effective that it was exerted by one who pretended to no scientific knowledge of the problems of social economy, and who wrote more from sympathetic observation than from reflection, more from the heart than from the head. The circumstances of the time at which "Mary Barton" was published—one of European discussion on the rights and wrongs of the working-classes—and the curiosity which had been roused respecting life in Lancashire by the recent victories of the anti-corn-law league, contributed to deepen and widen the effect which, in any case, so striking a fiction could scarcely have failed to produce. "Mary Barton" has gone through several editions. To that published in 1854 were appended two lectures on the Lancashire dialect by the author's husband, to whom, it is understood, are due the philological notes on that dialect which accompanied the original edition of Mrs. Gaskell's first novel. Sirs. Gaskell's next appearance in literature was the publication in 1850 of "Moorland Cottage," which had no higher pretensions than those of a Christmas tale. Mr. Dickens now started his Household Words, to which Mrs. Gaskell was a constant contributor of tales and sketches. The fruits of this connection were evidenced by the republication, from Household Words, of "Cranford," "Lizzie Leigh," and other tales; "Round the Sofa," and of "Right at Last." "Cranford" belongs to the most successful of Mrs. Gaskell's works; with its pictures of life and character in an old-fashioned, English country town, rivalling Miss Austin in delicacy of observation, and full of a quaint and peculiar humour. Mrs. Gaskell's second novel, "Ruth," appeared in 1853, and from the nature of the subject was not so popular as its predecessor. In "North and South," republished in 1855, with alterations and additions, from Household Words, Mrs. Gaskell regained any little prestige which she may have lost by "Ruth;" and seldom have the conflicting, yet in the end harmonizing claims of culture and refinement on the one hand, and of industrial energy and probity on the other, been so strikingly and truthfully depicted in their contrast and final reconciliation. Mrs. Gaskell's latest work of any extent is "The Life of Charlotte Bronte," published in 1857, a touching narrative, which has gone through a number of editions. Mrs. Gaskell died on the 12th of November, 1865—F. E.
* GASPARIN, Adrien Etienne Pierre, Comte de, born 29th June, 1783, at Orange, a French statesman, and distinguished for his investigations into the science of agriculture. Suffering from a wound which he had received, he relinquished the profession of arms, after serving in the campaigns of Italy in 1796-97, and Poland in 1806, and devoted himself to the study of agriculture and political economy. As the son of Thomas-Aug. de Gasparin (noticed below), he was one of the legatees of Napoleon under the famous will dated 24th April, 1821. Opposed to the government of the Restoration, he took no part in public affairs from 3rd May, 1814, till the flight of Charles X. on 30th July, 1830; but, shortly after the accession of Louis Philippe, on 7th August, 1830, he was elected deputy of the department of Vaucluse, and as prefect, at first of the Loire, and on 20th September, 1830, of the Isère, he proved himself a wise and resolute magistrate. The promptitude and energy which he displayed as prefect of the Rhone during the fatal riots of 15th April, 1834, at Lyons, were acknowledged, on the 19th of the same month, by his elevation to the peerage, and by his appointment as commander of the legion of honour. Appointed under-secretary of state on 4th April, 1835, he entered the cabinet on 6th September, 1836, as minister of the interior, and, during an administration of seven months, introduced some valuable reforms in regard to prisons, and asylums for the insane. In 1837 he was appointed grand officer of the legion of honour. As minister of agriculture and commerce, he was a member of the interim cabinet of 13th November, 1839, till its dissolution on 12th May, 1840. Since the revolution of 26th February, 1848, count de Gasparin, forsaking the arena of politics, has busied himself in establishing the science of agriculture upon the basis of political economy and of the physical sciences. Among his numerous works, many of which have obtained prizes from various learned bodies, are a treatise "On Small Properties;" "Course of Agriculture;" and "Principles of Agronomy." Count de Gasparin is a member and office-bearer of various scientific societies. On 29th June, 1840, he was chosen a member of the Institute of France. He accepted, after some hesitation, the presidency of a national institute of agriculture, founded by decree of the assembly after the revolution of 1848; but on 27th September, 1852, this society was suppressed by the prince-president of France.—R. V. C.
