An attack by Monsier Du Fay, on the Newtonian theory of colours, again called forth the enthusiasm of Algarotti in its defence. Du Fay professed to resolve light only into three primitive colours, and Algarotti contended for its distribution into seven, in two me moirs, written in French ; which lie entitled, " Le pour et Le contre." By the invitation of Lord Baltimore, he accompanied that nobleman to Petersburgh, and thence to Bolin, where he was introduced to the Prince Royal of Prussia, afterwards Frederic the Great. This visit seems to have made a very strong impression on Frederic; for, no sooner had he ascended the throne, than he invited Algarotti to his court, retained him about his person, created him a count and knight of the Order of Merit, and, in 1747, appointed hint his chamberlain, with a a splendid salary. Nor was it merely as a philosopher, or man of taste and letters, that he enjoyed the intimacy of this prince ; for we find, that his talents as a poli tician were likewise called into action, in sonic diplo matic transactions of considerable nicety and import ance. These Algarotti managed with an ability not to be expected from a man whose life had been devoted to such different pursuits. While in Berlin, lie is tints cha racterized by another of the literary companions of Fre deric : " Ile was full of wit, of affectation and of self love ; a Frenchman in genius, an Italian in character, disagreeable in society, often exposed to the royal plea santry, and receiving it as a favour." But, if a rival, picqued probably by Algarotti's superior attainments, can paint hint in no darker colours than these, we might almost be tempted to consider this description as ap proaching to a panegyric. Algarotti, from a humble situation, had raised himself to be the companion of princes, who appeared to contend for his friendship; and a prince had even condescended to be the translator of his work into the Russian tongue. To profound genius he added the most brilliant powers of wit and humour, which were embellished by the possession of every per sonal accomplishment. He was distinguished as a phi losopher, a poet, a politician, and a connoisseur and pro ficient in most of the fine arts. That such a man Should have acquired such a confidence in himself, that, by his rivals, was construed into ridiculous vanity and affecta tion, is surely no subject of wonder ; and if it was a weakness in Algarotti not to return blow for blow, when his royal, but jealous and irritable benefactor, thought proper to assail him with his wit, it was certainly a weakness from which few courtiers are free, and seems to Lave been cliai'geauce on every individual of that brilliant circle of philosophers watch Frederik.k had collected about his tnrone.
Algarotti was no tens a favourite of Stahislaus, king of Poland and elector of Saxony, who rewarded his ex ertions tor introducing anti nuprw, mg the fine arts in his dominions, by creating him a counsellor of war, and conferring upon him outer hollow s. At the courts of Berlin and Dresden, making occasional excursions to his native country, he spent the reinamuer of Ills days, and died at Pisa, in toe year 1764. In its will, he allotted a sum of money for building his tomb, the plan of which. with the epitaph, he had pre musty designed. This circumstance has been construe(' into a prooi of extrava• gait vanity, perhaps with injustice, as the sum allotted tor this purpose, to a man of Atgarotti's fh•tune, was in considerable, and tar from adequate to the erection of so splendid a structure as ought to b, dig ids memory un der this imputation. Tile epi aph is well known : "Hie jacet ..dlgarottz,scd non omnis ;" and, if we consider these words merely as a declaration of his belief in a future state of existence, it has a claim to our approbation, for its impressive and decent simplicity.
The works of Algarotti have never attained a high reputation in tnis country, but many editions of them have appeared on the Continent. His Rime, or verses, are full of rich imagery and poetical sentiment. His prose works discover learning, elegance, ingenuity, and profound reflection ; but his compositions are in general characterized by the want of simplicity, and passion for brilliant conceits. His Newtonianism is a popular and interesting illustration of the subject, and is well fitted to attract young minds to a study, from which they might be deterred by the more difficult and profound treatises of other writers.
His works, written in Italian, are, 1. Rime, 1733. 2. Il.Vewionianismo per le Dame, ovvero Dialoghi,sopra la Luce, e i Colori. 3. Lettere di .Polianzio ad Ermogene intorno alla Traduzione de1P Eneide de! Caro. 4. Saggio Critico intorno alle Facolta della Mente Umana. 5. 11 Congress° di Citera. 6. Ragionamento copra la durata de' Regni Re di Roma. 7. Lettera in Risjcosta di quanto si dice contra it .Vewtonianismo, Antinewto nianismo dell' Sig. Conte Gio. Rizetti. Besides these, he published in French, 1. Memoire sir la Recherche enter prise, par Monsieur Dufciy, s'iln'y a effectivement dans la Lumiere clue trois Couleurs primitives. 2. Second Mel moire sur les sent Couleurs primitives pour servir de Re ponse a ce clue ill Dufay, a (lit a ce Sujet dans la feuille 233 du l'our et C'ontre. He likewise published in Latin, De Colorum inlInzetabilitate, eorumque diversa refrangibili t at r, Dissertatio. The works of Algarotti were publish ed in 16 vols. 8vo, in 1791. (0-)