destined for any particular profession. He wrote poems and essays. In 1775 he became a contributor of critical papers to the Mercure de France, then supported by some of the first literary men of the day. Being a musician as well as writer, he took part in the controversy which raged the following year as to the merits of the German and Italian schools of music—a controversy provoked by the representation of an opera on the same subject from Glück and Picini. Italian melody, sustained by Ginguené, was supposed to have triumphed over harmony; but the victory was by no means complete, as the present popularity of the German master in Paris itself sufficiently proves. In 1780 this gifted man was glad to accept a situation in the office of the minister of finance, of which the emolument was only sufficient to enable him to follow out his literary labours with independence. We learn that he was an unsuccessful competitor for a prize essay and a prize poem, both of which seem to have been won by persons whose names have not been preserved. When the Revolution broke out, the general enthusiasm was shared by Ginguené, who hailed the meeting of the states-general with an ode. As he still continued his contributions to periodicals, his bold condemnation of the terrorists made him a marked man. He was thrown into prison, and only escaped the guillotine through the overthrow of Robespierre. Under the government of the directory, he was appointed a commissioner of public instruction, and became the chief director of education, and helped to reorganize public schools. His reputation rose so high that he was appointed minister-plenipotentiary to Turin, where he went at the end of the year 1797, but did not long retain his post. It is suspected that he devoted his time more to Italian literature than to diplomacy; besides, he was of too honest and bold a nature, and not supple enough for the work of intrigue in which Italy was to be involved. Elected a member of the tribunal in 1799, he gave offence by the boldness with which he denounced the creation of special tribunals, depriving people of their ordinary judges; and when, some months after, he found himself amongst the outgoing members, he wisely renounced politics for literature. It was in 1802 that he began those lectures upon the literary history of Italy, which, continued through successive years, eventually assumed the shape in which this great work is known to the world. A member of the Institut, as remodelled by the emperor, he took an important part in the labours of the section or class to which he belonged. Besides his Italian history, he wrote an account of the French troubadours of the thirteenth century, published fables, chiefly derived from his favourite Italian poets, and edited an edition of Letourner's translation of Ossian's poems, a work which singularly influenced the literary mind of the empire. Ginguené died on the 11th November, 1816.—J. F. C.
GINKLE, Godart de, first earl of Athlone, one of the most distinguished of the generals of William III. of England, was born at Utrecht about the year 1630. His family was one of distinction in Holland; and at an early age he commenced his military life, so that he had attained to the rank of general of cavalry before the prince of Orange was called to England, whither he accompanied him in 1688, and, after some service there, passed over with the prince to Ireland, and took a conspicuous part in the memorable battle of the Boyne on the 1st of July, 1690. William's confidence in Ginkle was such that on leaving Ireland, he intrusted the entire management of the army to him as commander-in-chief, committing the civil administration to two lords-justices. Lord Sidney and Thomas Coningsby. During the winter of 1690-91, the country was kept in a state of continual disturbance by the rapparees. With these depredators Ginkle had to contend, as well as to restrain the lawlessness and discontent of the troops, who were disorganized for want of their pay. In these duties he displayed vigour, judgment, and humanity. In May, 1691, Ginkle collected the greater part of the English forces near Mullingar, preparing to open the campaign, having Talmash and Mackay under his command; thence he passed to Ballymore, which speedily surrendered. Repairing the fortifications and leaving a garrison, he marched upon Athlone, one of the most important military stations in Ireland, and took up his position close to the walls, while the French general, St. Ruth, lay encamped on the Connaught side of the Shannon. To take Athlone appeared to St. Ruth to be a rash and hopeless enterprise, and he expressed his astonishment that so experienced a commander as Ginkle should attempt it. "His master," said he to D'Usson, "ought to hang him for