tracted to nearly a century, the biography of few men affords so wide a basis for the superstructure of a literary history of the age in which he flourished." Although Dr. A. very properly resolved not to anticipate the narrative of M. Huet, or to attempt the raising of any prepossessions in his favour, he thought it right to premise in his Introduction "a summary view of the state of European literature, anteriorly to the commencement of this Biographical History, or in the early part of the 17th century;" thus enabling the reader of it to form à correct idea of the nature of the education likely to be received by a youth, when Huet entered upon his studies; besides "the progress that had already been made in those branches of science and literature, which he and his contemporaries were engaged in cultivating." Although the period had elapsed which restored a classical age to Italy, the effect of it was visible in the remainder of Europe, where the antient languages were correctly understood, and a pure taste in composition prevailed. Scaliger, Casaubon, Grotius, Meursius, Gruter, Daniel Heinsius, Ritterhuysius, arthfus, Dousa, Gerard John Vossius, and Salmasius, were a critical groupe which would confer lustre on any period of philology." The literati of the country just mentioned had avoided theological controversy, till the progress of the Reformation compelled then to contend against the violent attacks of its promoters. In the foremost rank of the Roman Catholic champions were the Cardinals Baronius and Bellarmine, who were supported by many others; to whom, Dr. A. remarks, "the inexhaustible wealth of the Romish see administered substantial aliment." Sarpi maintained a dauntless front against Papal usurpations, but acquiesced in the general doctrines of his religion; and Grotius commented on the Scriptures with exquisite penetration and learning, without adopting the doctimes of any particular sect of Christians. Duplessis Moraai, and Dumoulin, pleaded the cause of the Reformed religion in France, and it had able advocates in different parts of the contment. The Separatists were at the same moment engaged in their own controversies, and Arminius and Gomarus

had their respective partisans. Lord Herbert of Cherbury and Vannini also disseminated their deistical and atheistical opinions, which roused into action many defenders of Religion and Revelation upon general grounds. These various causes, operating in the minds of most men, produced earnest speculations on theological subjects, "to which they brought the same resources of learning and argument that have since, though perhaps with improved skill and accuracy, been employed on those topics."

Aristotle, whose authority in the schools had remained undisputed for ages, was now doomed to sustain numerous attacks from speculators in abstract philosophy; and some learn ed persons attempted the revival of Platonism; others appeared to be attached to the system of the Stoics, particularly in morals; and those

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daring geniuses, Jordano Bruno and Cardan," had proposed new me thods of philosophising, though with little success: but, upon the whole, it was evident that the human intellect "could no longer bear the restraint which had been imposed upon it." Bacon had lately published those great works which were destined to effect a mighty change in the pursuit of knowledge in general; but it does not appear that their influence was immediate. Natural philosophy had received due attention; and Tycho Brahe, of whom much is said in the Memoirs before us, had made many valuable discoveries in astronomy. At length Galileo diffused a "bright and unextinguishable light over physical science; and, being followed by Torricelli and other eminent disciples, introduced that broad day of knowledge which has since shone upon the world." Kepler, who deserved equal credit for his advances in the science of geometry, applied his skill with such success in investigating the laws which govern the motions of the beavenly bodies, that he afforded Descartes and Newton the basis for their

sublime discoveries. Several eminent anatomists had carried their researches into the animal economy to a very prosperous length; " and thai fundamental law, the circulation of the blood, had been demonstrated by Harvey a.short time before the birth of our Author."

Dr. Aikin farther observes, that though,

though, on the whole, the state of human knowledge might be considered as then only in its infancy, compared with the consequences of subsequent efforts of genius, yet the impulse was given, and the mind directed into the true channel. The art of writing well was by no means unknown, and respectable models for imitation existed in nearly every species of composition; yet taste wanted greater refinement, and learning still continued debased by pedantry. At the period of Huet's entrance into his literary career, Italy had lost the supremacy it once possessed, which induced the learned and candid Tiraboschi to remark, in the Preface to the Eighth Volume of his History of Italian literature, "that whereas he had found it necessary to employ three volumes on the literature of the sixteenth century, that of the seventeenth would occupy only one ;" and he does not deny that this circumstance was in great part owing to the declension of letters in the latter period. As the freedom of discussion was watched in the Papal dominions with scrupulous jealousy, Huet's acquaintance with the Italian literati was very limited.

Holland, having had the liberality and circumspection to confide their universities to men of known abilities alone, and to invite their professors from all parts of Europe, with the additional advantage derived from a free press," seems to have been the magazine whence the greatest number of valuable publications issued, and the chief centre of learned communication throughout Europe." The thirty years war in which Germany had been engaged, was a sufficient reason for the decline of literature there; yet, with this dreadful disadvantage attending it, that country contrived to maintain the reputation which it had acquired for solid erudition, though many of her learned sons were compelled to seek that encouragement abroad which was denied them at home. The English language seemed, at the time Dr. A. is now treating of, to be universally neglected and despised on the Continent, where, he observes, it was as little understood and read, "as those of Denmark and Sweden may now be;" thus, though we had formed a flourishing school of literature, it was lost

