two bottles of port a-day :" a concise and honest account of the matter, much more instructive than the cautions and varnished narrations which are so often presented by partial friends, or glossing biographers. The same noble person adds this attestation to his character: "He was one of the worthiest and modestest men that ever belonged to the court of Apollo. Tears arise when I think of him, though he has been dead above twenty years." It is superfluous to add any further testimonials; nor shall we copy Pope's epitaph upon him, which is rather a tribute of affection, than a striking portrait. The poetry of Fenton, though preserved in the body of English poets, at present attracts little notice. Yet his "Ode to Lord Gower" was pronounced by Pope to be exceeded by none in the English language, except Dryden's on St. Cecilia's Day. It has, however, no resemblance to that piece, and its merit consists rather in Horatian amenity, than Pindaric sublimity. He has other odes, which possess harmony and poetic diction; epistles agreeable from their variety and ele gance; and translations displaying facility and sweetness of versification. He has some light pieces, in which the vivacity scarcely compensates the looseness. His tragedy of Mariamne, founded on the story of Herod, as related by Josephus, maintains a respectable rank among English dramatic compositions, particularly those of the poetical class, though it has disappeared from the stage. Johnson's Lives of the Poets. Anderson's British Poets.-A.

FERBER, JOHN JAMES, an eminent Swedish mineralogist, was born at Carlscrona on the 9th of September, 1743. He received a good education under the care of his father, who was assessor of the royal college of medicine; and being destined for the study of physic, he applied to that branch of knowledge in particular, but he did not confine himself within the narrow limits of that science; for his comprehensive mind soon embraced every thing that belongs to the province of natural philosophy. At a very early period of his life, Von Swaab, a member of the council of mines, and an able mineralogist, gave him leave to be present during his chemical processes for assaying metals; and in the year 1760 he repaired to Upsal, where he improved himself further under the instructions of Wallerius, Cronstadt, Linnæus, and other men of eminence. He resided also at the observatory with Mallet the astronomer, and under his directions studied the mathematics and astronomy. He profited so much by the lectures of Linnæus, and the botanical excursions which he undertook, that,

in the year 1763, he disputed De prolepsi Plantarum. He entered about the same time into an intimate friendship with the celebrated Bergman, whose Sciagraphia Regni Mineralis he afterwards published. In the above year he left Upsal, got an appointment in the College of Mines, made a tour through those provinces of Sweden where the principal mines are situated, and afterwards wrote at Carlscrona his "Diarium Flora Carolicoronensis," in consequence of which he received an honorary mark of distinction from the Royal Academy of Sciences at Stockholm. In the year 1765 he set out on his travels, which he continued so long and turned to so much advantage that he could with justice depend on his own observations; and therefore the warmth with which he expressed himself, and particularly towards some philosophers who had not studied nature on a grand scale, in the dispute carried on respecting the origin and structure of mountains, may be accounted for, and in some measure excused. He first proceeded to Germany, and resided some time at Berlin, where he studied chemistry under Pott and Markgraf; he made a considerable stay also at Leipsic, after which he visited the German mines in the Hartz forest, in the Palatinate, Bavaria, Nassau, Austria, &c.; then the mines in Bohemia, and particularly those in Hungary, where he formed an acquaintance with the celebrated Born, who ever after retained for him a sincere and steady friendship. He next proceeded to France and Holland, and thence to England, where he examined the mines of Cornwall and Derbyshire. While he remained in England some thoughts were entertained of engaging him to undertake a voyage to the South Sea with Mr. now sir Joseph Banks and Dr. Solander. Of almost all the mines he visited, and the countries he travelled through, he wrote valuable descriptions, which were published either by himself or his friends, or by some of those learned bodies of which he was a member. They have all met with the approbation of mineralogists; but his letters on Italy, published by his friend Born, are particularly interesting. The Italians themselves acknowledge that, though a foreigner, he was the first who made them acquainted with the natural riches of their country, as Winkelman first called their attention to many works of art contained in it, which had before escaped their notice. After his return to Sweden, he was invited, in the year 1774, by the duke of Courland to be professor of experimental philosophy and natural history in the high school of Mittau, which

