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the profefforship of Latin eloquence, Roman antiquities, and history. His inaugural Difcourfe upon this occafion was De Doctore umbratico, and had for its fcope to expofe the difadvantages of that exclufive attachment to folitary, or merely fcholaftic, study, which unfits a man for the eafy, ufeful, and elegant intercourfe, of common life; while it alio makes him unable to diftinguish in letters what things are truly important, from thofe which are mere trifles and fooleries unworthy of a reasonable perfon's care. The difcourfe gave offence to the matters of fome of the principal fchools, who thought that its ridicule was directed against them, and became, in confequence of this, Rhunken's enemies. A profeffor at Amfterdam, and another at Franeker, had been his competitors, at least in their private wishes, for the chair at Leyden; and the difappointment made them alfo unfriendly to him. Both thefe incidents contributed for a while to render the attendance of students at his lectures lefs numerous than was to have been expected. He gave three different courfes annually; one of history, in which he followed the plan of Perizonius, or rather Turfellini, with improvements; another of antiquities, in which, from the genuine teftimonies of the ancients themfelves, and from remaining monuments, he explained the whole detail of the customs, arts, manners, and policy, of the Romans; a third for the interpretation of claffical authors, in which Terence, Suetonius, Cicero, and Ovid were among the favourite fubjects of his prælections.

Gelner died at Göttingen, the fame year on which Ruhnken was promoted to this profefforfhip at Leyden. Upon the recommendation of Ernefti of Leipfic, Rhunken was invited by the Hanoverian Minifter, Baron Munchaufen, to fill that vacancy. He declined the offer for himfelf, but recommended Heyne, who accepted the appointment, and has fince done it infinite honour. The curators of the University of Leyden had the generofity to reward his attachment to it by adding fix hundred florins a-year to his salary.

In the year 1763, when he was above the age of forty, Mr. Ruhnken conceived a warm affection for Mariamne Heirmans, a young lady of admirable beauty, daughter to Mr. Gerard Heirmans, who had been Dutch Conful at Leghorn. Although he was only in her eighteenth year, and had many young admirers, the gave a preference to the addreffes of the

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profeffor. He married her though the had no fortune. After living with him five years in great mutual happiness, and bearing him two daughters, the was truck with an apoplexy, became firft fpeechlefs, and then loft the ufe of light; and the now furvives him in a state of wretched imbecility.

His marriage, made fome alteration in his habits of life. He now accu.tomed himself to rife early in the morning, then to ftudy for a couple of hours; then give two or three hours to the bufinefs of his profefforthip; in the intervals between his hours of teaching, either to walk, or amufe himtelf at home; then to dine; then to pafs fone hours eitner at the houfes of his friends, or with his friends at his own houfe; atter this to fup with his wife and children, and retire early to rest. There were three days in the week on which he was not engaged in teaching, and at least on two of thofe he used to go out to hunt. He had, befides, fo many other of the common duties of life to attend to, that it is furprizing, not that he fhould have published fo little, but that he fhould have found time to prepare fo much for publication.

His friend Alberti had not lived to

complete his edition of Helychius.Rhunken therefore brought out the fecond volume of that work with accuracy and illuftrations not unequal to thofe which had been exhibited in the first.

Rutilius Lupus, Velleius Paterculus, and Cornelius Nepos, were three authors whole writings Profeffor Rhunken became defirous to illuftrate in new editions.The work of Cornelius Nepos, which he much admired for the pure and fimple elegance of its ftyle, he would have eluci dated and adorned by exhibiting in conjunction with the text the parallel paffages from thofe Greek hiftorians whom Nepos had followed as his authorities. But he intended to begin these labours by giving his edition of Rutilius Lupus. In preparing for this, he entered on a new perual of all the Greek orators and rhetori cians. Aldus has published, in one collection, most of the remains of the Greek rhetoricians of which there have not yet been feparate editions. Reading Aldus's Collection, Mr. Rhunken discovered, in a Treatise by the rhetorician Apfines, a paffage which, upon comparing it with the Notes of John of Sicily upon Ariftides, he found to be that portion which relates to the hiftorical invention of the Work of Longinus De Arte Rhetorica, which was