to every foreign nation; nor was the stock of our Latin currency of more account. The civil commotions of England were equally disadvantageous; and those whose minds were by this means diverted from learned pursuits fell insensibly into the prevailing infatuation for political and theological controversy." Perhaps," says Dr. A. "few British names, except those of Bacon, Camden, Buchanan, Selden, and Usher, were familiar to the scholars of the rest of Europe, in the earlier part of the seventeenth century." In France, the University of Paris had always possessed illustrious members; and luet found many examples of literary eminence, who had “decorated the age of Richlieu, which was introductory to that of Lewis XIV." The civil law received much improvement by the labours of the professors of other French Universities; and many persons of the legal profession distinguished themselves as writers on various subjects. The language of the country under consideration attained great excellence; and Dr. A. is of opinion, that the celebrated "Provincial Letters" furnished Huet a specimen for imitation "which has scarcely admitted any subsequent improvement." The Latin, besides, was cultivated with equal success in prose and verse. At this period Corneille furnished the French stage with master - pieces, which rendered it the rival of that of Greece; and the Literati were then commencing their long career of excellence in polite literature. The birth of Huct happening in a provincial town was not an unfavourable circumstance in the formation of his mind. "Caen, the seat of an University, and long one of the head-quarters of Calvinism, had imbibed a learned tincture, and had not lost the regularity of manners which usually accompanies a Reforming sect." The Jesuits, particularly celebrated for their ardent promotion of the interests of learning, had succeeded in securing the principal share of the arduous task of instructing youth," and presented in their college those incitements and aids to early study, which have pre-eminently distinguished the seminaries of their order." Though it must be admitted that the cultivation of the mind had reached a greater degree of perfection in the metropolis of France, yet Huet

escaped the allurements and dangers of the capital, while he missed the high finish of education it afforded, and acquired such an attachment to learning, and such habits of application, that bis character was fixed, and the ruling passion was implanted which governed his whole future life."

Having obtained a considerable reputation early in life, he soon had a splendid circle of literary friends, formed of foreigners and his own countrymen, of whom many were members of the Society of Jesus; hence we find, that" few pages occur in his Memoirs, which are not decorated with the names of eminent literary characters, pointed out more or less to the Reader's attention by anecdotes and observations." Those Dr. A. has converted into the subjects of Biographical Notes, in which he has aimed less at giving minute details of their lives and writings, than characteristic sketches, furnishing correct ideas of "their deserts, both moral and literary; and of the rank they held among their contemporaries." It is hoped that these additions will render the work of Huet more interesting and instructive; and that they may, collectively, afford a tolerably extensive view of the state of letters on the Continent of Europe, during a period which must ever stand distinguished among those in which the human mind has made the most sensible progress."

Dr. A. thus closes his Introduction, of which we have faithfully detailed the purport, with specimens of his language occasionally interspersed. In so doing we feel confident of the approbation of our Readers, and are con vinced they will confirm our assertion that we are much indebted to the Translator for this spontaneous illustration of the Memoirs of Huet, to which we shall now proceed with our remarks. It is impossible not to admire the pious manner adopted by the Author in his very outset, afford ing a most striking contrast to the contemptible effusions of vanity which might be pointed out in many modern Memoirs. Huet attributes every virtuous motive and impulse on this occasion to its true source: "Cherish," he exclaims, "with thy favour, this work, undertaken at thy instigation; that in writing and publishing it my

mind may be so disposed, and my affections so directed, as to augment the love of Thee in the hearts of my readers." The loss of Rochelle had caused the decline of the " Calvinist faction” in France: Daniel Huet, the father of the author, was of noble descent, and "had formerly been of that party;" his mother, much younger than her husband, was Isabella Pillon de Bertoville of Rouen, a woman of excellent endowments. Peter Daniel Huet was born in 1630. John Gontier, a zealous and learned Jesuit, undertook and accomplished the conversion of our prelate's father, who was so sensible of his former errors, that he made a convert of his mother on her death-bed, and delighted the Jesuit to such a degree, that, "by his own efforts, and those of his friends, the conversion was celebrated in a collection of Greek, Latin, and French verses, to which was subjoined an elegant eulogy of the life and virtues of this respectable woman," and inscribed over her tomb on a tablet of marble. It may be farther worthy of notice, that this new Catholick afterwards built a Chapel for himself and family in the Church of St. John at Caen, furnished it with rich ornaments and vestments, endowed a priest, added musical accompaniments and symphonies with instruments, to the simple chaunt of the Roman Catholick church service, and gave to the church, and consecrated to pious uses, the musical instruments which he had purchased for his own amusement: such were the consequences of religious zeal, a little tinctured with a sense of atonement.

M. Huct describes certain ornaments given to him by his godfather on the New Year's day next following his baptism, which furnish a curious idea of the fashion of the times; they consisted of a silken bonnet fastened by a circlet of gold, set with diamonds, and adorned with herons' plumes. "To this he added a belt embroidered with gold, from which depended a little sword, accommodated to my stature, and a gold chain so weighty, that when at a more advanced age I walked adorned with it, and swathed in its many coils, I was almost oppressed under the load." Alain Augée, a person in holy orders, was entrusted with the early part of his education, which was interrupted by the prema

ture