trying to take Athlone, and mine ought to hang me if I lose it." Nevertheless, in a series of brilliant assaults, which the pen of Macaulay has vividly described, Ginkle became master of the town on the 30th of June. The victorious general, with characteristic humanity, proclaimed, at his own risk and against the will of the lords-justices, a free pardon and security for all who would submit. It was, however, unavailing, and accordingly, after repairing the fortifications of Athlone, he passed to Ballinasloe on the 11th of July, and thence to Aughrim castle, near which the Irish, under St. Ruth, were collected in full force. Then followed the memorable and bloody battle of Aughrim. The details of that hard-fought field occupy a large page in history, and attest the skill, bravery, coolness, and perseverance of Ginkle. Victory, long dubious and changing, at length declared for the English. St. Ruth was slain; the Irish, fighting inch by inch with obstinate valour, at length broke and fled. A horrible carnage ensued; and an eye-witness declares that from the top of the hill he saw the country, to the distance of nearly four miles, white with the naked bodies of the slain. Ginkle next marched upon Galway, which, after a show of resistance, capitulated, and the victor then turned his steps to Limerick, the last stronghold of James' troops, and on the 14th of August encamped within fourteen miles of the city. The siege of Limerick commenced on the 25th. The resistance of Sarsfield was long and brave, the valour of the besiegers indomitable, the resources and ingenuity of their general as fertile as they were daring. At length, after a bloody engagement at the Thomond Gate, on the 22nd of September, a parley ensued, and after much negotiation, the celebrated treaty of Limerick was signed on the 2nd of October, by the lords-justices and Ginkle, thus putting an end to the Irish war and the sovereignty of James II. During the negotiations a characteristic incident occurred; a misunderstanding arising between Sarsfield and Ginkle, the former said he was in the power of the latter. "Not so," replied Ginkle, "but you shall go in again, and do the worst you can." The war over, Ginkle returned to Dublin on the 8th of November, where he was honourably entertained. In London his reception was equally flattering. The house of commons sent a deputation, headed by the speaker, with their thanks, and he was created Earl of Athlone and Baron of Aughrim in the Irish peerage, on the 28th of February, 1692. A grant of forfeited lands was made in his favour, which, however, was revoked by the act of resumption, so that he does not appear to have had any territorial possessions in Ireland. Attaching himself still to his royal master, he attended him to Flanders, in command of the Dutch cavalry. In 1693, he was president of the court-martial on the trial and condemnation of Grandval for the plot to assassinate William. He was present at the battle of Lauden in the same year, and narrowly escaped drowning in the endeavour to restore order in the retreat. He fought under Marlborough in 1702, having the chief command of the Dutch forces as veldt-marshal. He died in February, 1703, at Utrecht, after two days' illness. He left two sons, the eldest of whom attained a high military position in the Dutch service. In 1795 the sixth earl took his seat in the Irish house of lords. Ginkle was an able general, uniting in a high degree qualities not always associated. He was bold, yet cautious; vigorous and prompt, yet cool and self-possessed; his presence of mind always equal to the emergency, his sagacity rarely at fault; and let it not be forgotten that he was humane and just, ever anxious to spare the effusion of blood, ready to fight the enemy, but readier still to receive his submission. On the death of Wilhelm Gustauf Frederick, the tenth earl, 21st March, 1844, the title became extinct.—The name Ginkle is variously spelt by different writers, but that in the text is alone correct. The writer of this memoir was favoured by Sir Bernard Burke, Ulster king-of-arms, with an inspection of the original book of the lords entries, signed by the sixth earl on taking his seat, in which the name is spelt as above.—J. F. W.
GIOBERT, Giovanni Antonio, was born on 28th October, 1761, at Mongardino, near Asti. In 1802 he was appointed to fill the chair of chemistry and mineralogy in the university of Turin, having been for the two preceding years professor of agriculture. In 1789 he was made a member of the Turin Academy. Among his rather numerous publications may be mentioned a treatise on indigo, which was published in Paris in 1813 at the cost of Napoleon. Giobert was a member of the provisional government of Piedmont in 1798. His death took place at
