have been very minute in stating the bargain made with the bockseller for the copy-right, from which it appears that he was only paid five pounds in hand, with a contingency of fifteen more, depending upon the sale of two more impressions. This, indeed, proves the wretched price of literature at that period; but the adequate reward for such a performance could only be immortal fame! Some difficulty occurred in getting it licenced for the press, a necessary preliminary to publication at that time; for the stupid suspicion of the licencer discovered something like treason in the noble simile of an eclipse, in the first book; but his scruples were at length obviated, and Paradise Lost burst upon the world. It was, however, a world not capable of doing it justice; and the work long struggled with bad taste and political prejudices, before it took a secure place among those few prime productions of the human mind which continually rise in estimation, and are unlimited by time or place. Conscious of his own powers, the poet seems to have anticipated his final success, and in that hope, to have supported his spirits against all temporary discouragements. Method of Ramus;" and in the following year he again ventured into the dangerous field of polemics, with a "Treatise of True Religion, Heresy, Schism, Toleration, and the best Means to prevent the Growth of Popery." The latter was now become, and with some justice, the dread of the nation, and Milton was among the most zealous of its opponents. The principle of toleration which he lays down, is agreement in the sufficiency of the Scriptures; and he denies it to the papists, because they appeal to another authority: so imperfect was even Milton's system of religious liberty! A publication of his Familiar Epistles in Latin, and of some academical exercises, occupied the last year of his life, which repeated fits of the gout were bringing to a close somewhat earlier than the usual period of senile decay. He sunk tranquilly under an exhaustion of the vital powers, in November, 1674, when he had nearly completed his 66th year. His remains were carried from his house in Bunhill-fields to the church of St. Giles, Cripplegate, with a numerous and splendid attendance, and deposited in the chancel near those of his father. No monument marked the tomb of this great man; but one was erected to his memory in Westminster abbey in 1737, at the expence of Auditor Benson. His bust has since been placed in the church where he was interred, by the late Samuel Whitbread, esq. Not exhausted by this great effort, he followed it in 1670 by "Paradise Regained," written upon a suggestion of Elwood's, and apparently regarded by the author as the theological completion of the plan commenced in Paradise Lost. He is said to have viewed this production with the partial fondness of an aged parent for his latest offspring. It is certain he could not bear the disparaging comparison with his great work which was generally made; and although in point of grandeur and invention its inferiority is extremely apparent, yet modern criticism has pronounced it by no means unworthy of the genius of Milton, allowance being made for the small compass of the subject, and his particular purpose in writing it. Together with it appeared his tragedy of " Sampson Agonistes," composed upon the ancient model, and never intended for the stage. It certainly does not entitle the author to a place among those dramatic writers who have distinguished themselves by the talent of moving the passions or of delineating character; but its moral and descriptive beauties are by no means inconsiderable. With this piece his poetical account closes; but writing was become so much a habit with him, that he was continually making additions to his works in prose. In 1672 he published a "System of Logic, after the Milton was distinguished in his youth for personal beauty, and he continued to be a comely well-looking man to the last. He was vigorous and active in his exercises, manly and erect in his deportment. His voice was agreeable and musical, his dress neat, and he had nothing of the disgusting exterior which too often accompanies deep study and retirement. His habits of life were those of a student and a philosopher: he was strictly sober and temperate, regular in his hours, except when tempted to excess of nocturnal study, and sparing in amusements. His principal relaxations were music and conversation. His circumstances were never opulent, and he met with several losses; yet he preserved what sufficed for his moderate wants. His temper was serene and cheerful, and his manners appear to have been civil and urbane in the ordinary intercourse of society. His rudeness and acrimony in controversy have given an unfavourable impression of the qualities of his heart, and it must be admitted that he was capable of party-rancour, and of learned pride. Yet