He composed rapidly, and scarcely three or four sheets of a Work were finished, when they were delivered to the Printer; and he continued to furnish copy, as fast as the Press could dispatch it. He rather preferred not to perfect a Work, till the second or third Edition, than to employ too much time in polishing it; and contented himself with offering nothing to the reader unworthy his attention. It was only in Editions of ancient Authors that he used great circumspection not consigning them to the Printer, till his notes were nearly finished; witness what he left in MS. upon Dion Cassius,. which were in a state fit for publication.

Thus it was that in the sweets of a private life, he consecrated all his days to public utility; and acquired immortal fame.

He had the happiness of enjoying his reputation, and of receiving himself those eulogies and marks of honour, which are not commonly betowed upon the Learned till after their deaths. The greatest Geniuses of Europe, of every class, have conferred on him testimonials which cannot be suspected. Such were Montfaucon, Gisbert Cuper, William Cave, Scipio Maffei, etc.

Many places sought the honour of having him for one of their Professorial chairs: but Hamburg, willing to retain him, increased his Salary and he in gratitude, resolved never to quit that City.

All the talents of Fabricius, and all the justice which was done them, did not alter the extreme modesty of his nature. When faults were found with his writings, he said: I know those faults; and I could shew many more!

The tranquillity of his spirit sustained itself in all the accidents of life. It appeared perfect on occasions when his existence was in danger; and when he sustained the most grievous losses. His character was gentle and humane: he was communicative to those who wanted his books, and his information; and charitable to those who wanted the aid of his purse. Misery was a title sufficient not to return empty-handed from him. Envy had no influence upon his mind ; and he sincerely rejoiced in the glory and fortune of his neighbours.

He was affable and civil; receiving courteously all the world; talking to every one; according to their age, sex, and genius; enlivening by his conversation; and rendering it insinuating by his candour and openness.

He carefully cultivated the friendship of his colleagues; and made a rule, which he followed for forty years, of assisting on certain marked days at their lectures. He abhorred detraction; and scrupulously avoided raillery. If he was called into controversy, he managed it with a gentleness and moderation very uncommon. In

a word, he practised the duty of love to his neighbour, in its full extent. But the crown of all his virtues was a sincere piety, without ostentation, which had animated him from his early youth; which never deserted him in his life; and which sustained him at his death, of which the circumstances are now to be related.

From the year 1707, when a violent fever had brought him to the point of death, his health had been established beyond hope; and sustained itself to the end. He began indeed to feel some of the infirmities of age; and his body was not so vigorous during the last years, as his mind; which preserved all its force, and even all its gayety. He was tormented by sleepless nights, which obliged him not to study after supper; and to take nothing from his rest, lest he should lose the whole. But the last illness of his wife, which continued for three months, much augmented this evil. He rose many times in the night, to see if she wanted any thing; and the perspiration being struck in, threw itself apparently on the nerves and lungs, which it violently affected. He felt an unusual heaviness; and a troublesome asthma. His strength failed him so much, that he could scarcely move from one chair to another.

At this time, he was engaged in the Bibliotheca Latina Medii Evi, which he was obliged to end before he had completed the Letter P.

He had recourse to the skill of Physicians; but they could neither open the channels of transpiration; nor throw the weight off his breast. A slow fever being added to these complaints, he took to his bed three days before his death. He suffered much; but he bore it with patience; and he received his friends and domestics with his accustomed sweetness. Turning all his thoughts to another life, he gave numerous edifying testimonies of his zeal and devotion; and preserving to the last breath the use of his reason, he tranquilly closed his eyes on the scenes of earth on the 30.th day of April, 1736, aged 67 years, 5 months, and 19 days; and was solemnly interred in the church of St. Peter, and St. Paul, on the 3.d of May.

He married Margaret Schultz, only daughter of John Schultz, Rector of the School; by whom he had a son, who died at the age of two months; and two daughters, Catherine Dorothy, married to Joachim Dieterich Evers, Doctor of Laws; and Jane Frederica, married to Professor Herm. Sam. Reimari, author of the Life of our Author, under the title of Herm. Sam. Reimari P. P. De Vita et Scriptis Joannis Alberti Fabricii Commentarius, etc. Hamburgi, 1737. 8.o, from whence the Article in Biblioth. Germanique, vol. XL. 148. here abridged, is taken.

ART. LXV. COLLECTIONS OF ORIGINAL CHRONICLES AND HISTORIANS.

ITALY.

1. Rerum Italicarum Scriptores varii in unum collecti corpus, et simul editi a Ludovico Antonio Muratori. Mediolani, 1723 et ann. seqq. 25 tom. in 28 vol. fol.

FRANCE.

2. Historia Francorum Scriptores Coætanei ab ipsius gentis origine ad Philippi IV. tempora, sed annum 1286; quorum plurimi nunc primum ex variis Codicibus MSS. in lucem prodeunt, alii vero auctiores et emendatiores; cum Epistolis Regum, Pontificum, etc. Opera et studio Andrea Du Chesne; et (post patrem) Francisci Du Chesne, Andreæ filii. Parisiis, 1636, et ann. seqq. 5 vol. fol.

3. Historia Normannorum Scriptores antiqui; res ab illis per Galliam, Apuliam, Capua principatum, Siciliam, et Orientem gestas explicantes, ab anno Christi 838 ad annum 1220: insertæ sunt Monasteriorum fundationes variæ, Series Episcoporum ac Abbatum, Genealogia Regum, Ducum, et Nobilium; plurima denique alia Vetera, tàm ad profanam quàm ad illorum temporum Historiam pertinentia, ex MSS. Codd. omnia ferè nunc primùm edita studio Andreæ Du Chesne. Lutetiæ Parisiorum, 1619. fol.