that prince had established. Here he married, in 1778, Agnes Elizabeth Jacobs, with whom he lived in a state of great conjugal happiness, and who accompanied him in the long journeys which he afterwards undertook. In the year 1781, with the consent of his prince, and at the request of the king of Poland, he made a mineralogical tour through the states of the latter, who rewarded him in a handsome manner for his trouble. In 1783 he removed to Petersburg to be professor of the natural sciences, in consequence of an invitation from the empress Catherine II., who even offered him the direction of all the mines in Siberia; but he declined this office on account of the state of his health, which was not suited to the cold of that severe climate. In the year 1786 he entered into the service of Prussia, and in 1788 made a tour through Anspach and Deux-Ponts to Switzerland, and thence to France. The observations he collected on this occasion were published partly by himself in two small works, and partly by Manuel, a Swiss, who had accompanied him some time during this mineralogical excursion, in Hopfner's Magazine for the Natural History of Helvetia. In consequence of a request made by the magistrates of Berne, he undertook a second journey of the same kind, with the consent of his Prussian majesty; but in the month of September that year, he was attacked during an excursion among the mountains in Millithal by a stroke of apoplexy, with which he had often been threatened, and being conveyed to Berne, with great difficulty, died there, in the forty-seventh year of his age, after a long and painful illness. During his illness the magistrates of that city behaved to him with great kindness and attention, which they continued to his widow after his death. He was buried in one of the church-yards, by the side of the celebrated Haller; for whom he had always entertained the utmost respect. His principal works are: "Briefe aus Welschland, über natürliche merk würdigkeiten dieses landes," &c.; Letters from Italy respecting the most remarkable Natural Productions of that Country, addressed to the editor, J. E. von Born, Prague, 1773, octavo. A French translation with notes and observations made in the different places, by B. de Dietrich, was published at Strasburgh in 1776; this translation, on account of the notes, is particularly interesting, because the translator was an Italian and examined many of the places which the author describes, by which means he was able to confirm Ferber's account, to enlarge it where

VOL. IV.

deficient, and to rectify it where incorrect. "Beiträge zu der mineralgeschichte von Böhmen;" Collections towards a History of the Minerals of Bohemia; Berlin, 1774, octavo, with two plates: an excellent contribution towards the mineralogical history of the earth in general, and of the kingdom of Bohemia in particular. The author first describes the situation and division of the Bohemian mines, according to the mountains and different circles, and then proceeds to a description of the mines individually. "Beschreibung des quecksilberbergwerks zu Idria, &c;" A Description of the Quicksilver Mines at Idria; Berlin, 1774, octavo, with three plates. This description is taken partly from the observations made by the author himself at Idria, and partly from an authentic manuscript, of the accuracy of which he had an opportunity of being convinced by ocular testimony. As the accounts of these mines before published were exceedingly faulty and deficient, this work met with a very favourable reception. "Bergmänische nachrichten von den mineralogischen gegenden," &c.; An Account of the Mines in the most remarkable mineralogical Districts in the Countries of DeuxPonts, the Palatinate, and Nassau; Berlin, 1776, octavo, with two plates. The author undertook a tour through these countries, which were before little known, chiefly with a view of examining the different quicksilver mines, and the nature and structure of the mountains. "Versuch einer Oryktographie von Derbyshire;" An Attempt towards an Oryctography of Derbyshire; Mietau, 1776, octavo, with four copper-plates. "Neue Beiträge zur mineralgeschechte verschiedener länder;" New Contributions towards the Mineralogical History of Different Countries, volume I. ibid, 1778, octavo, with three plates. "Physicalische-metallurgische Abhandlungen über die Gebirge und Bergwerke in Ungarn, &c. ;" Physico-metallurgic Essays on the Mountains and Mines in Hungary, with a Description of the Process for manufacturing Iron and Steel in Styria; Berlin, 1780, octavo, with four plates. "Nachricht von dern Anquiken der gold-und ribberhaltegen erze, &c.;" An Account of the Method of extracting Gold and Silver from the Ore in Hungary and Bohemia by Amalgamation; Berlin, 1787, octavo. "Untersuchung der hypothese von der ver wandlung der mineralischen körper in einander;" Examination of the Hypothesis respecting the Transmutation of Mineral Bodies; translated from the Transactions of the Imperial Academy of Sciences at Petersburgh, and published with some notes by the society of the Friendly Researchers into Nature at

