wards the Hydaspes, and gains a signal victory over Porus, | Macedonian soldiers make an insurrection, which Alexander
whom he restores to his throne, 558.
appeases. He recalls Antipater from Macedonia, and sends
Craterus in his room. The king's sorrow for the death of

Hephæstion, 567.

MEMOIR OF ROLLIN.

CHARLES ROLLIN was born at Paris, January 30, ing very frequently at their lessons, having always 1661. He derived no lustre from his birth, for he was some of them at his table, clothing many of them, the second son of a poor but honest cutler, who intended and distributing to them-all at different seasonsthat he should follow the same profession. But, though different rewards for their encouragement. The of humble birth and obscure parentage, his nascent sweetest consolation this eminent person enjoyed, genius was early developed by those intimations of was to think that, after his death, these children superior intelligence and nobility of mind which ena- would make for him the same prayer that the famous ble its possessors to rise above their circumstances, John Gerson, Chancellor of the University of Paris and emerge from obscurity to fame. A Benedictine and whose humility led him to become schoolmaster friar, whom he occasionally served at mass, perceiv- at Lyons, requested in his will, to be made for him ed the dawnings of his young mind, and could not by his pupils, "My God, my Creator, have pity upon think to see them smothered in the dull routine of a thy poor servant John Gerson ;" and finally, that he mechanical profession. He therefore told the mother had the blessing of dying poor, in some sort, amidst her son's abilities, and enlarged on the propriety and the poor; the remains of his property hardly sufadvantage of cultivating them. His widowed mo- ficing for a last endowment which he had made of ther (for he lost his father at a very early period) Sisters of Charity, for the instruction of girls and thought it impossible from her situation, to comply the care of sick persons. Such is the character of with a scheme which her discernment approved, and M. Hersan from the grateful pen of his protégé Rolurged her inability to give her son a learned educa- lin. When our author succeeded to the office, as tion. The difficulty was however surmounted by the related before, he made it one of his chief cares to zeal of the benevolent Benedictine, who procured make his pupils cultivate the knowledge of their nafor young Rollin a bursary at the collage of Plessis. tive tongue, and to make themselves familiar with the There he commenced his studies with that avidity chief works in poetry and prose, which are contained which grows by what it feeds on. The patronage of in the French language. Classical literature seems his ecclesiastical benefactor was soon and amply re- then to have been in a declining state, as the knowpaid by the celerity of his progress, and the mother ledge of the Greek language had been so much newas made to participate in the triumphs and honours glected, that Rollin had the honour of reviving it in of her son, as she was often visited at her humble the university. To fix his pupils' attentions on these dwelling by persons of high birth and eminent rank, studies, he established examinations, to which the soliciting that young Rollin might spend the vaca-public were admitted, and in which it was the duty of tions with their sons, his fellow students at college. After having studied the humanities and philosophy at this college, he devoted three years to theology at the Sorbonne, the most celebrated Catholic theological seminary in France. His teacher in rhetoric was M. Hersan, who then enjoyed considerable reputation. He conceived such an exalted opinion of Rollin's virtue and abilities, as sometimes tempted him to call him Divine. When any composition in prose or verse was required from him, the professor was not ashamed to commend his pupil even to his own disparagement. "Apply," he would say, "to Rollin: he will do it better than I can." When this gentleman relinquished his labours at the college of Plessis, Rollin, though then only 21 years old, was judged by the university competent to succeed so able and learned a master. From that honour he was debarred by nothing but his own modesty. He consented, however, to become professor of an inferior class, and in 1687, was advanced to the chair of rhetoric. The year following, M. Hersan, with the permission of the king, resigned in favour of young Rollin the professorship of eloquence in the Royal College.

the students to give an account of, and answer questions relative to the Latin or Greek authors they had read during the preceding years. These exercises were found so useful and so agreeable to the taste of the nation, that, without any senatus consultum, they were adopted by all the colleges; and from these they passed into private schools, and penetrated (our author says) into all the provinces.

