RICARDO RICHARDSON.

Or

though it was no prescribed part of his duty to read lectures, yet his zeal for the advancement of the fine arts induced him to deliver annual or biennial discourses before the academy on the principles and practice of painting. these he pronounced fifteen, from 1769 to 1790, which were published in two sets, and form a standard work. He was a member of the celebrated club which contained the names of Johnson, Garrick, Burke, and others of the first rank of literary eminence, and seems to have been universally beloved and respected by his associates. This amiable and distinguished man died, Feb. the 25th, 1792, and was interred in St Paul's cathedral.

75

fluctuations of national wealth and expenditure. In 1819, Mr Ricardo obtained a seat in parliament, and as a senator attracted the respect and esteem of all parties. He died during September, 1823.

RICHARD THE SECOND, son of Edward the black prince, succeeded his grandfather, Edward III., as sovereign of this country, in 1377, when scarcely fifteen years of age. After a reign of equal profligacy and weakness, he was deposed by his cousin (Henry IV.), and assassinated, in 1400.

RICHARD THE THIRD, younger brother to Edward IV., king of England, murdered his nephews, the sons of that monarch, and usurped the throne in 1483. Though a tyrant and a hypocrite, he had many fine qualities, which fitted him for the regal station, but perished at the battle of Bosworth field, in 1485, in a contest for the crown with Henry, earl of Richmond, who succeeded to the seeptre that was wrung from his grasp.

RICARDO, David, celebrated for his writings on finance and statistics, was born at London of a Jewish family, in 1772. His character for probity, industry, and talent, early procured him means of support; and, becoming a member of the stock exchange, he accumulated immense property. RICHARDSON, Samuel, the In 1810, he appeared as a wri- great novelist, was born, 1689, ter in the Morning Chronicle,' in Derbyshire, and received on the subject of the deprecia- only a common school educa tion of the national currency; tion. At the usual age, he was he advocated the principles of bound apprentice to a London Malthus concerning popula- printer and, on the expiration tion; and published a treatise of his apprenticeship, passed on Political Economy and Tax-five or six years as a foreman in ation.' which affords a luminous a printing-office, until at length exposition of the origin and he set up for himself. His ha

76

RICHARDSON-RICHTER.

bits of diligence, accuracy, and honourable dealing, acquired him an extensive business; and, beginning to thrive in the world, he married the daughter of his former master. His

Pamela,' the first work which procured him distinction as a writer, was published in 1741; and so great was its popularity, that it ran through five editions in one year, being recommended even from the pulpit. In

RICHELIEU, Armand Jean du Plessis, cardinal, and duke de, was born at Paris, in 1585, and at the age of twenty-two years made bishop of Luçon. In 1616, the queen-mother, Mary of Medici, into whose favour Richelieu had insinuated himself, made him her grand almoner and one of the secretaries of state. In 1622, he obtained the cardinal's hat, entered the council of state and soon succeeded to the head of affairs. His long and

comes neither within our scope nor purpose to describe. However objectionable may have

gant, vindictive, wily, and unprincipled man, Richelieu can. not be denied the glory of having raised the power of his sovereign to its highest pitch. He died, Dec. the 4th, 1642.

1748' Clarissa' fully established his literary reputation; and its pathos, its variety of cha-able administration fills an im racter, and minute develop-portant page in history, but ment of the human heart, will cause it ever to be regarded as a work of real genius. The History of Sir Charles Grandi-been his character as an arroson' appeared in 1753, and was received with great applause. In all the productions of Richardson, the style is inelegant, gossiping and verbose. and he seldom knows when to leave off. In 1754, he rose to be master of the Stationers' company; and, in 1760, purchased a moiety of the patent of law printer to the king. As he grew rich, he indulged himself with a country residence at Parson's green, Middlesex, where he lived surrounded with a circle of affectionate admirers. Nothing could exceed his piety, moral worth, and general benevolence. He died of apoplexy, July the 4th, 1761, at the age of seventy-two.

RICHTER, Jean Paul Frederic, a German writer of the first rank, was born, March the 21st, 1763, at Wunsiedel, in the Fichtelgebirge. His father, a clergyman, had him classically educated, being destined for the church; he devoted himself however, to belles lettres, and was soon distinguished. Settled at Baireuth, and having been made counsellor of legation by the duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen, he led a life of pure domestic pleasure, and died without a

RIDLEY-RIENZI.

struggle, Nov. the 14th, 1825. His writings are generally in the form of novels, but have little of the character which is generally understood by that name. He seems to have liked particularly to analyze emotions, to dissect individual character in every station, even the humblest.

