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but he did not enjoy this new settlement long, for he died Oct. 12, 1716. He published several works of a smaller kind. His chief excellence was his skill in the Greek language, to which he almost en tirely devoted himself.

LABAT, JOHN BAPTIST) a celebrated traveller, of the order. of St. Dominic, was born in 1663, at Paris, and taught philosophy at Nancy. In 1693, he went to America, in quality of missionary, and at his return to France, in 1705, was sent to Bologna, to give an account of his mission to a chapter of the Dominicans. He continued several years in Italy; but at length, returning home, died at Paris, Jan. 6, 1738. His principal works are, 1st. "Nouveau Voyage aux Isles de l'Amerique," 6 vols. 8vo. 2d.

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Voyage en Espagne et en Italy," 8 vols. 12mo.3d Nouvelle Relation de l'Afrique Occidentale," 5 vols. 12mo. 4th. "Voyage du Chevalier des Merchais in Guinee," 4 vols. 12mo. And, 5th. "La Relation historique de l' Ethiopie Occidentale," 4 vols. 12mo.

LAFITAU, a French Jesuit, distinguished by his taste for belles lettres and history, died about 1755. He was a missionary among the Iroquois; and his work, entitled "Mours des Sauvages Americains, camparees aux Meurs des premiers temps," and printed at Paris in 1723, in 2 vols. 4to. is much esteemed.

LAMBIN, (DENIS) a noted commentator upon the classics, was born in 1516, at Montrevil, in Pi

cardy. Applying himself to polite literatue, he made an extraordinary progress therein, especially in the critical knowledge of the classic authors. He published commentaries upon Plautus, Lucretius, Cicero, and Horace; he translated into Latin, Aristotle's. Morals and Politics, and several pieces of Demosthenes and Æschyne's. He died in 1572.

LAMPRIDIUS, (Elius) a Latin historian, who flourished under the emperors Dioclesian and Constantine, in the fourth century. We have, of his writings, the lives of four emperors, viz. Commodus, Antonius, Diadumenus, and Heliogabalus.

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LANCASTER, (NATHANAEL) was many years rector of Stanford Rivers, in Essex. We have, of him, the "Essay," a sermon, under the title of "Public Virtue: or, the Love of our Country." was printed in 1746, 4to. He was also author of a long, anonymous, rhapsodical poem, called, "The old Serpent; or, Methodism triumphant," 4to. He died June 20, 1775.

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LANDEN, (JOHN) a mathematician, distin guished by many excellent publications, was born at Peakirk, near Peterborough, in February, 1719. In 1755, he published, in 4to, "Mathematical Lucubrations; containing new improvements in various branches of the mathematics." In 1758, appeared a small 4to, entitled, "A Discourse concerning the Residual Analysis: a new branch of the Algebraic Art, ef very extensive Use, both in pure Mathematics and Natural Philosophy." In 1764, Mr. Landen published, in 4to, the first book of his "Resi

dual Analysis," in which he appears to have carried his discovery to a great degree of perfection. In 1771, he published, in 4to, Mathematical Me moirs, respecting a variety of subjects; with an Ap. pendix, containing Tables of Theorems for the cal culation of Fluents, vol. 1." In 1781, 66 Observations on Converging Series, occasioned by Mr. Clark's Translation of Mr. Largna's Treatise on the same subject." Illness often confined Mr. Landen to his bed for months together; yet, nothing could abate his ardor for mathematical study; for the second volume of his "Mathematical Memoirs" published in 1790, was written and revised during the intervals of his disorder. He just lived to see his work finished, and received a copy of it the day before his death, which happened on the 15th of January, 1790, at Milson, near Peterborough.

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LANGBAINE, (GERARD) a learned English writer, was born at Barton Kirke, in Westmoreland, about 1608. He had acquired a good reputation in the university some years before he appeared in the literary republic, when his edition of "Longinus" was printed at Oxford, in 1636, 8vo. This was followed by several other publications, which were so many proofs of his loyalty to Charles I. after the breaking out of the civil wars. His writings made him very popular in the university, so that, in 1644, he was elected keeper of their archives; and in 1645, provost of his college; both which places he held till his death, Feb. 16, 1657.

LASCARIS, (CONSTANTINE) one of those learned Greeks, who quitted Constantinople upon its be ing taken by the Turks in 1453, and took refuge in Italy. He taught the Greek language and polite li

terature first at Milan, and afterwards at Messana. He died at Old Messana, about the end of the 15th century, and left his library to the senate, who erected a marble monument over him. He was author of a" Greek Grammar," which was printed by Etus Manutius, and other small works of a similar kind.

LATOUR, (M, DE) an eminent painter, was born at St. Quintin, in 1705. His active genius displayed itself at an early period. At the age of thir ty-three, he was admitted into the royal academy of painting; and it was not long before he was called to court. He painted all the royal family; and both court and city crowded to his closet.. His house was resorted to by the most distinguished artists, philosophers, and literati of the capital. Amongst the useful establishments to which Mr. Latour turned his thoughts, painting, the source of his fame, and, in a great measure, of his fortune, particularly claimed his attention. He gave four hundred guineas to found an annual prize for the best piece of linear, and aerial perspective, alternately, to be adjudged by the academy of painting at Paris. Persuaded, too, of the benefits of good morals, and useful arts, he founded an annual prize of twenty guineas, to be distributed by the academy of Amiens to the most worthy action, or most useful discovery in the arts. He also founded and endowed two establishments, one for the support of indigent children, the other an asylum for distressed age; and, at St. Quintin, a free school for drawing:

Having enjoyed all the pleasures attached to celebrity, in the capital, Mr. Latour at length retired to the place of his nativity, to enjoy the purer ones of rendering his fellow creatures happy. His entrance into St. Quintin resembled a triumph: here, at the age of eighty-four, he finished his career.

LAW, (EDMUND) was born in 1702 in the parish of Cartmel, in Lancashire. In 1723 he took his degree of bachelor of arts; in 1727 that of master of arts and in the same year, he was elected fellow of Christ's college. In 1748 he was appointed archdea. con of Carlisle. In 1769 he was promoted to the See of Carlisle. Dr. Law was first known to the public, in 1729, by a translation of arch-bishop King's "Essay on the Origin of Evil." In 1735 he published "An Enquiry into the ideas of Space, Time, Immensity, and Eternity ;" and, in 1745, "Considerations on the Theory of Religion;" to which are added, "Reflections on the Life and Character of Christ." Besides these large works he pub. lished a tract upon the nature and end of Catechising; several pieces on the controversy concerning an Intermediate State; and in 1744, a pamphlet entitled, "Considerations on the propriety of requiring a subscription to articles of Faith." He died at his seat in Rose-Castle, Cumberland, Aug. 14, 1787, aged 85.

LEAKE, (SIR JOHN) a brave & successful English Admiral, was born in 1656 at Rotherhithe, in Surrey. His father instructed him in both mathematics and gunnery, with a view to the navy, and entered him early into that service as a midshipman; in which station he distinguished himself, at the memorable engagement between Sir Edward Sprague and Van Tromp, in 1673, being then no more than seventeen. În 1688, James II. having resolved to fit out a strong fleet to prevent the invasion from Holland, Leake had the command of the Firedrake fire-ship, and distinguished himself by several important services; particularly, at the siege of Londonderry in Ireland. Soon after he had the command given him of the Eagle, a third rate of 70 guns. In 1692 the distinguished figure he made in the famous battle of La VOL. III. No. 20. Y

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