FLEURY, Claude, sub-preceptor of the young princes of France, was the son of an advocate before the council, originally from Rouen, and born at Paris on the 6th of December 1640. He studied under the Jesuits, in the College of Clermont, where he passed six years; and he ever afterwards cherished sentiments of the liveliest gratitude towards his kind and able masters. Being intended by his father for the bar, he now applied himself to the study of the civil law and of history, to which he added the belles-lettres, for which he had a strong predilection, and he was admitted as an advocate before the parliament of Paris in 1658. He remained at the bar nine years, during which time the peaceable life he led, a natural taste for solitude, and religious sentiments, the fruits of his early education, insensibly produced in his mind an inclination for the church. As soon as his resolution was fixed, he made a corresponding change in his pursuits, and the works which had hitherto been the objects of his study were replaced by theology, the fathers, ecclesiastical history, and the canon law, in all which he became very learned. He had already been some time in priest's orders, when, in 1672, he was chosen, on account of his merit, as preceptor to the sons of the Prince of Conti, who were educated along with the dauphin. At the expiration of this engagement, the king, who had occasion to observe and appreciate his merit, entrusted him with the education of the Count of Vermandois, which, however, he did not complete, as this young prince died in 1683. In 1684, the king conferred on him the abbey of Loc-Dieu, belonging to the order of Citeaux; and in 1689, appointed him sub-preceptor to the Dukes of Burgundy, Anjou, and Berry. The Abbé Fleury having thus found himself associated with Fenelon, shared the labour which that illustrious prelate bestowed on the education of his august pupils, and contributed essentially to its success. It was in 1696, whilst he was still occupied with the instruction of the princes, that he was named one of the forty of the French Academy to fill the place of La Bruyère. In other respects he led as retired a life at court as he could have done in the most profound solitude. Entirely occupied with the duties of his office, to which he devoted himself without reserve, he had but few moments of leisure; but these, when he could command them, were given to useful pursuits. When the education of the princes was completed, Louis, who not only knew how to distinguish talents but also how to reward them, conferred on Fleury the rich priory of Argenteuil; upon which the abbe, faithful to the discipline established by the canons, resigned his abbey into the hands of the king. It was then that, free from all care, he devoted himself entirely to pursuits worthy a man of his station; but Louis XIV, having died, in 1716, he was recalled to the court by the regent, to become confessor to the young king. In appointing him to this office the regent is reported to have said, "I have chosen you because you are neither Jansenist, nor Molinist, nor Ultramontanist." Fleury discharged with zeal and sagacity the delicate functions of his new situation, which, however, he resigned in 1722, by reason of his great age. He died on the 14th of July 1723, in his eighty-third year. Fleury was alike remarkable for his great learning and extreme simplicity of manners; in him Christian humility was blended with true dignity, and the gentlest disposition with the loftiest spirit. He was mild, affable, benign, charitable; an ardent lover of truth, and a bright pattern of those virtues which he inculcated on others. His understanding, naturally excellent, was cultivated with infinite labour; and his heart was as carefully disciplined as his understanding. Profound knowledge, sterling rectitude of principle, innocent manners, a simple, laborious, and edifying life, sincere modesty, admirable disinterestedness, unfailing regularity, and the utmost fidelity in the discharge of all his duties; such are the traits of the character of Fleury as delineated by his contemporaries; a character which, in their judgment, exhibited an assemblage of all the talents and virtues which form the profound scholar, the honest man, and the devout Christian. The following is a list of the numerous works which he left behind him, part of which were composed during brief snatches of leisure, whilst occupied with the education of his different royal and noble pupils: 1. *Histoire du Droit Français*, 1674, in 12mo; 2. *Catéchisme Historique*, Paris, 1679, in 12mo; 3. *Les Maurs des Israélites*, Paris, 1681, in 12mo; 4. *Les Maurs des Chrétiens*, 1682, in 12mo; 5. *La Vie de la vénérable mère Marguerite d'Arbouze, abbesse et reformatrice du Val-de-Grâce*, Paris, 1684, in 8vo; 6. *Traité du choix et de la méthode des Études*, Paris, 1686, in 12mo; 7. *Institution au Droit Écclésiastique*, Paris, 1687, in 2 vols. 12mo; 8. *Les Devoirs des Maîtres et des Domestiques*, Paris, 1688, in 12mo; 9. *La Traduction Latine de l'Exposition de la Doctrine de l'Eglise Catholique par Bossuet*, Antwerp, 1678, in 12mo; 10. *Histoire Écclésiastique*, Paris, 1691 and the following years, in 20 vols. 4to, continued by Père Fabre, of the Oratory, Paris, 1726 and the following years, in 16 vols. 4to, making in all 36 vols. 4to; 11. *Discours sur l'Histoire Écclésiastique*, Paris, 1802, in 8vo; 12. *Discours sur les Libertés de l'Eglise Gallicane*, 1724. Besides these works, the Abbé Fleury was also the author of the following, viz. 1. *Discours sur la Prédication*, 1773, in 12mo; 2. *Traité du Droit publique de France*, 1769, in 4 vols. 12mo; 3. *Le Soldat Chrétien*, 1772, in 12mo; 3. *Lettres à Santeul, et deux Lettres en vers Latins*; 4. *Discours sur la Poésie et notamment sur celle des Hébreux*; 5. *Portrait du Duc de Bourgogne, et Avis pour ce Prince*; 6. *Réflexions sur Machiavel*; 7. *Lettres sur la Justice*; 8. *Pensées tirées de Saint-Augustin*; 9. *Mémoires pour le Roi d'Espagne*; 10. *Discours Académiques*. All the works of the Abbé Fleury, with the exception of the Ecclesiastical History, were collected by Rondet, under the titles of *Opuscules*, Nismes, 1780, in 5 vols. 8vo; but M. Emery, superior-general of the Congregation of Saint-Sulpice, published a volume entitled *Nouveaux Opuscules*, Paris, 1807, in 12mo, containing several unedited pieces, some of them possessing considerable merit.

