while the other, mademoilivres towards the expences After his death they trans

some of the plates in his work; selle Fleury, contributed 5000 of the first volume of his work. ferred their kindness to his relations, a sister and two nieces whom he had sent for to reside at Paris, but to whom he was not able to leave much.

The love of study and retirement was so strong in him that he entirely neglected opportunities of making his way in the world. "I like better," he used to say, "to pay court to the public, than to individuals whom that public despises." In his need, for he was long unprovided for, he knew how to contract his wants, and never was ashamed to own that in the first years of his residence at Paris he brought himself to live on bread and water, which he preferred to the more painful necessity of soliciting his friends. His modesty was equal to his learning, which all acknowledge was extensive and profound. In the first volume of his great work, "Le monde primitif,” we find him acknowledging with the greatest exactness, as well as gratitude, every assistance he derived from books, or living authors. The French academy, knowing his merit and modesty, adjudged him twice the prize of 1200 livres, which was founded by count de Valbelle as a recompense to authors who had made the best use of their talents.

At length the first volume of his "Le monde primitif" made its appearance in 1773, and was continued until it extended to 9 vols. 4to, in which he endeavours to trace the history of the moral and physical world to its origin. Perhaps no man ever endeavoured to compass so great a variety of objects; and although the author has indulged in some paradoxical notions, yet his learning, extensive reading, and sentiment, create a reverence for his talents, and it is not without reason that the French rank this work among those which have done the greatest honour to their nation. D'Alembert was so struck with the first volume, that he asked if it was the academy of forty (the number of the French academy) that were employed in executing so vast an undertaking, and expressed the greatest astonishment, when told that Gebelin was the sole author.

The continual labour, however, which Gebelin bestowed on this, and his other works, is supposed to have hastened his death, although this was not the only cause to which that event has been attributed. A stone had formed in his kidnies, which although voided by nature, brought on

symptoms of decay, and he unfortunately had recourse to Mesmer, the noted quack, who by his animal magnetism seemed to afford him relief. Gebelin was so grateful, as to write a book in favour of Mesmer and his remedy, and had scarcely finished it, when a return of his complaints put an end to his useful life, May 10, 1784. As a protestant he could not be buried in catholic ground. His remains were therefore removed to the gardens of his friend and biographer comte D'Albon at Franconville, where a handsome monument was erected to his memory, with this inscription: "Passant, venerez cette tombe-Gebelin y repose."

Gebelin was one of the most learned men of his time, and not only familiar with the ancient and modern languages, but with natural history, mathematics, mythology, ancient monuments, statues, gems, inscriptions, and every species of knowledge and research which goes to form the accomplished antiquary. Besides the "Monde primitif," he published, 1. "Le Patriote Français et impartiale," 1753, 2 vols. 12mo. 2. "Histoire de la guerre des Cevennes, ou de la guerre des Camisards," 1760, 3 vols. 12mo. 3. "L'Histoire Naturelle de la Parole, ou precis de la Grammaire Universelle," 1776, 8vo. This forms a part of his "Monde primitif." 4. "Dictionnaire etymologique et raisonné des racines Latines, a l'usage des jeunes gens," 1780, 8vo. 5. "Lettre sur le Magnetisme Animal," 4to; his defence of this quackery, which for a time was too much encouraged even in this country. 6. "Devoirs du prince et du citoyen," a posthumous publication which appeared in 1789, 8vo.1

GEBER (JOHN), a physician and astronomer, who wrote a commentary on the "Syntaxis Magna" of Ptolemy, in nine books, and several other works, is supposed to have been a Greek by nation; some call him "the Arabian," and others say that he was born at Seville in Spain of Arabian parents. There is as much diversity of opinion as to the age in which he flourished, some contending for the seventh, some for the eighth, and some for the ninth century. His commentary above mentioned was published at Nuremburg in 1533. In it he endeavoured to correct the astronomy of Ptolemy, but Copernicus called him rather

1 Dict. Hist. in Court.-Meister's Portraits des Hommes Illustres.-Eloge par Comte D'Albon.

the calumniator of Ptolemy. He was a learned chemist, and as such has been mentioned with respect by the great Boerhaave; but he was also addicted to the reveries of Alchemy, and condescended to use occasionally a jargon suited to the mystic pretensions of those fanciful writers. Dr. Johnson was of opinion, that gibberish is best derived from this unintelligible cant of Geber and his followers: anciently, he alledges, it was written gebrish. Notwithstanding this, it is allowed that his writings contain much useful knowledge, and that the accuracy of many of his operations is surprizing. The other works of Geber now extant are, 1. "His Astronomy, or demonstrative work of Astrology" in nine books, printed at Nuremberg in 1533. 2. "His three Books on Alchymy," published at Strasburg, with one "De investigatione perfecti Magisterii,” in 1530; and also in Italy from a MS. in the Vatican. 3. "On the Investigation of the truth of Metals, and on Furnaces, with other works," Nuremberg, 1545. 4. "A book called Flos Naturarum," published in 1473. 5. Also his " Chymica," printed by Perna, with the chemical works of Avicenna. All these were published in English at Leyden, by Richard Russel in 1668. His Almagest is also extant in Arabic. As a specimen of his language, he used to say, "my object is to cure six lepers," meaning that he wished to convert six inferior metals into gold.'

