his new founded university of Alba Julia (or Weissenburg) and endowed him, though a mere stranger to him, with a very ample salary. During his travels he collated the several confessions of faith of the different sorts of Christians, Greeks, Armenians, Jacobites, Maronites, &c. which he kept by him in their own languages. His constant design and endeavour, whilst he remained in the East, was, to persuade the Christians of the several denominations there, to a canonical reformation of some errors; and to dispose and incline them to a communion or unity with the church of England, but his pious intentions were afterwards defeated by the artifices of court of France. Upon the restoration of king Charles II. Dr. Basier was recalled by his majesty to England, in a letter written to prince Ragotzi. But this unfortunate prince dying soon after, of the wounds he received in a battle with the Turks at Gyala, the care of his solemn obsequies was committed to the doctor by his relict, princess Sophia, and he was detained a year longer from England. At length returning in 1661, he was restored to his preferments and dignities; and made chaplain in ordinary to king Charles II. After quietly enjoying his large revenues for several years, he died on the 12th of Oct. 1676, in the 69th year of his age, and was buried in the yard belonging to the cathedral of Durham, where a tomb was erected over his grave, with an inscription. His character appears to have been that of a learned, active, and industrious man; a zealous supporter of the church of England; and a loyal subject. His son, John Basire, esq. who had been receiver general for the four western counties, died on the 2d of June 1722, in the 77th year of his age.

His works are, 1. "Deo et Ecclesiæ Sacrum; Sacrilege arraigned and condemned by St. Paul, Romans ii. 22," Oxford, 1646, 4to, London, 1668, 3vo. 2. "Diatriba de antiquâ Ecclesiæ Britannicæ libertate;" written on occasion of Chr. Justell's intended Geographia Sacro-politica, but which was never published. It was found in the lord Hopton's cabinet after his decease, by Richard Watson, an exile for his loyalty, who not only caused it to be printed at Bruges in 1656, 8vo, but also translated it into English, and published it under the title of "The ancient Liberty of the Britannic church, and the legitimate exemption thereof from the Roman patriarchate, discoursed on four positions, and asserted, &c." 1661, 8vo. III. "The his

tory of the English and Scotch Presbytery," Lond. 1659, 1660, 8vo." 4. "Oratio privata, boni Theologi (speciatim concionatoris practici) partes præcipuas complectens," Lond. 1670, 8vo, in half a sheet. 5." The dead man's real speech; being a sermon on Hebr. xi. 4. at the funeral of Dr. John Cosin, late bishop of Durham, 29th of April, 1672. Together with a brief (account) of the life, dignities, benefactions, principal actions and sufferings of the said bishop: And an Appendix of his profession and tice, and of his last will concerning religion." Lond. 1673, 8vo. Mr. Wood thinks he published some other things, but does not mention what they were. 1

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prac

BASINGE (JOHN), more commonly known by the name of Basingstochius, or de Basingstoke, was born at Basingstoke, a town in the north part of Hampshire, and thence took his surname. He was a person highly eminent for virtue and learning; a perfect master of the Latin and Greek languages; and also an eloquent orator, an able mathematician and philosopher, and a sound divine. The foundation of his great learning he laid in the university of Oxford, and, for his farther improvement, went to Paris, where he resided some years. He afterwards travelled to Athens, where he made many curious observations, and perfected himself in his studies, particularly in the knowledge of the Greek tongue. At his return to England, he brought over with him several curious Greek manuscripts, and introduced the use of the Greek numeral figures into this kingdom. He became also a very great promoter and encourager of the study of that language, which was much neglected in these western parts of the world: and to facilitate it, he translated from Greek into Latin a grammar, which he entitled "The Donatus of the Greeks." author's merit and learning recommended him to the esteem of all lovers of literature: particularly to the favour of Robert Grosteste, bishop of Lincoln, by whom he was preferred to the archdeaconry of Leicester, as he had been some time before to that of London. He died in 1252. The rest of his works are, 1. A Latin translation of a Harmony of the Gospels. 2. A volume of sermons. 3." Particulæ sententiarum per distinctiones," or a Commentary upon part of Lombard's Sentences, &c.-It was he also

Our

1 Biog. Brit.-Wood's Fasti, vol. I.-Hutchinson's Hist. of Durham, vol. II. p. 197.

that informed Robert, bishop of Lincoln, that he had seen at Athens a book called "The Testament of the XII Patriarchs." Upon which the bishop sent for it, and translated it into Latin, and it was printed among the "Orthodoxographa," Basileæ, 1555, fol. and afterwards translated into English, and often reprinted, 12mo.