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fuppofed

fuppofed to have been entirely loft. He communicated the difcovery to his friend Hemfterhuis, and by his advice had a fhort Notice of it inferted in the Journal des Sçavans. Rhunken afterwards collated this paffage with the manufcrip's of Longinus's remains; and at the time of his death left almoft all in readiness for a new edition of that author, with this important addition.

dations to Ernefti, for the edition of Xenophon which he was then about to publifh. This was Ernefti's fecond edition of Xenophon. Valckenaer, at Rhunken's request, communicated likewife his remarks. Ernefti, however, made less use of thefe communications than the two profeffors had expected.

The year 1771 was to Rhunken a period of affliction. His wife, after being threatened with a dropfy, loft the ufe firit of fpeech, afterwards of fight. He him

In the year 1766 died Hemfterhuis, at an age above four fcore. Next year Rhunken was Rector Magnificus of the Univer-felf laboured for a time under severe illfity; and upon laying down this annual office, on the eighth day of February, 1768, he pronounced an eulogy of his deceased friend, certainly one of the most eloquent and judicious things of the kind with which any modern has enriched the language of ancient Rome. In that compofition, which has been fince repeatedly printed, he appears to have imitated, in fome parts with great clofenefs, the ftyle and manner of Salluft.

The fame year came out Rhunken's edition of three Latin Treatifes on Figures in Speech, by Rutilius Lupus, Aquila Romanus, and Julius Rufinianus. The work of Lupus is a tranflation from the Greek of Gorgias, who was mafter in rhetoric to the younger Cicero, and contains good verfions of many valuable extracts from the works of the Greek orators that of Aquila is fimply an abftract from a larger work by Alexander Numenius, having Latin examples introduced into it by the abridger, inftead of Greek ones. The Treatife of Rufinianus was written in the age of Conftantine, and gives its examples out of Cicero and Virgil only. This edition gives the genuine text with perfect fidelity. It illuftrates the obfcurities, amends the corruptions, and affembles into one agreeable view all that is now to be known of the age, the fortunes, and the writings, of the feveral authors. It is ftill more valuable on account of an excellent Critical Hiftory of the Grecian Orators, with which the editor enriched it, and in which all the lights of his erudition and judgment were brought fully into effect.

In the year 1770 Rhurken began to diftinguish Daniel Wyttenbach, long his pupil and friend, at length his fucceffor, with the fame kindness which he had himfelf experienced trom Hemfterhuis.

About that time he read the Works of Xenophon, together with fuch books in ancient and modern literature as afforded any materials to illuftrate this author, and communicated his remarks and emen

nefs; and his youngest daughter had a ficknels, in confequence of which the alfo loft the ufe of her eyes. He was at the fame time teized by the nibbling abuse of J. A. Klotz, whofe officious offers of friendship he had flighted. The reputation of his learning was brought in quef tion by Profeffors Burman and Schrader in two new publications. And to crown thefe vexations, fome of his principal friends fhewed fomewhat of a difpofition to favour the attacks of his enemies, and complained that his method of teaching was tame, and wanting in that enthusiasm without which the minds of youth are not eafily to be inflamed with a love of learning. But Rhunken endured the diftreffes of his family with manly fortitude and pious hope; and thofe other reproaches he easily defpifed, as knowing them to be unjuft, and offered without confideration and judgment in their authors.

In the year 1772, while he was preparing an edition of Velleius Paterculus, and was reviling fome of his former publications, he had the pleasure of receiving a letter from M. Vill›ison of Paris, in which that illuftrious fenolar, then young and obfcure, folicited the honour of his acquaintance and his advice for the direction of his ftudies. Both were, by Rhunken, most readily granted.

In 1773, he had the merit of discovering a part of the treatife of Sebastian Corradus, de Quæfturâ, of the very exiftence of which, men of letters were, in general, ignorant; and of procuring it to be republished by his friend Ernefti. This treatife is highly valuable for the elegance of its composition, and for the light which it throws on the writings of Cicero.

