(Prosper Joliot de), a French writer of tragedy, and usually ranked after Corneille and Racine, was born at Dijon in 1674. He was originally destined to the profession of the law, and placed at Paris with that view; but the impetuosity of his passions rendering him unfit for business, he was urged by some friends, who discerned very well his natural turn, to attempt dramatic compositions. He complied, but not till after many refusals; and gave at length a tragedy, which met with great success. He then marched on in the career he had begun, but was checked by a fit of love for an apothecary's daughter; which fit of love ended in marriage. His father, doubly enraged at his son for thus surrendering himself to the two demons of Love and Poetry, disinherited him; but falling sick some years after, in 1707, he re-established him in all his rights, and died. Crebillon was, however, little better for his acquisitions, the greatest part being probably wasted before they came; and thus, though high in fame and at the prime of life, he still continued poor. He lost his wife in 1711, and fortune long frowned upon him, till at last he obtained a place in the French academy, and the employment of censor of the police. He was afterwards in good circumstances, and happy to the end of his life, which was a very long one; for he did not die. Letters of Credit, are those given to persons in whom a merchant, &c. can trust, to take money of his correspondent abroad, in case he happens to need it.