buried in the cemetery of that town. At the period of his death he was chancellor and knight grand cross of St. Michael and St. George, and also a knight of the Guelphic order. By Sarah his wife, youngest daughter of John Davison, Esq., he left a large family. His chief literary productions were—"The Life of William Davison, secretary of state and privy councillor to Queen Elizabeth;" "Notitia Historica;" "A Synopsis of the Peerage" (a new and excellent edition of which, by Mr. Courthope, Somerset Herald, has recently appeared under the title of the Historic Peerage); "Testamenta Vetusta;" "The History of the Battle of Agincourt;" "The Life of Chaucer;" "The Reports on the L'Isle Peerage Case;" "The History of the Earldoms of Strathern, Menteith, and Airth;" "The Scrope and Grosvenor Controversy;" "The Siege of Caerlaverock;" "The Chronology of History;" "the Life of Sir Christopher Hatton;" "The Banbury Case;" "The History of the Orders of Knighthood of the British Empire;" "Lord Nelson's Despatches;" and "The History of the British Navy." All these works are characterized by extensive learning and minute accuracy—a merit which renders them authorities on the subjects of which they treat.—B. B.
NICOLAUS À LYRA. See Nicholas of Lyra.
NICOLAUS CUSANUS. See Nicholas of Cusa.
NICOLAUS DAMASCENUS. See Damascenus.
NICOLAUS MYREPSUS, whom Friend reckons the last of the Greek writers on medicine, was a physician, who lived not later than the end of the thirteenth century. There is evidence to show that he was a contemporary with Pope Nicholas III., who died in 1280; and his writings are quoted by several authors of the early part of the fourteenth century. He appears to have lived at Nicæa and at Alexandria, and ultimately at Constantinople. From his residence at Alexandria he is sometimes called Alexandrinus. Myrepsus is the author of a work named "Antidotarium," which is a collection of the various prescriptions for compound medicines dispersed throughout the writings of the Greeks and Arabians. He quotes largely from the works of Actuarius. His dispensatory gives a curious picture of the then state of science. He frequently prescribes the baptismal water as a medicine, and recommends as curative processes the repetition of verses from the Psalter, Aves, Credos, &c. A Latin translation of his work by L. Fuchsius was published at Basle, 1549.—F. C. W.
NICOLAY, Ludwig Heinrich von, a German poet, was born December 29th, 1737, at Strasburg, where, after completing his studies, he obtained the chair of logic. In 1769 he was appointed tutor to the Grand-duke Paul of Russia, and some years after entered the Russian administrative service. A patent of nobility was conferred upon him, and he was rapidly promoted to the highest offices; in 1801 he was even nominated privy councillor and member of the cabinet. After the death of the Emperor Paul, his former pupil, he retired to his estate of Monrepos, near Wiborg, in Finland, where he died November 18th, 1820. Among his numerous poetical works are his "Fables" and "Comic Tales," which latter, written in the manner of Wieland, take a high rank. His dramatic works on the contrary are of no importance.—(See Life, by Gerschau.)—K. E.
NICOLE, François, an eminent French mathematician, was born in Paris on the 23d of December, 1683, and died there on the 8th of January, 1758. He wrote several mathematical memoirs of great merit, most of which were published by the Academy of Sciences. The most important was one which treats of the calculus of finite differences.—W. J. M. R.
