trifling and useless productions. They have excited a taste for reading and enquiry, from which beneficial effects must ultimately be derived. But though Mr. Fancourt was the first projector of these institutions, he does not appear to have reaped much emolument from the plan which he adopted. In the year 1748 he delivered new proposals, according to which, by the subscription of a guinea in all, a better library was to be purchased, of which the subscribers were to become proprietors; and by the payment of a shilling each quarterly, the rent of proper rooms to receive the books, and the payment of a salary to himself as librarian, and other expences, were to be defrayed. This library was to be under the management of a trust, consisting of twelve or thirteen persons, chosen by ballot out of the body of proprietors; and every single subscription was to entitle the subscriber to one book and one pamphlet at a time, to be changed ad libitum for others, and kept ad libitum if not wanted by other subscribers. To what extent this plan was carried into execution we do not learn; but we find that it did not answer the expectations of Mr. Fancourt. From the enmity of some individuals, and the more successful efforts of others, who imitated and improved upon the scheme which he first levised, his supporters declined in number, and he was obliged to have recourse to new plans, and to remove from one place of residence to another, till he became involved in pecuniary difficulties, from which he could not disentangle himself. In these circumstances his library became the property of his creditors; and his faculties receiving a shock from his misfortunes, together with the decay of age, he retired in humble poverty to Hoxton-square, where his necessities were relieved by some of his brethren in the ministry until his death, which took place in 1768, when he was in the 90th year of his Gent. Mag. for April, 1784.-M. FANSHAWE, sir RICHARD, a statesman and poct, youngest son of sir Henry Fanshawe, knt. of an ancient Derbyshire family, was born at his father's seat of Ware-park, Hertfordshire, in 16c8. He studied at Jesus-college, Cambridge, whence he removed to the Inner Temple. He afterwards travelled into France and Spain, with so much improvement, that he obtained the appointment of secretary to the embassy at Madrid, under lord Aston. When the civil war broke out, he followed the royal party, and attended upon the court at Oxford. He was made secretary of war to prince Charles, and afterwards treasurer of the navy under prince Rupert. In 1650 he was created a baronet, and

age.

sent to Madrid to request some aid for his master. He next acted as secretary of state for Scotland; and accompanying Charles II. on his expedition to England, was taken prisoner at the battle of Worcester. He was at first committed to close confinement, but after some time was suffered, on account of his health, to go out upon bail. He took up his residence for a time at the seat of lord Strafford in Yorkshire, where he amused his leisure by translating the Lusiad. The year before the Restoration he repaired to the king at Breda, by whom he was knighted, and, after his return, appointed master of requests and Latin secretary. As the late king, who highly valued Fanshawe for his integrity, had warmly recommended him to his son, he expected to have been made one of the secretaries of state, according to a promise given him; and was much mortified when another was preferred to him. In 1661 he was elected one of the representatives in parliament of the university of Cambridge, and soon after was sworn a privy-counsellor for Ireland. His knowledge of foreign countries and languages caused him to be employed in the diplomatic line; and he was appointed envoy-extraordinary to Portugal, and afterwards embassador to that court, for the purpose of negociating the king's marriage with the infanta Catharine. Upon his return he was admitted into the privy-council. He had rendered himself so acceptable to the king of Portugal, that he was recommended as the fittest person to effect an accommodation between that crown and Spain. With this view, and for other purposes, he was sent embassador in 1664 to Philip IV. of Spain, and during his residence took a journey to Lisbon at the desire of the Spanish court. The weakness and fluctuations of that court, however, thwarted his negociations; til at length, on the near prospect of Philip's death, a treaty was hastily proposed to the embassador for immediate acceptance or rejection, which he thought proper to sign. It was however so much disapproved by Charles and his council, that its ratification was refused, and Fanshawe was in consequence recalled. As he was preparing to return, he was seized with a fever, probably caused or aggravated by uneasiness, which carried him off at Madrid in 1666. The private character of sir Richard Fanshawe appears to have been very amiable and estimable, and his ability in the management of public affairs was generally acknowledged, however his last act might be regarded by the court. As a literary character he is chiefly known by his poetical translations. That of "Guarini's Pastor Fido," first published in