In 1774, on the death of Abraham Gronovius, Rhunken was appointed keeper of the public Library at Leyden. His friend Valckenaer was, alfo, a candidate for the office; but very willingly gave place to Rhunken. On the ninth and tenth days of February, 1775, was celebrated the fecond fecular anniversary of the in

ftitution

Atitution of the University of Leyden. The festivities on that occafion were, however, conducted with a tumult and diforder which this Profeffor did not approve.

In the year 1776, he publifhed feparately a Differtation concerning the Life and Writings of Dionyfius Longinus. Thefe, with certain Notes and Various Readings, had been prepared for Toup's intended edition of that author. But, Toup was flow in producing his work, and fomewhat niggardly of thanks and praise to his auxiliaries. It was thought by the belt judges, that nothing fuperior to Rhunken's Differtation had ever been composed in the Critical History of Literature. It appeared in Toup's edition in 1778; but Toup did not even fend Rhunken a fingle copy of his book, in a prefent, for all the affittance he had given him. Matthæi, Rector of the Univerfity of Moscow, about this time, communicated to Profeffor Rhunken two hymns of Homer, unknown to the learned of Europe, but found, in an ancient manufcript, in a library at Mofcow. Thefe Rhunken published, with very elaborate illuftrations, in 1780. And, upon receiving a more complete copy from Mofcow, he gave, afterwards, a new edition of thefe Hymns. He fuffered much this year by a dangerous colic, from which, how. ever, he had the happiness of a complete recovery.

It was in 1779, that his edition of Velleius Paterculus came out; admirable for his emendations of the text, for the clearness and learning of his illuftrations, for the claffical delicacy and elegance with which every thing that he did in it was finished.

At the request of Mr. Haken, Minifter of Stolpe, he communicated to that gentleman a fhort Memoir of his own Life, to be inferted in a work which he was then publishing, relative to the history of Pomerania.

In 1782, he gave a new edition of his two Critical Epiftles; fubjoining the new edition of the two Hymns of Homer.

In his political fentiments, though quiet and moderate, he was adverfe to the party of the Prince of Orange. He was, there fore, a fufferer by the revolution of 1787, both in the difappointment of his political withes, and even in the diminution of the number of his pupils, and of his fees.

In 1789 he republifhed his Eulogy of Hemfterhuis, and his Timæus's Lexicon; and gave, likewife, a new edition of the elegant Works of Muretus.

In 1792 he was perfuaded, for the

fum of feven hundred florins, to fuperin tend a new edition of Scheller's Latin Dictionary.

The revolution in 1795, however it might for a hort time gratify his wifhes as a politician, proved unfavourable to his interefts as a Profeffor, by again thinning the numbers of the ftudents at the univerfity. As fome compenfation for his lofs, the curators, next year, added three hundred florins to his falary.

He was now 74 years of age, and except that he began to experience unufual quicknefs and difficulty of refpiration in walking, was, in general, ftill vigorous and healthy. In July, 1796, he began to fuffer from a giddinefs in his head. Upon his recovery from this complaint he was affected with a dropfy in his breast and feet. This diforder till continued to hang about him; but was, for a time, al leviated by the care of his phyficians. In the fummer of 1797 he found himself fo much better, that he went abroad about his ordinary affairs as before; and in the harvest he went out again a-hunting, though not quite so much as on the preceding year. As winter came on, he was affected with a cough, and the fymptoms of dropfy began to increase upon him. Till the month of May, 1798, he continued to become worfe, out flowly, and fill with hopes of new relief as the feafon fhould advance. At laft the dropfy fettled in his breaft and the upper parts of his body. On the 11th of May, he paffed the day at home; walking in his, chamber and converfing with his family and friends, without depreffion of spirits or fenfe of pain. He fell asleep, how ever, while he fate at fupper, and fo went earlier than was ufual to bed. He got up early next morning and dressed himself without affiftance. Almoft immediately, after, he felt himself ill, and defired the fervant to call his eldest daughter. She came and found him almoft fpeechless. He was put in bed, where he languifhed two days in a ftate of intenfe fever, and quite infenfible. At the tenth hour in the evening of the 14th of May, he expired.