he seems to have been void of that petty irritability and jealousy which has produced so many disgraceful quarrels among men of letters. He indulged no enmities except upon a public ground. It has been said that he was a lordly husband and an unkind father. In fact, he appears to have had exalted notions of the prerogatives of a husband and a father, and of the supremacy of the male sex over the female. Some of the most irksome services, however, that he exacted from his daughters, such as that of reading to him in languages which they did not understand, were necessities resulting from his blindness and his indigence. The morals of 'Milton were pure, and his religion was fervent, though he complied with no form of public worship. In depth and variety of learning he was surpassed by scarcely any scholar of the age. In sublimity of genius his countrymen will scarcely admit that he had ever a superior. After all deductions that even political animosity can make, he must always rank among the glories of the English nation. Of his works, his prose English writings have had few admirers, except among those who have agreed with him in opinion. They are written with spirit and vigour, in a style harsh, uncouth, and formed upon a bad model, but energetic and full of imagination. His poetical compositions are standards of English literature, which it is a high effort of critical skill duly to appreciate, and a proof of cultivated taste justly to admire. Biogr. Brit. Newton's and Johnson's Lives of Milton.-A. His manners appear to have been corresponding to his philosophy. He was much addicted to the pleasures of the table, and in his old age fell in love with a music-girl, named Nanno. Of his poems only a few fragments remain, which have been published along with the "Novem Feminarum Græcarum Carmina" by Ursinus, Antw. 1568, and by Wolfius, Hamb. 1734. Strabo. Athenæus Vossii Poet. Græc.-A. MINELLIUS, JOHN, an useful critic, was born at Rotterdam about 1625, and passed his life as a teacher of the learned languages. He died about 1683. He published short but clear notes, principally of the grammatical kind, upon Terence, Sallust, Virgil, Horace, Florus, Valerius Maximus, and Ovid's Tristia, which have proved very serviceable to young students, and have been freely transcribed by later editors and commentators. Moreri. Nouv. Dict. Hist.-A. MINUTIUS FELIX, MARCUS, an able and eloquent apologist for Christianity in the third century, was most probably a native of Africa, who flourished towards the close of the reign of the emperor Septimius Severus, or about the year 210. He was educated to the profession of the law, and became an eminent pleader at Rome; where he renounced the heathen religion, and embraced that of Christ. He was the author of an excellent defence of Christianity, entitled, "Octavius," written in the form of a dialogue or conference between Cæcilius Natalis, a heathen, and Octavius Januarius, a Christian, in which Minutius himself sits as judge or moderator. The conference is commenced by Cæcilius, who brings forwards all the objections which its most bitter adversaries were accustomed to prefer against Christianity, and defends paganism with all the ingenuity which the cause would admit. On the other hand, Octavius enters into a particular reply to the objections and arguments of his opponent, refuting, with great judgment and spirit, the calumnies cast upon Christians by their adversaries, and at the same time exposing, with great felicity, the absurdities of the heathen creed and worship, and powerfully demonstrating the reasonableness and superior excellence of the christian reand Horace makes him the teacher of volup- Cæcilius acknowledges himself convinced by ligion. The result is, that after a short silence, tuous morality; MIMNERMUS, a Greek elegiac poet, was a native of Colophon, and flourished in the sixth century B. C. contemporary with Solon. He is said to have been a musician as well as a poet, and the flute was the instrument on which he performed. In his poetical capacity, the invention of pentameter verse, or of the elegiac measure, is attributed to him. His compositions were chiefly of the elegiac kind, according to the ancient conception of that word, which by no means confined it to mournful topics. On the contrary, this poet was a distinguished votary of love and pleasure: thus Propertius speaks of him as at the head of amorous poetry: Plus in amore valet Mimnermi versus Homero: Si, Mimnermus uti censet, sine amore jocisque VOL. VII. the reasoning of Octavius, and professes his readiness to declare himself a convert to Christianity. This work is an honourable monument of the author's ingenuity, learning, He and eloquence, and "shews," as Lactantius old manuscripts, and took great pains to esobserves, "how able a defender of the truth tablish the most authenticated readings. he might have been, if he