ciples. His house was named the temple of Ceres, and his court-yard the temple of the Muses: but the philosopher was not secure from violence; a young Cretonian, distinguished by birth and fortune, named Cylon, exasperated at being refused admission on account of his vices, hired a crowd of profligates to set fire to the house in which he taught. Some of his biographers inform us, that he was killed soon after this, and others assert, that he died a natural death, 497 B. C. There is extant a poetical composition attributed to him, called . The Golden Verses of Pythagoras," containing a summary of his moral doctrines. He was an acute geometrician, and discovered the proposition which is the 47th in Euclid's first book; and his joy was so great on this occasion, that he is said to have offered a hecatomb to the gods. He is revered as an astronomer for being the first who asserted the true system of the universe, which was revived by Copernicus in the 15th century. QUIN, (JAMES) a celebrated English comedian, born in London in 1693. His father married a supposed widow, by whom he had a son, the subject of these memoirs. After this second marriage, the real husband, who was supposed to have been dead many years, returned from abroad, and claimed his wife. Our hero therefore lost his father's estate, being considered as illegitimate. He was intended for the law, but studied Shakespeare more than the statutes and reports, and soon after displayed his theatric powers in Mr. Rich's theatre, in the character of Falstaff, which was played no less than nineteen

times in the same season. He had before appeared on the Dublin and Drury Lane stages, in inferior characters. Soon after he engaged himself at the theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields, where an unhappy occurrence had nearly put an end to his career. This was a duel with a Mr Bowen, a brother performer, who died in consequence of the wound he had received in the combat. On a trial for this offence, Quin was found guilty of manslaughter only, and returned to his occupation. Covent Garden Theatre opened in 1732, whither the Lincoln's Inn Fields After the second season, company removed. Mr. Quin was engaged on very high terms to go to Drury Lane, where he shone triumphantly till the appearance of Garrick, in 1741. He was held in great esteem by Pope and Thomson. "The commencement of the esteem with the

latter," says Dr Johnson, "is very honour"able to Quin, who is reported to have deli"vered Thomson (then known to him only "for his genius). from an arrest, by a very con"siderable present; and its continuance was

honourable to both; for friendship is not al ་ ways the sequel of obligation." In 1741, Mr. Quin went over to Dublin, with Mrs. Clive, Mr. Ryan, and others, where he played Cato and Othello, with increasing reputation. In 1742 he returned to Mr. Rich, at Covent Garden, to oppose Mr. Garrick, who was at that time idolized, but with no great success. These eminent comedians, after several meetings, agreed that certain parts should be acted by them alterrately; particularly Richard III. and Othello. Quin, however, had the mortification to find

that his reputation was decreasing, and that of Garrick's augmenting in a very great degree The Richard III. of the former hardly bringing a tolerable house, while an overflow was produced when the latter performed the same character. The town, wishing to see them fairly matched in different characters, proposed the Fair Penitent as a proper piece to give the competitors an opportunity of displaying their respective talents, and this proposal was agreed to. The day of the contest was the 14th of November, 1746. The shouts of applause when Horatio and Lothario met on the stage in the second act, were so loud and so reiterated, before the audience permitted them to speak, that the competitors seemed disconcerted. Quin changed colour, and Garrick seemed much embarrassed. Quin had too much pride to acknow◄ ledge his feelings on this trying occasion, but Garrick was heard to say, "Faith, I believe

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Quin was as much frightened as myself."The play was frequently acted, and with constant applause, to very brilliant audiences.Quin had been patronized by Frederic Prince of Wales, father of his present Majesty, and was employed to instruct the royal children in a correct pronunciation. On hearing with what propriety his Majesty delivered his first speech from the throne, Quin exclaimed, in a kind of extacy, "Ay-I taught the boy!" His Majesty did nor forget his old tutor, but ordered an annuity to be paid him during his life. The last character he performed was that of Falstaff, March

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March 19, 1753. He died at Bath in 1766. Quin, though rough in his manners, had a benevolent disposition, and abounded in wit and understanding. RADCLIFFE, (JOHN) an English physician of great eminence, was born at Wakefield, in Yorkshire. To him the University of Oxford is indebted for the library and infirmary which bear his name, and for an annual income of 6001. for two travelling fellowships. He received his education first at Wakefield, and then at University College, Oxford, from whence he removed to Lincoln College, and obtained a fellowship. Here he applied himself to the study of physic, and at the expiration of two years, resigned his fellowship. Taking his doctor's degree in 1682, he soon after went to London, where he met with very great encouragement. In 1687, he presented a very fine altar-piece to University College, painted on glass. He was often sent for to attend King William, but at last forfeited his favour by his ingenuous, but blunt behaviour. When the king shewed him his swelled ancles, and asked him what he thought of them, Radcliffe answered, "Why, truly, I would not have your Majesty's two legs for your three kingdoms." Dr. Radcliffe was not a more rigid observer of the aphorisms of Hippocrates, than of the precepts of Bacchus; he was almost equally devoted to the god of physic, and the god of wine. One evening, as he was sacrificing at the shrine of the purple god, in a tavern, a gentleman entered in great haste, and almost breathless-" Doctor, my wife's at the point

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vern.

point of death; make haste, come with me." "Not till I have finished my bottle, however,” replied the doctor. The gentleman, who happened to be a fine athletic fellow, finding intreaty useless, snatched up the doctor, hoisted him on his back, and carried him out of the taThe moment he set the doctor upon his legs again, he received from him, in a very emphatic manner, the following threat: " Now, you rascal, I'll cure your wife in revenge."And the doctor, it is said, kept his word. In 1713, Dr. Radcliffe was chosen member of parliament for Buckingham; and on the death of Queen Anne he suffered much obloquy for refusing to attend her. On this account, he is said to have received several letters threatening his life. He died November 1, 1714, just three days after the death of the queen, and his remains were interred in St. Mary's church, Oxford. RALEIGH, (Sir WALTER) an illustrious English navigator, was born in 1552. He was eminently serviceable to Queen Elizabeth, particularly in the discovery of the country now called Virginia, in America; and in the defeat of the Spanish armada. During Elizabeth's reign, “he bore his honours thick upon him ;" but after her death, his sun no longer shone; for, on the accession of king James, he lost his interest at court, was stripped of his preferments, accused of high treason, tried, and condemned. He was, however, reprieved, but committed prisoner to the tower, where he continued many years; and, during his confinement, devoted much of his time to study. His writings, which are nu

merous,