I

two bottles of port a-day:" a concise and honest account of the matter, much more instructive than the cautions and varnished narrations which are so often presented by partial friends, or glossing biographers. The same noble person adds this attestation to his character: "He was one of the worthiest and modestest men that ever belonged to the court of Apollo. Tears arise when I think of him, though he has been dead above twenty years.' It is superfluous to add any further testimonials; nor shall we copy Pope's epitaph upon him, which is rather a tribute of affection, than a striking portrait. The poetry of Fenton, though preserved in the body of English poets, at present attracts little notice. Yet his "Ode to Lord Gower" was pronounced by Pope to be exceeded by none in the English language, except Dryden's on St. Cecilia's Day. It has, however, no resemblance to that piece, and its merit consists rather in Horatian amenity, than Pindaric sublimity. He has other odes, which possess harmony and poetic diction; epistles agreeable from their variety and ele gance; and translations displaying facility and sweetness of versification. He has some light pieces, in which the vivacity scarcely compensates the looseness. His tragedy of Mariamne, founded on the story of Herod, as related by Josephus, maintains a respectable rank among English dramatic compositions, particularly those of the poetical class, though it has disappeared from the stage. Johnson's Lives of the Poets. Anderson's British Poets.-A.

FERBER, JOHN JAMES, an eminent Swedish mineralogist, was born at Carlscrona on the 9th of September, 1743. He received a good education under the care of his father, who was assessor of the royal college of medicine; and being destined for the study of physic, he applied to that branch of knowledge in particular, but he did not confine himself within the narrow limits of that science; for his comprehensive mind soon embraced every thing that belongs to the province of natural philosophy. At a very early period of his life, Von Swaab, a member of the council of mines, and an able mineralogist, gave him leave to be present during his chemical processes for assaying metals; and in the year 1760 he repaired to Upsal, where he improved himself further under the instructions of Wallerius, Cronstadt, Linnæus, and other men of eminence. He resided also at the observatory with Mallet the astronomer, and under his directions studied the mathematics and astronomy. He profited so much by the lectures of Linnæus, and the botanical excursions which he undertook, that,

in the year 1763, he disputed De prolepsi Plantarum. He entered about the same time into an intimate friendship with the celebrated Bergman, whose Sciagraphia Regni Mineralis he afterwards published. In the above year he left Upsal, got an appointment in the College of Mines, made a tour through those provinces of Sweden where the principal mines are situated, and afterwards wrote at Carlscrona his "Diarium Flore Carolicoronensis," in consequence of which he received an honorary mark of distinction from the Royal Academy of Sciences at Stockholm. In the year 1765 he set out on his travels, which he continued so long and turned to so much advantage that he could with justice depend on his own observations; and therefore the warmth with which he expressed himself, and particularly towards some philosophers who had not studied nature on a grand scale, in the dispute carried on respecting the origin and structure of mountains, may be accounted for, and in some measure excused. He first proceeded to Germany, and resided some time at Berlin, where he studied chemistry under Pott and Markgraf; he made a considerable stay also at Leipsic, after which he visited the German mines in the Hartz forest, in the Palatinate, Bavaria, Nassau, Austria, &c.; then the mines in Bohemia, and particularly those in Hungary, where he formed an acquaintance with the celebrated Born, who ever after retained for him a sincere and steady friendship. He next proceeded to France and Holland, and thence to England, where he examined the mines of Cornwall and Derbyshire. While he remained in England some thoughts were entertained of engaging him to undertake a voyage to the South Sea with Mr. now sir Joseph Banks and Dr. Solander. almost all the mines he visited, and the countries he travelled through, he wrote valuable descriptions, which were published either by himself or his friends, or by some of those learned bodies of which he was a member. They have all met with the approbation of mineralogists; but his letters on Italy, published by his friend Born, are particularly interesting. The Italians themselves acknowledge that, though a foreigner, he was the first who made them acquainted with the natural riches of their country, as Winkelman first called their attention to many works of art contained in it, which had before escaped their notice. After his return to Sweden, he was invited, in the year 1774, by the duke of Courland to be professor of experimental philosophy and natural history in the high school of Mittau, which

