(Bernard de la), born at Dijon in 1641, was a man of fine parts and great learning. He was admirably formed for poetry; and used to win the first prizes instituted by the members of the French academy, till he discontinued to write for them (it is said) at the solicitation of the academy; a circumstance which, if true, would reflect higher honour on him than a thousand prizes. All his pieces are in a most exquisite taste; and he was no less skilful in Latin poetry than in the French. Menage and Bayle have both bestowed the highest encomiums on his Latin poetry. His Greek poems are likewise looked upon as very good; and so are his Italian, which are written with great spirit. But poetry was not La Monnoye's only province: to a perfect skill in poetry, he joined a very accurate and extensive knowledge of the languages. He had great skill in criticism; and no man applied himself with greater assiduity to the study of history, ancient and modern. He was perfectly acquainted with all the scarce books that had anything curious in them; very well versed in the history of the learned; and what completes all, is the wonderful clearness with which he possessed these various kinds of knowledge. He wrote Remarks on the Menagiana; in the last edition of which, in 4 vols. 12mo, printed in 1715, are included several pieces of his poetry, and a curious dissertation on the famous book De tribus Impofforibus. His Dissertation on Pomponius Latius, at least an extract of it, is inserted in the new edition of Baillet's Jugemens des Grecs, published in 1722, with a great number of remarks and corrections by La Monnoye. He also embellished the Anti-Baillet of Menage with a multitude of corrections and notes. It would employ several pages to enumerate the various services this ingenious and learned man did to the republic of letters; as well by enriching it with productions of his own, as by the assistance which he communicated very freely upon all occasions to the learned of his times. Thus, among others, he favoured Bayle with a great number of curious particulars for his Dictionary, and was highly applauded by him on that account. He died at Paris, October 15th 1728, in his 88th year.

—Mr de Sallinger published at the Hague A Collection of Poems by La Monnoye, with his elogium, from whence many of the above particulars are taken. He also left behind him a Collection of Letters, mostly critical; several curious Dissertations; 300 Select Epigrams from Martial, and other poets ancient and modern, in French verse; several other works in prose and verse, in French, Latin, and Greek, all ready for the press.