manager of Messrs. Thomson's large printworks at Clitheroe; but not finding this work consonant with his tastes, he in 1843 accepted the professorship of chemistry in the Royal Institution in Manchester. Here he prosecuted chemical researches with vigour, and became popular as a lecturer. Two years after this he was about to proceed to Toronto to fill a professorship in the university there, to which he had been nominated by Faraday, when Sir Robert Peel appointed him one of her majesty's commissioners for inquiring into the health of towns; and at the conclusion of his commission appointed him chemist to the geological survey and lecturer in the government school of mines. Here he carried on his researches with Mr. H. De la Beche on various kinds of coals. Up to 1851 Dr. Playfair was much engaged in making scientific inquiries for government, and the experience which he thus acquired in public business led to his being selected as special commissioner to the Great Exhibition. For his services on that occasion he was made companion of the bath in this country, and officer of the legion of honour in France. He also received an appointment in the household of the prince consort. He left the school of mines in 1853 to take charge of the department of science and art attached to the board of trade; and in 1858, on the death of Dr. William Gregory, he was elected by the town council of Edinburgh professor of chemistry in the university. This situation he now fills with great ability and success. He is an F.R.S. of London and Edinburgh, fellow of the Chemical Society, and a member of various societies in this country and in Europe. Dr. Playfair's writings relate to chemical physics, organic chemistry, and the chemistry of the industrial arts. At the general election in 1868 he was chosen to represent the universities of Edinburgh and St. Andrews in the house of commons.—J. H. B.
PLAYFAIR, William, an ingenious mechanical inventor and prolific writer, brother of the celebrated Professor Playfair, was born in 1759. At an early age he showed a decided taste for mechanics, which induced his friends to apprentice him to a millwright. At a subsequent period he was engaged as a draughtsman by the celebrated James Watt. His unsettled disposition seems to have prevented him from steadily prosecuting his profession; and although he made many useful mechanical discoveries, they appear to have yielded little profit to the inventor. Among the most important of these may be mentioned the discovery of the French telegraph, the manufacture of sashes composed of copper, zinc, and iron, and the construction of a rolling mill on a new plan. While occupied with these pursuits, he busied himself with the composition of a vast number of pamphlets on a variety of subjects, literary and political. He at one time carried on the business of a silversmith in London. He next proceeded to Paris, where he assisted in forming the colony of Scots in America. When the Revolution broke out, he narrowly escaped arrest as an aristocrat. He succeeded in reaching London, however, where he projected a security bank for lending money in small sums, but through carelessness and mismanagement it became bankrupt. On the downfall of Napoleon Mr. Playfair returned to Paris, where he became editor of Galignani's Messenger. But a prosecution for libel compelled him once more to take up his residence in London. Thenceforward he depended for subsistence upon his pen. His writings were for the most part of a fugitive character, connected with the politics and passing events of the day. His separate publications are said to amount to about a hundred. Among his larger works were—a "History of Jacobinism;" an edition of Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations, with notes; and "British Family Antiquities," in 9 vols., 4to, splendidly illustrated. The closing years of Mr. Playfair's laborious but unsettled life were spent in poverty, if not in actual want. He died at Covent Garden in 1823, in the sixty-fourth year of his age.—J. T.
PLEYDENWURFF, Wilhelm, a German artist, who flourished towards the close of the fifteenth century. To him in conjunction with Wohlgemuth, is commonly ascribed the engraving of the woodcuts in the celebrated Nuremburg Chronicle of 1493, "Michel Wohlgemuth and Wilhelm Pleydenwurff, painters and citizens of this city" (Nuremburg), being mentioned at the end as having "adorned this book with figures." But there is no independent evidence that Pleydenwurff engraved on wood, and it is therefore probable that he made some of the designs only. Nothing further is known respecting him.—J. T—e.
