But, though the inflexible rigour, with which he asserted, on all occasions, the rights of his consistory, procured him many enemies, yet nothing could shake the steadiness of his mind. It would be difficult to believe, that in the midst of violent agitations at home, he could take so much care as he did, of the churches abroad, in France, England, Germany and Poland: but such was his zeal for the cause, in which he had embarked, that he was always engaged, and almost constantly had his pen in his hand, even when sickness confined him to his bed. This eminént man died, May 27th 1564, aged 55. His works were printed together at Amsterdam, in 1671 in 9 vols. folio: the principal of which, are his institutions in Latin, and his commentaries on the Holy Scripture.

Calvin is universally allowed to have had great talents, an excellent genius, and profound learning. His style is grave and polite. lis morals were exemplary; for he was pious, sober, chaste, laborious and disinterested. But his enemies alledge, that "his memory never can be purified from the stain of burning Servetus." We plead not for persecution. We grant that it ill became a reformer to exercise that spirit of intolerance in the church of Geneva, which had so much contributed to drive him from the church of Rome. But let the age, in which he lived, plead some excuse for the excess of his zeal. Reforma. tion was then but in its commencement, and mankind had not got rid of the idea, that heretics were unworthy to live. Even in latter times, the first settlers of New-England, actuated by the same spirit of intole rance, put to death several Quakers, although they themselves had but just escaped from the galling yoke of ecclesiastical tyranny. But, while we regret the fatal effects of that bigotry, from which our first reformers were not able to divest themselves, we ought never to forget, that to those men we owe the dawn of that light and liberality of sentiment, which we

now enjoy, and which is daily spreading far and wide to illuminate and harmonize the world.

CAMDEN, (WILLIAM) the great antiquarian, was born in London, in 1551. Having gone through a regular course of education at the university of Oxford, where he was placed in the humble station of a servitor, he came to London in the year 1571, where he prosecuted his favourite study of antiquity, under Dr. Goodman, Dean of Westminster, by whose interest, he was made second master of Westminster school in 1575. The work, which has immortalized his name, is his "Britannia," being "a history of the ancient inhabitants of Britain, their origin, manners and laws," which he published in Latin, in 1586. In 1593, he succeeded to the head-mastership of Westminster school: and in 1597, published a new Greek grammar, entitled "Grammatices Græcæ institutio compendiaria, in usum regia Schola Westmonasteriensis," which was introduced into all the public schools of England, and continues to be used in that country, as well as in most of the colleges of the United States, even to this day. About this time, he was promoted from the laborious life of a schoolmaster, to be Clarenceux king at arms, an appointment for which he was peculiarly well qualified, and which afforded him more leisure to attend to his favourite pursuits. In 1607, he published his last edition of his Britannia, which is that from which the English translations have been made; and in 1608, he began to digest his materials for a history of the reign of Queen Elizabeth. The first volume of this work, was not published till 1615, and he determined, that the second should not appear till after his death. The reign of Queen Elizabeth was so recent, when the first volume was published, that many of the persons concerned, or their dependants were still living. It is no wonder, therefore, that this honest Vol. I. No. 7. H3

historian should offend those, whose actions would not bear enquiry. Some of his enemies were clamorous and troublesome, which determined him not to publish it during his life. It did not, therefore, appear till the year 1625, when the first edition was published at Leyden.

Not contented with having employed his pen in the service of the republic of letters, he also founded a professorship of history in the university of Oxford, in 1622, and died at Chislehurst in 1623, in the 73d year of his age.

Camden was a man of singular modesty and integrity profoundly learned in the history and antiquities of Great-Britain, and a judicious and conscientious historian. He was esteemed by the literati of all nations, and will ever be remembered as an honour to his age and country.

