LE SUEUR, JEAN-FRANcOIS, a very distinguished French composer, knight of the Ldgion d'Honneur, and director of the music of the Emperor Napoleon L, was the descendant of an ancient family, and born in 1766. After having been Maitre de Chapelle of several cathedrals in France, for which he composed a great number of masses, motets, &c., his reputation called him to Paris, where he produced his five grand operas : La Caverne," Paul et Virginia' TdliSmsque," Lea Barden; and ' La Mort d'Adam; all of which display more or less vigour of imagination, grandeur of style, and judgment in execution ; qualities which induced Sacchini to say, that he knew but two Italians who could be compared to him. That M. Le Sneer possessed a strong activo mind may be inferred from his compositions; but of this he gave other proofs, as well as of literary talent; his work on music adapted to sacred solemnities, is highly esteemed ; and a notice by him concerning ancient music, accom panying the translation of ' Anacreon' by M. Gail, not only shows considerable learning, but, in the opinion of M. Ginguene, has thrown
some new light on that very obscure subject, the music of the Creeks. LEUCIPPUS, a Grecian philosopher, is generally regarded as the original propounder of what has been called tho atomic philosophy. The time and place of his birth are unknown ; he was the disciple of Zeno and the teacher of Democritus, and was born, according to Diogenes Laert. (ix. 30), either at Elis, Ahdera, or in the island of Melos. None of his writings have come down to us, with the exception of a few fragments of a treatise Mind,' which have been preserved by Stobteus. Some account of his philosophical doctrines is given by Diog. Laerts, ix., 30; Aristotle, 'De Anima,' I. 2; Plutarch, De Placitis Philosoph.; c. xvii., p. 883, E.; Cicero, 'De Nat. Deor.,' i. 24; Lactantius, 'Divin. Instil.; iii. 17; 'De Ira Dei; c. 10; Fabricii, Bibliotheea Grreca; vol. ii., p. 658, 659, ed. Harles; Bayle, ' Diet.'; and the article Dxeocarrus in this work.