GUSSET, JOHN-BAPTISTE-LOUIS, born in 1709, at Amiens, studied at a Jesuit's college, and entered their order in the 17th year of his age. Ile was afterwards sent to Paris, where he completed his studies in the College de Louie-le-Grand. He was only twenty-four years old when be wrote his celebrated comic poem entitled ' Vert-vert,' which contains the adventures of a parrot, and is one of the wittiest productions in the French language. He published soon afterwards Lea Ceram° Impromptu' and Le Lutrin vivant,' two witty trifles, and also two beautiful epistles entitled La Chartreuse,' and ' Les Ombra.' These productions soon acquired great reputation for the • author, and he was sent as professor to the college of Tours ; but the aisterof an influential ministertaking offence at the light tone of Grosset's poetry, accused him before his superiors, who, by way of punishment, sent him to La Flaeho. Several of his poetical epistles, as, for instance, A ma Muse,' and ' Au Pin-ei Bougeant; are very well written ; but the Epltre ti ma Scour cur ma Convalescence' may be regarded as a masterpiece. Disliking his residence in La Fleche, he requested his superiors to remove him to some other pleas and on meeting with a refusal he left the order in the 26th year of his age, hut he always pre served a regard for his old colleagues, which is particularly proved by his Adieux anx Jesuit..' He now settled at Paris, where his wit and talents, united with agreeable manners m well as his literary reputation, soon made him the favourite of the best society. In 1748
he was received a member of the French Academy, but he soon after wards retired to his native city of Amiens, where he founded, with the permission of the king, an academy ; and having married, he settled in the vicinity of tho town. In 2774 he was chosen to congratulate Louie XVI. on his accession in the name of the French Academy. The king gave him a patent of nobility, and Monsieur, afterwards Louis XVIII., nominated him historiographer of the order of St. Lazarus.
Gressct died at Amiens in 2777. Besides the productions already mentioned lie wrote several playa, which have not been very success ful, except his comedy Le Mechs.nt,' which wee performed, for the first time, in 2747. Ilia tragedy of ' Edward which was per formed only once, in 1740, and his 'Sydney,' are both inferior pro ductions. In his latter years Gresset became religiously disposed, and destroyed some unpublished plays as well as two new cantos, of Vert-vert.' He even condemned his former productions, for which Voltaire was very angry with hiin. The poems of Gresset are characterised by originality, great ease, a refined humour, and a versification always harmonious. He could give life and animation to the most uninteresting subjects. The best edition of Grosset's works is that of Renouard, published at Paris, 1811, in three volumes.
Vert-vert ' has been twice translated into English : lst, by T. G. Cooper, London, 1759; and 2ndly, by Alexander Geddes, LL.D., London, 1793.