16.45, obtained him much reputation as an elegant and easy versifier. It produced a complimentary poem from Denham, who praises him for venturing to quit the mode of servile and literal translation, and giving the spirit with the sense of the original. His version of the Lusiad of Camoens appears to have been less popular, and it is severely criticised by the late translator, Mickle, whose splendour of versification and abundant liberties were, perhaps, necessary to render such a work pleasing in an English dress. Fanshawe likewise translated parts of Horace and Virgil, and two dramatic pieces from the Spanish. He rendered Fletcher's Faithful Shepherdess into Latin verse. Biog. Britan.-A.

FARE, CHARLES-AUGUSTUS, marquis de la, a French poet and memoir-writer, was born at Val-gorge in the Vivarais, in 1644. He was captain of the guards to monsieur, brother to Lewis XIV. and to the duke of Orleans his son, afterwards regent. He was a courtier and a man of pleasure, and was particularly intimate with the abbé de Chaulieu, whom he imitated in his easy and agreeable style of writing. Voltaire (in his Siècle de Louis XIV.) asserts, that his talent for poetry did not shew itself till he was near sixty, and that his first verses were an elegant compliment to mad. de Caylus. The little he wrote was never distinguished for correctness, but pleased by its ingenious turns, and happy negligence. His poems are printed after those of Chaulieu in St. Marc's edition. La Fare also wrote "Memoirs and Reflections on the principal Events of the Reign of Lewis XIV." 12mo. which are composed with a satirical freedom that has been censured by the grave panegyrists of that period. The society, indeed, in which he lived, was discontented with the court, and fond of depreciating it. The marquis died in 1712. Nouv. Dict. Hist.

Euvres de Chaulieu.-A.

FAREL, WILLIAM, one of the first, most eminent, and intrepid ministers of the reformed church, was the son of a gentleman of Dauphiné, in France, and born at Gap, in the year 1489. He pursued his academic studies at the university of Paris, where he distinguished himself by his proficiency in philosophy, and the Greek and Latin languages. In that university he recommended himself to the acquaintance and intimacy of James le Fevre, of Etaples, who was one of its greatest ornaments, by whose interest he obtained the appointment of tutor in the college of cardinal le Moine. It is probable, also, that his intercourse with that learned man, who, though a papist, was

a friend to liberal enquiry, produced on his mind those impressions which determined him to separate from the Romish communion. In the year 1521 he was invited by William Briçonet, bishop of Meaux, who was inclined to the principles of the Reformation, to preach in that city, where he appears boldly and freely to have propagated the new opinions. In the year 1523, however, a persecution was commenced at Meaux, by the Franciscans, against those whom they called heretics, which obliged Farel to provide for his safety by quitting France. On this occasion he retired to Strasburg, where he was acknowledged as a brother by Bucer and Capito, as he was afterwards by Zuingle at Zurich, by Haller at Bern, and by Ecolampadius at Basil. At the latter city, in the year 1524, he publicly defended theses in opposition to the doctrines and usages of the catholics, before a vast number of persons, both ecclesiastics and laics; but was soon afterwards obliged, by the violence of the popish faction, to quit the place. Farel possessed that stock of learning, zeal, and intrepidity, and those persuasive talents, which peculiarly qualified him for gaining proselytes to the principles which he had embraced; on which account he was advised to undertake the reformation of Montbeliard. As he enjoyed the protection of· the duke of Wirtemberg, the lord of that place, he pursued the design in which he had embarked with great success, but not without discovering an intemperate warmth in the bitter expressions which he applied to the popish priests, and an imprudence of conduct that could not be defended. Once, upon a proces sion-day, he wrested from the hands of a priest the image of St. Anthony, and threw it from the bridge into the river; which action was not only a gross breach of decorum and toleration, but, if the people had not been panicstruck by the boldness of it, might have terminated his labours among them, and his life. This violence of temper which he displayed, led Erasmus to draw a very unfavourable picture of him in his Epistles, the colours of which received some heightening from the resentment felt by him for injuries conceived to have been . done him in some writings of Farel. Ecolampadius, however, succeeded in moderating his spirit by friendly remonstrances, which reflect great credit on that eminent reformer. may be led," said he in his correpondence with him, "but will not be driven by force. Give me leave as a friend, and as a brother to a brother, to say, you do not seem in every respect to remember your duty. You were sent to