CAMOENS, (LEWIS) a celebrated Portuguese poet, called the Virgil of Portugal, from his much admired poem "the Lusiadas, or conquest of the Indies," was born at Lisbon, in 1517. He studied in the university of Coimbra, and gave proofs of his genius for poetry, when young. When he left the university, he appeared at court, from which, however, he was soon banished, for having aspired to the affections of a lady above his rank. On this, he retired to the country, where he renewed his studies, and began his poem, on the conquest of India. John III. at this time, prepared an armament against Africa. Camoens, tired of his inactive and obscure life, went to Ceuta in this expedition, where he sig nalized himself as a good soldier, upon many occasions; but, at last, had the misfortune to lose his right eye in an engagement. During his continuance in the army, neither the hurry of actual service, nor the dissipation of the camp, could stifle his genius. He went on with his Lusiad, and several of his most

DICTIONARY.

beautiful sonnets were written, in Africa, while, as he expressed it,

"One hand the pen, and one the sword employ'd

The fame of his valour had now reached the court, and he obtained permission to return to Lisbon. But while he solicited an establishment he had merited in battle, the malignity of evil tongues was immediately poured upon him. Though the bloom of his youth was effaced by long residence, under the scorching sun beams of Africa, and dsifigured by the loss of an eye, his presence gave uneasiness to some families of the first rank, where he had formerly visited. Jealousy is the characteristic of the Spaniards and Portuguese; its resentment knows no bounds, and Camoens now found it prudent to banish himself from his native country. He accordingly, in 1533, sailed for India, with a fixed determination never more to return. But, alas! little did he know that he had many evils to encounter in the east, which would awaken the remembrance of his native fields.

Upon his arrival at Goa, in India, without any rest on shore, after his long voyage, he joined an armament, which was ready to sail against the Algada islands, in the conquest of which, he displayed his usual bravery. When he returned to Goa, he, for sometime, enjoyed a tranquility, which enabled him to bestow his attention on his epic poem. But this serenity was soon interrupted, perhaps by his own imprudence. He had written some satires, which gave offence, and, by order of the viceroy, Francisco Baretto, he was banished to China. His accomplishments, however, soon found him friends, even under this disgrace; and he was appointed commissary, in the island of Macao, a Portuguese settlement, in the bay of Canton. Here, as often as his leisure would admit, he went on with his Lusiad, and, after five years residence, acquired a fortune equal to his wishes. Braganza was now viceroy of India; and

Camoens, desirous of returning to Goa, resigned his
charge. He set sail in a ship freighted by himself,
but was wrecked in the gulf, near the mouth of the
river Mehon, on the coast of China. All he had
acquired was lost, as he tells us in the 7th Lusiad.

"Now bleft with all the wealth fond hope could crave,
Soon I beheld that wealth, beneath the wave

Forever loft

My life, like Judah's Heav'n-doom'd king of yore,
By miracle prolong'd."

His poems, which he held in one hand, while he swam with the other, were all that he possessed, when he stood friendless on the unknown shore. But the natives gave him a most humane reception, which he has immortalized in his tenth Lusiad. On the banks of the Mehon, he wrote his beautiful paraphraze on the 137th psalm, in which the Jews, in the finest train of poetry, are represented as hanging their harps on the willows, by the rivers of Babylon, and lamenting their exile from their native country. Here Camoens continued some time, till an opportunity occurred to carry him to Goa.

When he arrived at that city, Braganza, the viceroy, admitted him into intimate friendship, and Camoens was happy, till Count Rodondo assumed the government. But now, those who had formerly procured his banishment, exerted all their arts against him. Rodondo, when he entered on office, pretended to be the friend of Camoens; yet, he soon after, suffered him to be thrown into the common prison. Camoens, however, in a public trial, fully refuted every accusation against his conduct, whilst commissary at Macao, and his enemies were loaded with ignominy. But Camoens had some creditors, who detained him in prison a considerable time, till the gentlemen of Goa, ashamed that a man of his singular merit should experience such treatment amongst them, obtained his liberty. He again assumed the