66 Massillon. His manner of composing, therefore, was peculiar to tering encomiums did not lessen his modesty. When Massillon. himself, and in the opinion of men of taste and judge- one of his fellows was congratulating him upon his ment, was superior to that of Bourdaloue. The affect preaching admirably, according to custom; Oh! give ing and natural simplicity of the father of the oratory, over, Father (replied he), the devil has told me so al(said a great man), appears fitter to bring home the ready, much more eloquently than you." The duties truths of Christianity to the heart than all the dialec- of his office did not prevent him from enjoying society; tics of the Jesuit. We must seek for the logic of the and in the country he forgot that he was a preacher, gospel in our own breasts; and the most powerful rea- but always without trespassing against decency. One sonings on the indispensable duty of relieving the di- day when he was at the house of M. de Crozat, the lat stressed, will make no impression on that man who has ter said to him, Father, your doctrine terrifies me, beheld without concern the sufferings of his brother. but I am encouraged by your life." He was chosen If logic is necessary, it is only in matters of opinion; on account of his philosophical and conciliatory dispoand these are fitter for the press than for the pulpit, sition of mind, to reconcile the cardinal de Noailles which ought not to be the theatre of learned discus- with the Jesuits. All he gained by his attempts was sions. The truth of these reflections was clearly per- the displeasure of both parties; and he found that it ceived when he appeared at court. Upon preaching was easier to convert sinners than to reconcile theolohis first Advent sermon at Versailles, he received this gians. In 1717, the regent, personally acquainted eulogium from the mouth of Louis XIV. "Father, with his merit, appointed him to the bishopric of when I hear others preach, I am very well pleased Clermont. The next year, being destined to preach with them; but whenever I hear before Louis XV. who was only nine years of age, he I am dissatisyou, fied with myself." The first time he preached his fa- composed in six weeks those discourses which are so mous sermon on the small number of the elect, the whole well known by the name of Petit Careme. These are audience were, at a certain place of it, seized with a the chef d'œuvre of this orator, and indeed of the orasudden and violent emotion, and almost every person torical art. They ought continually to be read by half rose from his seat by a kind of involuntary preachers as models for the formation of their taste, movement. The murmur of acclamation and surprise and by princes as lessons of humanity. was so great that it threw the orator into confusion; but this only heightened the impression of that pathetic discourse. What was most surprising in Massillon, were his descriptions of the world, which were so sublime, so delicate, and so striking in the resemblance. When he was asked, whence a man, like him, whose life was dedicated to retirement, could borrow them; he answered "From the human heart; however little we examine it, we will find in it the seeds of every passion. When I compose a sermon (added he), I imagine myself consulted upon some doubtful piece of business. I give my whole application to determine the person who has recourse to me, to act the good and proper part. I exhort him, and urge him, and I leave him not till he has yielded to my persuasions." His declamation did not fail to be accompanied with success. "We think we see him in our pulpits (say those who had the pleasure of hearing him), with the simple air, the modest carriage, the downcast and humble looks, the easy gesture, the affecting tone, and the countenance of a man deeply penetrated with his subject, conveying the clearest information to the understanding, and raising the most tender emotions in the heart." Baron, the famous comedian, having met him one day in a house which was open for the reception of men of letters, paid him this compliment: "Continue to deliver as you do. Your manner is peculiar to yourself; leave the observance of rules to others." When this famous actor came from hearing one of his sermons, truth drew from him the following confession, which is so humiliating to his profession: "Friend (said he to one of his companions who accompanied him), here is an orator; we are only actors. In 1704, Massillon made his second appearance at court, and displayed still more eloquence than before. Louis XIV. after expressing his satisfaction to him, added, in the most gracious tone of voice, Et je veaux, mon pere, vous entendre tous les deux ans. These flat Massillon was admitted into the French academy a year afterwards, in 1719. The abbacy of Savigny becoming vacant, the cardinal du Bois, to whom he had been weak enough to give an attestation for being a priest, procured it for him. The funeral oration of the duchess of Orleans, in 1723, was the last discourse he pronounced in Paris. He never afterwards left his diocese, where his gentleness, politeness, and kindness, had gained him the affection of all who knew him. He reduced the exorbitant rights of the episcopal roll to moderate sums. In two years, he caused 20,000 livres to be privately conveyed to the Hotel Dieu of