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BASIRE (JAMES), an eminent English engraver, son of Isaac Basire, who was an engraver and printer, was born Oct. 6, 1730; and bred from infancy to his father's profession, which he practised with great reputation for sixty years. He studied under the direction of Mr. Richard Dalton; was with him at Rome; made several drawings from the pictures of Raphael, &c. at the time that Mr. Stuart, Mr. Brand Hollis, and sir Joshua Reynolds, were there. He was appointed engraver to the society of antiquaries about 1760; and to the royal society about 1770. As a specimen of his numerous works, it may be sufficient to refer to the beautiful plates of the "Vetusta Monumenta," published by the society of antiquaries, and to Mr. Gough's truly valuable "Sepulchral Monuments." With the author of that splendid work he was most deservedly a favourite. When he had formed the plan, and hesitated on actually committing it to the press, Mr. Gough says, "Mr. Basire's specimens of drawing and engraving gave me so much satisfaction, that it was impossible to resist the impulse of carrying such a design into execution." The royal portraits and other beautiful plates in the "Sepulchral Monuments" fully justified the idea which the author had entertained of his engraver's talents; and are handsomely acknowledged by Mr. Gough. The Plate of "Le Champ de Drap d'Or" was finished in 1774; a plate so large, that paper was obliged to be made on purpose, which to this time is called " antiquarian paper. Besides the numerous plates which he engraved for the societies, he was engaged in a great number of public and private works, which bear witness to the fidelity of his burin. He engraved the portraits of Fielding and Hogarth in 1762; earl Camden, in 1766, after sir Joshua Reynolds; Pylades and Orestes, 1770, from a picture by West; portraits of the Rev. John Watson, and sir George Warren's family; portraits also of dean Swift, and Dr. Parnell, 1774; sir James Burrow, 1780; Mr. Bowyer, 1782; portraits also of Dr. Munro, Mr. Gray, Mr. Thomp

1 Biog. Brit. Leland.-Pitts.-Tanner.

son, Lady Stanhope, Sir George Savile, Bishop Hoadly, Rev. Dr. Pegge, Mr. Price, Algernon Sydney, Andrew Marvell, William Camden, William Brereton, 1790, &c. &c.; Captain Cook's portrait, and other plates, for his First and Second Voyages; a great number of plates for Stuart's Athens (which are well drawn). In another branch of his art, the Maps for general Roy's "Roman Antiquities in Britain" are particularly excellent. He married, first, Anne Beaupuy; and, secondly, Isabella Turner. He died Sept. 6, 1802, in his seventy-third year, and was buried in the vault under Pentonville chapel.-The ingenuity and integrity of this able artist are inherited by his eldest son, of whose works it may be enough to mention only the "Cathedrals," published by the society of antiquaries, from the exquisite drawings by Mr. John Carter. A third James Basire, born in 1796, has already given several proofs of superior excellence in the arts of drawing and engraving. '

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BASKERVILLE (Sir SIMON), knight, of the ancient family of the Baskervilles in Herefordshire, an excellent scholar and eminent physician, famous for his skill in anatomy, and successful practice in the time of king James I. and king Charles I. was born at Exeter 1573. His father Thomas Baskerville, an apothecary of that city, observing an early love of knowledge and thirst after learning in him, gave him a proper education for the university, to which he was sent when about eighteen years old, entering him of Exeter college, in Oxford, on the 10th of March 1591, putting him under the care of Mr. William Helm, a man no less famous for his piety than learning; under whose tuition he gave such early proofs of his love of virtue and knowledge, that he was on the first vacancy elected fellow of that house, before he had taken his bachelor's degree in arts, which delayed his taking it till July 8,1596, to which he soon after added that of M. A. and when hẻ was admitted, had particular notice taken of him for his admirable knowledge in the languages and philosophy. After this, viz. 1606, he was chosen senior proctor of the university, when he bent his study wholly to physic, became a most eminent proficient, and was then in as great esteem at the university for his admirable knowledge in medicine, as he had been before for other parts of learning, taking at once, by accumulation (June 20, 1611), both

Nichols's Life of Bowyer, vol. III.

his degrees therein, viz. that of bachelor and doctor. After many years study and industry, he came to London, where he acquired great eminence in his profession; being a member of the college of physicians, and for some time also president. His high reputation for learning and skill soon brought him into vogue at court, where he was sworn physician to James I. and afterwards to Charles I. with whom, Mr. Wood tells us, he was in such esteem for his learning and accomplishments, that he conferred the honour of knighthood upon him. By his practice he obtained a very plentiful estate, and shewed in his life a noble spirit suitable to the largeness of his fortune. What family he left besides his wife, or who became heir to all his great wealth, we cannot find. He died July 5, 1641, aged sixty-eight, and was buried in the cathedral church of St. Paul. No physician of that age could, we imagine, have better practice than he, if what is reported of him be true, viz. that he had no less than one hundred patients a week; nor is it strange he should amass so great wealth as to acquire the title of sir Simon Baskerville the rich. '

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BASKERVILLE (JOHN), a celebrated printer, was born at Wolverley, in the county of Worcester, in 1706, heir to a paternal estate of 60l. per annum, which fifty years after, while in his own possession, had increased to 90%. He was trained to no occupation, but in 1726 became a writing-master at Birmingham.-In 1737 he taught at a school in the Bull-ring, and is said to have written an excellent hand. As painting suited his talents, he entered into the lucrative branch of japanning, and resided at No. 22, in Moor-street; and in 1745 he took a building lease of eight acres two furlongs, north-west of the town, to which he gave the name of Easy Hill, converted it into a little Eden, and built a house in the centre: but the town, daily increasing in magnitude and population, soon surrounded it with buildings.-Here he continued the business of a japanner for life: his carriage, each pannel of which was a distinct picture, might be considered the pattern card of his trade, and was drawn by a beautiful pair of cream-coloured horses. His inclination for letters induced him, in 1750, to turn his thoughts towards the press. He spent many years in the uncertain pursuit, sunk 6007. be

1 Biog. Brit.-Prince's Worthies of Devon.-Wood's Fasti, vol. I.-Lloyd's Memoirs, fol. p. 635.