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hair, and beat him severely. Her anger might be real, yet the character of this woman makes one ready to suspect, that it was only to display her beautiful shape, by which she had still some hopes of captivating Octavius. But if this was her object, she entirely failed; he only laughed at the circumstance, and led her to bed.

Having private notice soon after, that she was to be carried to Rome, within three days, she caused herself to be bitten by an asp, which was brought to her concealed in a basket of figs; and thus died this princess, whose wit, beauty and insatiable ambition made so much noise in the world, after she had reigned, from the death of her father, 22 years, and lived 89. With her ended the family of the Ptolemies in Egypt, after they had reigned from the death of Alexander 294 years.

CLERC, (JOHN LE) a most celebrated writer and universal scholar, was born at Geneva, March 19th 1657. After he had been initiated in the first principles of literature by his father, who was a physician and Greek professor in that city, he was at eight. years of age, sent to the grammar school, where he soon discovered an uncommon inclination to books and such a genius for poetry, that, if he had duly cultivated it, he would probably have gained no small reputation in that way. But the more serious studies, to which he applied himself, made him entirely neglect poetry, so that he never wrote verses, but on some particular occasions.

When he was about sixteen years old, he began the study of philosophy, in which he spent two years; but did not yet enter on the study of divinity, thinking it better to employ another year in perfecting himself still more in the belles lettres, and also in acquiring the elements of the Hebrew tongue. He, in the mean time, read all the books, which could any way

improve him in his pursuits: and, it was this constant assiduity and application, to which he inured himself in his youth, that enabled him afterwards to go through so much uninterrupted fatigue of reading and writing, and to publish such a vast variety of

works.

After he had passed through the usual forms of study at Geneva, and had lost his father in 1676, he went to France in 1678, but returning the year after, he was ordained as a clergyman, with the general applause of his examiners. In 1682, he visited England, chiefly with a view to learn the language. He preached several times in the French churches in London, and visited several bishops and men of learning; but the air of the town not agreeing with him, he went to Holland, within the year, where he settled. He preached before a synod, held by the remonstrants, at Rotterdam, in 1684; and was admitted professor of philosophy, polite literature and Hebrew, in their school at Amsterdam.

The remainder of his life affords nothing but the history of his works, and of the controversies he was engaged in; but these would lead into too extensive a detail. He continued to read regular lectures, as professor of philosophy, and the belles letters; and because there was no single authors, who appeared clear and full enough for his purpose, he projected a design of drawing up some treatises himself. With this view, he published in 1691, his "Logic, Ontology and Pneumatology;" and to complete his course, he, in 1695, added his "Natural Philosophy." He also published his Art of Criticism; a commentary on the Old Testament; an Ecclesiastical History of the two First Centuries; a French translation of the New Testament &c. This last work, which was published in 1703, made a great noise, and occasioned him to be exclaimed against as a socinian. Some ministers of Amsterdam, did all they.could to persuade the magistrates to prohibit it, and the Walloon synods also

endeavoured to have it suppressed; but neither of them succeeded in their attempts.

In 1786, he had begun with M. De la Crose, his "Bibliotheque Universelle and Historique," which was continued to the year 1693, inclusive, in 26 vols. In 1703 he began his "Bibliotheque choiseé," by way of supplement to the former; and continued it till 1714, when he commenced another work on the same plan, called "Bibliotheque Ancienne et Moderne," which he continued till 1728. These Bibliotheques of le Clerc, may justly be deemed excellent store-houses of useful knowledge; and we may almost say, that there is hardly any question of importance, relating either to ancient or modern, sacred or prophane learning, the merits of which are not canvassed in some of these volumes. Besides critical accounts of books, many complete dissertations may be found in them, and also things of a historical nature, such as memoirs, lives and elegies of great men. The "Bibliotheque Choiseé" consists of 28. volumes, and the "Ancienne and Moderne" of 29. We may just observe, that these literary journals of le Clerc were not written in an assuming or inquisitorial manner, but with a spirit of impartiality and candour, which shewed him solicitous to do the strictest justice to every author, and to set him forth in the light in which he ought to be seen.

The above, which is only a part of the vast number of books, published by Le Clerc abundantly shew, that he was a very laborious, as well as a very learned man. It is, indeed, probable, that he would have been a more correct writer, if he had written less; his works, however, every where abound with good sense and sound learning, and the greatest part of them will be valued in every country, where liberty and literature maintain their ground.

Notwithstanding his incessant application to study, he enjoyed a very good state of health till 1728, when he was seized with a palsy and fever, which

deprived him of speech and almost of memory. The malady increased daily; and, after spending the six last years of his life with little or no understanding, he died January 8th 1736, in his seventy-ninth year.

CLERC, (GEORGE LE) See BUFFON.

CLERKE, (CAPTAIN CHARLES) a celebrated English navigator, was born in 1740. He was bred up in the navy from his youth and was present in several actions, during the war of 1755. In that between the Bellona and Courageux, he was in great danger; for having been stationed in the mizen top, on board the former, the mast was carried over board by a shot, and he fell into the sea along with it. He was, however, taken up without having received any injury.

When commodore Byron made his first voyage round the world, in 1764, Mr. Clerke served on board the ship as a midshipman, and was afterwards some time on the American station. In the year 1768, he, a second time, sailed round the world in the Endeavour, under captain Cook, as master's mate; but during the voyage, succeeded to a lieutenancy. He returned in 1775, and was soon after appointed master and commander. When captain Cook undertook his last voyage, Mr. Clerke was appointed captain of the Discovery, and, on the melancholy death of captain Cook, 14th Feb. 1779, succeeded to the supreme command. He did not, however, long enjoy his new dignity. Before he departed from England, he had manifest symptoms of a consumption. Of this disease he lingered, during the whole of his voyage, and his long residence in the cold northern climates, cut off all hopes of recovery; but though sensible that the only chance he had of prolonging his life, was by a speedy return to a warmer climate, his attention to his duty was so great, that he persevered

in search of a passage between the Asiatic and American continents, until every one of the officers was of opinion, that it was impracticable. He bore his distemper with great firmness and equanimity, retaining a good flow of spirits to the last, and died on the 220 August, 1779, in the 38th year of his age; the ship being then within view of the coast of Kamptschatka, where he was afterwards interred in the spot, on which a church was to be erected, it having been his own desire to be buried in the church.

CLIVE, (ROBERT) baron of Plassey, son of Richard Clive, Esq. of Styche, was born in Shropshire, England, 29th September, 1725. In his early youth, Robert was sent to a private school, in Cheshire, the master of which, observing, that, in courage and sagacity, he far surpassed his fellows, discerned in the school-boy, the character of the future hero. "If," said he, " that lad should live to be a man, and an opportunity be given for the exertion of his talents, few names will be greater than his."

From this school at the age of eleven, he was removed to another, in Market-Drayton. In that town, there stands, on the edge of a high hill, an ancient Gothic church, from the lofty steeple of which, at the distance of a few feet from the top, there projects an old stone spout, in the form of a dragon's head. On this head he once seated himself, to the great astonishment and terror of his school-fellows, who were gazing from below. Yet he was not insensible to danger, nor ever sought it, unless when it produced applause; when he would run with eagerness to meet it: for, even when a boy, he loved honour more than he feared death.

He afterwards repeatedly changed his instructors, till the year 1742, when he obtained the appointment of a writer in the East-India company's service: but, from a dislike to restraint, and an abhorrence to Vol. II. No. 9.

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