could spare time from her needle-work, to which she was closely kept by her mother." Mrs. Pilkington adds, that "she wrote elegantly both in verse and prose; that her turn was chiefly to philosophical or divine subjects; that her piety was not inferior to her learning; and that some of the most delightful hours she herself had ever passed were in the conversation of this female philosopher." Her son, who was also his majesty's printer at Dublin, and instructed by her, was a man of uncommon learning, great wit, and vivacity. He died in Germany, at the age of twenty-seven. Dr. Johnson highly respected his abilities, and often observed, that he possessed more extensive knowledge than any man of his years he had ever known. His industry was equal to his talents, he particularly excelled in every species of philological learning, and was perhaps the best critic of his time.'

GRIFFET (HENRY), a French writer of considerable reputation, was born October 9, 1698, at Moulins. He entered early among the Jesuits at Paris, was professor of belles lettres in the college of Louis le Grand, and distinguished himself afterwards in the pulpit. On the dissolution of his order, he retired to Brussels, where he died of a nephritic cholic, February 22, 1775. His works are, 1. An edition of Daniel's "History of France," Paris, 1756, 17 vols. 4to, in which the reign of Louis XIII. occupying three volumes, is entirely his own. 2. Traité des differentes sortes de preuves qui servent à etablir la verité de l'Histoire," Liege, 1769, 12mo, a very judicious performance. 3. "Sermops," Liege, 1767, 4 vols. 8vo, not remarkable for spirit or eloquence. 4. Several pious works, among which the most popular is his "Année du Chretien," Paris, 1747, 18 vols. 12mo. 5. "Latin Poems," written at college, of indifferent character. 6. An improved edition of D'Avrigny's Memoirs, 1757, 5 vols. 12mo. "Insuffisance de la religion naturelle," Liege, 2 vols. 12mo. 8. An enlarged edition of the "Delices des Pays Bas," Liege, 1769, 5 vols. 12mo.2

GRIFFIER (JOHN), a landscape painter, born at Amsterdam in 1645, was a pupil of Roland Roghman, whose manner he relinquished after he became acquainted with the more perfect one of A. Vandervelde and Lingelbach.

'Ballard's Memoirs-Cibber's Lives.-Preface to Mrs. Barber's Poems.Boswell's Life of Johuson, 2 Dict, Hist.

He settled in England, and made views of many of the principal places, which are highly wrought, but with rather an artificial tone of colouring. His execution was minute and laboured, but his pictures are very well completed in that style. He likewise employed his talents in imitations of Rembrandt, Rysdael, Polemburg, and Teniers; and so successfully, that his productions are often taken for originals. He died in the seventy-third year of his age, in 1718. He was known by the appellation of the old Griffier.-His son, ROBERT Griffier, or the young Griffier, practised the same profession as his father, and in the same style. He resided chiefly upon the continent, and produced a great number of elaborate pictures of views on the Rhine, &c. with many figures in them. He was alive in 1713.1

GRIFFITH (ELIZABETH), a lady once of some note as a writer of novels and plays, whose maiden name was Griffith, was of Welch descent, and early in life married Richard Griffith, a gentleman of a good family, but reduced fortune, in Ireland. The first performance by which she became known was entitled "The Letters of Henry and Frances," which are said to contain the genuine correspondence between her and her husband before their marriage, and for some years after. They were published at the particular request of Margaret countess of Cork, who was one of her friends, and privy to her connexion with Mr. Griffith, which was at first kept secret. From these letters, a few particulars of the private history of the para ties may be collected. Mr. Griffith appears to have received no regular education, although in his youth he had evinced some talents for poetry; he introduced himself, however, by degrees into "the genteelest and most reputable company;" but tired of a city life, passed several years with a relation in the country of Ireland, where he read, learned French, and "studied husbandry philosophically." He then engaged in a farm and the lineu maufacture; and about 1760 appears to have received a place from the duke of Bedford, at that time lord lieute pant of Ireland. His acquaintance with Mrs. Griffith was accidental, and commenced on his part, to use his own phrase," as an act of gallantry;" but finding "no probability of success," a strange declaration !-and being ena

