BROWER iemesess nxi, first President ei the Parliament of Burgundy, was born at Dijon, on tha 17th of February 1709. He studied law, with a view to the insgistracsy, • but without seem* literature and the sciences, to which be discover ed an early and decided attachment. His study of the Roman history excited in him a strong do sire to visit Italy, which be accordingly traversed in 1789, in company with his friend M. De Sainte Palaye. On his return to France, he published his Leares sur teat Actuel de la Vile Souterrante d' Hercedaneune Dijon, 1750, 8vo,—the first work which appeared upon that interesting subject. A Collection of Letters, written during his lt?lian tour, entitled Lettrsa Hi4toriree d Critipe, in 8 vols. 8vo. was published at Paris after his death without the consent of his family. In 1760 he published a disser tation Sur le Carpe des Dieu: Fetiches 14awi, which was afterwards inserted in the Encyclopedic Medea dique. At the solicitation of his friend Buffon, De Brosses undertook his Histoire des Nanigatioss sus Terre: Austraks ; which was published in 1756,2 vols. eto, with maps, by Robert de Vaugondy. It was in this work that De Blesses first laid down the geographical divisions of Australasia slid Polynesia, which were afterwards adopted by Pinkerton, and succeeding geographers. In 1765 appeared his Traite de la formation Afeehaisique des Langres; a work distinguished by much research, and cow taming many ingenious hypotheses; but, at the same time, marked by that love of theory which is so apt to imbue the cultivators of etymological science.
De Brasses had been occupied, during a great part of his life, in making a translation of Saline, and in attempting to supply the chasms in that caw brated historian. At length, in 1777, he published Bistoire du 7e Wok de la Republique Romainc,3 vols 4&o,..-a work which would probably have net with great success, had the style corresponded with interest nterest of the subject, and with the author's historical sagacity, and depth of research. To the history is prefixed a learned life of Sellust, which was reprinted at the commencement of the teals tion of that historian by De Lansalle. After the death of De Breams, a Supplement was added to this work, from his MSS. containing the various read ings, fragments, and an Index of the authors from whom they are taken. This Supplement, which should be placed at the end of the third volume, is wanting in some copies.
These literary occupations did not prevent De Brosses from discharging with ability his afficial du ties, nor from carrying on a constant and extensive correspondence with the most distinguished literary characters of his time. During the leisure afforded him by the suspension of the Parliaments, in the year 1771, he applied himself with greater vigour to literature. la 1758. be succeeded the Marquis de
caumont in the Academie de Belles Letter ; but was never admitted a member of the French Acade My, in consequence, h is said, of the opposition of Voltaire, who entertained a dislike to bin.
De Brasses diet on the 71.11 of May 1777. He was a man no less distinguished for ease and vivaci ty in the general intercourse of society, than for the extent and. variety of his literaryattahaments. Be sides the works we have aleesdff mentioned, he wrote several memoirs and dissertations in the collections of the Academy of Inscriptions, and in those of the Academy of Dijon. He also contributed a number of articles to the Dictionnaire Encyclopedigue, on the subjects of Grammar, Etymology, Music, &c. and he left behind him several MSS. which were unfortunately lost during the Revolution. See the Biographie Universelle. BItOCISSONET (Flexes MARIE AUGUSTE?, a distinguished French Naturalist, born at Montpellier, February 28, 1761. His father was a respectable schoolmaster in that town, who, perceiving the avidity with whieh he received instruction of every kind, took pains to store his mind with knowledge at an early age. It appears from his writings that he was at first educated for the medical profession. The opi Edon entertained in the university of the success with which he pursued his studies, was proved by his be ing appointed to fill a Professor's chair when he was only eighteen years of age. So great, indeed, was the reputation he bad acquired, that when he offer ed himself as candidate, a few years after, for a seat in the Academy of Sciences, he was elected a mem ber by an unanimous vote; a circumstance which had hitherto been without example since the foundation of that learned body, Botany seems to have been the science to which he was at first chiefly devoted ; and he laboured with much zeal to establish the system of Linnieus in France. In pursuit of this object, and with a view of extending his know , of the science, he visited Paris, and studied every museum and collection from which he could derive instruction in the different branches of natu ral history. He next came to England, where he was admitted, in 1782, an Honorary Member of the Royal Society. It was also ai this period that he published his work on Bakes, describing the most rare species of this class of animals, under the title of Ichilayologia, sistens Pisciuna Descriptions d scones. London. On his return to Paris, he was ap pointed perpetual Secretary to the Society of Agri culture, an office which the Intendant Berthier de Sauvigny purposely resigned, that it might be filled by Broussonet.