It was a custom, more ancient than wise, in the university, for professors to compose tragedies, the different characters of which were sustained by the pupils. Against this practice Rollin argues most strenuously, in his fourth volume of his Method of Studying the Belles Lettres, on moral and religious considerations, as having a tendency to convert universities and schools into play-houses; to engender improper amorous feelings into the youthful mind; and thus to undermine those principles of honour and piety, which ought to be so sedulously inculcated and cultivated. His chief objection was-the practice in these tragedies of robing the young pupils in female dresses-a practice utterly repugnant to the express declaration of scripture:-"The woman shall Rollin was not deficient in gratitude to his prede- not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither cessor, and in the second volume of his Traité des shall a man put on a woman's garment; for all that Etudes, has drawn up a warm and affectionate eulo- do so are abomination to the Lord thy God."—Deut. gium on his virtue, learning, and disinterestedness. xxii. 5. This custom probably originated among the Of this last Rollin declares, that he showed a rare heathens, who had male and female deities, as, Isis example: first, in sacrificing from his private fortune and Osiris among the Egyptians, Ashtaroth and 2,000 crowns for some necessary repairs and embel-Tammuz among the Phoenicians, and Mars and lishments at the college of Beauvais; second, his vo- Venus among the Greeks. The Iliad of Homer luntary retirement to Compeigne, his native place, and abounds in narratives of the libidinous intercourse devoting himself wholly to the education of the poor and amours of the gods. Venus was the supposed children of the town, building a handsome school- goddess of love and pleasure, Mars the god of war house for them, and establishing a master for their and arms. Men therefore worshipped Venus in instruction, fulfilling the office of one himself, assist-flowered garments of women, and the women wore

a coat of mail and armour, when they worshipped Mars-these dresses being deemed suitable to the peculiar character of these deities, and therefore more pleasing to them. It was probably this idolatrous practice, which, as Lowman thinks, originated the above express prohibition. The exhibition of such tragedies, Rollin informs us, was condemned by the corporation of the city of Toulouse, and literary exercises adopted instead of them at the college of Esquile; and, in his own day, this obnoxious practice had been abandoned by most of the colleges at Paris; and was soon afterwards relinquished at the university. One of the professors at that university, M. Belleville, was distressed with agonizing reflections on his deathbed, for having followed this custom, which he knew had been the occasion of immoral practices to several of his scholars.

as a pensioner in the college of Beauvais. Rollin declared his inability to admit him, as the number of pensioners was already inconveniently great, and to convince the father, conducted him through all the apartments and sleeping rooms, which were completely occupied. However, parental expectation was not to be so easily frustrated: "I have come to Paris (exclaimed the father,) on purpose to bring you my son. I shall depart to-morrow, and I will send him to you with a bed. I have but him, you may put him in the court-in the cellar, if you please but let him be in your college, and from that moment I shall have no uneasiness about him." The goodness of Rollin could not resist such an appeal as this. He was compelled to receive the youth, and to dispose of him in his own apartments, until he could place him among the other scholars.

A similar practice still exists at Westminster school, In Rollin's days, the principal of a college much where the scholars are annually obliged by the teach- resembled the master of a seminary. It was his office ers to perform one of Terence's comedies. We have not only to guard the discipline and preside over the therefore no reason to boast of our superior morality studies of the scholars, but also to instruct them in and discernment in still following this anti-scriptural religious and moral duties; and even attend to their and Pagan custom, which has been long exploded in diet and personal comforts. How he executed his France; and that in virtue of the unbending piety and official functions in these departments, Rollin himself persevering opposition of a Roman Catholic professor. has told us at length in his Treatise on the Belles After having held the office of the rhetorical pro- Lettres. He endeavoured to combine and perpetuate fessorship about 8 or 10 years with great reputation, among his countrymen accomplished literature and our author resigned his situation, with the view of correct taste; and made it his study to repay with devoting his leisure to the study of ancient history. gratitude, the favours of his Benedictine friend-of M. His absence from the university was short. He was Hersan, and those dignities which the university of recalled in the close of 1694 to fill the office of rector. Paris had conferred on him-by labouring to advance This office he enjoyed two years successively; and others in that honourable course which he himself had while he occupied that eminent literary station, he trodden. One of the most learned of his numerous was assiduous and vigilant in performing its duties- pupils was M. Crevier, the author of several volumiwas strict in maintaining the college discipline-nous works. He continued Rollin's Roman History revived the ancient customs-and introduced some but with inferior success to his master. He published salutary reforms. In compliance with the university also a History of the Roman Emperors, and an edition statutes, he visited the colleges-a useful duty which of Livy, though he is not entitled to the whole credit of his predecessors had imagined they were at liberty to the latter performance. This latter work originated neglect. He converted into a law the custom of com- in several literary conversations which Crevier had mencing the lecture in the classes of humanity and with Rollin, several of the professors of Beauvais, the philosophy, with the explanation of some passage | Abbé d'Asfeld, and others. Crevier, as the youngest of scripture; and with the same view of extending person, had the task assigned him of digesting and biblical knowledge, he published, for the benefit of compiling the matter of these discussions. They took the inferior classes, a collection of maxims selected place during the college vacation. It was Rollin's from the Old and New Testament. Though per- zeal which produced them, as he considered them a sonally considered, no man was more humble and in- mere recreation. The work consists of a number of offensive than our author, yet, when the rights of his learned and concise notes on Livy's Roman History. office were concerned, and of course the dignity of Rollin had hitherto passed his days in calm weather the university, none was more tenacious of support- and uninterrupted sunshine, but a cloud at length arose ing them of which he gave several eminent instan- and obscured the horizon of his life, verifying the old ces. On the expiration of his rectorship, Rollin was remark-“That an unclouded morn is not always engaged in superintending the education of the ne- followed by a clear and serene evening." No virtues, phews of Cardinal de Noailles. The Abbé Vitte- however great-no labours, however disinterested-no ment recalled him to a public station by obtaining for piety, however sublime and ardent, could protect him him the office of Principal of the college of Beauvais. from the storm of persecution. He was impeached It was with some difficulty he could be prevailed on with Jansenism-a crime not to be forgiven by a Jesuit. by the persuasions of M. Duguet, a learned theolo- As many readers do not know what Jansenism is, it gian, to undertake its official duties, from an anxious may be proper to inform them, that the term arose from sensibility, which magnified, in his apprehensions, Cornelius Jansen, Bishop of Ypres, whose volumithe difficulties he would have to encounter. Rollin nous posthumous work, entitled " Augustine," was entreated them to furnish him with such lights and in-published in 1640. In this work Jansen professes to structions as were necessary to be imparted to the numerous youths, whose education he was now to superintend. M. Duguet complied with the request, and published his Commentaries on the six days work of Creation and on Genesis. The first part of this work published in a separate volume, under the title of "An Explication of the Work of the Six Days;" is declared by the Siècles Littéraires de la France to be an excellent work, in which the utile is conjoined with the dulce. The elevation of Rollin was of great advantage to the college of Beauvais. This society, which had previously been almost deserted, began to abound with scholars under the government of the new principal. A singular instance is given of the uncommon reputation our author enjoyed :A rich gentleman of one of the provinces, attracted by the fame of Rollin, brought his son to be received

