FONTENELLE, BERNARD rat BovrEn DE, an eminent French author, was b. at Rouen, 11th Feb., 1657. His father was an advocate, and his mother a sister of the great Cor neille. He began his studies in the college of the Jesuits at Rouen, and at the age of 13, obtained the prize for a Latin poem. During the next three years he professed to study law, but in reality busied himself with the more interesting subjects of history,. poetry, and philosophy. After passing as an advocate, he commenced to practice, but lost the first cause which he conducted, and in consequence renounced the bar forever. In 1674, lie went to Paris, where lie entered upon a literary career, and soon attained to celebrity and independence. He was a member of several learned societies; and from 1699 to 1741, held the office of secretary of the academie des sciences, but declined the post of president. F. died at Paris 9th Jan., 1757, 'having nearly finished his 100th year, wittily remarking to his friends, as he expired: "Je ne souffre pas, mes antis; mais je sens une certaine difficulte d'8tre" ("I don't suffer, my friends; but I feel a sort of difficulty- in living any longer"). The greater part of his numerous poetical, histor ical, oratorical, philosophical, and scientific writings, though much admired at the time of their publication, have now fallen into oblivion. He possessed, however, along
with great skill in representation, a poetical turn of mind, and an acute intellect. Ha wrote a few operas, among others, Psyche, Bellerophon; a musical and dramatic pastoral entitled Endynzion; several tragedies--Brutus, Aspar, Idalie; comedies, fables, fugitive pieces, epigrams, etc. •Of his prose writings, we may mention the Lettres du Chevalier d' Her, the des Morts, in the manner of Lucian; his Entretiens sur la Pluralite des Mondes, which, although much read once, has now become obsolete, in consequence of the advancement of science; and his treatises Sur l'Eristence de Dieu; Sur le Bonheur; Sur l'Origine des Fables; and his Histoire du Theater Francais jusqu' et Pierre Corneille, which is still consulted. F. was particularly celebrated for his bon-mots; and for the manner in which lie edited the Menzoires de l' Academie des Sciences, and executed his Eloges. It is also perhaps worth mentioning, that at the age of 92 he still wrote mad rigils1 His Oduvres Complkes have been republished several times. The most complete edition is that published at PaiiS (3 vols., ' •