music. On the death of Dr. Green in 1755 he was so powerfully recommended at court, that he obtained the united places of organist and composer to his majesty. On this promotion he came to London, and was soon after created doctor in music at Cambridge. In 1757 Dr. Nares had the additional place of master of the choristers, with an increase of the former salary; and in this situation he superintended the education of several pupils who became eminent in their profession. He composed a great many anthems and services for the royal chapel, of which a number have been printed. He died in 1783, leaving a character as a man not less respectable than his reputation as a musician. His principal works are several sets of Lessons for the Harpsichord; the Royal Pastoral, a Dramatic Ode; Catches, Canons, and Glees; and Anthems. Their merit has been highly extolled by a person of eminence in the profession, who affirms that they "will be admired as long as a taste for music shall subsist." Dr. Burney says of him that "he was a studious and sound musician," and that "his diligence in composing for the chapel, and instructing the children, acquired him great respect." Burney's Hist. of Music. Gen. Bigr. Dict.-A.

. NARSES the eunuch, a celebrated general, whose native country is unknown, was brought up in the palace of Justinian I. to those domestic and feminine services in which persons of his condition were usually employed. By his insinuating talents he obtained the favour of the emperor, who gave him the posts of his chamberlain and private treasurer. He was gradually introduced into public business, and in the year 538 was placed at the head of a body of troops to assist Belisarius in Italy, who was engaged against the Ostrogoths. He was instrumental in the relief of Rimini, besieged by the enemy: but dissensions soon arose between the two generals; and Narses, availing himself of the ambiguity of the order, that he was to obey Belisarius " as far as it might be advantageous for the public service," separated from him with the Heruli and other troops particularly attached to him. He recovered several places from the Goths, but was at length recalled through the remonstrances of his rival. From that time he continued to serve the emperor in a civil capacity till the year 552, when the great success of the Goth Totila in Italy, and the death of Germanus, the general appointed to oppose him, caused Narses to be again raised to military command. He was allowed to em

ploy without control the treasures and forces of the empire in preparations for a new expedition into Italy, which he entered with a numerous army by the eastern shore of the Adriatic. After reposing for some days at Ravenna, he advanced towards Rome, and met Totila in the Apenines near Tagina. The battle which ensued terminated with the entire defeat of the Goths, and the death of Totila in his flight. Narses marched on to Rome, which he recovered with little difficulty. He employed himself in repairing the ruined walls of the metropolis, whilst a detachment of his army was besieging the strong castle of Cuma, whither Totila had sent his treasures. Teias, a valiant chief, had been chosen by the Gothic nation to succeed their vanquished king; and he advanced from the north to relieve his brother, who com-. manded the garrison of Cume. Eluding the vigilance of the commanders sent to stop him, he arrived in Campania, and encamped on the banks of the Sarnus. Narses advanced from Rome, and took post on the opposite side of the river, and several weeks were spent in skirmishes. Want of provisions at length forced Teias to decamp, and Narses following him, brought the Goths to an engagement at the foot of the Lactarian mount. After a most obstinate resistance, Teias was killed, and the remaining Goths were reduced to capitulate. The victor then proceeded to the recovery of several cities of Italy still held by that nation. Lucca held out a long siege, and the humanity of Narses is praised in dismissing uninjured the hostages it had given, notwithstanding repeated acts of perfidy. In the mean time a large army of combined Franks and Alamanni entered the north of Italy as allies to the Goths, and spread like a torrent along the whole coast of the Adriatic to Apulia and Calabria. Narses at first gave way to the inundation, attending chiefly to the defence of the cities. But whilst the invaders were melting away from the effects of intemperance and an unaccustomed climate, he was assembling an army and enuring it to military exercises. In the spring of 554 he met, on the banks of the Vulturnus, near Casilinum, the Alaman chief Buccelin, returning from the south of Italy. By skilful movements he reduced the enemy to combat at a disadvantage, and the barbarian chief with the greatest part of his army perished in the field, with very small loss to the victors. An incident just before the battle displayed the resolution and justice of Narses. A leader of the Heruli, a fierce

people in the imperial service, had killed his servant for some trifling offence. Narses caused him instantly to be put to death; and while the Heruli were full of indignation at this exertion of authority, he called to them to march forward before they should lose their place in the field of honour, and he was obeyed.

