HERBACEOUS PLANTS, are those which have succulent stems or stalks that die down to the ground H E R every year. Of herbaceous plants, those are annual which perish stem and root and all every year; biennial, which subsist by the roots two years; perennial, which are perpetuated by their roots for a series of years, a new stem being produced every spring. HERBAGE, in Lat., signifies the pasture provided by nature for the food of cattle; also the liberty to feed cattle in the forest, or in another person's ground. HERBAL, signifies a book that treats of the classes, genera, species, and virtues of plants. HERBAL, is sometimes also used for what is sometimes called hortus siccus, or a collection of dried plants. HEBBELOL, BARTHOLEMEW D', a French writer, eminent for his oriental learning, was born at Paris in 1625. He travelled several times into Italy, where he obtained the esteem of some of the most learned men of the age. Ferdinand II. grand duke of Tuscany, gave him many marks of his favour; a library being exposed to sale at Florence, the duke desired him to examine the manuscripts in the oriental languages, to select the best of them, and to mark the price; which being done, that generous prince purchased them, and made him a present of them. M. Colbert being at length informed of Herbelot's merit, recalled him to Paris, and obtained a pension for him of 1500 livres: he afterwards became secretary and interpreter of the oriental languages, and royal professor of the Syriac tongue. He died at Paris in 1695. His principal work is entitled Bibliothèque Orientale, which he first wrote in Arabic, and afterwards translated into French. It is greatly esteemed. M. Herbelot's modesty was equal to his erudition; and his uncommon abilities were accompanied with the utmost probity, piety, and charity, which he practised through the whole course of his life. HERBERT, MARY, countess of Pembroke, was sister of the famous Sir Philip Sidney, and wife of Henry earl of Pembroke. She was not only a lover of the muses, but a great encourager of polite literature; a character not very common among ladies. Her brother dedicated his incomparable romance Arcadia to her, from which circumstance it hath been called The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia. She translated a dramatic