ABAUZIT, FIRMIN, a Frenchman of considerable learning, was born at Usez, in Languedoc, on the 11th November, 1679. To avoid the persecutions to ?vhit Protestants were then exposed, his mother carried him into Switzerland, after the decease of his father, where he prosecuted the studies of physic and theology. 1 le visited Holland in 1698, and became acquainted with some of the eminent literati of that period, such as Bayle, Jurieu, and Basnagc. Ile then visited England. and was introduced to sir Isaac Newton, with whom II- afterwards entered into an epistolary correspondence. The intimacy of Abauzit with this illustrious philoso pher, was owing to his defence of Newton against Cas tel, and to his having detected an error in the Princinia. King William III. invited him to settle in England ; but this offer he declined. In 1723, he refused the profes sorship of philosophy in Geneva ; but was, in 1726, ad mitted a citizen, and appointed librarian of that city Here his learning, piety, and simplicity of manners, ac quired him the estimation of his fellow-citizens, who deeply regretted his death, which happened on the 20th March 1767.
Abauzit was the author of some mathematical works, defending the doctrines of Newton ; and also of several theological tracts. From his desire to divest the scrip tures of mysteries, lie employed himself in discovering what he supposed errors in the different translations. He wrote an essay on the Apocalypse, endeavouring to demonstrate, that the predictions there contained were applicable to the destruction of Jerusalem. But, in con sequence of a translation of this work into English, to which a satisfactory refutation was added, he suppres sed a new edition, which was then prepared for the press. Abauzit was honoured with the friendship and esteem of Voltaire and Rousseau, the latter of whom ad dressed to Abauzit a handsome eloge in the highest strain of panegyric. (c)