GED (WILLIAM), an ingenious though unsuccessful artist, who was a goldsmith in Edinburgh, deserves to be recorded for his attempt to introduce an improvement in the art of printing. The invention, first practised by Ged in 1725, was simply this. From any types of Greek or Roman, or any other character, he formed a plate for every page, or sheet, of a book, from which he printed, instead of using a type for every letter, as is done in the common way. This was first practised on blocks of wood, by the Chinese and Japanese, and pursued in the first essays of Coster, the European inventor of the present "This improvement," says James Ged, the inventor's son, "is principally considerable in three most important articles, viz. expence, correctness, beauty, and uniformity." In July 1729, William Ged entered into partnership with William Fenner, a London stationer, who was to have half the profits, in consideration of his ad

art.

1 Moreri.

vancing all the money requisite. To supply this, Mr. John James, then an architect at Greenwich (who built sir Gregory Page's house, Bloomsbury church, &c.) was taken into the scheme, and afterwards his brother, Mr. Thomas James*, a letter-founder, and James Ged, the inventor's son. In 1730, these partners applied to the university of Cambridge for printing bibles and common-prayer books by block instead of single types, and, in consequence, a lease was sealed to them April 23, 1731. In their attempt they sunk a large sum of money, and finished only two prayer-books, so that it was forced to be relinquished, and the lease was given up in 1738. Ged imputed his disappointment to the villainy of the press-men, and the illtreatment of his partners (which he specifies at large), particularly Fenner, whom John James and he were advised to prosecute, but declined it. He returned to Scotland in 1733, and had no redress. He there, however, had friends who were anxious to see a specimen of his performance; which he gave them in 1744, by an edition of Sallust+. Fenner died insolvent in or before 1735, and his widow married Mr. Waugh, an apothecary, whom she survived. Her effects were sold in 1768. James Ged, the son, wearied with disappointments, engaged in the rebellion of 1745, as a captain in Perth's regiment; and being taken at Carlisle, was condemned, but on his father's account (by Dr. Smith's interest with the duke of Newcastle) was pardoned, and released in 1748. He afterwards worked for some time as a journeyman, with Mr. Bettenham, and then commenced master; but being unsuccessful, he went privately to Jamaica, where his younger brother William was settled as a reputable printer. His tools, &c. he left to be shipped by a false friend, who most ungenerously detained them to try his skill himself. James died the year after he left England; as did his brother in 1767. In the above pursuit Mr. Thomas James, who died in 1738, expended much of his fortune, and suffered in his proper business; "for the printers," says Mr. Mores, "would not employ him, because the block-printing, had it succeeded, would have been prejudicial to theirs.” Mr.

* George James, another brother, was printer to the city of London; a man of letters, and resided many years in Little-Britain.

"Edinburgi, Gulielmus Ged, Au

rifaber Edinensis, non Typis mobilibus, ut vulgò fieri solet, sed Tabellis seu Laminis fusis, excudebat, MDCCXLIV." The daughter's narrative says it was finished in 1736.

William Ged died, in very indifferent circumstances, October 19, 1749, after his utensils were sent for Leith to be shipped for London, to have joined with his son James as a printer there. Thus ended his life and project, which has lately been revived both in France and England, under the name of stereotype, although its application to the printing of books has hitherto been partial, and indeed chiefly confined to such as are supposed not to admit of changes or improvements, such as Bibles, and some school-books.'

GEDDES (ALEXANDER), a Roman catholic divine, who attempted to translate the Bible, with a view to destroy its credibility, was born in 1737, in the parish of Ruthven, and county of Bamff, in Scotland. His parents, who were Roman catholics, in very humble life, possessed but a few books, among which was an English Bible, to the study of which their son applied very early, and is said to have known all its history by heart before he was eleven years old. At the age of fourteen he was sent to Scalan, a free Roman catholic seminary in the Highlands, of obscure fame, where he acquired only an acquaintance with the vulgate Latin Bible. Having attained the age of twentyone, he was removed to the Scotch college at Paris, where he made such proficiency in his studies as very much attracted the attention of his preceptors. Here school divinity and biblical criticism occupied the principal part of his time; and he endeavoured also to make himself master of the Greek and Latin languages, and of the French, Spanish, German, and Low Ďutch.

In 1764 he returned to Scotland, and was ordered to Dundee to officiate as priest among the catholics in the county of Angus, but was scarcely settled when he received an invitation to become a resident in the family of the earl of Traquaire, in what capacity, unless as a friend, does not appear. He accepted, however, an offer so favourable to the pursuit of his studies; and here, as well as at Paris, he regulated his inquiries so as to be preparatory to the plan he had long conceived, of giving a new translation of the Bible. His residence here was unfortunately interrupted by an attachment he formed for a female relative of the earl of Traquaire's, and which was reciprocal; but regarding his vow of celibacy as sacred, and his passion otherwise invincible, he left the family, and went again to

Biographical Memoirs of William Ged, 1781, 8vo.-Nichols's Bowyer. VOL. XV.

BB