quities, of the sacred writings, and the Fathers. To a strong memory he joined a vigorous style of criticism, and an indefatigable constitution. He died at Paris at the age of 82. His chief works are, a Latin Dissertation on Tatian, annexed to the edition printed in Oxford, 1700, in 8vo; an Historical Description of France; a Dissertation on Transubstantiation; Annales Arsacidarum, printed at Strasburg, 1732, 4to. Besides his publications, he left behind him several MSS. in folio, containing observations on various subjects.

LONGUERANA.

CARDINAL MAZARIN.

THE popular opinion is, that Cardinal

Mazarin left behind him at his death immense wealth. In his life-time he was magnificent and profuse in his expenditure. He supported troops of gendarmes, light horse, and musquetry. He gambled very high; and the sums he lost to M. R are beyond account. The king used often to take his repast with him. "I leave your Majesty," says the Minister, “and go to take care of your affairs." In his official department he was laborious; but could not abstain from the gaming-table. In order that his amusement and business should not be incompatible, he used to

take drugs to procure vigilance; which practice hastened his death.

MEDALS.

M. Vaillant was the most learned man in the study of medals. He is without a rival. He was an early riser, and pursued his study for seven or eight hours. I have been told, that he used to say, when he could not make out the inscription of a medal, he always called for a candle, and was then often successful.

IDOLATRY.

The treatise of Vossius + on this subject is well worth the perusal of every reader. There is much erudition, both with respect to medicine, and all the branches of natural history; forasmuch as meteors, plants, &c. were esteemed divinities and objects of worship. The essay is written with great knowledge, and very laborious investigation.

*His publications are very voluminous in this science, illustrating Greek, Roman, Syrian, and Persian history. They are written in Latin.

John Gerard Vossius, in 6 vols. fol. Amst. 1695.

TURKISH LITERATURE*.

The first race of Califfs loved and patronized the sciences. They invited the Greeks of Constantinople to their courts, in order to translate books in that language for them; so that the Turks are not so void of learning as is generally supposed. The reason of their not permitting printing is, that it was represented to them, that vast societies of literary men would starve on its introduction, who now supported themselves by copying and selling MSS. Formerly at Paris twenty or thirty thousand scholars lived by transcribing books before printing was in vogue.

* Mr. Dallaway, in his "Constantinople," pages 64 and 65, relates that "there are thirteen public librarico established by Sultans and Visiers, none of which contain more than 20,000 volumes, all in manuscript. Their value is much enhanced by the high price of transcription; from fifteen to twenty pounds are paid for a folio well written, but without ornament or illuminations. The Turks may be called an illiterate people, nationally speaking; yet it is no less true, that a taste for literature, however ill directed by prejudice, is cultivated by many individuals."

Constantinople, Antient and Modern, London, 1797.

CICERO'S LETTERS TO ATTICUS.

When the Abbé M was about to translate the Epistles of Cicero to Atticus, I met with him in company with the Archbishop of T, and did all that laid in my power to dissuade him from the attempt. "Would you endeavour," said I to him, "after seventeen or eighteen centuries, to understand a man who writes in cyphers, and who did not mean to make himself understood by his cotemporaries? Was not Cicero sufficiently knowing, do you think, to be able to hide his meaning?"

PLAUTUS AND TERENCE.

Plautus is a much superior writer to Terence. For the latter offends against all propriety, when in the charming first scene of his Adelphi he introduces a servant talking like Cato the philosopher, and fills his mouth full of moral apophthegms.

CHARLES I. OF ENGLAND.

A Frenchman told me, that being in London, and cohabiting with an English