Of

that prince had established. Here he married, in 1778, Agnes Elizabeth Jacobs, with whom he lived in a state of great conjugal happiness, and who accompanied him in the long journeys which he afterwards undertook. In the year 1781, with the consent of his prince, and at the request of the king of Poland, he made a mineralogical tour through the states of the latter, who rewarded him in a handsome manner for his trouble. In 1783 he removed to Petersburg to be professor of the natural sciences, in consequence of an invitation from the empress Catherine II., who even offered him the direction of all the mines in Siberia; but he declined this office on account of the state of his health, which was not suited to the cold of that severe climate. In the year 1786 he entered into the service of Prussia, and in 1788 made a tour through Anspach and Deux-Ponts to Switzerland, and thence to France. The observations he collected on this occasion were published partly by himself in two small works, and partly by Manuel, a Swiss, who had accompanied him some time during this mineralogical excursion, in Hopfner's Magazine for the Natural History of Helvetia. In consequence of a request made by the magistrates of Berne, he undertook a second journey of the same kind, with the consent of his Prussian majesty; but in the month of September that year, he was attacked during an excursion among the mountains in Millithal by a stroke of apoplexy, with which he had often been threatened, and being conveyed to Berne, with great difficulty, died there, in the forty-seventh year of his age, after a long and painful illness. During his illness the magistrates of that city behaved to him with great kindness and attention, which they continued to his widow after his death. He was buried in one of the church-yards, by the side of the celebrated Haller; for whom he had always entertained the utmost respect. His principal works are: "Briefe aus Welschland, über natürliche merk würdigkeiten dieses landes," &c.; Letters from Italy respecting the most remarkable Natural Productions of that Country, addressed to the editor, J. E. von Born, Prague, 1773, octavo. A French translation with notes and observations made in the different places, by B. de Dietrich, was published at Strasburgh in 1776; this translation, on account of the notes, is particularly interesting, because the translator was an Italian and examined many of the places which the author describes, by which means he was able to confirm Ferber's account, to enlarge it where

VOL. IV.

deficient, and to rectify it where incorrect. "Beiträge zu der mineralgeschichte von Böhmen ;" Collections towards a History of the Minerals of Bohemia; Berlin, 1774, octavo, with two plates: an excellent contribution towards the mineralogical history of the earth in general, and of the kingdom of Bohemia in particular. The author first describes the situation and division of the Bohemian mines, according to the mountains and different circles, and then proceeds to a description of the mines individually. "Beschreibung des quecksilberbergwerks zu Idria, &c;" A Description of the Quicksilver Mines at Idria; Berlin, 1774, octavo, with three plates. This description is taken partly from the observations made by the author himself at Idria, and partly from an authentic manuscript, of the accuracy of which he had an opportunity of being convinced by ocular testimony. As the accounts of these mines before published were exceedingly faulty and deficient, this work met with a very favourable reception. "Bergmänische nachrichten von den mineralogischen gegenden," &c.; An Account of the Mines in the most remarkable mineralogical Districts in the Countries of DeuxPonts, the Palatinate, and Nassau; Berlin, 1776, octavo, with two plates. The author undertook a tour through these countries, which were before little known, chiefly with a view of examining the different quicksilver mines, and the nature and structure of the mountains. "Versuch einer Oryktographie von Derbyshire;" An Attempt towards an Oryctography of Derbyshire; Mietau, 1776, octavo, with four copper-plates. "Neue Beiträge zur mineralgeschechte verschiedener länder;" New Contributions towards the Mineralogical History of Different Countries, volume I. ibid, 1778, octavo, with three plates. "Physicalische-metallurgische Abhandlungen über die Gebirge und Bergwerke in Ungarn, &c. ;" Physico-metallurgic Essays on the Mountains and Mines in Hungary, with a Description of the Process for manufacturing Iron and Steel in Styria; Berlin, 1780, octavo, with four plates. "Nachricht von dern Anquiken der gold-und ribberhaltegen erze, &c.;" An Account of the Method of extracting Gold and Silver from the Ore in Hungary and Bohemia by Amalgamation; Berlin, 1787, octavo. "Untersuchung der hypothese von der ver wandlung der mineralischen körper in einander;" Examination of the Hypothesis respecting the Transmutation of Mineral Bodies; translated from the Transactions of the Imperial Academy of Sciences at Petersburgh, and published with some notes by the society of the Friendly Researchers into Nature at

