character, and preserved all the activity and vigour of youth to a very advanced age. A few days before his death he officiated as secretary at a sitting of the academy, to celebrate, according to custom, the memory of the Great Frederic.'

MERIAN (MARIA SIBYLLA), a lady much and justly celebrated for her skill in drawing insects, flowers, and other subjects of natural history, was born at Francfort on the Maine, in 1647; being the grand-daughter and daughter of Dutch engravers of some celebrity, whose talents were continued and improved in her. She was instructed by Abraham Mignon. She married John Andriez Graff, a skilful painter and architect of Nuremberg, but the fame she had previously attached to her own name, has prevented that of her husband from being adopted. They had two children, both daughters, who were also skil ful in drawing. By liberal offers from Holland, this ingenious couple were induced to settle there; but Sibylla, whose great object was the study of nature, had the courage to travel in various parts, for the sake of delineating the insects, and several other productions peculiar to each country. She ventured to take the voyage to Surinam, where she remained two years, for the express purpose of making the drawings which have since added so considerably to her fame; and, though it does not appear that there was any kind of disagreement between her and her husband, she went, if we mistake not, without him. His own occupations, probably, precluded such a journey. Madame Merian died at Amsterdam in 1717, at the age of seventy.

The drawings of this lady have a delicacy and a beauty of colour, which have seldom been equalled, and her designs are still in high estimation, notwithstanding the great attention which has since been paid to the accurate execution of such works. She published, 1. "The origin of Caterpillars, their nourishment and changes;" written in Dutch; Nuremberg, 1679-1688, in 2 vols. 4to. This was afterwards translated into Latin, and published at Amsterdam, in 1717, 4to. This work, much augmented by herself and daughters, with thirty-six additional plates and notes, was published in French by John Marret, Amsterdam, 1730, folio, under the title of, "Histoire des

1 Biog. Dict.-Athenæum, vol. II.

Insectes d'Europe." 2. "Dissertatio de Generatione et Metamorphosibus insectorum Surinamensium," Amst. 1705, folio. This contains only sixty plates. To some of the later editions twelve plates were annexed, by her daughters Dorothea and Helena. There is an edition of this in folio, French and Dutch, printed at Amsterdam, in 1719. Another in French and Latin, 1726; and another in Dutch, in 1730. There have been also editions of the two works united, under the title of "Histoire des Insectes de l'Europe et de l'Amerique," Amst. 1730; Paris, 1768—1771. Many of the original drawings of this artist are in the British Museum, in two large volumes, which were purchased by sir Haus Sloane, at a large price. The current opinion is, that he gave five guineas for each drawing; but this is not sufficiently authenticated. Of these volumes, one contains the insects of Surinam, the other those of Europe, and among them are many designs which have never been engraved. Among those of the Surinam insects are several, which, though very elegantly finished, appear evidently, on examination, to be painted on impressions taken from the wet proofs of the engravings. Those of Europe are, perhaps, entirely original drawings. In the engraved works, much less justice has been done to the European insects than to those of America. Matthew Merian, the father of this lady, published many volumes of topographical engravings and collections of plates in sacred history.'

MERLIN (AMBROSE), a British writer, who flourished towards the latter end of the fifth century, but of whom little memorial remains, except such as is wholly disfigured by fiction, was reputed to be both an enchanter and a prophet, and to have been begotten by an incubus. For want of more authentic materials, we may be allowed to give the account of Spenser, in his Faery Queen, b. iii. canto 3. where, after speaking of his supposed magical powers, he thus tells his progeny:

And sooth men say that he was not the sonne
Of mortal syre, or other living wight,

But wondrously begotten and begonne
By false illusion of a guileful spright
On a faire lady nonne, that whilome hight
Matilda, daughter to Pubiclius,
Who was the lord of Mathtraval by right,

1 Moreri.-Strutt's Dict. of Engravers.-Dict. Hist.

And coosin unto king Ambrosius,

Whence he indued was with skill so marveilous.

Merlin is said to have foretold the arrival and conquests of the Saxons, to which allusion is made by Andrew of Wyn town, in his fifth book, ch. 12.

The Saxonys of Duche-land
Arrywyde that tyme in Ingland,
Merlyne alsuá mystyly

That tyme made his prophecy,

How Vortygerne wyth hys falsheede

Of Brettane made the kyngis dede, &c.

It was supposed that Merlin did not die, but was laid asleep by magic, and was, after a long period, to awake and live again. Spenser alludes to this fable also. Extravagant prophecies, and other ridiculous works are ascribed to Merlin, and some authors have written Commentaries on them, as ridiculous as the text. In the British Museum is "Le compte de la vie de Merlin et de ses faiz, et compte de ses prophecies," 2 vols. fol. on vellum, without date or place. There is a French edition, 3 vols. small folio, black letter, dated 1498. There are also other French and Italian editions. In English we have "The Life of Merlin, surnamed Ambrosius. His prophesies and predictions interpreted: and their truth made good by our English annals, published by T. Heywood," Lond. 1641, 4to. This was Heywood the actor, of whom some notice is taken in our seventeenth volume.'