PLEYEL, Ignace, a musician, was born in 1757 at Rupperstahl, a small village within a few leagues of Vienna. He was the twenty-fourth child of Martin Pleyel, a schoolmaster of that place, and of a lady of noble family, disinherited by her parents on account of what they deemed so imprudent a marriage. She died in giving him birth. The young Ignace learned, according to the German custom, his own tongue, the elements of the Latin language, and music, all at the same time. His natural disposition for the latter induced his father to give him Vanhall as a master; and at the age of fifteen he was placed under the instruction of Haydn, with whom he lived five years, at the expense of one hundred louis per annum—a large sum at that period, which was defrayed by the Count Erdody, a wealthy Hungarian nobleman, who, struck by the talents and manners of the youth, took him under his protection. In 1777 his patron allowed him to visit Italy, and at Naples his genius for instrumental music was evinced in a set of quartets, in which were first displayed that originality of melody which is the characteristic of all his works, and a manner entirely his own. At this city Pleyel was introduced to the king, who received him with much kindness, and desired him to compose an opera; his "Irigenia in Aulide" was in consequence produced, which proved successful, but it was the first and last work of the kind from the same pen. In 1783 Pleyel was appointed chapel-master of the cathedral of Strasburg, and composed sacred masses and motets. From the above period to the year 1793, he produced nearly all those works which wafted his fame into every city in Europe. Scarcely any instrumental music was willingly listened to but that which he had created. In 1791, Saloman having engaged Haydn to compose symphonies for his concerts, the managers of a rival institution named the "Professional Concert" sent for Pleyel to supply works of similar kind, who arrived in London, and produced a symphony of considerable merit, as well as a charming concertante; but in the contest with the father of this high class of composition he had no chance. The concert, which was under the direction of feeble-minded persons, failed, and Pleyel did not add to his reputation by the part he had taken in it; though he was a pecuniary gainer to the amount of £1200, with which sum he purchased an estate near Strasbourg. Suspected of aristocratic opinions, Pleyel was in 1793 denounced no less than seven times to the republican authorities at Strasbourg, and at length fled, but was pursued and taken. He was severely interrogated, and protested his civisme; though required, as a proof of his sincerity, to set the music to a kind of drama for the anniversary of the 10th of August. He of course consented, and was allowed to return home to compose the work, but under the guard of two gendarmes, and almost with the axe suspended over him. After an uninterrupted labour of seven days, the music was finished, then performed under the author's direction, and afforded so much satisfaction to the Strasbourgers, that the author never after was suspected of encouraging politics at all adverse to the government. Little satisfied, however, with an occurrence which had put on so threatening an aspect, Pleyel sold his estate in 1795, went to Paris with all his family, and entered into a commercial speculation, becoming publisher of music and manufacturer of pianofortes. The enterprise proved successful, and the business is still carried on by his son. After a laborious career, Pleyel retired to enjoy an estate, far distant from Paris, purchased by the fruits of his talents and industry, and indulged his taste for agriculture. His happiness seemed complete; when the revolution of July alarmed a mind somewhat enfeebled by age. His fears for the security of his property agitated a frame not very strong; his anxieties increased; and after three months of suffering, he died on the 14th of November, 1831.—E. F. R.
PLINIUS, Caius Secundus, commonly called the Elder, was born at Comum a.d. 23. At an early age he repaired to Rome, where he availed himself of the instruction of the best masters. When twenty-three years old he accompanied Pomponius Secundus to Germany, and had the command of a troop. While in that country he appears to have visited several places. He was also in Belgium. While so engaged he wrote his work "De Jaculatione Equestri," and began a history of the German wars, which was completed afterwards. Having returned to Rome at the age of twenty-nine, he studied jurisprudence, and practised as a public pleader. During Nero's reign he lived in private, probably at his native place. Towards the end of it he became procurator of Spain; and while there, his brother-in-law died, leaving to Pliny's care his son, afterwards the younger Pliny. Returning in a.d. 72 he adopted his nephew. The
