academy of sciences at Paris, and of the royal society of Nancy. He died in December 1770, at the age of about seventy-seven years.

This able physician left some works of great reputation, particularly his "Traité de la Structure du Cœur, de son Action, et de ses Maladies," Paris, 1749, in two volumes, 4to. An essay "De reconditâ febrium intermittentium et remittentium naturâ," Amst. 1759, is generally ascribed to Senac. He also published an edition of Heister's Anatomy, Paris, 1724, and afterwards "Discours sur la Méthode de Franco, et sur celle de M. Rau touchant l'Operation de la Taille," 1727. "Traité des Causes, des Accidens, et de la Cure de la Peste," 1744. A work under the assumed name of Julien Morison, entitled "Lettres sur la Choix des Saignées," 1730, was from his pen; but the "Nouveau Cours de Chymie suivant les Principes de Newton et de Stahl," Paris, 1722 and 1737, has been attributed by mistake to Senac; it was in fact a compilation of notes taken at the lectures of Geoffroy by some students, and is unworthy of his pen.

His son GABRIEL SENAC DE MEILHAN possessed political talents which promoted him in the reigns of Louis XV. and XVI. to the places of master of the requests, and intendant for several provinces. On the breaking out of the revolution, he left France, and was received at some of the German courts with distinction. He afterwards went to St. Petersburgh, where Catherine II. gave him a pension of 6000 roubles, and wished him to write the annals of her reign. On her death he removed to Vienna, where he died Aug. 16, 1803. He published, "Memoires d'Anne de Gonzague," "Consideration sur les Richesses et le Luxe;" a translation of Tacitus; and some political works on the revolution, with two volumes 8vo, of " Oeuvres philosophiques et litteraires."

SENAULT (JOHN FRANCIS), an eloquent French divine, was born in 1601, at Paris, and was the son of Peter Senault, secretary to the council of the League. He entered young into the congregation of the oratory, then newly established by cardinal de Berulle, and was one of the most celebrated preachers and best directors of his time. He preached with uncommon reputation during forty years, at Paris, and in the principal cities of France, and wrote

1 Eloy, Dict. Hist. de Medicine.-Rees's Cyclopædia,-Dict. Hist.

several books on pious and moral subjects, which were much esteemed by pious catholics. He appears to have been a disinterested man, for he refused some considerable pensions, and two bishoprics, but was elected general of the oratory in 1662. He died August 3, 1672, at Paris, aged seventy-one. His principal works are, "A Paraphrase on the Book of Job," 8vo; "L'Usage des Passions," 12mo; "L'Homme Chrétien," 4to; "L'Homme criminel," 4to; "Le Monarque, ou les Devoirs du Souverain," 12mo; Panegyrics on the Saints," 3 vols. 8vo; and the Lives of several persons illustrious for their piety, &c. It was this father, says L'Avocat, who banished from the pulpit that empty parade of profane learning, and that false taste, by which it was degraded, and who introduced a strong, sub. lime, and majestic eloquence, suited to the solemnity of our mysteries, and to the truths of our holy religion.'

SENECA (LUCIUS ANNÆUS), an eminent Stoic philosopher, was born at Corduba in Spain, the year before the beginning of the Christian æra, of an equestrian family, which had probably been transplanted thither in a colony from Rome. He was the second son of Marcus Annæus Seneca, commonly called the rhetorician, whose remains are printed under the title of "Suasoriæ & Controversiæ, cum Declamationum Excerptis;" and his youngest brother Annæus Mela (for there were three of them) was memorable for being the father of the poet Lucan. He was removed to Rome, while he was yet in his infancy, by his aunt, who accompanied him on account of the delicacy of his health. There he was educated in the most liberal manner, and under the best masters. He learned his eloquence from his father; but preferring philosophy to the declamations of the rhetoricians, he put himself under the stoics Attaius, Sotion, and Papirius Fabianus, of whom he has made honourable mention in his writings. It is probable too, that he travelled when he was young, since we find in several parts of his works, particularly in his "Quæstiones Naturales," some correct and curious observations on Egypt and the Nile. But these pursuits did not at all correspond with that scheme of life which his father designed; and to please bim, Seneca engaged in the business of the courts, with considerable success, although he was rather an argumentative than an eloquent pleader. As

Dict. Hist. de L'Avocat.

soon as he arrived at manhood, he aspired to the honours. of the state, and became questor, prætor, and, as Lipsius will have it, even consul, but the particulars of his public life are not preserved.

