him at home, and employed him in laying out the fruit gardens of Versailles, which he did with great success. He left "Instructions for Gardens."—P. E. D.
LARCHER, Pierre-Henri, a distinguished classical scholar, was born at Dijon in 1726. He studied at first among the jesuits, and afterwards at the college of Laon. Subsequently he visited England, and on his return translated into French some of the works of Swift, Pope, and other English authors. In 1763 he published a version of Charito's Loves of Chæreas and Callirhoe, by which he proved his ability as a Greek scholar. In 1767 he brought out a supplement to Voltaire's Philosophy of History, by which he was involved in a controversy with the satirical author. In 1775 he published a curious memoir upon Venus, and in 1778 a translation of the Anabasis. About this time he was made a member of the Academy. Having been requested to revise a version of Herodotus by Bellanger, he found in it so many mistakes that he resolved upon executing a new one. Upon this work he spent several years, and in 1786 published the result in 7 vols. 8vo, entitled the "History of Herodotus, translated from the Greek, with historical and critical remarks, an essay on the chronology of Herodotus, and a geographical index." A second edition corrected and enlarged, in 9 vols., came out in 1803. This is Larcher's great work; and although not much honoured now is of considerable value, especially for its notes, in which a vast amount of information is embodied. In 1791 he wrote critical remarks upon the Ethiopics of Heliodorus, and at different times he contributed a number of papers to the Memoirs of the Academy of Inscriptions. In 1809 he was appointed professor of literature at the imperial university; but his great age prevented him from undertaking the duty, and he died in December, 1812.—B. H. C.
LARDNER, Dionysius, LL.D., an industrious scientific writer, was born in Dublin on the 3rd of April, 1793, and died at Naples on the 4th of May, 1859. He was educated at Trinity college, Dublin, of which, from 1817 till 1827, he was a fellow and tutor; from 1828 till 1840 he was professor of natural philosophy in University college, London. He was a fellow of the Royal Society and other scientific bodies. He wrote a long series of manuals of mathematical, mechanical, and physical science, remarkable for their clear style and good arrangement.—R.
LARDNER, Nathaniel, D.D., a celebrated ecclesiastical writer, was born in 1684 at Hawkhurst in Kent, where his father, the Rev. Richard Lardner, was a dissenting minister, who sent his son to London to study under the Rev. Dr. Oldfield. In 1699 he went to Utrecht, where the famous Grævius and Burman were then professors. From Utrecht he went to Leyden, where he remained about six months, and returned to England in 1703, to continue his theological studies. On the 2nd of August, 1709, he commenced his ministerial labours, and preached his first sermon at Stoke-Newington. He was not very popular in the pulpit, his delivery being feeble and lifeless. In 1713 he entered the family of Lady Treby, who appointed him her chaplain and tutor to her son. Three years later he travelled with them in France, Belgium, and Holland, and remained with them till Lady Treby's death in 1721. About this time he began to suffer from deafness, which rapidly increased, until its cure was hopeless, and for many years he could only be communicated with by signs and writing. He was anxious to labour in the ministry, but found little encouragement. He was, however, one of the ministers who in 1724 preached the Tuesday evening lecture at the Old Jewry; and to this circumstance the world is indebted for his great work on the "Credibility of the Gospel History," the idea of which was then suggested. The first volume of this work appeared in 1727, and the remainder in 1733, 1735, and 1743, the whole consisting of five quarto volumes. It has obtained a world-wide reputation as one of the best ever produced in defence of the authenticity of the gospels; and although it may be supplemented, it is not likely ever to be superseded. In 1729 he accepted an invitation from the church at Crutched Friars, where he continued for twenty-two years. In 1729 also he published his "Vindication of Three of our Blessed Saviour's Miracles," in answer to Woolston. This led to a long correspondence with Bishop Waddington of Chichester. "Counsels of Prudence for the use of Young Persons" appeared in 1735, and obtained for him a commendatory letter from the archbishop of Canterbury. Two sermons against conformity to this world were published by him in 1739. In 1745 the university of Aberdeen conferred upon him the degree of D.D. His famous letter on the Logos in 1759, laid him open to a charge of unitarianism, and justified the opinions of those who had suspected his orthodoxy. These and his other numerous writings have been collected and published, with a memoir by Dr. Kippis. He died at Hawkhurst on the 24th of July, 1768.—B. H. C.