Having recovered the remaining places possessed by the Goths, and entirely overthrown their dominion in Italy, Narses was appointed to the government of that country, with supreme authority. This post he occupied for fifteen years, during which his political and military virtues gave way to that avarice which so readily insinuates itself into the breast of one placed in a situation favourable to its indulgence. He accumulated a vast treasure by methods which rendered his government unpopular, and excited a complaint against him by Roman deputies before the throne of Justin II. A recall was sent to him, conveyed in the insulting mandate of the empress Sophia, "that he should leave to men the exercise of arms, and resume the distaff, which was fitted for the hands of an eunuch." To this message he is said indignantly to have replied, "I will spin her such a thread as she will not easily unravel;" and he fulfilled his threat by inviting the Lombards to that invasion of Italy which followed under Alboin. He retired to Naples, where he was visited by the pope, who persuaded him to return to Rome, the inhabitants of which had repented the ill offices they had done him at court, and which some have imputed more to envy than to his misconduct. He died in 567, at a very advanced age. Baronius, indeed, supposes that he was the same Narses to whom St. Gregory addresses some letters, and who perished in a revolt against Phocas; but this would imply a length of active life which is totally incredible. That writer, with Muratori and Saint-Marc, disbelieve the charge of his having invited the Lombards into Italy, and have adduced reasons which, at least, render the fact dubious. Univ. Hist. Gibbon. Tiraboschi.-A.

NASSAFI, the surname of Nagmeddin Abou Hafs Omar Ben Mohammed, a celebrated mussulman doctor, who was born in the year of the Hegira 461, or, A. D. 1069, at the city of Nekscheb, called by the Arabians Nassaf or Nessef, in that part of the Persian territories which lies beyond the river Gihon, anciently called the Oxus. He was one of the most eminent of the sect of the Hanifites, or followers of Abou-Hanifah, who is venerated as the principal Imam or chief of one of the four

orthodox sects among the Mahometans. Heis spoken of by succeeding writers in high terms of praise; and has the titles given to him of "Nagm Eddin u'almillat," or, "The star of the faith, and of religion;" and "Mofti Alginn u Aluns," or, "Sovereign doctor of Genii and Men." He died at Samarcand, in the year 537 of the Hegira, or A. D. 1123, when he was about the age of fifty-four, deeply regretted by an immense number of discipies, who respected him equally on account of his learning and picty. To him are attributed nearly a hundred treatises on the mussulman law and traditions, in which he is said to have condensed the excellences of 550 preceding writers. Among others, he was the author of a book entitled, "Acaid," on the articles of the Mahometan faith, which was commented upon by Taktazani, in the year 718 of the Hegira, or A. D. 1299; a poem consisting of 2660 distichs, entitled, "Khelafiah Almandboumah,” Khelafiah Almandhoumah," on all the articles of the "Sunnah," which is a directory for the practical part, and ritual observances of the Mahometan religion; and a poem intitled, " Al-Mokhammassat," composed in Pentastichs, and entirely on moral subjects. D'Herbelot's Bibl. Orient.—M.

NASSAFI, the surname of Hafedheddin Aboulbarakat Abdallah Ben Ahmed, Ben Mahmoud, another famous mussulman doctor, of the same country with the preceding, but who flourished at a much later period. The soundness of his doctrine, and the exemplariness of his piety, are likewise highly commended, and his writings on law and religion are held in much esteem. He died at Bagdat, in the year 710 of the Hegira, or A. D. 1291. He was the author of a "Commentary" on the elder Nassafi's " Khelafiah," &c. which he entitled, "Mosfi, or, Messafi fi Scharli Mandhoumat alNassaf;" of "Mostasafi fi Schark Alnafé u al Alkafi u Alvasi u Alkenz u Almenar," which is a "Commentary" of the five books of the mussulman law, called "Nafi," "Kafè," "Vafi," and "Menar;" an abridgment of Cadouri's work, intitled "Magmá Albahreïn ;" of a work entitled "Kens Albacaik," or, "The Treasury of Subtleties ;" and another intitled "Omdat Alacaïd." The two last-mentioned pieces are on the metaphysics and scholastie divinity of the Mahometans. D'Herbelot's Bibl. Orient.-M.