had given himself was not exempt from the unfair practice then up entirely to that work." The conversion, common among printers, of pirating each likewise, of a person possessing such eminent other's works; and when Leo X. caused the abilities to the Christian religion, and his pub- Annals of Tacitus to be printed for the first lic and courageous defence of it, notwithstand time at Rome, he found means to obtain the ing the many temptations to the contrary which sheets as they went through the press, so that he must have met with at that time, especially he brought out a rival edition. This fraud exin his station; as they give us an advantageous posed him to the pope's displeasure, and idea of his virtue, so they likewise afford us a involved him in troubles from which he with very agreeable argument in favour of the truth difficulty extricated himself. The latest notice of that religion. His "Octavius" was for a of him is in 1521, which year he probably did long time attributed to Arnobius, and pub- not long survive. Tiraboschi.-A. lished as an eighth book of his treatise "Adversus Gentes;" but in the year 1560, Francis Baldwin, a learned lawyer, published it by itself at Heidelberg, and was the first who made the discovery in a preliminary dissertation, that Minutius was its true author. Numerous editions have been since published, at different places, illustrated with the notes of various eminent critics; of which the best is that printed at Cambridge in 1712, under the care of Dr. John Davis, in octavo, with the dissertation of Baldwin prefixed, and "Commodiani Instructiones adversus Gentium Deos," added by way of appendix. Jerome speaks also of another work which was circulated in his time, under the name of Minutius, entitled, "De Fato, vel contra Mathematicos;" which he concluded to be the production of some other author, on account of the dissimilarity of its style to that of the "Octavius." This piece, however, is no longer extant. Fabricii Bibl. Eccles. sub Hieron. cap. 58. Lactantius de Divin. Inst. lib. v. cap. 1. Cave's Hist. Lit. vol. I. sub sæc. Novat. Dupin. Lardner's Cred. part II. vol. III. ch. 30.—M. MIÑUZIANO, ALESSANDRO, a learned printer, was born in the fifteenth century at St. Severo in Puglia. After studying under George Merula at Milan, he succeeded him as professor of rhetoric, and held that chair with that of history for several years. He greatly interested himself in the correct editing of the learned works which were then issuing from the press, and at length set up a printing-office of his own. The first specimen that he gave to the public was the magnificent edition of all Cicero's works in four volumes, folio, Milan, 1498-99, which had never before been printed collectively. He afterwards gave editions of various authors, ancient and modern, to many of which he prefixed learned prefaces in a very elegant style. He was a diligent coliator of MIRABAUD, JOHN BAPTIST, a man of letters, perpetual secretary to the French Academy, was descended from a family of Provence, and was born at Paris in 1675. In his youth he entered into the military service, and was present at several battles, one of which was that of Steinkerk. It was probably after his military career that he became for some time a member of the congregation of the Oratory, to which society he remained all his life much attached, though he took no part in the theological quarrels of the time. After he had devoted himself to a literary life, he was engaged in the service of the house of Orleans, and was entrusted with the education of two young princesses of that family. He acquitted. himself so well of this duty that he ever after retained the friendship and regard of his pupils. He first became known as an author by his translation of Tasso's "Jerusalem Delivered." This fine epic poem had incurred much depreciation in France in consequence of a harsh sentence of Boileau, contained in a single line, or rather epithet; and the efforts of former French translators had been unable to efface this unfavourable impression. That of Mirabaud had this effect in a considerable degree, though being in prose, it could give only a very inadequate representation of the original. He had, however, consulted the refined taste of his countrymen by expunging every thing that was likely to offend it; and his liberties in this respect were taken ill by the Italians, one of whom, madame Riccoboni, published a very acrimonious censure upon him for this infidelity. His notice of this attack in his second edition did him honour. He was surprised, he says, at her style of writing, but he perused her remarks with attention, and profited by This work gave him an entrance into the French Academy in 1726, though not without some murmurs from original writers,, who alleged that the patronage of the house of Orleans had more contributed to procure him this distinction, than