77

family, was born in the Asturias, during 1785. After hav ing been liberally educated, he entered the army, and, in 1820, at the head of a battalion, proclaimed the Spanish constitution. The provinces ranged themselves under the banners of independence, and Riego received the homage of national RIDLEY, Nicholas, bishop gratitude. Appointed a deof London in the reigns of Ed-puty to the cortes of 1822, he ward VI. and his successor became president of that asMary, was born about the sembly; and displayed prucommencement of the sixteenth dence and firmness, with a concentury, and educated at Cam-ciliatory disposition that did bridge. He travelled on the him honour. When king Fercontinent, and, during a three dinand refused to maintain the years' absence from his na- constitution which he had tive country, became acquaint- sworn to observe, Riego again ed with several of the early re-appeared in arms to assert the formers, whose doctrines he afterwards warmly espoused. Returning to Cambridge, he filled the office of proctor to the university, and as such protested against the claims of the papal see to the supreme ecclesiastical jurisdiction in the realm. He was also chosen public orator, became one of the king's chaplains; and was finally elevated to the see of London. On the death of Ed-store the Roman republic. Alward, he was marked out as one of the most prominent victims of papal authority, and being condemned, as a heretic, to the stake, suffered, with the greatest fortitude, at Oxford, Oct. the 15th, 1555.

RIEGO Y NUNEZ, Rafael del, a Spanish patriot, of noble

liberty of his country; but it was destined to fall before foreign foes. Taken prisoner after the capture of Cadiz, by the duke d' Angoulème, and conveyed to Madrid, he was executed as a traitor, Nov. the 7th, 1823.

RIENZI, Nicholas Gabrini di, a native of Rome, who, in the fourteenth century, became celebrated by his attempts to re

though the son of one of the lowest order of tavern keepers, he received a literary education, and early distinguished himself by his elevated sentiments, and lofty views. He obtained the post of public scribe or notary, and having prepared men's minds for a change, summoned

78

RIZZIO-ROBESPIERRE.

eretary for foreign languages. The distinction with which he was treated by his mistress, soon excited the envy of the nobles, and the jealousy of Darnley. A conspiracy, with the king at its head, was accordingly formed for his de struction, and before he had enjoyed two years of court favour, lord Ruthven, and others of his party, despatched the object of their revenge by fifty-six stabs, in the presence of his mistress. Popular tradition assigns to Rizzio much amelioration in the Scottish style of music.

a secret assembly upon mount Aventine, before which he made an energetic speech, and induced them all to subscribe an oath for the establishment of a plan of government, which he entitled the good estate. He had even the address to gain over the pope's vicar, and, in a second assembly in the capitol, produced fifteen articles as the basis of the good estate, which were unanimously approved; and the people conferred upon him the title of tribune, with the power of life and death, and all the other attributes of sovereignty, the papal see, we should observe, ROBERTSON, William, the being settled at this time in celebrated historian, was born Avignon. But the intoxica- at Borthwick, Scotland, in tion of supreme power betray-1721, and, after the completion ed Rienzi into extravagances, of his theological studies, oband he was massacred in Oc- tained the living of Gladsmuir, tober, 1354, about seven years in East Lothian. He soon beafter the commencement of his gan to be distinguished as a extraordinary career. preacher, and in the general assembly of the church of Scotland, acquired an ascendeney by his eloquence and great talents for public business. In 1764, he was made historiographer royal of Seotland, with a salary of 2001, per annum, and died 1793. His chief work, the History of the Reign of Charles V is justly admired for skilful and luminous arrangement, distinctness of narrative, and highly graphical description.

RIZZIO, David, the son of a music and dancing master at Turin, was born there, in the earlier part of the sixteenth century. His musical abilities procured him notice at the court of Savoy, while his talents as a linguist caused him to be selected by the ambassador from the grand duke to Mary, queen of Scots, as a part of his suite. In 1564, he first made his appearance at Holyrood house, where he soon became so great a favourite with the queen, that he was appointed her se

ROBESPIERRE, Maximilian Isidore, born at Arras, in