"To perpetuate, as far as these pages may extend, the well-earned fame of the most learned Printer of his age, these remaining testimonies of Mr. Bowyer's industry and abilities are selected by J. Nichols, in grateful remembrance of an early friend and generous benefactor *. Hic Cestus Artemque reponit." lished by his friends. Mr. Bowyer's Life is the best illustration of his Miscellanies; and the Editor of them thinks he could not do him greater credit than in leaving him to speak for himself in the various forms of Author, Commentator, Critic, and Correspondent, on and with some of the first Literati of his age. His Commentary on the New Testament is a copious memorial of his critical talents; and though it needs not to be set off by any lesser work, we trust the loose notes, from the margins of his interleaved Classics, will not be deemed unworthy to follow it. . . . . . . . If the publication of marginal notes on books stand in need of any apology, the Editor cannot make a better than by referring to those multifarious and learned notes which compose the two volumes of "Miscellaneous Observations," by Dr. Jortin and his friends. Let it not be supposed, however, though this volume is professedly a collection of fragments-that it contains the gleanings of Mr. Bowyer's library. An ample harvest yet remains on the margins of many of his books, which, though they may be too minute perhaps for extraction in the present mode, would be of no small utility to future Editors; and they shall be communicated to any gentleman who may in future be engaged in the task of publication. Were even the several indexes which Mr. Bowyer drew up to various books for his own use proper subjects for detached or collective publication, the Editor is persuaded he should obtain the thanks of the most superficial, as well as of the most attentive Reader. How many books would be benefited by an index made out by such an hand, which would at once be a glossary, a syllabus, and a table of corrections! Nor was our learned Printer so devoted to the ancient Classics as not to pay a proper regard to those of his own country. But, after all, should this tribute of private gratitude be deemed uninteresting to the literary publick, the Editor, while he indulges his own feelings, will not regret that he has introduced to the world the correspondence with Mr. Bowyer's friends, and such illustrious names in the Republick of Letters as close this volume, and form at least a third part of it." Preface, pp. vii. ix. *"Perhaps the grateful remembrance of his early Patron and liberal Benefactor may have too much biassed the judgment of Mr. Nichols in behalf of some pieces in this collection, which in our opinion are unworthy of a liberal mind or an enlightened understanding. But, says the Editor, after Garrick (who also spoke of the" god of his idolatry"), It is my pride, my joy, my only plan, The "To Richard Gough, Esq. these remains of Mr. Bowyer, whom he valued as a friend, and respected as a scholar, are inscribed by the Editor, in acknowledgement of many literary favours conferred on his predecessor and himself." The motive does honour to his feelings; and if we had no praise to bestow on this collection, we should have sufficient reason to commend the principle that gave birth to it. These Tracts are the production of the late learned Mr. Bowyer and his Friends; particularly of Gale, Clarke, and Markland: extracts from the correspondence with the two last form a considerable part of the volume. Of the learning and abilities of Mr. Bowyer, the Publick have had frequent and ample proofs, in his various productions, which have illustrated and adorned almost every department of Literature. The materials of the present volume (though of unequal merit and importance) would confirm the received opinion of his talents and erudition, if the fame of Mr. Bowyer stood in need of any additional confirmation. Many of the articles in this Miscellany seem to have been written amidst the haste and fatigue of his profession; and that which in others would have been the result of laborious study, was nothing more than a relaxation to his vigorous and well-furnished mind. His Remarks on Kennett's Roman Antiquities; Bladen's translation of Cæsar, on the Roman history, commerce, and coin; and the Notes on Middleton's Life of Cicero, display his accurate knowledge of Roman learning and customs. Various errors and mistakes in the last celebrated work are pointed out and corrected: —these, and indeed the greater part of his criticisms, are written with so much candour and moderation, that, while his learning and abilities command our respect, his urbanity and benevolence conciliate our esteem. This liberal conduct of the learned Printer is particularly deserving of praise, when we consider that few-very few examples of it were afforded him by his contemporaries, who took the lead in criticism and controversy :that he lived when the Republick of Letters was disgraced by the strife of literary gladiators; and when the contest concerning the Epistles of Phalaris had been agitated with all the powers of ridicule, invective, and slander. The Publick are indebted to the care and gratitude of Mr. Nichols for this collection of the remains of his early Friend, whom he styles, in a short and sensible Preface," the last of learned Printers." The accuracy, however, of the present publication, and the other labours of our Editor, bear respectable testimony that at least the love of learning, and a desire to promote its interest, is not yet extinguished among the Printers of this Country.". M._Review, vol. LXXIV. pp. 167-175. ESSAYS ESSAYS AND ILLUSTRATIONS. No. I. REV. CÆSAR DE-MISSY. Cæsar De-Missy, born