LEWIS, author of the Historical Di- ctionary, was born at Barge-mont in Provence, 1643. He learned rhetoric and philosophy at Aix, and di- vinity at Lyons. At 18 years of age he wrote a small piece, entitled Le Pays d'Amour, and a collection of the finest French poems entitled Doux plaisirs de la Poésie. He learned Spanish and Italian; and translated out of Spanish into French the book entitled La Per- fection Chrétienne de Rodriguez. He then refined the Saints Lives to the purity of the French tongue. Be- ing ordained priest, he preached at Lyons, and under- took, when he was but 32 years of age, a new His- torical Dictionary, printed at Lyons in one vol. folio, 1673. But his continual labour impaired his health; so that he died in 1680, aged 37. His second volume was published after his death; and four more volumes have since been added. He left some other works be- hind him.