Clermont. His peaceable disposition was never more displayed than while he was a bishop. He' took great pleasure in collecting the fathers of the oratory and the Jesuits at his country house, and in making them join in some diversion. He died on the 28th of September 1742, at the age of 79. His name has become that of eloquence itself. Nobody ever knew better how to touch the passions. Preferring sentiment to every thing else, he communicated to the soul that lively and salutary emotion which excites in us the love of virtue. What pathetic eloquence did his discourses display! what knowledge of the human heart! what constant disclosing of a mind deeply affected with his subject! what strain of truth, philosophy and humanity! what imagination, at once the most lively, and guided by the soundest judgment ! Just and delicate thoughts; splendid and lofty ideas; elegant, well chosen, sublime, and harmonious expressions; brilliant and natural images; true and lively colouring; a clear, neat, swelling and copious style, equally suited to the capacity of the multitude, and fitted to please the man of genius, the philosopher, and the courtier, form the character of Massillon's eloquence, especially in his Petit Careme. He could at once think, describe, and feel. It has been justly observed concerning him, that he was to Bourdaloue what Racine was to Corneille. To give the finishing stroke Massillon. stroke to his eulogium, Of all the French orators, he is the most esteemed by foreigners. An excellent edition of Massillon's works was pubfished by his nephew at Paris in 1745 and 1746, in 14 vols. large 12mo, and 12 vols. of a small size. Among them we find, 1. Complete sets of Sermons for Advent and Lent. It is particularly in his moral discourses, such as are almost all those of his sermons for Advent and Lent, that Massillon's genius appears. He excels, says M. d'Alembert, in that species of eloquence, which alone may be preferred to all others, which goes directly to the heart, and which agitates without wounding the soul. He searches the inmost recesses of the heart, and lays open the secret workings of the passions, with so delicate and tender a hand, that we are hurried along rather than overcome. His diction, which is always easy, elegant, and pure, everywhere partakes of that noble simplicity, without which there can be neither good taste nor true eloquence; and this simplicity is, in Massillon, joined to the most attractive and the sweetest harmony, from which it likewise borrows new graces. In short, to complete the charm produced by this enchanting style, we perceive that these beauties are perfectly natural; that they flow easily from this source, and that they have occasioned no labour to the composer. There even occur sometimes in the expressions, in the turns, or in the affecting melody of his style, instances of negligence which may be called happy, because they completely remove every appearance of labour. By thus abandoning himself to the natural current of thought and expression, Massillon gained as many friends as hearers. He knew, that the more anxious an orator appears to raise admiration, he will find those who hear him the less disposed to bestow it. 2. Several Funeral Orations, Discourses, and Panegyrics, which had never been published. 3. Ten discourses, known by the name of Petit Careme. 4. The Conferences Ecclesiastiques, which he delivered in the seminary of St Magloire upon his arrival at Paris; those which he delivered to the curates of his diocese; and the discourses which he pronounced at the head of the synods which he assembled every year. 5. Paraphrases on several of the Psalms. The illustrious author of these excellent tracts wished that they had introduced into France a practice which prevails in England, of reading sermons instead of preaching them from memory; a custom which is very convenient, but by which all the warmth and fervour of eloquence are lost. He, as well as two others of his brethren, had stopt short in the pulpit exactly on the same day.They were all to preach at different hours on GoodFriday, and they went to hear one another in succession. The memory of the first failed; which so terrified the other two, that they experienced the same fate. When our illustrious orator was asked, what was his best sermon ? he answered, "That which I am most master of." The same reply is ascribed to Bourdaloue. The celebrated P. la Rue was of the opinion of Massillon, that getting by heart was a slavery which deprived the pulpit of a great many orators, and which was attended with many inconveniences to those who dedicated themselves to it. The abbé de la Porte has collected into one vol. 12mo, the most striking ideas, and the most sublime strokes, which occur in the works of the celebrated bishop of Clermont. This collection, Massillon which is made with great judgment, appeared at Paris in 1748, 12mo, and forms the 15th volume of the large Masson. edition in 12mo, and the 13th of the small in 12mo. It is entitled, Pensées sur differens sujets de morale et de pieté, tirées, &c. MASSINGER, PHILIP, an English dramatic poet, was born at Salisbury about the year 1581, and was educated at Oxford. He left the university without taking any degree; and went to London to improve his poetical genius by polite conversation. There he wrote many tragedies and