been the invention of Gerbert, though, in all probability, he had followed the principles of Vitruvius in constructing the instrument. In the Rawlinson collection of MSS. at Oxford, there is a didactic poem, entitled "Ars Musica," which, though anonymous, contains internal evidence of having been written by Gerbert. It is composed in Latin monkish rhyme, except where such technical terms occurred, as could not possibly be reduced to metre. The last chapter of this work is a separate treatise, of a very few pages, under the title of "Rhythmomachia," or the battle of numbers and figures, which is universally allowed to have been written by Gerbert. It was composed as a kind of game, soon after the arrival of the Arabian figures or ciphers in Europe, for which the author gives rules resembling those for chess. Hence some of his biographers say, that it is to Gerbert we are indebted for the Arabic numerals. Certainly such attainments were indications of no common mind, and induced the vulgar to suspect that he was addicted to magic; an absurd notion, which Platina had adopted, for he says that he obtained the papacy by ill arts, and that he left his monastery to follow the devil. He allows him, indeed, the merit of a sincere repentance; but mentions some prodigies at his death, which will claim little regard on the testimony of such a writer. On his rise to the papacy we shall be brief. In 991, Hugh Capet promoted him to the archbishopric of Rheims; but this elevation was a source of disquiet to him, and after much contention, he was obliged to resign the see to Arnulf, the natural son of Lothaire, king of France, who had been formerly deposed from it. This was in 997, and at the same time Otho III. conferred upon him the archbishopric of Ravenna; and on the death of pope Gregory V. in 999, he was elected to the papal dignity, when he assumed the name of Silvester. The acts of his pontificate were but few, and not at all important. In 1000 he is said to have conferred on Stephen I., king of Hungary, the royal title, with the famous crown, the palladium of that kingdom, and to have constituted him perpetual legate of the holy see, with power to dispose of all ecclesiastical benefices It was also in this century that the plan of the holy war was formed; and towards the conclusion of it, the signal was given by our learned pontiff, in the first year of his pontificate, in an epistle, written in the name of the church of Jerusalem, to the church universal throughout the world, in which the European powers are solemnly exhorted to succour and deliver the Christians in Palestine. The pontiff's exhortations, however, were only regarded by the inhabitauts of Pisa. Silvester died in 1003. His "Epistles," of which 161 are still extant, contain many curious particulars respecting natural philosophy. They were published at Paris in 1611, 4to, and are also in the "Bibl. Patrum," Duchesne's collection, and the collection of the councils.' SILVESTRE (ISRAEL), a celebrated French engraver, was born August 15, 1621, at Nanci, of a good family, originally Scotch. After his father's decease, he went to Paris, where Israel Henriet, his mother's brother, a skil-. ful engraver, gladly received him, and educated him as his own son. He drew all the views of Paris and its environs, engraved them with great success, and went twice afterwards to Rome, whence he brought the great number of fine Italian views which he has left us. Louis XIV. being at length informed of this artist's great genius, employed him to engrave all the royal palaces, conquered places, &c. and appointed him drawing master to the dauphin, allowing him a considerable pension besides, with apartments in the Louvre. Silvestre married Henrietta Selincart, a lady celebrated both for her wit and beauty, who dying in September 1680, he erected a superb monument to her memory in the church of St. Germain l'Auxerrois. He died October 11, 1691, aged seventy. His works, which are very numerous, consisting of upwards of 700 prints, are executed with a fine point, and in a neat, clear style. The distant parts of his landscapes, in particular, are very finely expressed. They are very slight, yet no part of them is confused; but the effect is exceedingly agreeable to the eye. There are several volumes of his prints to be purchased in France, the value of which varies according to the goodness of the impressions. Hence those published near his time are in most request, and for the same reason the large collection published in 4 vols. oblong fol. in 1750, sells at a very inferior price. 1 Dupin.-Berington's Lit. History of the Middle Ages.-Burney's Hist. of Music.-Baronii Annales.-Bower's Hist. of the Popes.-Saxii Onomast. • Moreri.-Dict. Hist.-Strutt's Dictionary. |