Professor, was from his youth brought up at Paris in the profession of a bookseller, and in the knowledge of books. He kept a regular correspondence with several learned men, among whom was Bernard the continuator of the Nouvelles de la République des Lettres, and furnished this writer with the literary anecdotes of France. Marchand, having embraced the Protestant religion, went to join Bernard in Holland, where he might be at liberty to profess Marchand his religious opinions. He continued the trade of bookseller for some time; but afterwards quitted it, that he might dedicate himself wholly to the pursuits of literature. The history of France, together with a knowledge of books and authors, was always his favourite study. In the latter he was so eminently distinguished, that he was consulted from all parts of Europe. He was also one of the principal authors of the Journal Littéraire, one of the best periodical works which have appeared in Holland; and he furnished excellent extracts for the other journals. This valuable and learned man died at an advanced age, the 14th of June 1756; and left the little fortune which he had to a society instituted at the Hague, for the education and instruction of a certain number of poor people. His library, which was excellently chosen for literary history, together with his manuscripts, was left by his will to the university of Leyden. From him we have,

1. The History of Printing, a new edition of which has been promised by one of his friends. This work, which is full of notes and critical discussions, appeared in 1749 at the Hague, in 4to. There is such a prodigious display of erudition, and remarks and quotations are heaped together in such confusion, that when you get to the end of the chaos, you know not what conclusion to form concerning the points which have been discussed. Abbé Mercier, abbot of Saint Leger de Soissons, gave in 1775, 4to, a supplement to this history, which is equally curious and accurate.

2. An Historical Dictionary, or Memoirs Critical and Literary, printed at the Hague in 1758, in two small volumes, folio. In this work we meet with historical singularities, literary anecdotes, and a discussion of points of bibliography; but too great minuteness prevails in it, the style is deficient in point of purity, and the author is too much carried away by the heat and eagerness of his character. More erudition could not well be collected; especially upon subjects which, at least to the generality of readers, are so uninteresting.

3. A new edition of Bayle's Dictionary, and Letters of the Cymbalum mundi, &c.