a considerable, handsome, and populous town in France, with the title of a duchy; seated on a river of the same name, in W. Long. 35° N. Lat. 48° 18'.

MAIGNAN (Emanuel), a religious minim, and one of the greatest philosophers of his age, was born of an ancient and noble family at Thoulouse in 1601. Like the famous Pascal, he became a complete mathematician without the assistance of a teacher; and filled the professor's chair at Rome in 1666, where, at the expense of Cardinal Spada, he published his book De Putealina Horaria. He returned to Thoulouse in 1659, and was created provincial: the king, who in 1660 entertained himself with the machines and curiosities in his cell, made him offers by Cardinal Mazarine, to draw him to Paris; but he humbly desired to spend the remainder of his days in a cloister. He published a course of philosophy, 4 vols Svo, at Thoulouse; to the second edition of which he added two treatises, one against the vortices of Descartes, and the other on the speaking trumpet invented by Sir Samuel Morland. He is said to have studied even in his sleep, his very dreams being employed in theorems, the demonstrations of which would awaken him with joy. He died in 1676.