Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume VIII.djvu/265

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GRETRY was often a blacksmith) signed a certificate of marriage, which was also signed by two wit- nesses, and then the union became perfect and indissoluble. When they were English, the marriage service of the church of England was sometimes used. The number of these mar- riages celebrated at Gretna and the other bor- der villages has been said to have averaged about 500 a year. GRETRY, Andre Ernest Modeste, a French com- poser, born in Liege, Feb. 8, 1741, died at Montrnorency, near Paris, Sept. 24, 1813. At six years of age he was placed in the choir of the cathedral at Liege, was subsequently in- structed in music by some of the masters of the place, and at 18 went to Rome, where he pur- sued his studies for eight years. Going to Paris, he encountered many disappointments, and was on the point of leaving the city in de- spair when MarmonteFs libretto, Le Huron, founded on Voltaire's tale, was put into his hands. In a few weeks the music was ready, and the first performance of the opera raised Gr6try to the first rank of composers. It was followed by Lucile, Zemire et Asor (success- fully produced upon th'e English stage under the title of "Selima and Azor"), Cephale et Procris, Richard Cosur de Lion, Barbe-Bleue, and many others, both serious and comic ; and for nearly 40 years G retry enjoyed a popu- larity in France which the efforts of rival com- posers could never impair. Sixteen years after his death (1829) his Guillaume Tell was pro- duced in Paris with great care, and evoked such enthusiasm that the composer's bust was brought upon the stage attended by the prin- cipal singers, who crowned it with laurels. His principal operas are full of grace and spirit, and the music is melodious and dramatic. The authors of his librettos were in nearly every instance men of genius, which will in a mea- sure account for the uniform success of his works. He was one of the principal founders of the French comic opera. In 1780 he pub- " .ed Essais sur la musique (3 vols. 8vo). GREUZE, Jean Baptiste, a French painter, born Tournus, Burgundy, in 1726, died in Paris, arch 21, 1805. He began as a portrait paint-

failing in which, he devoted himself to pic-

res of genre. His first works in this class, A Father explaining the Scriptures to his amily," and "The Paralytic Father," gained him admission to the academy as an associate. For this occasion he painted a historical piece, " Severus reproaching his son Caracalla," which the academy refused to notice, declaring that his admission was wholly due to his merit as a painter of genre. Greuze was ambitious to become a historical painter, and went to Rome to study the old masters ; but he soon re- turned to his former style, in which to the end of his career he enjoyed a great reputation. His pictures are. highly prized by collectors, and command enormous prices. Among the most celebrated are "The Blind Man Cheated," "The Village Bride," "The Broken Pitcher," GREY 251 "The Unnatural Father," and "The Little Girl and the Dog ;" the last is by many con- sidered his best picture. These and many others have been repeatedly engraved. GREVILLE, Sir Fulke (Lord BKOOKE), an Eng- lish statesman, born in Warwickshire in 1554, died in London, Sept. 30, 1628. He studied both at Cambridge and Oxford. In 1597 he was knighted, and for several years represented his native county in parliament. In 1615 he was made under treasurer and chancellor of the exchequer, and in 1620 became Baron Brooke. His death was caused by a wound received from an enraged domestic who did not consider his services adequately rewarded. He was the author of several works, including "Life of the renowned Sir Philip Sidney" (1652) ; " A Treatise of Human Learning, in 15 stanzas;" "A Treatise of Warres, in 68 stan- zas;" two tragedies, letters, minor poems, &c. There are two collections of his writings: " Certaine Learned and Elegant Workes of Rt. Hon. Fulke Lord Brooke, written in his Youth and familiar Exercise with Sir Philip Sidney" (fol., 1633); and "Remains of Sir Fulke Gre- ville, Lord Brooke" (8vo, 1670). "The Five Years of King James " (4to, 1643), which bears his name, is probably not authentic. GREVY, Francois Paul Jules, a French politi- cian, born at Mont-sous- Vaudrez, Jura, Aug. 15, 1813. He became an advocate at Paris, and acquired influence as an opponent both of socialism and of Bonapartism, and after the February revolution was a member and vice president of the constituent and legislative assemblies from 1848 till Dec. 2, 1851. In 1848 he proposed that the executive should be chosen by the national assembly, and hold office at its pleasure, with the title of president of the council of ministers. In 1868 he was named Mtonnier of the order of advocates. He was elected to the corps legislatif in 1868 and 1869, and in 1871 to the national assembly by three departments, taking his seat for that of Jura, his old constituency. He was presi- dent of the assembly from March, 1871, to April, 1873; but declined the invitation of President Thiers to serve longer in that capacity. He published in 1873 Le gouvernement necessaire. GREW, Nehemiab, an English physician, born in Coventry about 1628, died in London, March 25, 1711. He was the first Englishman who studied vegetable anatomy and physiology, and was elected in 1677 secretary of the royal so- ciety. His principal works are : " The Anat- omy of Plants, with an Idea of the Philosophi- cal History of Plants " (fol., 1682) ; " Cosmolo- gia Sacra, or a Discourse of the Universe as it is the Creature and Kingdom of God" (fol., 1701); and "A Catalogue and Description of the Natural and Artificial Rarities belonging to the Royal Society." GREY, a W. county of Ontario, Canada, bounded N. E. by Georgian bay and Owen sound, and watered by Saugeen river and smaller streams; area, 1,800 sq. m. ; pop. in