the name of several celebrated printers to the kings of France, who, like the Stephenles, were also men of great learning.

Frederic Morel, who was interpreter in the Greek and Latin tongues, as well as printer to the king, was heir to Vafcofian, whose daughter he had married. He was born in Champagne, and he died in an advanced age at Paris 1583. His sons and grandsons trode in his steps; they distinguished themselves in literature, and maintained also the reputation which he had acquired by printing. The edition of St Gregory of Nyssa, by his son Claude Morel, is held in great estimation by the learned.

Morel (Frederic), son of the preceding, and still more celebrated than his father, was professor and interpreter to the king, and printer in ordinary for the Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and French languages. He was so devoted to study, that when he was told his wife was at the point of death, he would not stir till he had finished the sentence which he had begun. Before it was finished, he was informed that she was actually dead; I am sorry for it (replied he coldly) she was an excellent woman. This printer acquired great reputation from the works which he published, which were very numerous and beautifully executed. From the manuscripts in the king's library, he published several treatises of St Basil, Theodoret, St Cyril; and he accompanied them with a translation. His edition of the works of Oecumenius and Aretas, in 2 vols folio, is much esteemed. In short, after distinguishing himself by his knowledge in the languages, he died June 27, 1630, at the age of 78. His sons and grandsons followed the same profession.

Morel (William), regius professor of Greek, and director of the king's printing house at Paris, died 1564. He composed a Dictionnaire Grec-Latin-Français, which was published in quarto in 1622, and some other works which indicate very extensive learning. His editions of the Greek authors are exceedingly beautiful. This great scholar, who was of a different family from the preceding, had a brother named John, who died in prison (where he had been confined for heresy) at the age of 20, and whose body was dug out of the grave, and burnt Feb. 27, 1559. They were of the parish of Tillacul, in the county of Mortain, in Normandy.

Morel (Dom Robert), a Benedictine monk of the society of Saint-Maur, was born at Chaize-Dieu in Auvergne, A.D. 1653. He was appointed keeper of the library of Saint-Germain des Pres in 1680. He was afterwards superior of different religious houses. In 1699 he disengaged himself from every care, and retired to Saint Denys, where he spent his time in composing works of practical religion. This learned monk, who enjoyed from nature a lively and fruitful imagination, excelled chiefly in subjects of piety, in a knowledge of the Christian character, and of the rules which regard the conduct of the Christian life. His conversation was sprightly and refined, his answers were prompt and ingenious, his temper was gentle, equable, Morel, equable, and full of gaiety mingled with discretion. His slovenly appearance did not debaute the beauty of his mind. All his words breathed charity, piety, uprightness, sincerity, and innocence of manners. Great simplicity and modesty, the limits of which he never transgressed, concealed his excellencies from the vulgar, but made him rank higher in the estimation of the wife and sensible part of mankind. Dom Morel died A.D. 1731, aged 79. His principal works are:

1. *Effusions de cœur sur chaque verset des Psaumes et des Cantiques de l'Église*; Paris, 1716, in 5 vols. 12mo.

P. de Tournemine, a Jesuit, esteemed this book (which abounds in pious and affecting thoughts and expressions) so much, that he perused it constantly; and when he was obliged to go to the country, he always carried a volume of it along with him. He earnestly sought to be introduced to the author, and in treasured on his knees that he would grant him his benediction (*Histoire littéraire de la congrégation de Saint Maur*, p. 504.) 2. *Entretiens spirituels sur les Évangiles des Dimanches et des Mystères de toute l'année*, distribués pour tous les jours de l'Avent, 1720, 4 vols. 12mo.

3. *Entretiens spirituels, pour servir de préparation à la Mort*, 12mo, 1721. 4. *Imitation de N.S.I.C.* a new translation, with a pathetic prayer, or an effusion of the heart, at the conclusion of every chapter, in 12mo, 1723. 5. *Méditations Chrétiennes sur les Évangiles de toute l'année*, 2 vols. 12mo, 1726. 6. *De l'Espérance Chrétienne et de la Confiance en la miséricorde de Dieu*, 12mo, 1728. The greater part of Morel's works are devotional; and his observations are drawn chiefly from the Scriptures, and from the practical writings of the fathers. This circumstance greatly raised the reputation of his works, and at the same time excited the envy and ill-will of his enemies. By them he was considered as a Janusifit; and in this light he is represented in the *Dictionnaire des livres Janusifites*.

Morel (Andreas), a very eminent antiquary, born at Berne in Switzerland. Having a strong passion for the study of medals, he travelled through several countries, and made large collections: in 1683 he published at Paris, in 8vo, *Specimen universae rei nummariae antiquae*: and the great work of which this was the specimen was to be a complete collection of all ancient medals, of which he had at that time 20,000 exactly designed. Soon after this essay appeared, Louis XIV. gave him a place in his cabinet of antiques, in which capacity he brought himself into great danger by speaking too freely of M. Louvois on account of the neglect in paying his salary, or on some other private account, as he was committed to the Bastille, where he lay for three years; nor was he released until the death of Louvois, nor till the canton of Berne had interceded in his favour. He afterward accepted an invitation from the count of Schwartzburg at Arnstadt, in Germany, with whom he lived in the capacity of antiquary, and was furnished with everything necessary for carrying on his grand work. In 1703 he died; and in 1734 came out at Amsterdam part of this collection, in 2 vols. folio, under the title of *Thesaurus Morellianus, sive familiae Romanorum numismata omnia, diligentissime undique conquista*, &c. Nunc primum editus & commentario perpetuo illustravit Sigibertus Havercampus. These volumes contain an explication of 3539 medals, engraved, with their reverses.