Page:Cousins's Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature.djvu/338

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Dictionary of English Literature

author for high treason, which his death prevented from taking effect. His chief fame, however, rests upon his spiritual and devotional works, such as Christ Dying and drawing Sinners to Himself, but especially upon his Letters, which display a fervour of feeling and a rich imagery which, while highly relished by some, repel others.

Rycaut, or Ricaut, Sir Paul (1628-1700).—Historian, was at Camb., and held various diplomatic positions. He wrote Present State of the Ottoman Empire (1668), and a continuation of Knolles's General Historie of the Turks, and translated Platina's Latin History of the Popes.

Rymer, Thomas (1641-1713). —Archæologist and critic, ed. at Camb., became a barrister at Gray's Inn. He pub. in 1678 Tragedies of the last Age Considered, in which he passed judgments, very unfavourable, upon their authors, including Shakespeare. He was of much more use as the collector of English treaties, which he pub. under the title of Fædera, in 20 vols., the last 5 of which were ed. after his death by R. Sanderson (q.v.). R. also pub. poems and a play, Edgar. He held the office of historiographer to William III. His learning and industry have received the recognition of many subsequent historians.

St, John, H., (see Bolingbroke.).

Sala, George, Augustus Henry (1828-1895). —Journalist and novelist, b. in London of Italian ancestry, began life as an illustrator of books and scene-painter, afterwards taking to literature. He contributed to many periodicals, including "Household Words", and the "Illustrated London News", and was the founder and first ed. of Temple Bar. Among his novels were The Buddington Peerage and Quite Alone. He also wrote books of travel, and an autobiographical work, his Life and Adventures (1895).

Sale, George (1697?-1736). —Orientalist, a Kentish man, and practising solicitor. In 1734 he pub. a translation of the "Koran". He also assisted in the "Universal History", and was one of the correctors of the Arabic New Testament issued by the S.P.C.K.

Sanderson, Robert (1587-1663).—Theologian and casuist, b. of good family at Rotherham in Yorkshire, was at Oxf. Entering the Church he rose to be Bishop of Lincoln. His work on logic, Logicæ Artis Compendium (1615), was long a standard treatise on the subject. His sermons also were admired; but he is perhaps best remembered by his Nine Cases of Conscience Resolved (1678), in consideration of which he has been placed at the head of English casuists. He left large collections of historical and heraldic matter in MS.

Sands, Robert Charles (1799-1832).—Miscellaneous writer, b. at New York, was a scholarly and versatile writer, but without much originality. His best work is in his short stories. His chief poem was Yamoyden, an Indian story written in collaboration with a friend.

Sandys, George (1578-1644).—Traveller and translator, s. of an Archbishop of York, b. at Bishopsthorpe, and ed. at Oxf., is