give a clear statement of the opinions of the renowned African bishop respecting predestination and grace; and strongly advocates his anti-pelagian doctrines of absolute, eternal, and personal election, original sin, human depravity, efficacious grace, particular redemption, and the perseverance of the saints; and maintains these to have been the orthodox sentiments of the Western Church. This alarmed the Jesuits, who had been long at issue with their rivals the Dominicans, on these points; and were perfectly sensible that if these opinions should gain ground, their cause and influence was gone. They bore a very strong similarity to the theological sentiments of the reformer of Geneva; so strong indeed, that the only perceptible difference lay in the phraseology which Jansen adopted, in order to avoid the charge of coalescing with the opinions of that heresiarch John Calvin. The Romish Inquisitore

prohibited the sale of Jansen's book in 1641; and in | 1642, a bull was fulminated against it by Urban VIII.; and in 1653, Innocent X. publicly condemned in a famous bull, by the influence of the Jesuits, the five following propositions in the bishop of Ypres's book:1st, That there are several divine precepts, which good men, notwithstanding their desire to obey them, are nevertheless absolutely unable to obey, nor has God given that measure of grace, that is essentially necessary to render them capable of such obedience. 2d, That no man, in this corrupt state of nature, can resist the influence of Divine Grace, when it operates upon the mind. 3d, That, in order to render human actions meritorious, it is not requisite that they be free from necessity, but only that they be free from constraint. 4th, That the semi-pelagian opinion of free will, is a gross error. 5th, That whoever affirms that Christ atoned by his death, for the sins of all mankind, is a semi-pelagian. Four of these propositions were declared heretical in this bull; but the 5th and last proposition was condemned as rash, impious, and injurious, to the Supreme Being. The Jansenists uttered complaints and replies; and as the five condemned propositions were not given in Jansen's own words, they denied that they were to be found in his book. In the sequel the Jansenists and Jesuits were entangled in a violent dispute concerning the extent of Divine Grace, The latter maintained that sufficient grace is bestowed on all mankind; that the efficacy of this grace wholly depends on the spontaneous choice of the human will, or, in other words, on a self-determined volition; and that therefore, no additional Divine aid is at all necessary, to render such grace effectual. The former, on the contrary, denied the existence of any such general grace; that no grace is sufficient, unless it be at the same time efficacious; that it is not the volition which determines the grace, but the grace which determines the volition, for no one can act spiritually without efficacious grace. The Jansenists produced powerful champions from amongst themselves to advocate their cause-as, Nicole, Arnauld, Quesnel; and, instar omnium, the renowned Blaise Pascal, whose profound and universal genius cannot be sufficiently admired. In his immortal work, called the Provincial Letters-a work, admired by Frenchmen of the most opposite tastes and principles, as Bossuet and Voltaire, Boileau and D'Alembert-he made a transition from the subject of sufficient and efficacious grace, to the principles and morality of his opponents, which he attacked with such strength of argument, and exposed with such poignant satire and bitter ridicule, as paved the way for the ruin of the Jesuits. They retained their power, however, long enough to inflict consummate vengeance on the society of the Messieurs de Port Royal. By Louis XIV., under the influence of his confessor, a ferocious Jesuit, that monastery, which had become illustrious by the residence of learned and profound scholars, and devout nuns, was razed to the foundation, and the very dead disinterred to gratify the vengeance of the infamous disciples of the fanatic Loyola, in 1709.