NASSIR EDDIN, the surname of Mobammed Ben Hassan, or Ben Mohammed al-Thoussi, a very celebrated philosopher, astronomer, and various writer among the Mahometans., He was born in the year of the Elegira 597, or

NATHAN, NATHA-BEN-MOSES, a celebrated rabbi in the seventeenth century, who resided at Saslaw, in the Russian dominions, in 1648; removed at first to Leghorn, and then to Venice, where he was distinguished as a cabalist in 1653; and was afterwards chief of the Jewish synagogue at Jassy in Moldavia. He was the author of "Teami Socah," or "The Manner of observing the Feast of Tabernacles,' containing an allegorical exposition of that festival, printed at Amsterdam in 1652, quarto; "Iven Metzolab," or, "The Mire of deep Waters," taken from Ps. 69 3. printed at Venice in 1653, quarto, in which he describes the oppressions and persecutions that were suffered by the Jews during the years 1648 and 1649, in Khatia, Lithuani, and Poland; "Share Tzion," or, "The Gates of Zion," consisting of various prayers used by the Jews, with an account of the ceremonies accompanying them, instructions for reciting the Keriath Schema in bed, for studying the Talmud, &c. which has been frequently printed at Prague, Amsterdam, Dessau, Franckfort on the Oder, &c. in octavo; and "Shephah Beroah," or, "The pure Lip," which is a kind of vocabulary, containing Hebrew, German, Latin, and Italian words of the same meaning, in opposite columns, printed at Prague in 1660, quarto, and at Amsterdam in 1701, octavo, with an addition of a fifth column, of French words, &c. Wolfu Bibl. Heb.-M.

NATTA, MARCANTONIO, a celebrated Itafian jurist, was descended from an ancient and noble family of Casal in Montferrat, which produced several eminent men of the same profession. Marcantonio was born at Asti, and studied the law at Pavia in the early part of the sixteenth century, under Corti, Maino, and Decio. The acquisition of knowledge was his only passion; and the progress he made was such that he was admitted among the jurisconsults before the age of twenty three, and was made a senator at Casal. The wars drove him thence to Pavia, where he opened a school of law. He received invitations from several princes to settle in their dominions, and exercised various honourable offices, one of which was that of a magistrate in Genoa. He published legal consultations, which were in great esteem, and likewise wrote works on theology

NAVEUS, JOSEPH, a celebrated catholic divine of the diocese of Liege in the seventeenth century, was born in the year 1651, at the village of Viesme in Hesbaye, within the diocese of Liege. He pursued his academical studies at the university of Louvain, where he distinguished himself by his exercises while passing through his courses of philosophy and divinity, and obtained the character of being one of the finest geniuses and best divines in the Low Countries. At the same time he rendered himself respected and beloved by all who knew him, for his piety, exemplary moral conduct, and amiable manners. He was made professor of poetry in the college of the Trinity at Louvain, and retained that situation till he took the degree of licentiate in divinity. He undertook to confute the sentiments advanced by the sieur du Bois, who filled the chair of public lecturer on the sacred Scriptures in the university of Louvain; and the pieces which. he produced in this controversy were afterwards collected together in a volume under the title of "Recimations," which is held in much esteem. Afterwards he accepted of an invitation to become professor of philosophy at Liege, and discharged the duties of that office during several years, with very high reputation.. He became involved in controversies with the Jesuits, on account of the efforts which they made to introduce themselves into the professorships in the seminary at Liege; and also. in defence of M. Dennis, professor of divinity at Liege, and other leading men in the Jansenist party, whom they accused of heterodoxy. In Moreri the reader may find the titles of the principal works of our author, which these controversies occasioned. About the year 1701, the infirm state of his health obliging him to resign the philosophical chair, he was made canon of the collegiate church of St. Paul at Liege, where he punctually offi ciated, as long as his infirmity permitted him.. He was the friend of Obstraët, the celebrated Arnauld, and father Quesnel. He is also deserving of being commemorated among the friends of humanity, for the very active par

which he took in forming the regulations of the "Hospital of Incurables" at Liege, and in founding the "House for penitent Prostitutes." Towards the end of his days, finding that he was no longer able personally to discharge the duties of his canonry, he resigned that preferment, and devoted the remainder of his strength and fortune to the private instruction and consolation of the poor. He died at Liege in 1705, at the age of fifty-four. He was the author of several pious treatises; of which that most known is entitled, "The Foundation of the Christian Life, &c." Moreri. Nouv. Dict. Ilist.-M.