MERLIN (JAMES), a learned doctor of the Sorbonne, born in the diocese of Limoges, was curate of Montmartre, and afterwards canon and grand penitentiary of Paris. Having preached against some persons belonging to the court, who were supposed to be favourable to the reformed religion, he was confined in the castle at the Louvre, 1527, by order of Francis I. and then banished to Nantes, from whence he returned to Paris, 1530. Merlin was appointed grand vicar of Paris, and curate of la Magdelaine. He died September 26, 1541. He was the first who published a "Collection of Councils;" of which there are three editions. It is said to be a compilation of great accuracy and impartiality. Merlin also published editions of "Richard de St. Victor, Peter de Blois, Durand de St. Pourçain, and

Spenser's Faery Queen.-Warton's Hist. of Poetry.-Macpherson's Andrew of Wyntown, vol. I. p. 118.-Tanner,

Origen;" and has prefixed to the works of the latter an Apology, in which he undertakes to clear Origen from the errors imputed to him. He had a violent dispute on this subject with Noel Beda.1

MERRET (CHRISTOPHER), a physician and naturalist, born at Winchcombe, in Gloucestershire, in February 1614, was educated at Gloucester-hall, and Oriel-college, Oxford, and after taking the degree of M. D. in 1642, settled in London. He appears to have had a considerable share of practice, was a fellow of the college of physicians, and one of the original members of the philosophical society, which after the restoration became the royal society. He died in 1695. His first publication was "A Collection of Acts of Parliament, Charters, Trials at Law, and Judges' Opinions, concerning those Grants to the College of Physicians," 1660, 4to. 1660, 4to. This became the basis of Dr. Goodall's History of the College, and was followed, in 1669, by "A short View of the Frauds and Abuses committed by Apothecaries, in relation to Patients and Physicians," which involved him in an angry controversy with Henry Stubbe. He also, in 1662, published a translation of Neri's work, "De arte vitriaria," with notes; but his principal work was entitled "Pinax Rerum Naturalium Britannicarum, continens Vegetabilia, Animalia, et Fossilia in hac Insula reperta," Lond. 1667, Svo. This, though incomplete and erroneous, was the first of the kind relating to this country, and was without doubt instrumental in promoting the study of natural history here. A great portion of his knowledge of plants was obtained through the medium of Thomas Willisel, a noted herbalist, whom he employed to travel through the kingdom for him during five summers. Merret communicated several papers to the royal society, which are printed in the earlier volumes of the Philosophical Transactions; particularly an account of some experiments on vegetation; of the tin mines in Cornwall; of the art of refining; and some curious observations relative to the fens of Lincolnshire."

MERRICK (JAMES), an English divine and poet, whom bishop Lowth characterised as one of the best of men and most eminent of scholars, was the second son of John Merrick, M. D. He was born Jan. 8, 1720, and was edu

1 Moreri.-Dupin.-Dict. Hist.

2 Ath. Ox. vol. II.-Pulteney's Sketches, vol. I. p. 290,

cated at Reading school. After being opposed, (very unjustly according to his biographer) as a candidate for a scholarship at St. John's, on sir Thomas White's foundation, he was entered at Trinity-college, Oxford, April 14, 1736, and admitted a scholar June 6, 1737. He took the degree of B. A. in Dec. 1739, of M. A. in Nov. 1742, and was chosen a probationer fellow in May 1744. The celebrated lord North, and the late lord Dartmouth, were his pupils at this college. He entered into holy orders, but never engaged in any parochial duty, being subject to acute pains in his head, frequent lassitude, and feverish complaints; but, from the few manuscript sermons which he left behind him, appears to have preached occasionally in 1747, 1748, and 1749. His life chiefly passed in study and literary correspondence, and much of his time and property were employed on acts of benevolence. Few men have been mentioned with higher praise by all who knew him*. He had an extraordinary faculty of exact memory; had great good nature, and a flow of genuine wit; his charity was extensive, and his piety most exemplary. He died after a short illness at Reading, where he had principally resided, Jan. 5, 1769; and was buried at Caversham church, near the remains of his father, mother, and brothers.

He was early an author. In 1734, while he was yet at school, he published "Messiah, a Divine Essay," printed at Reading; and in April 1739, before he was twenty years of age, he was engaged in a correspondence with the learned Reimarus. The imprimatur from the vice-chancellor, prefixed to his translation of "Tryphiodorus," is dated Oct. 26, 1739, before he had taken his bachelor's degree. In Alberti's last volume of Hesychius, published by Ruhnkenius, are many references to Mr. Merrick's notes on Tryphiodorus, which are all ingenious, and serve to illustrate the Greek writer by historical and critical explanations; many of them have a reference to the New Testament, and show how early the author had turned his thoughts to sacred criticism. The translation itself is correct and truly poetical. It is

* Dr. Hunt, the Hebrew professor, in a letter to Dr. Doddridge, dated Feb. 1746, says of Mr. Merrick, "There cannot be a more deserving man in all respects. His learning (which is beyond comparison great for his years) is

indeed, for his years, a very

the least of his many good qualifications. He has every virtue which renders learning amiable and useful; is not only a good scholar, but (which is infinitely better) a good Christiau.”