DEMOSTHENES, the famous Athenian orator, was born at Athens 381 B. C. He lost his father at seven years of age; and was placed under the conduct of guardians, who robbed him of his substance, and neglected his education. Demosthenes repaired this loss by his love of eloquence and his extraordinary abilities. He became the disciple of Isocrates, Plato, and Æscus; and made such progress under those excellent masters, that, at 17 years of age, he pleaded against his guardians, and caused them to be sentenced to pay him 30 talents. This was the first time that he distinguished himself by his eloquence, in which he arrived at the highest excellence; though he set out under the greatest disadvantages. For he had an impediment in his speech, which for a long time would not suffer him to pronounce the letter R. He had a weak voice, short breath, and a very uncouth manner. However, by dint of resolution, and infinite pains, he overcame all these defects: See DECLAMATION, N° II. It is universally agreed, that no orator ever spoke with such force, or had the passions of others so much in his power, as Demosthenes. He could dress a thing up in any light he pleased, and give it whatever colouring best answered his purpose; and that with such force of oratory, as bore down, like a thunder-bolt, all before it. Hence Philip king of Macedon said, his eloquence was of more weight against him, than all the fleets and armies of the Athenians; and that he had no enemy but Demosthenes. After the death of Philip, he op-
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Dempster posed Alexander the Great; on which account he was obliged to leave the city: but, after the death of that conqueror, he returned to Athens, where he was received in the most glorious manner, and continued declaiming against the Macedonians. Antipater being informed of this, desired the Athenians to deliver up to him all the orators who had spoken against him; on which Demosthenes withdrew into the isle of Celia. Archas coming hither to seize him in behalf of Antipater, he pretended a desire to write to some of his friends; and sucking some poison he had concealed in a pen, died 322 B. C. Many of his orations are still extant, the style of which is grand, sublime, and nervous; and they are all of them master-pieces of eloquence.
Dempster (Thomas), a very learned man, but of a singular character. He was born in Scotland, but we do not find in what year. He went over to France, for the sake of embracing the catholic religion; and taught classical learning at Paris about the beginning of the 17th century. Tho' his business was to teach school; yet he was as ready to draw his sword, and as quarrelsome, as if he had been a duellist by profession: and it is said, that there scarce passed a day but he had something or other of this kind upon his hands. This spirit and turn of temper drew him into many scrapes; and one in particular, which obliged him to quit the country. Grangier, principal of the College of Beauvais at Paris, being obliged to take a journey, appointed Dempster his substitute. Dempster caused whip a scholar, in full school, for challenging one of his fellows to fight a duel. The scholar, to revenge this affront, brought three gentlemen of his relations, who were of the king's life-guards, into the college. Dempster made the whole college take arms; hamstringing the three life-guard-mens horses before the college gate; and put himself into such a posture of defence, that the three sparks were forced to ask for quarter. He gave them their lives; but imprisoned them, and did not release them for some days. They fought another way to revenge themselves: they caused an information to be made of the life and moral behaviour of Dempster, and got some witnesses to be heard against him. Upon this he went over to England, where he found refuge; but did not make any long stay. He went abroad again, and read lectures upon polite learning in several universities; in that of Nimes particularly, where he disputed for a professor's chair, and obtained it. He went to Bologna, and was professor there for the remainder of his life; and was then also admitted a member of the Academy della Rotte. He died there in September 1625, leaving behind him several learned works; as Commentaries on Refinus de Antiquitatibus Romanorum, and upon Claudian, &c.; four books of Epistles; several dramatic pieces, and other poems; some books of law; an Apparatus to the History of Scotland; a Martyrology of Scotland; and a List of the Scottish Writers.