LARGILLIÈRE, Nicolas de, French painter, was born at Paris in 1656, and studied at Antwerp under F. Gobeau, a landscape and genre painter. He painted a few historical pictures, but was more successful in portraiture. He was in England for a short time in the reign of Charles II., whose portrait he painted, as well as those of some of the nobility. On his return to Paris he painted Louis XIV., the painter C. le Brun (engraved by Edelinck), and other distinguished persons, and was made a member of the Academy. He again visited England in the reign of James II., painted the king and queen, but left on the Revolution. He died 20th March, 1746.—J. T—e.
LA ROCHE, Michael de, a French protestant who fled from the persecution which succeeded the revocation of the edict of Nantes and took refuge in England, where he maintained himself by writing. He merits the honour of being one of the first to introduce into England the literary journal with a review of books, which constitutes so large a part of modern literature. In 1717 he commenced "La Bibliotheque Anglaise." It lasted till 1727, having reached its fifteenth volume. His "Memoires Litteraires de la Grande Bretagne" continued from 1720 to 1734. Nichols mentions his "Memoirs of Literature," of which the first number appeared in January, 1724-25, as being the precursor of t he Monthly Review edited by Dr. Griffiths.—R. H.
LAROCHEFOUCAULD, François, Duke of, the famous prince of Marsillac, the author of the "Maxims," was born in 1613. His early education was neglected; but a handsome person, high rank, wealth, fine manners, and natural talent made up for his want of learning. He lived in a time of action, intrigue, and civil war, in which he was about to play his part when Richelieu sent him away from court. At the cardinal's death the duke returned to shine and triumph in that gay society, where ladies held so prominent a position. In the war of the Fronde he was an active partisan, and the obedient slave of the beautiful duchess of Longueville, to whom he applied the lines from Duryer's tragedy—
" Pour meriter son cœur, pour plaire à ses beaux yeux,
J'ai fait la guerre aux rois, je l'aurais faite aux dieux."
At the battle of Saint Antoine he nearly lost his sight by a musket wound. On the restoration of peace, and the consolidation of the monarchy under Louis XIV., Larochefoucauld indulged his natural bent for the tranquil enjoyment of refined society, and cultivated that friendship for two remarkable women, which is famous in the history of letters. Madame de Lafayette acknowledged that if he had given her wit, she had formed his heart; while Madame de Sévigné sympathized with him in his paroxysms of gout, and filled her charming letters with tender descriptions of his sufferings. He died 17th March, 1680. Cardinal de Retz gives in his memoirs a portrait of the duke far from flattering. Besides the "Maxims," which were first printed in 1665, and have been often reprinted, Larochefoucauld left "Memoires de la regence d'Anne d'Autriche"—published in part in 1662, and more completely in 1817, edited by M. Renouard.—R. H.
LA ROCHEJAQUELEIN, Henri du Verger, Count de, one of the heroes of the Vendean war, was the son of the Marquis de La Rochejaquelein, and was born in 1772. He was a cavalry officer of the king's guard; and refusing to emigrate along with his family, he quitted Paris for his native province of La Vendée after the terrible 10th of August, 1792. The peasantry in the Socage were already in arms. The neighbouring peasantry sent to entreat him that he would become their leader, and he at once consented. The other chiefs of the Vendeans at this crisis regarded their cause as desperate; but inspirited by his exhortations, they attacked and captured Thouars, and compelled Quetineau, the republican general who commanded there, to surrender. They defeated in succession army after army of their enemies; but the victories of the Vendeans led to no permanent result. An overwhelming force was at length sent against them under the ablest generals of the republic; and though they performed prodigies of valour, they were in the end completely crushed. After the death of the heroic Cathelineau and of several other leaders in battle, La Rochejacquelein, though only twenty-one, was chosen commander-