comedies, which were received with vast applause, and were greatly admired for the economy of the plots and the purity of the style. He was at the same time a person of the most consummate modesty; which rendered him extremely beloved by the poets of his time, particularly by Fletcher, Middleton, Rowley, Field, and Decker, who thought it an honour to write in conjunction with him. He was as remarkable for his abilities as his modesty. He died suddenly at his house on the Bank-side in Southwark, near the playhouse; and was interred in St Saviour's churchyard, in the same grave with Mr Fletcher the poet. MASSIVE, among builders, an epithet given to whatever is too heavy and solid: thus a massive column is one too short and thick for the order whose capital it bears; and a massive wall is one whose openings or lights are too small in proportion. MASSON, PAPIRIUS, a French writer, was the son of a rich merchant, and born in the territory of Forez, May 1544. After studying the belles lettres and philosophy, and travelling to different places, he came to Paris, where he was made librarian to the chancellor of the duke of Anjou, in which place he continued ten years. In 1576, he was made an advocate of parliament; yet never pleaded but one cause, which, however, he gained with universal applause.— When the troubles of France were at an end, he married the sister of a counsellor in parliament, with whom he lived thirty-four years, but had no issue by her.— The infirmities of age attacked him some time before his death, which happened Jan. 9. 1611. He wrote four books of French annals in Latin, first printed at Paris 1577, and afterwards in 1598, 4to. The second edition, more enlarged than the first, deduces things from Pharamond to Henry II. Masson considered this as his principal performance; yet he is now chiefly known by his Elogia virorum clarissimorum, although he published several other works. MASSON, John, a reformed minister in Holland some years ago. He was originally of France, but fled into England, to enjoy that liberty in religion which his country refused him. He wrote, 1. Histoire critique de la republique des lettres, from 1712 to 1717, in 15 vols 12mo. 2. Vita Horatii, Ovidii, et Plinii junioris, 3 vols small 8vo, and printed abroad, though dedicated to Englishmen of rank: the first at Leyden, 1708, to Lord Harvey; the second at Amsterdam, 1708, to Sir Justinian Isham; the third at Amster dam, 1709, to the bishop of Worcester. These lives are drawn up in a chronological order, very learnedly and very critically; and serve to illustrate the history, not only of those particular persons, but of the times also in which they lived. 3. Histoire de Pierre Bayle et des ses ouvrages; Amsterdam, 1716, in 12mo. This Pearls of a considerable size, and of a fine water, are Massuah. likewise found along the coast; from the abundance of all which valuable commodities, the great defect, a want of water, was forgot, and the inhabitants cheerfully submitted to such a great inconvenience. The island of Massuah fell under the power of the Turks in the time of the emperor Selim, soon after the conquest of Arabia Felix by Sinan Basha, and was for some time governed by an officer from Constantinople. From thence the conquest of Abyssinia was for some time attempted, but always without success. Hence it began to lose its value as a garrison for troops, as it had done in the commercial way after the discovery of the passage to India by the Cape of Good Hope.-Being thus deprived of its importance in every respect, the Turks no longer thought it worth while to send a bashaw thither as formerly, but conferred the government upon the chief of a tribe of Mahometans named Belowie, who inhabit the coasts of the Red sca under the mountains of Habab, in the latitude of about 14° north. On this officer they conferred the title of Naybe, and on the removal of the bashaw, he remained in fact master of the place, though, to save appearances, he pretended to hold it from the Ottoman Porte, by a firman from the Grand Signior for that purpose, and the payment of an annual tribute. Masson, at least is supposed to be his, though at first it was giMassuah. ven to M. la Monnoye. MASSON, Antony, an eminent French engraver, who flourished towards the conclusion of the last century, and resided chiefly at Paris. It appears that he sometimes amused himself with painting portraits from the life, some of which he also engraved. We have no account of the life of this extraordinary artist; nor are we even informed from what master he learned the principles of engraving. He worked entirely with the graver, and handled that instrument with astonishing facility. He seems to have had no kind of rule to direct him with respect to the turning of the strokes; but twisted and twirled them about, without the least regard to the different forms he intended to express, making them entirely subservient to his own caprice. Yet the effect he has produced in this singular manner (Mr Strutt observes), is not only far superior to what one could have supposed, but is often very picturesque and beautiful. It was not in historical engraving that his greatest strength consisted. He could not draw the naked parts of the human figure so correctly as was necessary; but where the subject required the figures to be clothed, he succeeded in