MACQUER

MACQUER, PHILIPPE, advocate of the parliament of Paris, where he was born in 1720, being descended from a respectable family. A weakness in his lungs having prevented him from engaging in the laborious exercises of pleading, he dedicated himself to literary pursuits. His works are, 1. L'Abregé Chronologique de l'Histoire Ecclesiastique, 3 vols. 8vo. written in the manner of the president Henault's History of France, but not possessed of equal spirit and elegance. 2. Les Annales Romaines, 1756, 8vo; another chronological abridgement, and much better supported than the former. Into this work the author has introduced every thing most worthy of notice which has been written by Saint Eusebius, Abbé Saint-Real, President Montelquieu, Abbé Mabry, &c. concerning the Romans; and, if we except a difference of style, which is easily discernible it is, in other respects, a very judicious compilation. 3. Abregé Chronologique de l'Histoire d'Espagne et de Portugal, 1759, 1765, in 2 vols. 8vo. This book, in point of accuracy, is worthy of the president Henault, by whom it was begun; but it displays no discrimination of character nor depth of research. The author received assistance from M. Lacombe, whose talents for chronological abridgement are well known. The republic of letters sustained a loss by the death of M. Macquer, which happened on the 27th of January 1770, at the age of 50. As to his character, he was industrious, agreeable, modest, and sincere, and an enemy to all foolish vanity and affectation. He had a cold imagination, but a correct taste. He had an eager thirst for knowledge of every kind, and had neglected no useful branch of study. He had a share in the Dictionary of Arts and Professions, in 2 vols. 8vo, and in the Translation of the Syphilis of Fracastor published by Lacombe.