He was rather above the middle ftature, and of a fquare well-knit figure ; his afpect was manly, ingenuous, and pleafing; he was not filly nor indiscreet in his talk, but his fpeech was open, candid, and fincere. In his youth he was reckoned handsome, and his manners were highly polite and conciliating. His favourite amufement was hunting, and he had 3 pride in keeping excellent greyhounds.-He was a fkilful markfinan with a gun;

but

but in his latter years he confined his amufement to courfing hares. He was fkilful in mufic, and a good judge of paint ings. He lived kindly and happily with his family, in a style of expenfe fuitable to his ftation, and in the exercife of liberal hofpitality. He died without having accumulated riches, or involved himfelt in debt. The curators of the University purchased his private library for an annuity of five hired forins to his widow and daughters. He was a man of the most ardent attachment to the interefts of literature, and of great and active be

nevolence. As a critic he excelled in genius or inventive perfpicacity, in deep and various erudition, in juftnets and exquifite delicacy of tafte.. He was defervedly esteemed as the purest and most elegant writer of Latinity in the age in which he lived. His compofitions dif play much of the spirit of the Greek critic Longinus, whofe works he fo delighted to illuftrate. He was, in his life, the pride. of critical erudition, and of the Univerfity of Leyden. His death was lamented as a great and common lols by the whole learned world.

Extracts from the Port-folio of a Man of Letters.

A PLEASING PICTURE. AMUS, a member of the French

he waited for the moment when the General would speak to him. Some Auftrian

who was foldiers great hafte, bringing to

to visit the countries united to the Republic, concludes his Journey through the Departments of the Lower Rhine, and of the vicinity of Calais and the Somme, with this general and pleafing view of their ftate in the tenth year of the Republic:

"The general refult of my obfervations may be comprifed in a few words. The Republican departments that I have visited are in a flourishing condition. All active perfons turn their views to manufactures and commerce. The arts, which give life to manufactures and fuggeft new procefles, are honoured and ftudied. The energy of men of talents are bent this way. The belles-lettres and fine arts are generally in a ftate of ftagnation. Materials for literature are not wanting. But, as the belleslettres and the fine-arts flourish only in peace and in the bofom of opulence, when the perfons capable of appreciating their value have plenty of money, we are not to be furprifed, if they have not obtained that confideration which is the cause of their fuccefs. The duration of peace, the fecurity of property, the patronage of government, taste and difcernment in the application of the funds, which a prof. perous commerce will abundantly fupply, render fruitful the feeds which are generally (pread through the foil of the Republic."

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Clairfayt a wounded French foldier. He was a fentinel whom they had net with on duty. As they approached him, they commanded him to be filent, and levelled their pieces at him. The Frenchman cried out "Alert," and prefented to warn them. The Auftrians fired and wounded him; led him away prifoner, and requested the General to decide on his destiny. Clairfayt got up, took the Frenchman by the hand and faid: "Brave fellow, you have done your duty : I esteem you more than I do a traitor. I will fend my phyfician to you. Soldiers, take the greatest care of him."

A ROYAL REMONSTRANCE.

That learned, ingenious, and classical scholar, the Rev. Stephen Weston, to whom the literary world are confiderably indebted, has lately directed his studies to Arabian and Perfian literature. We may expect from his taste and industry much curious and mifcellaneous information. The following extracts are taken from a fingular paper, printed, but we believe not published, which bears for title "The Spirited Remonstrance of Rajah Soobah Sing to the Emperor Aurungzebe." It is accompanied by the original Persian on the oppofite page.