a wonderful manner. Among the most esteemed works by this admirable artist, may be reckoned the following: The assumption of the Virgin, a large upright plate from Rubens; a holy family, a middling-sized plate, lengthwise, from N. Mignard; Christ with the pilgrims at Emaus, a large plate, lengthwise, from Titian, the original picture of which is in the cabinet of the king of France. This admirable print is commonly known by the name of the table cloth: for the cloth, with which the table is covered, is executed in a very singular style. Also the following portraits, among others: The Comte de Harcourt, a large upright plate, reckoned a masterpiece in this class of subjects; Guillaume de Brisacier, secretary to the queen of France; a middling-sized upright plate: usually known in England by the name of the Grayheaded Man, because the hair in this print is so finely executed. MASSUAH, a small island in the Red sea, near the coast of Abyssinia, about three quarters of a mile long, and half as broad, one-third of which is occupied by houses, another by cisterns for receiving rainwater, and one reserved for a burial place. It has an excellent harbour, with water sufficiently deep for ships of any size to the very edge of the island; and so well secured, that they may ride in safety, let the wind blow from what quarter or with what degree of strength it will. By the ancients it was called Sebasticum Os, and was formerly a place of great consequence on account of its harbour, from whence a very extensive commerce was carried on, and possessed a share of the Indian trade in common with other ports of the Red sea near the Indian ocean.— A very considerable quantity of valuable goods was also brought thither from the tract of mountainous country behind it, which in all ages has been accounted very unhospitable, and almost inaccessible to strangers. The principal articles of exportation were gold, ivory, elephants and buffaloes hides; but above all, slaves, who, on account of their personal qualifications, were more esteemed than those from any other quarter. The Turks had originally put into the town of Massuah a garrison of Janizarics; who, being left there on the withdrawing of the bashaw, and intermarrying with the natives, soon became entirely subjected to the naybe's influence. The latter finding himself at a great distance from his protectors the Turks, whose garrisons were everywhere falling into decay, and that in consequence of this he was entirely in the power of the emperor of Abyssinia, began to think of taking some method of securing himself on that side. Accordingly it was agreed that one half of the customs should be paid to the Abyssinian monarch; who in return was to allow him to enjoy his government unmolested. Having thus secured the friendship of the emperor of Abyssinia, the naybe began gradually to withdraw the tribute he had been accustomed to pay to the bashaw of Jidda, to whose government Massuah had been assigned; and at last to pay as little regard to the government of Abyssinia; and in this state of independence he was when Mr Bruce arrived there in 1769 on his way to Abyssinia. This gentleman found both the prince and his prople extremely unhospitable and treacherous; so that he underwent a variety of dangers during his residence there, nor was it without great difficulty that he could get away from thence at last. The island of Massuab, as we have said, is entirely destitute of water; nor can it be supplied with provisions of any kind but from the mountainous country of Abyssinia on the continent. It is consequently in the power of the emperor of that country, or of his officer the baharnagash, to starve Massuah and Ar keeko, by prohibiting the passage of any provisions from the Abyssinian side of the mountains. The houses of Massuah are generally constructed of long poles and bent grass, as is usual with other towns of Arabia only about 20 are of stone, and six or eight of these two stories high. The stones with which they are built have been drawn out of the sea; and. Mast. Massuah and in them the bed of that curious muscle found embodied in the solid rock at Mahon is frequently to be seen. These are called dattoli da mare, or sea dates: but our author never saw any of the fish themselves, though he has no doubt that they may be met with in the rocky islands of Massuah, if they would take the trouble of breaking the rocks for them. All the necessaries of life are very dear in this place; and their quality is also very indifferent, owing to the distance from whence they must be brought, and the danger of carrying them through the desert of Sambar, as well as to the extortions of the naybe himself, who, under the name of customs, takes whatever part of the goods he thinks proper; so the profit left to the merchant is sometimes little or nothing. Though Massuah has now lost very much of its commercial importance, a considerable trade is still carried on from the place. From the Arabian side are imported blue cotton and other cloths; some of them from India being very fine. Other articles are Venetian beads, crystal, looking and drinking glasses, with cohol or crude antimony. These three last articles come in great quantity from Cairo, first in the coffee ships to Jidda, and then in small barks to the port of Massuah. Old copper is also a valuable