NAVÆUS, MATTHIAS, another catholic divine of the diocese of Liege in the same century, concerning the time and place of whose birth we have no information. He became a member of the university of Doway, where he took the degree of doctor of divinity, and was made pastor of the church of St. Peter in that city. Afterwards he was promoted to a cononry of Seclin, and finally, to the same dignity in the cathedral church of Tournay. He had been appointed to the office of censor of books, for which he is said to have been well qualified by the solidity of his judgment, the quickness of his penetration, and the ample stores of learning with which he had furnished his mind in the course of a studious life. He died about the middle of the seventeenth century. He was the author of several works which are held in esteem, among which are, "Catechesis, sive de Sacramentorum Institutione, Confessione Sacramentali, extrema Unctione, et Matrimonio, Conciones Sexdecim," 1633, octavo; "Prælibatio Theologicæ ct Sacræ Scripturæ præcipuas Difficultates, &c." 1640, quarto; "Tri-Octava Sermonum de Venerabili Sacramento et Sacrificio," 1645, octavo; and other pieces of which the titles may be seen in Valerii Andrea Bibl. Belg. Moreri. Nouv. Dict. Hist.-M.

NAVAGERO, ANDREA (Lat. Naugerius), an eminent Italian poet and orator, was born at Venice of a patrician family in 1483. He received his first instructions from Antonio Sabellico, and from an early age displayed extraordinary powers of memory, and a happy disposition for literary pursuits. He then repaired to Padua, where he studied Greek with great assiduity under Musuro, and philosophy under Pomponazzi. In that university he formed connexions of friendship with Bembo, Contarini, Fracastoro, Ramusio, the Torriani, and other distinguished persons, which con

tinued unbroken during his life. After passa ing some time at Pordanone, where the celebrated general Alviano had founded a literary academy, he returned to Venice, and became a zealous supporter of the learned labours of Aldo Manuzio, whom he assisted in the collection and examination of manuscripts, for the purpose of giving correct editions of the ancient writers. His reputation for eloquence caused him to be chosen by the republic to recite the funeral orations of Alviano, the doge Loredano, and Catharina Cornara queen of Cyprus. He was afterwards appointed keeper of the library of cardinal Bessarion, and historiographer to the state. When the battle of Pavia had given a decided superiority to the arms of Charles V., Navagero was sent in conjunction with Friuli, afterwards doge, to Spain on an embassy to that prince, in the spring of 1525. He remained in that country till January 1528, when he set out on his return. Soon after his arrival at Venice he was sent to France on an embassy for the purpose of inviting Francis to return into Italy, to balance the power of the emperor. He reached Blois, where he was attacked with a fever which carried him off in May 1529, at the age of forty-six, to the deep regret of all who knew him.

As a writer, Navagero holds a place rather among the most polished than the most considerable of his time. In Latin poetry he was distinguished by elegance, grace, and a kind of Grecian simplicity that denoted great purity of taste. To this simplicity he was attached to a degree that perhaps deserves the name of pedantic; for he not only sacrificed to it several of his own juvenile productions, but was accustomed annually to commit to the flames a copy of the epigrams of Martial, whom he regarded as the great corrupter of that species of composition as it existed in Grecian models. His funeral orations are rather elegant and methodical discourses than striking pieces of eloquence. His historical powers are unknown, as he committed to the flames the little he had composed on the Venetian history. In Italian poctry he displayed the elegance and purity which characterized him, but without attaining excellence. Some letters which he wrote from Spain to Ramusio exhibit him as a minute observer of every thing curious presented by a foreign country, and as a learned antiquary and geographer. In the year after his death a publication appeared of his funeral orations. for Alviano and Loredano, and his Latin poems.