his own authority, we have given as his productions, it is highly probable he was rather the editor than the author. In those which more recently appeared under his name, there is very little of the ability, either argumentative or narrative, which could give consequence to a political effusion.

About the year 1782, he retired from business as a bookseller; but in a few years he married the widow of Mr. Parker, printer of a newspaper called the General Advertiser, of which he then was proprietor and editor: the speculation however injured his fortune, and he became a prisoner in the king's bench for a libel, and was afterwards an outlaw. Extricated at length from his difficulties, he retired again into Hertfordshire, where he died December 12, 1805, leaving his widow in great distress. '

ALPHERY (MEKEPHER, so pronounced, though properly spelt, NIKEPHOR, Nicephorus) was born in Russia, of the imperial line. When that country was disturbed by intestine quarrels, in the latter end of the 16th century, and the royal house particularly was severely persecuted by impostors, this gentleman and his two brothers were sent over to England, and recommended to the care of Mr. Joseph Bidell, a Russia merchant. Mr. Bidell, when they were of age fit for the university, sent them all three to Oxford, where the small-pox unhappily prevailing, two of them died of it. We know not whether this surviving brother took any degree, but it is very probable he did, since he entered into holy orders; and, in the year 1618, had the rectory of Wooley in Huntingdonshire, a living of no very considerable value, being rated at under 107. in the king's books. Here he did his duty with great cheerfulness and alacrity; and notwithstanding he was twice invited back to his native country, by some who would have ventured their utmost to have set him on the throne of his ancestors, he chose rather to remain with his flock, and to serve God in the humble station of a parish priest. Yet in 1643 he underwent the severest trials from the rage of the fanatic soldiery, who, not satisfied with depriving him of his living, insulted him in the most barbarous manner; for, having procured a file of musqueteers to pull him out of his pulpit, as he was preaching on a Sunday, they turned his wife and young children out into the street, into which also they threw his goods. The poor man in this distress raised a tent under some trees in the church-yard, over against his house, where he and his family lived for a week. One day having gotten a few eggs, he picked up some rotten wood and dry sticks, and

1 Gent. Mag. vol. LXXV.-Public Characters for 1805-4, where is a very fattering life, evidently contributed by himself.

« ZurückWeiter »