(John), a most learned and ingenious writer and natural philosopher, was born at Wotton in Surry, the seat of his father, in 1620. After making the tour of Europe, he returned to England about the year 1651, and lived very retired at his rural retreat, Say's Court, near Deptford in Kent; where his disgust at the violence and confusion of the times, operated so far upon his studious disposition, that he actually proposed to Mr Boyle, the establishing a kind of college for persons persons of the same turn of mind, where they might associate together without care or interruption. It was owing to Mr Evelyn's gratitude to the place of his education, that Oxford became possessed of the famous Arundelian Marbles; which he persuaded the Lord Henry Howard to bestow on that university. He was very affluous in transmitting to the royal society whatever fell within the compass of his inquiries; and used humbly to style himself "a pioneer in the service." When the number of books he published is considered, the many he left behind him unfinished and unpublished, and the variety of subjects on which he employed his time, his industry and application are astonishing.

"His life," (says the honourable Mr Walpole), "was a course of inquiry, study, curiosity, instruction, and benevolence. The works of the Creator, and the mimic labours of the creature, were all objects of his pursuit. He unfolded the perfections of the one, and assisted the imperfections of the other. He dreaded from examination; was a courtier that flattered only by informing his prince, and by pointing out what was worthy for him to countenance; and was really the neighbour of the Gospel, for there was no man that might not have been the better for him. He was one of the first promoters of the royal society, a patron of the ingenious and indigent, and peculiarly serviceable to the lettered world; for besides his writings and discoveries, he obtained the Arundelian marbles for the university of Oxford, and the Arundelian library for the royal society: nor is it the least part of his praise, that he who proposed to Mr Boyle the erection of a philosophic college for retired and speculative persons, had the honesty to write in defence of active life against Sir George Mackenzie's Essay on Solitude. He knew that retirement in his own hands was industry and benefit to mankind; but in those of others, laziness and inutility."

There are five small prints of this gentleman's journey from Rome to Naples, drawn and etched by him; and among his published works are, 1. A Character of England; 2. The State of France; 3. An Essay on the first book of Lucretius de Rerum Natura; 4. The French gardener; 5. A Panegyric on king Charles the Second's coronation; 6. Furniturgum, or the inconveniences of the air and smoke of London dissipated; 7. The history and art of engraving on copper; 8. A parallel between the ancient architecture and the modern; 9. Sylva, or a discourse of forest-trees; and several others. This amiable gentleman died, full of age and honour, in 1706.—His son John Evelyn, born in 1654, distinguished himself by his elegant translations and poems: He was one of the commissioners of the revenue in Ireland; but died early in life, in 1698.

EUGENE (Francis), prince of Savoy, descended from Carignan, one of the three branches of the house of Savoy, and son of Eugene Maurice, general of the Swiss and Grisons, governor of Champagne, and earl of Soissons, was born in 1663. Lewis XIV. to whom he became afterwards so formidable an enemy, thought him so unpromising a youth, that he refused him preferment both in the church and the state, thinking him too much addicted to pleasure to be useful in either. Prince Eugene, in disgust, quitted France; and, retiring to Vienna, devoted himself to the imperial service. The war between the emperor and the Turks afforded the first opportunity of exerting his military talents; and every campaign proved a new step in his advancement to the highest offices in the army. He gave the Turks a memorable defeat at Zenta; commanded the German forces in Italy, where he foiled marshal Villeroy in every engagement, and at length took him prisoner. Our limits do not allow a detail of his campaigns; but prince Eugene distinguished himself greatly, when the emperor and queen Anne united against the exorbitant power of Lewis XIV. He died at Vienna in the year 1736; and was as remarkable for his modesty and liberality, as for his abilities in the field and the cabinet.