In the first year of Claudius, when Julia, the daughter of Germanicus, was accused of adultery by Messalina (a woman very unworthy of credit), and banished, Seneca was involved both in the charge and the punishment, and exiled to Corsica, where he lived eight years; happy, as he told his mother, in the midst of those things which usually make other people miserable. Here he wrote his books "Of Consolation," addressed to his mother Helvia, and to his friend Polybius. But, as Brucker remarks, it may be questioned whether stoic ostentation had not some share in all this, for we find him, in another place, expressing much distress on account of his misfortune, and courting the emperor in a strain of servile adulation, little worthy of so eminent a philosopher. When Agrippina was married to Claudius, upon the death of Messalina, she prevailed with the emperor to recall Seneca from banishment; and afterwards procured him to be tutor to her son Nero, and Afranius Burrhus, a prætorian præfect, was joined with him in this important charge. These two preceptors executed their trust with perfect harmony, and with some degree of success; Burrhus instructing his pupil in the military art, and inuring him to wholesome discipline; and Seneca furnishing him with the principles of philosophy, and the precepts of wisdom and eloquence; and both endeavouring to confine their pupil within the limits of decorum and virtue. While these preceptors united their authority, Nero was restrained from indulging his natural propensities; but after the death of Burrhus, the influence of Seneca declined, and the young prince began to disclose that depravity which afterwards stained his character with eternal infamy. Still, however, Seneca enjoyed the favour of his prince, and after Nero was advanced to the empire, he long continued to load his preceptor with honours and riches. Seneca's houses and walks were the most magnificent in Rome, and he had immense sums of money placed out at interest in almost every part of the world. Suilius, one of his enemies, says, that during four years of imperial favour, he amassed the immense sum of 300,000 sestertiæ, or 2,421,8757. of our money.

All this wealth, however, together with the luxury and VOL. XXVII.

Z

effeminacy of a court, are said not to have produced any improper effect upon the temper and disposition of Seneca. He continued abstemious, correct in his manners, and, above all, free from flattery and ambition. "I had rather," said he to Nero, "offend you by speaking the truth, than please you by lying and flattery." It is certain that while he bad any influence, that is, during the first five years of Nero's reign, that period had always been considered as a pattern of good government. But when Poppea and Tigellinus had insinuated themselves into the confidence of the emperor, and hurried him into the most extravagant and abominable vices, he naturally grew weary of his master, whose life must indeed have been a constant rebuke to him. When Seneca perceived that his favour declined at court, and that he had many accusers about the prince, who were perpetually whispering in his ears his great riches, his magnificent houses, his fine gardens, and his dangerous popularity, he offered to return all his opulence and favours to the tyrant, who, however, refused to accept them, and assured him of the continuance of his esteem; but the philosopher knew his disposition too well to rely on his promises, and as Tacitus relates, "kept no more levees, declined the usual civilities which had been paid to him, and, under a pretence of indisposition or engagement, avoided as much as possible to appear in public." It was not long before Seneca was convinced that he had made a just estimate of the sincerity of Nero, who now attempted, by means of Cleonicus, a freedman of Seneca, to take him off by poison; but this did not succeed. In the mean time Antonius Natalis, who had been concerned in the conspiracy of Piso, upon his examination, in order to court the favour of Nero, or perhaps even at his instigation, mentioned Seneca among the number of the conspirators, and to give some colour to the accusation, pretended, that he had been sent by Piso to visit Seneca whilst he was sick, and to complain of his having refused to see Piso, who as a friend might have expected free access to him upon all occasions; and that Seneca, in reply, had said, that frequent conversations could be of no service to either party, but that he considered his own safety as involved in that of Piso. Granius Sylvanus, tribune of the prætorian cohort, was sent to ask Seneca, whether he recollected what had passed between himself and Natalis. Seneca, whether by accident or design is uncertain, had that day left Campa

1

nia, and was at his country-seat, about four miles from the city. In the evening, while he was at supper with his wife Paullina and two friends, the tribune, with a military band, came to the house, and delivered the emperor's message. Seneca's answer was, that he had received no complaint from Piso, of his having refused to see him; and that the state of his health, which required repose, had been his apology. He added, that he saw no reason why he should prefer the safety of any other individual to his own; and that no one was better acquainted than Nero, with his independent spirit.

This reply kindled the emperor's indignation, and learning from the messenger that Seneca betrayed no symptoms of terror or distress, sent him a peremptory command immediately to put himself to death. This too Seneca received with perfect composure, and asked permission of the officer who brought the command, to alter his will; but that being refused, he requested of his friends, that since he was not allowed to leave them any other legacy, they would preserve the example of his life, and exhorted them to exercise that fortitude, which philosophy taught. After some farther conversation with these friends, he embraced his wife, and intreated her to console herself with the recollection of his virtues: but Paullina refused every consolation, except that of dying with her husband, and earnestly solicited the friendly hand of the executioner. Seneca, after expressing his admiration of his wife's fortitude, proceeded to obey the emperor's fatal mandate, by opening a vein in each arm: but, through his advanced age, the vital stream flowed so reluctantly, that it was necessary also to open the veins of his legs. Still finding his strength exhausted without any prospect of a speedy release; in order to alleviate, if possible, the anguish of his wife, who was a spectator of the scene, and to save himself the torture of witnessing her distress, he persuaded her to withdraw to another chamber. In this situation, Seneca, with wonderful recollection and self-command, dictated many philosophical reflections to his secretary. After a long interval, his friend Statius Annæus, to whom he complained of the tedious delay of death, gave him a strong dose of poison; but even this, through the feeble state of his vital powers, produced little effect. At last, he ordered the attendants to convey him into a warm bath; and, as he entered, he sprinkled those who stood near, saying, "I offer this liba