Fabian in the year 250, the Roman see was vacant for seventeen months, and was probably administered by Novatian during the vacancy. It was natural that he should aspire to become Fabian's successor; but on the 4th of June, 251, the presbyters elected his rival, Cornelius, who was not only milder in his views of discipline, but was also a decided episcopalist, while Novatian clung to what was still left of the disciplinary powers of the presbyters as distinguished from bishops. The rejection of Novatian was a severe disappointment to his supporters, including the presbyter Novatus of Carthage, who was then on a visit to Rome, by all of whom he was urged to set up a separate communion. He opposed this step for some time, but at length was prevailed upon to agree to it, and to organize schismatic congregations in Italy and other countries. For this purpose he induced three country bishops (his enemies say by dishonourable means) to confer upon him episcopal consecration, two of whom were deposed by Cornelius for this offence, while the third is alleged to have been pardoned as a reward for inventing a calumnious version of the transaction. Novatian himself and all his abettors were excommunicated by a synod assembled by Cornelius at Rome, consisting of sixty bishops and a much larger number of presbyters and deacons. But this did not hinder the schismatics from gaining an extensive footing in almost all parts of the church. Bishop Fabius of Antioch was disposed to side with Novatian against Cornelius; but Dionysius of Alexandria and Cyprian of Carthage declared strongly against him, and the latter succeeded in detaching from him many of his most influential supporters among the Roman confessors. Still, numerous schismatic congregations were formed in the interest of Novatianism, both in the west and east and south of the Roman empire. The date of Novatian's death is not known. He was the author of a work on the Trinity, "Regula fidei, sive de Trinitate," in which he opposed the views of the Monarchians, and put forth much the same thoughts on the Godhead as those of Hippolytus and Tertullian.—P. L.
NOVATUS, a presbyter of Carthage of the third century, signalized himself by his opposition to the high episcopal views of Cyprian, the bishop of that see, and by his strenuous support of the schism of Novatian at Rome. Our only accounts of his character and proceedings come to us from the epistles of Cyprian, who manifests so much heat against his insubordinate presbyter that it is reasonable to make large deductions from the serious moral accusations which he lays against him, especially as the bishop had found in Novatus one of the most zealous opponents of his election to the see. The truth is, that Novatus was one of a party of presbyters in Carthage who were justly jealous of the growing pride and encroachments of the bishops, and who continued to assert for presbyters the power of the keys, or the right of administering the discipline of the church independently of the bishops. In the absence of Cyprian from Carthage, during the persecution of Decius in the year 250, Novatus had given effect to these views in dealing with those members of the church of Carthage who had for a time lapsed into idolatry; and he had also, without the knowledge of his bishop, ordained Felicissimus to the office of deacon, who soon after resisted the commissaries of the bishop in an attempt to interfere with his diaconal jurisdiction. Cyprian looked upon all parties who had taken any share in these proceedings as guilty of schism, and not only excommunicated Felicissimus and several of his abettors, but on his return to Carthage in 251 assembled a synod which confirmed the excommunication and extended it to his whole party among the presbyters, including Novatus. Hence the rise of a schismatic church in Carthage (which set up Fortunatus, one of the excommunicated presbyters, as its bishop), contemporaneously with the formation of the Novatian schism at Rome. And hence also the sympathy between Novatus of Carthage and Novatian, and the stimulus which the former, having arrived in Rome, gave to the rise of the new Novatian sect.—(See preceding article.)—P. L.