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in close confinement four months. Though he afterwards made his innocence appear in so clear a light that the king himself acknow ledged it, and on that account allowed him sixty ducats per month for his support; he was still obliged to remain at Madrid, where he was narrowly watched. He died in 1649. His works are principally historical. "An Epitome of the History of Portugal," which comes down to the reign of cardinal Heury. It has been several times reprinted; and to the edition of 1730, folio, is added a continuation to the reigning kings. Also, a geographical and political work, entitled "Portuguese Europe, Asia, and Africa," published after his death in seven volumes folio. The most valuable part of this is the "Asia Portugueza,” which contains a fuil detail of the conquests and settlements of his nation in that part of the globe, and has been considered as faithful and exact. Besides two Portuguese editions, in 1666 and 1674, it has been trans-lated into several modern languages. Others of his works are, "Moral and Political Discourses;" "Fuente de Aganippe, o Rimas Varias ;” “ / An Account of the Empire of China;” and “Commentaries on the Lusiad of Camoens." Mereri. Nceren. Jucher's Lexic.—J.

dered to be the principles of christian truth and borty. The stock of learning and knowAh, wie very respectable his piety was ardenta and bus moral conduct unimpeachable and exemplar. In addition to these recommendations he possessed a powerful commanding voices and a wonderful fluency of language, which pecularly qualitied him for the offices et a public disputant, and popular pulpit PEROL In these characters his labours produced axomshing effects, and entitle him to We honour of being one of the most successful mrerummenes, as well as one of the first moving erases, of establishing and promoting the reformed region. The writings which he left beð rd dun were very few, consisting of some * Theses." published at Basil, in the Latin and German languages; Disputico Berne Hina 1918; Substance and brief Declaracen necessary for all Christans." 1552; “ A Trease of the dressed Sucriment of the Lord, and of his Tescument" 1553; and a beek leveled gunst beries, encned The Swent the Spirit 1550 Erasmus has Lise mire nemen of some neruncus pieces Tres watch he speaks contempcusly; for are underce as we may ay anese, je me lät n which he shed out in men, as i pucci ame-server, who dared art at aming se sentiments. mr. Jum. Tú Time Eur. Bre. Fra's

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FARINELLI, the usual name of CARLO BROSCHI, one of the most famous singers upon record, was born at Naples, in 1705. He received his first musical education under his father, and afterwards took lessons from the celebrated Porpora. At the age of seventeen he went to Rome, where in an opera he contended with his voice against an extraordinary performer on the trumpet, and by means of his wonderful powers obtained so decided a victory, that it established his superiority over all singers of the time. He played his lents in other capitals, astonishing all hearers by his performances, and improving himself in

siaal taste and science. In 1-34 he came to London, where he was received with enthusiasm; and the valuable presents bestowed spon him by the nobility and gentry became the subject of serious invective and ridicule. No blame, however, could justly be imputed to him for the extravagance by which his real or afected admirers expressed their applause; and the excellence soberly attributed to him by Dr. Baney Musical Tour) almost stifies any degree of rapture in his hearers. He was to all other singers as superiour as the famous horse Childers was to all other running-horses; but it was not only in speed that he excelled, for Le had now every excellence of every great