1 Argenville, vol. III.-Pilkington aud Strutt.-Walpole's Anecdotes, &c.

moured with her writings, conversation, and character, became, at last, a real and honourable lover, but declined matrimony for several years, as she had no fortune, and his expectations from his father were much larger than they were likely to turn out. At length, however, they married, about the year 1752; and their first publication was this correspondence, published by subscription, and not very successful with any class of readers, not even the sentimentalists, for whom it was chiefly calculated. Some of the letters, however, are of a superior cast, and contain many sensible remarks on books, men, and manners. Their next publication, which was also written in conjunction, was "Two Novels, in Letters, 4 vols. ; the first and second, entitled Delicate Distress, by Frances; the third and fourth, entitled the Gordian Knot, by Henry," 1769, 12mo. Both these are of a strict moral tendency; but, like the correspond ence of the authors, too much tinged with the pedantry of quotation and philosophizing, instead of natural description and feeling. Previously to this, Mr. Griffith had published in 1764, "The Triumvirate; or the authentic Memoirs of A. B. and C." 2 vols. 12mo, a novel of so loose a kind, that even his wife could not venture to recommend it to the fair sex, and yet adds her opinion that "every gentleman will read it with pleasure, and I trust without any injury to his morals." Of Mr. Griffith's performances we hear no more, nor have been able to ascertain the time of his death. Mrs. Griffith's other novels were 66 Lady Barton," and "Juliana Harley." She also wrote some dramas which had various success, but none of them have preserved their station on the stage. One of her most agreeable publications was "The Morality of Shakspeare's Drama illustrated," 1775, 8vo. She published also some translations, "The Adventures of Pierre Viaud," and the "Letters of Ninon de L'Enclos," &c. She died Jan. 3, 1793, at Millecent, in the county of Kildare. She was unquestionably a woman of considerable literary talents, but does not appear to have found in her lover and husband the judgment which could give them a proper direction. Nor did he contribute much to her happiness in his latter days. He had long accustomed himself to the cant of sentiment, which is too frequently mistaken for genuine moral feeling. When in his grand climacteric, he seduced a girl of fortune and consequence, with whom he lived the remainder of his days. The libertine notions in his "Trium

virate" appear to have been more predominant than the sense he affected to entertain of pure morals in his "Letters."

GRIMALDI (JOHN FRANCIS), called BOLOGNESE, was born at Bologna in 1606, and studied under A. Caracci, to whom he was related. He was a good designer of figures, but became chiefly distinguished for his landscapes. When he arrived at Rome, Innocent X. did justice to his merit, employed him to paint in the Vatican and the Quirinal, and even in churches. This pope used to visit him when at work, and talk familiarly with him. His reputation reached cardinal Mazarine at Paris, who sent for him, settled a large pension on him, and employed him for three years in embellishing his palace and the Louvre, by the order of Lewis XIII. The troubles of the state, and the clamours raised against the cardinal, whose party he warmly espoused, put him so much in danger, that his friends advised him to retire among the Jesuits, for whom he painted a decoration for the exposition of the sacrament during the holy days, according to the custom of Rome. This piece was much relished at Paris: the king honoured it with two visits, and commanded him to paint a similar piece for his chapel at the Louvre. Grimaldi after that returned to Italy, and at his arrival at Rome found his great patron Innocent X. dead; but his two successors Alexander VII. and Clement IX. honoured him equally with their friendship, and found him variety of employment. His chief power lay in landscape, though he designed figures well, and his pencil equalled his design, light, and flowing with great depth of colour, bolder in the masses and the dash of bashy foliage than Caracci's, but perhaps too green. The gallery Colonna, at Rome, has many of his views, which remained chiefly in Italy, less known on this side of the Alps than those of Poussin and Claude. He understood architecture, and has engraved in aqua fortis forty-two landscapes in an excellent manner, five of which are after Titian. Grimaldi was amiable in his manners, as well as skilful in his profession: he was generous without profusion, respectful to the great without meanness, and charitable to the poor. The following instance of his benevolence may serve to characterise the man. A Sicilian gen

1 Gent. Mag. vol. XL. p. 264, LXIII. p. 104.-Victor's Werks, vol. I. p. 303-313,334.--Miss Seward's Letters, vol. III. p. 313—14.—Biog. Dramatica.

tleman, who had retired from Messina with his daughter, during the troubles of that country, was reduced to the misery of wanting bread. As he lived over-against him, Grimaldi was soon informed of it; and in the dusk of the evening, knocking at the Sicilian's door, without making himself known, tossed in money and retired. The thing happening more than once, raised the Sicilian's curiosity to know his benefactor; who, finding him out, by hiding himself behind the door, fell down on his knees to thank the hand that had relieved him: Grimaldi remained confused, offered him his house, and continued his friend till his death. He died of a dropsy at Rome in 1660, and left a considerable fortune among six children; of which the youngest, named Alexander, was a pretty good painter."

GRIMANI (DOMINICK), a learned cardinal, was born at Venice in 1460. His father being procurator of St. Mark, and afterwards doge of the city, the son was soon brought into public notice, and employed by the state in important offices. In 1493 he was raised to the purple by pope Alexander VI. having previously acquired great fame on account of the piety which he displayed towards his father, who was commander of a fleet, and being defeated by the Turks, was imprisoned and treated with great rigour. The son offered to take his place, which being refused, he attended him in prison, and rendered him all the service in his power. Grimani was also an eminent patron of the fine arts he collected a choice and valuable library, consisting of eight thousand volumes in all languages, which, at his decease, in 1523, he bequeathed to the canons regular of St. Salvadore, in Venice. It was afterwards increased by the addition of many valuable works by the cardinal patriarch Marino Grimani, and was preserved until nearly the end of the seventeenth century, when it was unfortunately destroyed by fire. Dominick Grimani also made a fine collection of statues, and other remains of antiquity. In 1509, he was visited by Erasmus, who relates the particulars of his reception, in one of his letters, with interesting minuteness, and afterwards dedicated to him his " Paraphrasis in Epistol. Pauli ad Romanos." On another occasion we find Erasmus soliciting cardinal Grimani for a copy of Origen's commentary on the Psalms, a translation of which he had been urged to undertake by War

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1 D'Argenville, vol. II.-Pilkington and Strutt.