* NOVELLO, Clara (Countess Gigliucci), the eminent singer, is the daughter of the late Vincent Novello. She was born on the 10th of June, 1818. At the age of nine years her parents placed her under the care of their friend, Mr. John Robinson, organist of the Catholic chapel, York, in order that she might derive, at one and the same time, the advantages of country air and diet, with those of judicious preparatory tuition, as well in singing as pianoforte playing. Miss Hill of York was her first singing teacher. Here, under regular discipline, Clara laid the foundation both of her subsequent excellence as a vocalist and of her fine health. There are many in York who remember the small clear and childish treble of little Clara Novello at the Catholic chapel in that city. In the year 1829 she returned home to London, and highly amused her parents, while she excited their fond anticipations by her exhibitions of professional progress. In the same year her father and mother, upon their return from a visit to the widow and sister of Mozart at Saltzburg, happening to take Paris in their way, found that a vacancy for a pupil in the singing school for church music was to be filled up in the course of a few days. Mr. Novello instantly made interest with M. Choron, the admirable and respected head master of the establishment, in behalf of his daughter Clara, who was fortunately at that time on a visit in Boulogne. It was necessary that she should undergo a trial and examination previous to admission, whereupon her mother instantly left Paris, and in three days produced her daughter for the trial. She sang one or two pieces (the Agnus Dei of Mozart's Mass No. 1, and the Soldier Tired); when the business was concluded in her favour, against nineteen competitors. It was in this excellent academy that she acquired her solid and firm sostenuto, from singing (without the instruments) the choral pieces of Palestrina, Leo, Handel, &c. The cause of her quitting Paris arose from the ecclesiastical establishment being broken up, at the breaking out of the revolution in 1830. Upon her return to her native country, she made her debut here in public at the benefit concert of Mrs. Sewel), at Windsor, where she sang in the duet, Forsake me not, from Spohr's Last Judgment, and the little ballad, Chagrin d'amair. Shortly after this, she received an engagement for the whole series of twelve Ancient Concerts; and, in the same season, the compliment of being engaged by the directors of the Philharmonic Concerts, where she sang Per pieta of Mozart. In the same year, 1833, she made her first appearance at a provincial festival in Worcester; and, in 1834, she formed one of the orchestra at the centenary celebration of Handel in Westminster abbey. In the same year, the members of the Philharmonic Society again testified their appreciation of her talent, by electing her an associate of their institution. She was at that time only sixteen years old. After a long course of study in Italy and Germany, Clara appeared on the stage in 1841 at Milan, Bologna, &c., and was everywhere received with enthusiasm. In 1843 she appeared at Drury Lane theatre, in a translation of Paccini's Sappho, and achieved a triumph, in spite of the poorness of the music. Clara Novello's style is purely correct and rational. She takes no unwarrantable liberties with her author; and what graces she introduces are never redundant or at variance with the character of her music. Her sostenuto is remarkable for firmness, equality, and extension. This valuable qualification in her singing is attributable to her early practice of the long suspensions that constantly occur in the choral music of Palestrina, and which formed part of her almost daily lesson while in Paris. On the 22d of November, 1843, this accomplished lady was married to the Count Gigliucci, of Fermo, in the Roman States. She is now understood to have retired from the profession.—E. F. R.
NOVELLO, Vincent, an eminent musician, was the son of an Italian named Giuseppe, settled in London with his English wife. He was born on the 6th of September, 1781; and early showed a marked predilection for music. He would slip away from meals, to employ his spare time in finding out chords on an old pianoforte, where once he had learnt his notes. These were taught him by a friend of his father, one Signer Quellici; and this was the only direct instruction ever received by the young Vincent in his favourite art. After receiving his education in France, he was placed as a choir-boy at the Sardinian Embassy's chapel, Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. Samuel Webbe was organist there; and an acquaintance with him and with Danby, organist of the Spanish Embassy's chapel, Manchester Square, were among Vincent's early incentives to musical study. While still a mere lad, he officiated as deputy for these organists. He was not more than sixteen years of age when he became organist of the Portuguese Embassy's chapel in South Street, Grosvenor Square, and began to teach when he himself was hardly more than a learner. But his taste and aptitude for the science, together with his native industry and perseverance, early rendered him a proficient in harmony, as well as a skilful executant. In 1811 he published a "Selection of Sacred Music," in two volumes. In this work he displayed so much judgment, taste, learning,