singer united. In his voice, strength, sweetness, and compass; and in his style, the tender, the graceful, and the rapid. Indeed he possessed such powers as never met before or since in any one human being; powers that were irresistible, and which must have subdued every hearer, the learned and the ignorant, the friend and the foe." A proof of his powers surpassing all the plaudits of amateurs, was afforded by an incident, the truth of which Farinelli himself confirmed to Dr. Burney. The celebrated Senesino was at the same time in London; but the two performers being engaged at different theatres, had not, for a considerable time, yet heard each other. At length they happened to sing in the same piece on the same stage. Senesino was to represent a furious unrelenting tyrant, and Farinelli an unfortunate hero in chains; but the latter, in his first song, so charmed and softened the former, that, forgetting the part he was to sustain, he ran to him, and gave him a tender embrace. He left England in 1737, with an intention to return; but the exercise of his talents in Spain produced an engagement which rendered that country for many years a scene of his uncommon influence. The king, Philip V., was at this time labouring under a species of melancholy which displayed itself in singular caprice and irrationality of conduct. Habitually under the control of his queen and her favourites, he was occasionally unmanageable. He would obstinately continue in bed for months together, nor could any persuasions induce him to be dressed and shaved. It was resolved to try upon him the powers of Farinelli's voice, and such were its enchantments, that they awakened sensibility even in his dark and phlegmatic soul. The singer was instructed to request as the reward of his performances some compliance on the part of his majesty; and in fine, he was found so necessary a coadjutor, that a large pension was settled upon him, and he was totally appropriated to the service of the court. Nothing could be more uniform than the taste of Philip: Farinelli assured Dr. Burney that, for the first ten years of his residence with him, he sung every night to the monarch the same four airs. If wealth and consequence could recompense a man for a life of wearisome servitude, he might be satisfied with his situation. No singer, perhaps, since the time of the Roman emperors, enjoyed so much royal favour. He was the channel of Court gratuities, and in consequence was treated with great respect even by the proudest of the nobility. He did not, however, suffer

himself to be betrayed by his elevation into insolence or self-conceit; but, by the humility and propriety of his behaviour, conciliated the regard of those who would naturally hate and envy him. It is related that once, on going to the king's closet, he overheard an officer of the guard cursing him, and complaining that honours should be heaped upon a rascally singer, while himself, after thirty years' service, was neglected. Farinelli, without seeming to notice the reproach, remonstrated to the king on his inattention to an old servant, and obtained for the officer the grant of a regiment, which he presented to him, with an assurance that he was not forgotten by his sovereign. Another anecdote displays his good-nature, and at the same time his proper dignity of mind. He had ordered a superb suit of clothes for a court gala. When the taylor brought it home and was desired to produce his bill, he said he had made none, and for his remuneration only requested a favour, which indeed he knew to be inestimable—and this was, to be indulged with a song. Farinelli, finding the man irresistibly bent upon obtaining his desire, took him into his music-room, and exerted his utmost talents to give him pleasure. The enraptured taylor returned a profusion of thanks, and was about to retire, when the singer stopped him. "I am a little proud," said he;" and since I have given way to your weakness, it is fit you should yield to mine." He then took out his purse, and presented the man with a sum nearly double the value of his clothes. After the death of Philip, Farinelli continued to enjoy the favour of his successor, Ferdinand VI.; a proof that he had not abused his influence in the former reign. He was released from the tedious uniformity of his preceding life, and became the sole director of the operas which he persuaded the new king to establish. The honour of the knighthood of Calatrava was conferred upon him, and he was still employed as a political agent, especially by the ministers of those courts which were opposed to the French interest in Spain. At the decease of that monarch, the system of politics changed, and Farinelli was dismissed to Italy, retaining, however, his pensions. He fixed his residence in the vicinity of Bologna, in 1761, where he built a splendid mansion superbly furnished, and devoted the evening of his life to the enjoyment of elegant leisure. He left off singing, but amused himself with musical instruments, especially the harpsichord, on which he performed in a masterly style. He was grateful to his former friends and patrons, and was particularly attentive to the Englishmen