ESPRIT, bishop of Nîmes, one of the most celebrated preachers of his age, and the publisher of many panegyrics and funeral orations, was born at Perne in Avignon in 1632. He was nominated to the bishopric of Lavaur in 1685, and translated to Nîmes in 1687. At this latter place he founded an academy, and took the presidency upon himself; his own palace was indeed a kind of academy, where he applied himself to train up orators and writers, who might serve the church, and do honour to the nation. He published, besides his panegyrics and funeral orations, 1. A History of the Emperor Theodosius, that of Cardinal Ximenes, and that of Cardinal Commendon. 2. Several Sermons. 3. Miscellaneous Works. 4. Letters, &c. He died in 1710.