His reputation increasing, he visited, by invitation, some of the courts of Germany, and among others those of Brunswick and Wittemberg, where he succeeded the celebrated Jomelli; and after having composed for all the great theatres in Italy and Germany with increasing success, he came to England in 1772, and here supported the high reputation he had acquired on the continent. His operas of the "Cid" and "Tamerlano" were equal, says Dr. Burney, if not superior, to any musical dramas we have heard in any part of Europe. He remained, however, too long in England for his fame and fortune. The first was injured by cabals, and by what ought to have increased it, the number of his works; and the second by inactivity and want of economy. He refused several engagements which were offered him from Russia, Portugal, and even France, but this last he at length accepted, in hopes of an establishment for life. Accordingly he went thither in 1781, but it is manifest in the operas that he composed for Paris, that he worked for singers of mean abilities; which, besides the airs being set to French words, prevented their circulation in the rest of Europe, which his other vocal productions in his own language had constantly done. At Paris, however, he was almost adored, but returned the following year to London, where he only augmented his debts and embarrassments; so that, in 1784, he took a final leave of this country, and settled at Paris, where he not only obtained a pension from the queen of France, but the theatrical pension, in consequence of three successful pieces. This graceful, elegant, and judicious composer died, at Paris, October 8, 1786. All Sacchini's operas are replete with elegant airs, beautiful accompanied recitatives, and orchestral effects, without the least appearance of labour or study. It was seemingly by small means that he produced the greatest effects. He interested the audience more by a happy, graceful, and touching melody, than by a laboured and extraneous modulation. His accompaniments always brilliant and ingenious, without being loaded and confused, assist the expression of the vocal part, and are often picturesque. Each of the dramas he composed in this country: was so entire, so masterly, yet so new and natural, that: there was nothing left for criticism to censure, though innumerable beauties to point out and admire. He had a tasté so exquisite, and so totally free from pedantry, that he was frequently new without effort; never thinking of himself or his fame for any particular excellence, but totally occupied with the ideas of the poet, and the propriety, consistency, and effect of the whole drama. His accompaniments, though always rich and ingenious, never call off attention from the voice, but by a constant transparency, the principal melody is rendered distinguishable through all the contrivance of imitative and picturesque design in the instruments. Sacchini's private character was that of a generous and benevolent man, somewhat too imprudent in the indulgence of charitable feelings, but a steady friend, an affectionate relation, and a kind master.' SACCHINI (FRANCIS), a celebrated Jesuit, was born in 1570, in the diocese of Perugia. He was professor of rhetoric at Rome during several years, and secretary to his general, Vitelleschi, seven years. He died December 26, 1625, aged 55. His principal works are, "A Continuation of the History of the Jesuits' Society," begun by Orlandino. Of this Sacchini wrote the 2d, 3d, 4th, and 5th parts or volumes, fol. 1620-1661. An addition to the fifth part was made by Jouvency, and the whole completed by Julius Cordara. Perfect copies are very rarely to be met with. Sacchini was also the author of a small book judiciously written and much esteemed, entitled "De ratione Libros cum profectu legendi," 12mo, at the end of which is a discourse, "De vitandâ Librorum moribus noxiorum lectione," which father Sacchini delivered at Rome in his rhetorical school in 1603.2 SACHEVERELL (HENRY), D. D. a man whose history affords a very striking example of the folly of party spirit, was the son of Joshua Sacheverell of Marlborough, clerk, who died rector of St. Peter's church in Marlborough, leaving a numerous family in very low circumstances. By a letter to him from his uncle, in 1711, it appears that he had a brother named Thomas, and a sister Susannah. Henry was put to school at Marlborough, at the charge of Mr. Edward Hearst, an apothecary, who, being his godfather, adopted him as his son. Hearst's widow put him afterwards to Magdalen-college, Oxford, 1 Burney's Hist. of Music.-and in Rees's Cyclopædia.-Dict. Hist. Mereri.- Dict. Hist. where he became demy in 1687, at the age of 15. Here he soon distinguished himself by a regular observation of the duties of the house, by his compositions, good manners, and genteel behaviour; qualifications which recommended him to that society, of which he became fellow, and, as public tutor, had the care of the education of most of the young gentlemen of quality and fortune that were admitted of the college. In this station he had the care of the education of a great many persons eminent for their learning and abilities; and was contemporary and chamber. fellow with Addison, and one of his chief intimates till the time of his famous trial. Mr. Addison's "Account of the greatest English Poets," dated April 4, 1694, in a farewell-poem to the Muses on his intending to enter into holy orders, was inscribed "to Mr. Henry Sacheverell," his then dearest friend and colleague. Much has been said by Sacheverell's enemies of his ingratitude to his relations, and of his turbulent behaviour at Oxford; but these appear to have been groundless calumnies, circulated only by the spirit of party. In his younger years he wrote some excellent Latin poems, besides several in the second and third volumes of the "Musa Anglicanæ," ascribed to his pupils; and there is a good one of some length in the second volume, under his own name (transcribed from the Oxford' collection, on queen Mary's death, 1695). He