his merit as a writer. The success of his Tasso induced him, some years afterwards, to undertake a version of the Orlando Furioso; but the pleasantry and vivacity of Ariosto were less suited to his talents than the sober beauties of the rival poet, and his omission of many entire stanzas could not be grateful to an admirer of the original. This translation also, however, was favourably received by the public. The literary reputation and the amiable private character of Mirabaud caused him, in 1742, to be elected perpetual secretary of the French Academy, on the acceptance of which post, he insisted upon renouncing the right to a double fee of attendance which his predecessors had enjoyed. In return for this disinterestedness, the Academy procured for him an apartment in the Louvre, and a pension was thenceforth attached to the secretaryship. After having occupied this place for several years, his age and infirmities caused him to resign it to Duclos, who insisted upon his keeping his pension and apartment in the Louvre, where he died with perfect tranquillity in 1760, at the age of 86. Mirabaud was of a mild and equal temper, cheerful, frank, unaffected, and upright, a true philosopher in his conduct and sentiments. Besides the two translations above mentioned, he had composed various works on interesting topics of literature, history, and philosophy, and even, as was reported, (says D'Alembert)" on the most delicate and important subjects." The latter circumstance was probably the cause that the celebrated work, entitled, "Systeme de la Nature," published in 1770, and which is a system of undisguised atheism, had his name prefixed. While D'Alembert contents himself with shewing the improbability that this should have been written by him, others positively deny that it was his; and common fame has attributed it to an academician of Berlin. D'Alembert Eloges Academ. Nouv. Dict. Hist. A. MIRABEAU, VICTOR RIQUETTI, marquis of, a French political writer, and one of the leaders of the sect of economists, was born of an ancient family of Provence, originally from Florence. His literary reputation commenced with a work entitled, "L'Ami des Hommes," published in 1755, in three volumes, 12mo. This performance, written in a diffuse and incorrect style, and defective in precision and method, contains many useful and luminous ideas on rural and political economy, and displays liberal and judicious views of the great interests of society. It obtained so much public approbation and celebrity, that the name of the work became an epithet of the author, who is distinguished as Mirabeau l'ami des hommes. He afterwards wrote against corvées, and in favour of provincial administrations, and published a "Théorie de l'Impot;" all which writings breathed a spirit of improvement and reform, which, together with his strictures on the financiers, was so little agreeable to the court, that he was for a time imprisoned in the Bastile. It is admitted, that though his notions were somewhat paradoxical and confused, yet that he disseminated in the public mind some precious seeds, of which part were rendered abortive, but part proceeded to germination. It is possibly on this account that he is painted by La Harpe in the following unfavourable colours-"A legislator with the pen, and a man of systems, he had thrown out some useful ideas on rural economy and taxation in bulky works, filled in other respects with ridiculous trash. Proud as a gentleman, and vain as an author, he plumed himself upon being one of the heads of the economist sect, in conjunction with Quesnai, Turgot, Dupont, Boubaud, who were much deeper reasoners and better writers than himself. Opinionated and inconsequent, like all men of moderate capacity, he systematically deteriorated his own lands, while he flattered himself that he was enriching the state by his theories; and tyrannised over his family, while he was preaching up political liberty; uniting, with a combination not unusual, all the prejudices of feudalism, which were in his heart, with all the parade of philosophical maxims, which only flowed from his pen." By other writers he is said to have squandered his fortune among mistresses, and to have been a bad husband, a bad father, and a bad citizen. How far these charges are well founded, it is not easy, in the midst of party animosities, to substantiate. The marquis de Mirabeau died in 1790, at the commencement of the revolution, after he had shewn an a ́tachment to the cause of authority, whilst his son was so much distinguished in the popular party. All his writings were published collectively, in eight volumes, 12mo. with the exception of a work, entitled, "Hommes à célebrer," two volumes, octavo, which he sent in manuscript to his friend, father Boscovich, by whom it was printed at Bassano. Nouv Dict. Hist.