"When we confider the writer of this Letter was a petty Prince addreffing a powerful Emperor, we cannot but admire the bold intrepidity and the contempt for a merciless tyrant it difplays in every part. But its eloquence, the warmth of its colouring, and the propriety of its images, and the charm of its genius, ftamp it with a peculiar and unlooked for

value. It was not expected from the paffive obedience of the Eaft, and an Oriental remonstrance was never heard, at least by us, in fo fublime a tone." There are alfo frequent touches of beautiful nature and picturefque fketches. We thall now detail fome of the most curious paragraphs:

He opens with affuring the Emperor that he has ever been ready with his fervices as a loyal fervant, and every thought he has, is conftantly exerted for the prof perity of the empire. That his prede ceffors were kings of high character: Alexander II. he thus characteriles. "For thirty-two years he ipread the bleffed fhadow of protection over the world; and having acquired all the marks of fortune and profperity became the very current term for excellence and fign of reputation on earth. Wherefoever he turned his eye he faw victory in prefent, and profperity

in future."

He then accufes the Emperor that he has alienated many of thefe conquests, and depopulated the country by exceffive taxation. The farmers are plundered and the revenue is defrauded, and the confequence is a deficit in the contributions; and for a lak, or one hundred thousand rupees, one thousand is now collected, and the frong places are all deftroyed, and the fortreffes reduced to fand-heaps. Whenever poverty has entered the palaces of kings, the fate and condition of the nobles may easily be conceived. At this moment the Sepoys are in rebellion, the merchants complaining, the Muffulmauns weeping, and the Hindoos burning, and many in want of their nightly bread beat their cheeks till they are red. You exact a poll-tax from the fick and needy; you rob the indigent of his platter; and the poor man of his cup."

Here he finely defcribes the Divinity. "If the authentic Word of God, if the heavenly book be held in any efteem, God is the Lord both of true believers and the wild uncivilized Arab, and not of Muffulmauns only; and that, there is but' a point of difference between the infidel and the believer, is most evident. Though the colouring vary, the true painter that mixes it is one, and he is God! Where there is a mofque, it is to him that we pray; and where there is a temple of idols, for love of him the bells are fhaken. If we find fault with the religious faith of any man, we contradict the letter of the heavenly book; if we deface the picture, we commit an offence against the painter."

To this remarkable paffage the Rajah adds a diftich, which contains the most ingenious idea poffible, to account for the origin and the appearance of evil in this world.

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Diftich. Whether it be beauty or deformity that you look on, put not the hand of obliteration on it. Defect of proportion is an infcrutable myftery.”

He continues his elevated train of remonftrance against the poll-tax. He says, "In whatever lig confider a poll

tax, nothing can juny. The proof of a just government and a good police, is where a beautiful woman decked with gold and jewels, can travel from country to country unmolefted and in perfect fecurity. At this time the cities are given up to plunder, what then must be the condition of the deferts?"

Mott ingenioufly the Rajah concludes, by advising the Emperor to begin his capitation-tax by the Rajah Ramfing, be caule he is the head of the Hindoo tribes. After him he fays, "To take it from me your friend, your prompt obedient fervant and well-wither, will be a matter of leis difficulty; but to torment ants and flies is unworthy of a man of courage." And finally, with marvellous intrepidity he concludes, "It will appear wonderful hereafter to pofterity, that those who have eat your Majesty's falt, and whose business and duty it was, as guardians and tutors, to exhibit patterns of virtue, should have neglected to inftruct your Majesty in the principles of truth, which is the effence of the foul!”

ORIGINAL LETTERS of SIR JOHN VAN-
BURGH to JACOB TONSON.

1719.

"I have the misfortune of lofing, for I now fee little hopes of ever getting it, near 2,000l. due to me for many years fervice, plague and trouble at Blenheim, which that wicked woman of "Marlborough" is fo far from paying me, that the Duke being fued by fome of the workmen for work done there, fhe has tried to turn the debt upon me, for which, I think, the ought to be hanged.

We stayed two nights in Woodstock, but there was an order to the fervants, under her Grace's own hand, not to let me enter Blenheim; and left that should not mortify me enough, she, having fome how learned that my wife was of the company, fent an exprefs the night before we came there, with orders, if the came with the Caftle-Howard ladies, the fervants fhould not fuffer her to fee either house,

garden,

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