Nicholas, an eminent musician and composer, was born at Mante on the Seine, in the year 1664. By his merit in his profession he attained to be conductor of the music in the chapel of St Stephen, and afterwards in that of the king. The regent duke of Orleans admired his works, and patronized their author. This prince having given him a motet of his own composition to examine, and being impatient for his observations thereon, went to the house of Bernier, and entering his study, found the abbe de la Croix there criticizing his piece, while the musician himself was in another room carousing and singing with a company of his friends. The duke broke in upon and interrupted their mirth, with a reprimand of Bernier for his attention to the task assigned him. This musician died at Paris in 1734. His five books of Cantatas and Songs for one and two voices, the words of which were written by Rousseau and Fufelier, have procured him great reputation. There are besides his composition Les Nuits de Sceaux, and many motets, which are still in great esteem.

Francis, surnamed the Mogul, on account of his travels and residence in that country, was born at Angers in France; and after he had taken his degree of doctor of physic at Montpellier, left his country in 1654, went to Egypt, to the Holy Land, and to the kingdom of the Mogul, where he was physician to that monarch, attended him in his journeys, and stayed there 12 years. Upon his return to France, he published the history of the countries he had visited; and spent the remainder of his life in composing various other works, particularly an Abridgment of the philosophy of Gassendus in 8 vols 12mo. His first work is esteemed to be the best account we have of the countries which are the subject of it.

John Laurence, commonly called Cavalier Bernin, a Neapolitan, famous for his skill in painting, sculpture, architecture, and mechanics. He first began to be known under the pontificate of Paul V. Rome is indebted to this artist for some of its greatest ornaments; and there are in the church of St Peter no less than 15 different works of his hand. He died at Rome in 1685.