took the degree of M. A. May 16, 1696; B. D. Feb. 4, 1707; D. D. July 1, 1708. His first preferment was Cannock, or Cank, in the county of Stafford. He was appointed preacher of St. Saviour's, Southwark, in 1705; and while in this station preached his famous sermons (at Derby, Aug. 14, 1709; and at St. Paul's, Nov. 9, in the same year); and in one of them was supposed to point at lord Godolphin, under the name of Volpone. It has been suggested, that to this circumstance, as much as to the doctrines contained in his sermons, he was indebted for his prosecution, and eventually for his preferment. Being impeached by the House of Commons, his trial began Feb. 27, 1709-10; and continued until the 23d of March: when he was sentenced to a suspension from preaching for three years, and his two sermons ordered to be burnt. This prosecution, however, overthrew the ministry, and laid the foundation/ of his fortune. To sir Simon Harcourt, who was counsel for him, he presented a silver bason gilt, with an elegant inscription, written probably by his friend Dr. Atter bury*. Dr. Sacheverell, during his suspension, made a kind of triumphal progress through various parts of the kingdom; during which period he was collated to a living near Shrewsbury; and, in the same month that his suspension ended, had the valuable rectory of St. Andrew's, Holborn, given him by the queen, April 13, 1713. At that time his reputation was so high, that he was enabled to sell the first sermon preached after his sentence expired (on Palm Sunday) for the sum of 1007.; and upwards of 40,000 copies, it is said, were soon sold. We find by Swift's Journal to Stella, Jan. 22, 1711-12, that he had also interest enough with the ministry to provide very amply for one of his brothers; yet, as the dean had said before, Aug. 24, 1711, "they hated and affected to despise him." A consider able estate at Callow in Derbyshire was soon after left to him by his kinsman George Sacheverell, esq. In 1716, he prefixed a dedication to "Fifteen Discourses, occasion. ally delivered before the university of Oxford, by W. Adams, M. A. late student of Christ-church, and rector of Staunton upon Wye, in Oxfordshire." After this publication, we hear little of him, except by quarrels with his parishioners. He died June 5, 1724; and, by his will, bequeathed to Bp. Atterbury, then in exile, who was supposed to have penned for him the defence he made before the House of Peers †, the sum of 500%. The duchess of *"Viro honoratissimo, Universi Juris oraculo, Ecclesiæ & Regni presidio & ornamento, SIMONI HARCOURT, Equiti Aurato, Magna Britanniæ Sigilli Magni Custodi, et Serenissimæ Reginæ è Secretioribus consiliis ; ob causam meam, coram Supremo Senatu, in Aula Westmonasteriensi, HENRICUS SACHEVERELL, S. T. P. + This speech, when originally published, was thus addressed, "To the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled: May it please your Lordships, It hath been my hard fortune to be misunderstood, at a time when I endeavoured to express myself with the utmost plainness; even the defence I made at your Lordships' bar, in hopes of clearing the innocence of my heart, hath been grievously misrepresented. For which reason I have humbly presumed to offer it in this manner to your Lordships' perusal. My Lords, these are the very words I spoke to your Lordships. I hope they are so plain and express, as not to be capable of any misconstruction: and may I so find mercy at the hands of God as they are in every respect entirely agreeable. to my thoughts and principles! I am, my Lords, your Lordships' most obedient and most dutiful servant, HENRY SACHEVERELL." Marlborough describes Sacheverell as "an ignorant impudent incendiary; a man who was the scorn even of those who made use of him as a tool." And Bp. Burnet says, "He was a bold insolent man, with a very small measure of religion, virtue, learning, or good sense; but he resolved to force himself into popularity and preferment, by the most petulant railings at dissenters and low-church men, in several sermons and libels, written without either chasteness of style or liveliness of expression." Whatever his character, it is evident that he owed every thing to an injudicious prosecution, which defeated the purposes of those who instituted it, and for many years continued those prejudices in the public mind, which a wiser administration would have been anxious to dispel. ' SACKVILLE (THOMAS), lord BUCKHURST and earl of Dorset, an eminent statesman and poet, was born at Withyam in Sussex, in 1527. He was the son of sir Richard Sackville, who died in 1566, by Winifred Brydges (afterwards marchioness of Winchester), and grandson of John Sackville, esq. who died in 1557, by Anne Boleyne, sister of sir Thomas Boleyne, earl of Wiltshire; and great grandson of Richard Sackville, esq. who died in 1524, by Isabel, daughter of John Digges, of Digges's place in Barham, Kent, of a family which for many succeeding generations produced men of learning and genius. He was first of the university of Oxford, and, as it is supposed, of Hart-hall, now Hertford-college; but taking no degree there, he removed to Cambridge, where he commenced master of arts, and afterwards was a student of the Inner Temple. At both universities he became celebrated both as a Latin and English poet, and carried the same taste and talents to the Temple, where he wrote his tragedy of "Gorboduc," which was exhibited in the great hall by the students of that society, as part of a Christmas entertainment, and afterwards before queen Elizabeth at Whitehall, Jan. 18, 1561. It was surreptitiously printed in 1563, under the title of "The Tragedy of Gorboduc," 4to; but a correct edition under the inspection of the authors (for he was assisted by Thomas Norton), appeared in 1571, entitled "The Tragedie of Ferrex and Porrex." Another edition appeared in 1569, notwithstanding which, for many years it had so 1 Gent. Mag. see Index.-Swift's Works.-Rapin's Hist-Burnet's Own Times.-Tatler, Spectator, and Guardian, with notes, edit. 1806.—&c. &c. |