GASPARIN, Thomas-Augustin de, a French soldier and politician, was born in 1750, and died in 1793. His family, which was protestant, belonged to the illustrious house of the Gaspari of Corsica. Gasparin was serving in the army when the Revolution broke out. He eagerly welcomed the new doctrines, and represented the department of the Bouches-du-Rhône both in the legislative assembly and the national convention. He voted for the death of the king. Subsequently, he was mostly with some part of the army in the capacity of inspector. He was present at the siege of Toulon, and there made so much of Napoleon, then a lieutenant-colonel, that he used to say it was Gasparin who had opened up to him the path to power.—R. M., A.
GASPARINI, Francesco, a musician, was born at Lucca about 1665, and died at Rome in April, 1727. He studied under Corelli and Bernardo Pasquini, for the sake of whose instructions he first went to Rome, where he passed a great part of his life. About the year 1700, he was at Venice with the title of Academico filharmonico, and filling the office of director of the Conservatorio della Pietá. It was probably then that he gave lessons to the famous Marcello, whose noble family resided at Venice, and selected Gasparini as the most desirable person to develope his musical talent. So great was his reputation both as a composer, and a performer on the harpsichord, that Alessandro Scarlatti confided to him the instruction of his son Domenico. In acknowledgment of this compliment, Gasparini sent a cantata to the father of his famous pupil, which Scarlatti returned with the addition of an extra aria. This drew a second cantata from him, and that a second response from his correspondent; and thus these two famous men cemented their friendship by the interchange of that homage which each owed to the other. "Tiberio," Gasparini's first Opera, was produced at Rome in 1702; but this was preceded by a collection of cantatas for a solo voice, the second edition of which was printed at Lucca in 1695. He obtained great popularity as a composer of cantatas, a class of music then greatly in vogue, and wrote many besides the set just mentioned. He produced in all thirty-two operas, three of which were first represented after his death. The only one of his dramatic works that was performed in London was "Ambleto"—founded on our Hamlet—which was given here in 1712, seven years after it had been produced in Venice. Gasparini wrote also for the church; but of all his labours that which longest survived him, and was probably of the most service to art, was his perspicuous elementary treatise on harmony, "L'Armonico prattico al cembalo." This is generally supposed to have been first printed at Rome in 1708, M. Fetis, however, names an edition, dated Venice, 1683; and if this be authentic, we must marvel at such a work having proceeded from so young a man as its author must then have been. It was many times reprinted, the last edition bearing date 1802; and this proves the high esteem with which the book was regarded for more than a century. Two years before his death, Gasparini was appointed maestro di capella of the church of S. Giovanni di Laterano in Rome; but his ill health compelled him, before he had held the office a twelvemonth, to give half the salary to Chiti to act as his deputy, who ultimately succeeded him in the engagement.—Michelangelo Gasparini is supposed to have been a brother of Francesco; he also was born at Lucca towards the end of the seventeenth century. He was a pupil of Lotti at Venice for composition, produced some successful operas, and was distinguished as an alto singer, and particularly as a teacher of singing, having been the master of the celebrated Faustina.—G. A. M.
GASPARINO, Barzizzo or Barzizza, so called from the name of an obscure village near Bergamo, where he was born in 1370. He devoted a great part of his life to teaching, in which he was remarkably successful. In 1401 he was called to Milan by the then reigning duke, Galeazzo Visconti, who sent him to Pavia; and in 1406 he went to Venice, where he delivered public lectures on the classics, and was appointed professor of ancient literature in the newly-founded university of Padua. During the war of 1412, Gasparino was forced, together with the other Paduan professors, to repair to Venice, where he was reduced to such a state of indigence that he was compelled to dispose of all his books. At the restoration of peace he resumed his duties in the university of Padua, and devoted himself to the study of Cicero, acquiring by that means such a knowledge