In 1713, the famous bull Unigenitus, came forth against the Jansenists, which, though warmly opposed by the Cardinal de Noaille and a great portion of the French clergy, at length received the authority of the French parliament, and was registered among the laws of the state. To such a length was the power of the Jesuits carried, that even the dying were not allowed the benefits of the sacrament and extreme unction, unless they renounced the errors of Jansenism, and acquiesced in the bull Unigenitus. This occasioned fresh disturbances over all the kingdom; nor were they quelled till the order of the Jesuits was abolished. It is remarkable, that during the late awful storm of Divine vengeance which overtook the intolerant and selfish clergy in that kingdom, the Jansenists comparatively escaped. Although thousands of the clergy fled their country in terror, and sought refuge even amongst heretics, not a Jansenist was found amongst the numVOL. 1.-C

ber. The subject of this memoir was a passionate admirer of the illustrious Literati of the Port Royal, and a warm supporter of Jansenism, which he defended by several productions of his pen. Of course he could not escape the ruin of his party; and was therefore finally commanded to quit the college of Beauvais, This he bore with pious magnanimity, and on the even. ing of the 6th of June 1712, he silently left the college, after having paid in the chapel the sacrifice of devotion to his heavenly Protector, without any attendant, and without any consolation, but what arose from a consciousness of integrity and virtue, and that he was suffering in the cause of persecuted truth. He fixed his abode in a retired part of Paris, where he had purchased a small house, where he dwelt till his death. Still, however, he was not idle, nor suffered to be so. The concerns of education, and the interests of youth, occupied his attention. Parents wishing to consult him respecting their children, constantly intruded on his solitude; and were not satisfied that they had discharg ed their duty to them unless they sought and obtained our author's judicious advice. Even his successor in the college of Beauvais, M. Coffin, paid such deference to his judgment, that he never ventured to undertake any thing of importance without having first asked his advice. He used his leisure hours in publishing an edition of Quintilian's Institutions, which has been reprinted in London, and which is still used in the schools of our Gallic neighbours. This edition commences with a Latin preface of great purity and elegance, wherein Rollin characterizes the merit of this great rhetorician, and explains the utility of his work for forming both the orator and the man of virtue. The text is elucidated with short notes, and a summary of contents at the head of each chapter.

This edition appeared in 1715; and the same year he was appointed by the university Procureur, or Chief of the Nation of France. In 1720, he published his Method of teaching and studying the Belles Lettres, in six parts: the first treating the study of languages French, Latin, and Greek; the second treats of poetry; the third of rhetoric; the fourth and fifth are appropriated to philosophy and history; and the last enters into a detailed account of the proper management of youth and the government of a college. These subjects, if not treated in a profound, are at least handled in an agreeable manner. He possessed a talent-common to Frenchmen-of saying common things in a pleasant way; and his disquisitions are often more remarkable for their oratorial neatness, than philosophical profundity or acumen. This work, however, has been long superseded by similar works in our own language. It is still however a useful work, and may be perused with both profit and pleasure by a curious and attentive reader-chiefly as giving a view of the best French classical writers and works.

In 1730, Rollin was again elevated to the office of Rector of the university of Paris. But having plainly evinced, in a discourse delivered on the 30th of Decem ber 1730, his attachment to the principles of Jansenism, his honours were again violently torn from him, after he had enjoyed them but a few months; and he was displaced, and driven into his former retirement. Intolerance, however it might deprive him of his honours, was unable to ruin his well-earned fame, or snatch the pen from his hands, or shut the press against his publi cations. To assist those studies of youth, over which he had so long and laudably presided, he had composed his Ancient History, which appeared in thirteen volumes 12mo. at different times and which was completed in 1729, 1730. In the short space of three years after his expulsion, a second edition of the same work appeared in 1734-1738. This, of all his works, has obtained the greatest celebrity for its author-has spread his renown through the continent, and what is no small honour, has made his name as familiar to British readers as those of the most esteemed amongst our own countrymen. Reputation so extensive and so durable, must be built on no ordinary merit. The