article of commerce. The Galla and all the various tribes to the westward of Gondar wear bracelets of this metal, which in some parts of that barbarous country is said to sell for its weight of gold. Here is also a shell, an univalve of the species of volutes, which sells at a high price, and passes for money among the various tribes of Galla. The Banians were once the principal merchants of Massuah; but their number is now reduced to six, who are silversmiths, and subsist by making ornaments for the women on the continent. They likewise essay gold, but make a poor livelihood. MASSUET, RENE, or RENATUS, a very learned Benedictine of the congregation of St Maur, was born at S. Owen de Macelles, in 1665. He is chiefly known for the new edition of St Irenæus, which he published in 1710. He consulted several manuscripts, which had never been examined for that purpose, and made new notes and learned prefaces. He died in 1716, after having written and published several other works. MAST, a long round piece of timber, elevated perpendicularly upon the keel of a ship, to which are attached the yards, the sails, and the rigging. A mast, with regard to its length, is either formed of one single piece, which is called a pole-mast, or composed of several pieces joined together, each of which retains the name of mast separately. The lowest of these is acPlate cordingly named the lower mast, a fig. 1.; the next in height is the top-mast, b, fig. 2. which is erected at Fig. 1, 2, 3 the head of the former; and the highest is the top-gallant-mast, c, fig. 3. which is prolonged from the upper end of the top-mast. Thus the two last are no other than a continuation of the first upwards. CCCXV. The lower-mast is fixed in the ship by an apparatus described in the articles HULK and SHEERS: the foot, or heel of it rests in a block of timber called the step, which is fixed upon the kelson: and the top-mast is attached to the head of it by the cap and the trestle-trees. The latter of these are two strong bars of timber, sup Mast ported by two prominences, which are as shoulders on the opposite sides of the mast, a little under its upper end: athwart these bars are fixed the cross-trees, upon which the frame of the top is supported. Between the lower mast head and the foremost of the cross-trees, a square space remains vacant, the sides of which are bounded by the two trestle-trees. Perpendicularly above this is the foremost hole in the cap, whose after hole is solidly fixed on the head of the lower-mast. The top-mast is erected by a tackle, whose effort is communicated from the head of the lower-mast to the foot of the top-mast; and the upper end of the latter is accordingly guided into and conveyed up through the holes between the trestle-trees and the cap, as above mentioned. The machinery by which it is elevated, or according to the sea phrase, swayed up, is fixed in the following manner: the top rope d, fig. 4. passing Fig. through a block e, which is hooked on one side of the cap, and afterwards through a hole, furnished with a sheave or pulley f, on the lower end of the top-mast, is again brought upwards on the other side of the mast, where it is at length fastened to an eye-bolt in the cap g, which is always on the side opposite to the topblock e. To the lower end of the top-rope is fixed the top-tackle h, the effort of which being transmitted to the top-rope d, and thence to the heel of the top-mast f, necessarily lifts the latter upwards, parallel to the lower-mast. When the top-mast is raised to its proper height, the lower end of it becomes firmly wedged in the square hole above described, between the trestle-trees. A bar of wood or iron called the fid, is then thrust through a hole i in the heel of it, across the trestle-trees, by which the whole weight of the topmast is supported. In the same manner as the top-mast is retained at the head of the lower-mast, the top-gallant-mast is erected, and fixed at the head of the top-mast. Besides the parts already mentioned in the construction of masts, with respect to their length, the lower masts of the largest ships are composed of several pieces united into one body. As these are generally the most substantial parts of various trees, a mast, formed by this assemblage, is justly esteemed much stronger than one consisting of any single trunk, whose internal solidity may be very uncertain. The several pieces are formed and joined together, as represented in the section of a lower-mast of this sort, fig. 5. where a is Fig. 5. the shaft, or principal piece into which the rest are fixed, with their sides or faces close to each other. The whole is secured by several strong hoops of iron, driven on the outside of the mast, where they remain at proper distances. The principal articles to be considered in equipping a ship with masts are, Ist, the number; 2d, their situation in the vessel; and, 3d, their height above the water. The masts being used to extend the sails by means of their yards, it is evident, that if their number were multiplied beyond what is necessary, the yards must be extremely short, that they may not entangle each other in working the ship, and by consequence their sails will be very narrow, and receive a small portion of wind. If, on the contrary, there is not a sufficient number of masts in the vessel, the yards will be too large |