NICOLE, Pierre, a famous Jansenist, and one of the most celebrated of the Port Royalists, was born at Chartres in 1625. His father, who was a parliamentary advocate, was well versed in the ancient languages, and Pierre was early imbued with a love of classical literature. He received his education at Paris, and studied divinity at the Sorbonne, taking his degree of B.D. in 1649. During his college course he became acquainted with the recluses of Port Royal, and attracted by their profound piety and austerity, he joined the society, and employed himself in giving instruction to the pupils confided to that institution. After having completed his ordinary theological curriculum of three years, he prepared for license; but his sentiments not being those of the faculty of Paris, or those of any catholic university, he was obliged to content himself with his baccalaureat. Jansenius had just then thrown the Roman catholic church into commotion. Pascal, the great champion of Jansenism, published in 1656 his immortal Provincial Letters, which Nicole translated into Latin, accompanying his version with a commentary. He was then travelling in Germany. On his return he retired to Chatillon, near Paris, with Arnauld, whose restless energy and fiery zeal were tempered by the calmness and moderation of Nicole. They ardently devoted themselves to their cherished pursuits. Their joint production, "L'Art de Pénser," a logical treatise of pre-eminent merit, was issued from this retreat. In 1664 appeared Nicole's celebrated Work, "Perpetuité de la Foi," of which Hume was so great an admirer, a book considerably expanded by him afterwards. In 1676 he was induced to seek orders, but the bishop of Chartres refused to ordain him. The Duchess de Longueville, the ardent friend of the Jansenists died; and in 1677 Nicole was obliged to leave Paris, the immediate occasion of his flight being a letter which he had written to Innocent XI., for the bishops of Pons and Arras, on the relaxations of the casuists. He took refuge in the Low Countries, but in 1679 he obtained liberty to return to France. He lived privately for some time at Chartres, taking part in the discussion then agitated with respect to the proper studies to be pursued in monastic institutions. He joined with Mabillon in opposing an exclusive asceticism, and argued for a devotion to science and learning. Along with Bossuet, he opposed the quietists, but with a mildness and candour which nobly contrast with the asperity and malignity of the bishop. In 1583 he removed to Paris, and spent his time in incessant composition, having issued a treatise only a few days before his death. This happened in 1695, after an illness of two years. His death-bed was crowded with friends, among whom was his old enemy Racine. He desired to be inferred without ceremony, but his wish was disregarded, and some of the most celebrated men of France followed his remains to the grave. Few writers have received higher praise than Nicole. His mind was distinguished both for depth and clearness; his metaphysical ability was remarkable, and his learning immense.—D. G.
NICOLL, Robert, poet, was born on the 7th January, 1814, in the farmhouse of Little Tulliebeltane, in the parish of Auchtergaven, Perthshire. His father, of the same name, was then a substantial farmer; his mother was Grace Fenwick, affording another instance of a mother's fostering care and impress on genius, as she was well known for her strength of mind and indomitable perseverance amidst difficulties. The father, by the too common occurrence of "striking hands" as security for a stranger, became ruined in fortune; he honestly surrendered his last farthing, and descended into the rank of day-labourers, yet with unsullied character and undiminished respect by all who knew his virtues. His wife took up a little shop for the purchase of rural commodities, which she afterwards carried to Perth and resold in the market. Thus did these two emblems of the sturdy independence of Scotch peasantry decently bring up a large family, without help from any one. Robert spoke when about nine months old, knew his letters when twice that age, and at five years old he read the New Testament. He then attended for a time the parish school; but at seven years of age he was sent to the herding during summer, and in winter he attended school, paying the school fees with his wages earned on the hillside. During these years he was a voracious reader. He sought earnestly for books from all who had them, and had the heart to lend them. It was his custom to read them whilst herding his flock, and on the road to and from school. From his studious habits his schoolmates, who are of that class that are ever ready to give, and happy in their names, affixed to him the significant appellation of "the minister." When about twelve years of age he was taken from the herding, and put to labour at the garden of a neighbouring proprietor; then at school in winter he enlarged his stock of knowledge by overtaking the Latin Rudiments, and made some little advance in geometry. A book club was established in the neighbouring village; and in a letter to a friend he says—"When I had saved a sufficient quantity of silver coin I became a member. I had previously devoured all the books to be got in the parish for love, and I soon devoured all those in the library for money." "I got many new works, and among the rest the Waverley Novels. With them I was enchanted. They opened up new sources of interest and thought, of which I before knew nothing. I can yet look with no common feelings on the wood in which, while herding, I read Kenilworth." At the age of thirteen Nicoll began to commit his thoughts to paper, and to indulge in rhyme. About this time he was bound an apprentice