-A. MIRABEAU, HONORE-GABRIEL RIQUETTI, Count of, eldest son of the preceding, was born in 1749. Much care was bestowed on his education; but an impetuosity of temper, and superabundance of vivacity, impeded his progress in the ordinary studies of youth. It would seem, however, that a contempt for these studies was the principal cause of his want of application; for it is said that a more discerning tutor having put into his hands Locke on the Human Understanding, he sat down to the perusal of it with the closest attention, and after some progress, exclaimed, "This is the book I wanted!" At the age when the energy of the passions begins to disclose itself, young Mirabeau exhibited an ungovernable and daring spirit, with a propensity to every species of irregularity. His father is charged with improper severity in the treatment of his son, while the latter has been accused of having proceeded to such a degree of criminality as to entertain designs of parricide. Whatever were the grounds of difference, the breach became so wide, that the marquis obtained a lettre de cachet against his son, then seventeen years old, by means of which he was closely confined in the Isle of Rhé for two years. On his liberation he procured a commission in a regiment of dragoons, with which he served above a year in Corsica. When returned to France, he precipitated himself into every kind of extravagance; and as his father refused to supply his demands, he became involved in great pecuniary difficulties. In order to extricate himself he paid his addresses to a young lady of family and large fortune in Provence, who was already engaged to another; and such were his powers of intrigue, that he found means to break the intended connexion and obtain her hand. His father could not be induced to contribute more than his consent to this union, and his dissipations soon brought him into new difficulties. His conduct to his wife was brutal and unmanly, and his irregularities became so excessive and notorious, that several more lettres de cachet were issued against him, either restraining him to particular places of residence, or committing him to prison. Being at Pontarlier about 1775, he formed an acquaintance with Sophie Ruffei, wife to the marquis de Monnier, whose advanced years rendered him an unsuitable partner to a young and handsome spouse. Mira beau seduced her affections; and upon the discovery of their connexion, he was confined in he citadel of Dijon. He found means to make his escape into Holland, where he was joined by the lady; in the mean time a severe sentence was issued against him in France. By a stratagem, he was taken into custody in his place of refuge, and brought back to France, where, in 1777, he was committed to the castle of Vincennes. He there remained three years and seven months, notwithstanding all his efforts to obtain his enlargement, or the privilege of a trial; and it may well be supposed that such frequent experience of the rigours of arbitrary power, how much soever he may have merited them, inspired him with a strong predilection for a free government. These imprisonments, however, by checking his career of dissipation, were productive of improvement to his mind, which found no employment so interesting as laying in stores of information and reflexion, and acquiring the habit of literary composition. He had already assisted his father in writing, and had formed an engagement with a bookseller in Holland with respect to some intended works; but it was in the prison at Vincennes that he first began to publish. An abridgement of French grammar, and some libertine productions, were among the earliest fruits of his pen. They were followed by his celebrated " Essai sur les Lettres de Cachet, and les prisons d'etat," in which he pleaded for the right of every citizen to personal liberty, until he had been deprived of it by a legal trial, with all the energy of one who had been a sufferer under uncontrouled authority. This work he published at Neufchatel, whither he had retired as soon as he was restored to liberty. He then commenced an action against his father for maintenance and arrears, in which he was successful. This encouraged him to institute a suit against his wife for the purpose of gaining the custody of her person and property; and he pleaded his own cause before the parliament of Aix, in the presence of the archduke Ferdinand and other distinguished persons; but although his eloquence excited general admiration, the instances of his matrimonial misconduct were so gross that he lost his suit. With the assistance of Chamfort, a man of letters, of some celebrity, he next composed a work entitled, "Considerations sur l'Ordre de Cincinnatus," the subject of which was a projected society in the United States of North America, which the friends of republicanism looked upon with jealousy. During its composition he frequently consulted Dr. Franklin, then at Paris. He now entered into |