Berlin, 1788, octavo. "Mineralogische und metallurgische Bermerkung in Neufchatel, &c.;" Mineralogical and Metallurgic Observations made in Neufchatel, Franche-Comté, and Burgundy, in the year 1788, ibid, 1789, octavo, with plates. Hirsching's Manual of eminent Persons who died in the Eighteenth Century.-J. FERDINAND I., emperor of Germany, was second son of Philip, archduke of Austria, by Joanna of Castile. He was born in Spain in 1503, and, being educated in that country, was a greater favourite with the Spaniards than his elder brother Charles V. His grandfather, king Ferdinand of Arragon, had destined him for regent of his dominions, but was persuaded in his last will to alter that disposition. As the young prince seemed discontented with the change, he was brought to Madrid, and kept under the vigilant eye of cardinal Ximenes; and his brother afterwards sent him into Germany, under the pretext of visiting their grandfather, Maximilian. He married Anne daughter of Ladislaus king of Hungary and Bohemia, on which occasion Charles settled upon him both Austrias and all the domains appertaining to that house in Germany. When his brother-in-law, king Lewis, was slain at the battle of Mohatz in 1526, Ferdinand laid claim to both his crowns, of Hungary and Bohemia, and obtained them both by election. He was opposed in Hungary by John de Zapolles, count of Scepus, wayvode of Transylvania, who had a party in his favour; but this competitor being defeated at Tokay, Ferdinand entered into quiet possession of the kingdom. Through the influence of his brother, then emperor, he was elected king of the Romans in 1531, notwithstanding the opposition of the protestant electors of Saxony and Brandenburg. Hungary, in the mean time, was infested by invasions of the Turks, and the count of Scepus uniting with them, on condition of becoming their tributary, had gained possession of great part of the country. Ferdinand therefore found it expedient to enter into a treaty with him, by which the count was to enjoy all he had acquired, with the title of king of Hungary, during his life, but at his death the whole should revert to Ferdinand. John died, but left an infant son, who was recognised by the greatest part of the nation, by the name of king Stephen. Ferdinand marched an army to enforce the performance of the treaty; upon which Martinuzzi, the young king's guardian, called in the aid of Solyman, the Turkish emperor, who defeated the forces of Ferdinand, and

seized great part of Hungary for himself. Ferdinand afterwards submitted to pay him a tribute for the portion he still held. His attempts to extend his prerogatives in Bohemia, and render its crown hereditary, together with the progress of the reformation in that country, having occasioned an armed confederacy against the royal authority, Ferdinand at the head of a body of imperial troops dispersed it, and, disarming the people, reduced them to greater subjection than before. He treated the city of Prague with rigour, and abolished several of its privileges. In 1551, on the invitation of Martinuzzi, he sent an army to invade Transylvania, of which he obtained possession by the resignation of queen Isabella, mother of Stephen. Afterwards suspecting the fidelity of Martinuzzi, he caused him to be basely assassinated by means of some Italian and Spanish officers. He did not long possess the province he had thus acquired, for, by the aid of Solyman, it was recovered by Isabella in 1553. Notwithstanding Charles had procured his brother's election, as king of the Romans, to the succesion of the empire, he was induced by his boundless ambition to attempt to transmit the imperial crown to his own son Philip. Ferdinand's policy was therefore long occupied in thwarting this design; and for this purpose he favoured the accommodation with Maurice, duke of Saxony, which terminated in the peace of religion concluded at Passau in 1552. Charles after that period committed the management of German affairs almost entirely to Ferdinand, who opened the diet of the 'empire at Augsburg in 1555. In that, the peace of religion was established, and the toleration of the Protestants confirmed. Charles made one more attempt to persuade Ferdinand to renounce the succession in favour of Philip, but without success. He therefore, in 1556, executed a deed of resignation of the empire; and at the diet of Frankfort, in February, 1558, Ferdinand was unanimously declared emperor. The pope, Paul IV., whose fiery character led him to maintain all the lofty claims of his predecessors, refused to acknow ledge the resignation of Charles and succession of Ferdinand, because the consent of the holy see had not been previously obtained; but his remonstrances were disregarded; and although he continued firm in his refusal during the short remainder of his pontificate, his successor, Pius IV., thought proper to recognise the new emperor. The principal acts of Ferdinand, in his imperial capacity, consisted in some fruit