RENE, a Jesuit and eminent French writer, was born at Tours in 1621. He taught polite literature in the society of the Jesuits with great applause, and was justly esteemed one of the best Latin poets and greatest wits of his time. He died at Paris in 1687. He wrote, 1. A great number of Latin poems, which have rendered him famous throughout all Europe; among which are his *Hortorum libri quatuor*, which is reckoned his masterpiece. 2. Reflections on Eloquence, Poetry, History, and Philosophy. 3. Comparisons between Virgil and Homer, Demosthenes and Cicero, Plato and Aristotle, Thucydides and Titus Livius. 4. The History of Janfeinism. 5. Several works on religious subjects. The best edition of his Latin poems is that of Paris in 1723, in 3 vols. 12mo.

RAPIN de Thoyras, Paul de, a celebrated historian, was the son of James de Rapin lord of Thoyras, and was born at Caffres in 1661. He was educated at first under a tutor in his father's house; and afterwards sent to Puylaurens, and thence to Samur. In 1679 he returned to his father, with a design to apply himself to the study of the law, and was admitted an advocate; but some time after, reflecting that his being a Protestant would prevent his advancement at the bar, he resolved to quit the profession of the law, and apply himself to that of the sword; but his father would not consent to it. The revocation of the edict of Nantes in 1685, and the death of his father, which happened two months after, made him resolve to come to England; but as he had no hopes of any settlement here, his stay was but short. He therefore soon after went to Holland, and lifted himself in the company of French volunteers at Utrecht, commanded by M. Rapin his cousin-german. He attended the prince of Orange into England in 1688; and the following year the lord Kingston made him an ensign in his regiment, with which he went into Ireland, where he gained the esteem of his officers at the siege of Carrickfergus, and had soon a lieutenant's commission. He was present at the battle of the Boyne, and was shot through the shoulder at the siege of Limerick. He was soon after captain of the company in which he had been ensign; but, in 1693, resigned his company to one of his brothers, in order to be tutor to the earl of Portland's son. In 1699, he married Marianne Testard; but this marriage neither abated his care of his pupil, nor prevented his accompanying him in his travels. Having finished this employment, he returned to his family, which he had settled at the Hague; and here he continued some years. But as he found his family increased, he resolved to retire to some cheap country; and accordingly removed, in 1707, to Wefel, where he wrote his History of England, and some other pieces. Though he was of a strong constitution, yet 17 years application (for so long was he in composing the history just mentioned) entirely ruined his health. He died in 1725. He wrote in French, 1. A Dissertation on the Whigs and Tories. 2. His History of England, printed at the Hague in 1726 and 1727, in 9 vols 4to, and reprinted at Trevoux in 1728, in 10 vols 4to. This last edition is more complete than that of the Hague. It has been translated into English, and improved with Notes, by the reverend Mr Tindal, in 2 vols folio. This performance, though the work of a foreigner, is deservedly esteemed as the fullest and most impartial collection of English political transactions extant. The readers of wit and vivacity, however, may be apt to complain of him for being sometimes rather tedious and dull.