at Berlin, June 2, 1703, was eldest son of Charles De-Missy, merchant at Berlin, native of the province of Saintonge, by his wife Susanna Godeffroy, grand-daughter of John Godeffroy, esq. Lord of Richal, who was mayor and captain general of the government of Rochelle, when besieged by Lewis XIII. He studied first at the French college at Berlin, and from thence removed to the University of Francfort on the Oder*. This article is formed out of a communication which I received in 1782, with the following letter: Jan 29, 1782. "SIR, "Mr. Woide having informed me that you wished for some biographical account of my worthy and ever regretted husband, I thought that which was published about four years ago at Berlin might not be unacceptable, and the more as the foreign publications find their way with great difficulty to London: therefore (having only one copy of the printed sheets, which a Relation sent me at the time by the post) I have transcribed it for you. You have, Sir, my free consent to print the whole, or any part thereof, either in its present language, or in English, if you see any impropriety in inserting French in your work: and if you should desire to know any thing more, relative to Mr. De Missy, whatever intelligence may be in my power, I shall very willingly impart.-I return you my hearty and most grateful acknowledgments for your kind attention to my dear Mr. De Missy's memory; and join my thanks with those of the publick, for the solicitude you have more than once shewn to preserve from oblivion names which deserve to be remembered with esteem. I am, Sir, Your obliged humble servant, E. De Missy." VOL. III. X He was examined for the degree of Candidat✶ at Berlin, and his letters of reception were dated 1725: but, by a kind of ecclesiastical tyranny, the candidates for the ministry were obliged to sign an act of orthodoxy peculiar to the Prussian dominions; which certain scruples entertained by Mr. De-Missy and Mr. Franc, another candidate, who had been examined and received with him, not permitting them to do without reserve, it was eleven months before they could obtain their letters, at the end of which time they were allowed to sign with every restriction they could wish. To avoid the inconvenience of this act which ministers were then obliged to sign also when they were called on to serve a church, notwithstanding some eminent ministers at that time at Berlin had never signed, Mr. De-Missy resolved to quit the country; and, after having preached about five years in different towns of the United Provinces, from whence, as well as from Berlin, he brought the most flattering testimonies of approbation and esteem, he was invited to London in 1731, and ordained to serve the French Chapel in the Savoy; and in 1762 he was named by the Bishop of London to succeed Mr. Serces as one of the French chaplains to his Majesty in his Chapel at St. James's, a preferment which he held for many years. Several little poetical pieces, some of which have been set to musick, essays both in sacred and profane literature, epitomes of books, memoirs, dissertations, &c. &c. by Mr. De-Missy, with his Candidat is the title given at Berlin to such gentlemen as, after examination, are acknowledged capable of the holy ministry, but have not yet any living or ecclesiastical preferment. + This time was passed in examinations and altercations; and the affair probably would not have terminated as it did, had it not been for the death of a prime minister, who was uncommonly atrenuous for the act, which was peculiarly distressing to delicate consciences, even though orthodox. There yet exists (in some copies of letters written at the time) a full account of this petty persecution, which is curious enough, but perhaps not an object af attention here. initials initials C. D. M. or some assumed name, and frequently anonymous, appeared in different collections and periodical journals in Holland, France, and England, from 1721. He seldom published any thing except occasionally, or in consequence of certain unforeseen engagements, or the importunity of friends. Such was a little piece printed in March 1722, on the recovery of Lewis XV. composed by the author while at college at the solicitation of his music-master; some pieces in the "Mercure de France," and Mr. Jordan's " Recueil de Literature, de Philosophie, et d'Histoire, 1730;" the verses to Voltaire in Jordan's " Voyage Literaire, fait en 1733," printed in 1735; the Addresses to the Queen of England and the Princess of Wales, printed in the Dutch Gazette, 1736; the four poetical pieces in the French Translation of Pamela, 1741, and some in the "Bibliotheque Britannique," and the "Magazin François de Londres;" a Greek epigram, with a translation and letters relating to it, in the Public Advertiser, May 31, June 4, 15, 21, 1763. In 1725, at the invitation of Mess. De Beausobre, he wrote a little poem on the tragical affair at Thorn*, which, after having been printed by their order in Holland, with their translation of Jablonski's "Thorn affligée," was suppressed without their knowledge before the book was published, The same year he transcribed and translated, for the elder De Beausobre, some old MS German letters for his History of the Reformation in Germany, which still remains in MS. probably because no bookseller (notwithstanding the author's reputation) has been found willing to engage in it on liberal terms. In 1728 or 1729, being at Amsterdam, he assisted his friend Mr. De Chevriere in his History of England. Among other authors who are indebted to him *The persecution there of the Protestants was, at the time, thought so remarkable, that it was said to have been foretold in the Revelations, |