Biographie Universelle Classique, par M. le Général Beauvais, et par une Société de Gens de Lettres, revue pour la partie bibliographique, par M. Barbier, et par L. Barbier, fils. Paris, 1 vol. 8vo.

"This very useful and interesting work contains the essence of a number of documents scattered through an immense quantity of volumes; but that which recommends it still more to the attention of the public, is, in our opinion, the good sense which prevails in every page. Facts only are given, entirely divested of captious interpretations, or hypothetical reasoning."-Revue Ency. vol. 33, p. 235.

Biographie Universelle et Portative des Contemporains, ou Dictionnaire historique des hommes célèbres, &c. par une Société de Publicistes. Paris, 1 vol. 8vo.

"We consider this biographical work as the most impartial of all similar productions."-Revue Ency. vol. 31, p. 482.

Biographie Moderne, ou Dictionnaire Biogra

phique de tous les hommes morts, ou vivans, qui ont marqué à la fin du 18 siècle, ou au commencement de celui-ci, par leur rang, leurs emplois, &c. Paris, 1806-7, 4 vols. 8vo. "This work is interesting, we think, in various points of view. It presents us with the portraits of beings of whom almost all of us have heard; and whose names we still recall with sensations of astonishment and terror. The biography of foreigners is indeed miserably scanty and erroneous but this branch evidently appears to have been executed without interest or exertion; and forms a

remarkable contrast to the industry and ingenuity which have been exercised in collecting and detailing the opinions of the chief actors in the French Revolution. With regard to this part of the undertaking, too, our own recollections and our knowledge of the sources of their information, enable us to judge with some confidence of their accuracy."-Edinburgh Review, vol. 14 p. 212.

Biographie Nouvelle des Contemporains, ou Dictionnaire historique et raisonné de tous les hommes, qui, depuis la Révolution Française, ont acquis de la célébrité, par leurs actions, leurs écrits, leurs erreurs, ou leurs crimes, soit en France, soit dans les pays étrangers, par MM. A. V. Arnault, ancien Membre de l'Institut, A. Jay, E. Jouy, J. Norvins, et autres hommes de lettres, magistrats, et militaires: ornée de 240 portraits, au burin, d'après les plus célèbres artistes. Paris, 1821, (continued.)

"This work is conducted in excellent spirit, with great impartiality and moderation."-Revue Ency. vol. 10, p. 183.

BRANTOME. See History.

BOISSY D'ANGLAS (M. le Comte).

Essai sur la vie, les écrits, et les opinions de M. de Malesherbes. Paris, 2 vols. 8vo.

"Few works are more deserving than this to fix the public attention, either from the interest of the subject or the name of the

author. M. Boissy d'Anglas is one of the few public men who escaped the terrible shock of the Revolution and is best able, therefore, to furnish valuable materials for the history of that memorable period."-Revue Ency. vol. 2, p. 295.

BURIGNY (M. de).

Vie d'Erasme.

Paris, 1757, 2 vols. 12mo.

"It is a work of great reading. As M. de Burigny proposed connecting with his history a general account of the sciences, and religion during his time, he has very deeply considered his subject. His style and reflections are suited to a man of sense and modesty, who neither pretends to, nor possesses the least share of, genius. Upon the whole the book is a perfect contrast to most fashionable French ones, since it is useful without being brilliant." -Gibbon's Miscellaneous Works, vol. 2, p. 74.

CHAUDON (l'Abbé).

Dictionnaire historique, ou histoire abrégée des hommes de génie, &c. 6 vols. 8vo. Paris, 1772.

"The Abbé Chaudon deserves the greatest praise for having, after fifty years research, enriched the republic of letters, with his historical dictionary; a work, which from the moderation of its principles, and the manner in which it is executed, will ever entitle him to the respect of all impartial persons. This Dictionary, which was first published in 1776, in four volumes, was extended to thirteen, when, in 1804, the Abbé Chaudon published the last edition, conjointly with M. Delandine."Revue Ency. vol. 1, p. 147.

Dictionnaire historique, ou Histoire abrégée

des hommes, qui se sont fait un nom, par F. X. Feller. Liège, 1797, 8 vols. 8vo.

"This Dictionary (says Brunet) is no other than the Dictionnaire historique of M. Chaudon, edited and retouched by the Jesuit (Feller). It was reprinted in Paris, in 1817, in 8 vols. 8vo. with a supplement of 4 quarto volumes."

CHAUFFEPIE (Jacques George de).

Nouveau Dictionnaire historique et critique, pour servir de suite à celui de Bayle. Amsterdam, 1750-56, 4 vols. folio.

"As a continuation of Bayle's Dictionary, M. Chauffepić, a minister at Amsterdam, published in 1750 and following years, four volumes of supplement, chiefly translated from the English. This author speaks of religion with respect, and differs from Bayle, not only in this, but in his style which is heavy and confused. His articles abound sometimes with curious, sometimes with useless matter. As however this compilation contains things which are not to be found elsewhere, it should find a place in every complete library."-Barbier's Bibl. vol. 4, p. 220.

COMINES (Philippe de,) See History.

CONDORCET (M.)

Vie de Voltaire. Kehl, 1789, 1 vol. 8vo.

"The Marquis de Luchet, the Abbé Duvernet, and Condorcet published each a life of Voltaire, who was known to all of them, but was more particularly the friend of Condorcet. The work of the Marquis de Luchet is nothing more than a sort of commentary on what Voltaire has related of himself;

though he has thrown some light on the causes which occasioned the departure of Voltaire from Berlin. Duvernet is very diffuse, and relates, in rather a loose style, a number of anecdotes, the truth of many of which is not sufficiently attested. Condorcet possessed advantages which the others could not boast of; consequently he is most read, and his account is the best we have of Voltaire. Those of M. Le Pan and M. Mazure, of later date, are not entitled to much consideration.”—Revue Ency. vol. 21, p. 195-6.

DANGERVILLE (Moufle).

La Vie privée de Louis XV. Paris, 1781, 4 vols. 12mo.

"This work is attributed to M. Dangerville. It has had a great run; the author describes every action of this Prince with great fidelity; he does not even omit his foibles, which operates against the moral character of the book. Some very curious documents are affixed to it; such as the Parliamentary Memoir against the Peerage; the Philippics of La GrangeChancel, &c.”- Barbier's Bil. vol. 3, p. 443.

D'AUVIGNY (Castres).

Les vies des hommes illustres de la France, avec la continuation, par l'Abbé Pérau et Turpin. Paris, 1739-57, 27 vols. 12mo.

"D'Auvigny had published while living eight volumes of this work: the first six contain the lives of the ministers of our kings, from the reign of Louis VII, to that of Louis XIV, inclusively. The lives of the Warriors commencing with the seventh volume, by Charles Martel, who was Maire du Palais, under the reign of Dagobert, and the following kings. Ten volumes of this