**FLEURUS**, a small town of the province of West Flanders, in the circle of Charleroy, containing 600 inhabitants, and remarkable for the battles fought there in 1622, 1690, 1794, and 1815, though the last is more frequently designated the battle of Ligny.

**FLEXIBLE**, in *Physics*, a term applied to bodies capable of being bent or deflected from their natural figure or direction.

**FLEXOR**, in *Anatomy*, a name applied to several muscles, which are so called from their office, which is to bend the parts to which they belong, in opposition to the *extensors*, which open or stretch them.

**FLINDERS ISLAND**, is an island in the form of an irregular quadrangle of from three to five miles each side on the south coast of New Holland. Seals are numerous on the beach, and a species of kangaroo not larger than a cat is also found there. Long. 134.27. E. Lat. 33.41. S.

**FLINT**, a mineral which is principally composed of silica. See Mineralogy.

**FLINT**, the county town of Flintshire, in North Wales, 204 miles from London, on the river Dee. It is an ancient corporation, and, in conjunction with the boroughs of Rhydlan, Overton, Caerwys, and Caergoety, returns one member to the House of Commons. It is resorted to in summer for sea-bathing. Though the assizes are held at Mold, the county jail is at Flint. The population amounted in 1801 to 1169, in 1811 to 1433, in 1821 to 1612, and in 1831 to 2216.

**FLINTSHIRE**, a county of North Wales. It consists of a narrow tract of land, about twenty-eight miles in length, but varying considerably in its breadth, though in no part exceeding ten miles. The Irish Sea partly bounds it on the north; the river Dee and part of Cheshire on the north and north-east side; and the county of Denbigh on the south and west sides. A portion of the county is detached from the rest by the interposition of a part of Denbighshire. It is divided into five hundreds, viz. Coleshill, Maylor, Mold, Prestatyn, and Rhydlan. The river Dee formerly washed the walls of the ancient castle of Flint, the county town, but has of late considerably receded, and it has now no means of carrying on commerce by sea, except in very small vessels; and it is necessary that those should be so constructed as to remain dry, during low water, without injury. Mold, the town at which the assizes are held, has rapidly increased, owing in some measure to the establishment of very extensive mills for spinning cotton in its vicinity. The city of St Asaph is neither distinguished by its extent nor the beauty of its buildings. Its situation, on the side of a hill, the summit of which is crowned by the cathedral, and between the rivers Clwyd and Elwy, is very imposing, and strikes the traveller forcibly as he approaches it. Though the immediate vicinity of this city has a sterile appearance, yet the views near it in one direction over the enchanting vale of Clwyd, and in another over the diversified landscape which terminates with the ruins of the castle of Denbigh, present to the eye of those who have a taste for beautiful scenery a most delightful treat.

The diocese of St Asaph extends nearly over the whole of the county, and, from several livings which are held in commendam by the bishop, is a very lucrative preferment. The Episcopal chair has, since the Reformation, been filled by many prelates of most distinguished character. Morgan was translated to this see in 1601, as a reward for his eminent acquirements as an oriental linguist. He was employed in translating the sacred writings into the Welsh language, as well as in a part of the English edition commonly called Queen Elizabeth's Bible. Dr Isaac Barrow, uncle to the celebrated mathematician, was eminent for his munificence to the see, as well as for his profound learning. The pious Beveridge, during a few of his last years, was bishop of St Asaph; and the chair has been since filled by the amiable and learned Shipley, and the powerful and energetic Horsley. The cathedral has been of late much improved and beautified by the bounty of Bishop Bagot, and the liberal contributions of the nobility and gentry of the county. It was built about the year 1480, upon a foundation of much more ancient date; it is in length from east to west 179 feet, and in breadth from north to south 108 feet. The most important place in this county, from its wealth, its population, and its continued increase, is the town of Holywell, deriving its name from the well of St Wenefrede, which, in the ages of credulity, was supposed to possess miraculous powers of healing, but has of late been applied to better purposes than nurturing such superstitions. As there are many Catholics in Flintshire, the belief in the miraculous power of this spring is not wholly extinct, nor have the pilgrimages to it altogether ceased. So late as 1805, indeed, a very zealous attempt was made to revive the credit of the saint, and establish faith in the wonderful cures achieved by bathing in her well. A case was narrated, accompanied with certificates, and a challenge given to all who doubted of the miracle, by an appeal to facts which, however it might confirm the faith of the saint's votaries, had no influence beyond that narrow circle.

The productions of Flintshire which deserve most notice are the minerals, the preparation of which gives employment to a considerable share of the population. Coals are found in abundance, chiefly near the banks of the Dee, and in other parts near the surface, and in very thick seams. The city of Chester is principally supplied with its fuel from hence, and considerable quantities were shipped for Ireland before the change in the course of the Dee, and before the coal mines of Lancashire and Cumberland had attained their present extent. Lead is most copiously raised from a very extensive mining tract near Holywell; and in the same excavations is raised most excellent limestone, applicable to the purposes of agriculture as well as building, and so hard that it will bear a high polish, in fact a kind of marble. Below the limestone is found petrosilex, which is ground and becomes very valuable in the manufacture of earthenware. Calamine is found in considerable quantities; a part is exported, but much is used within the county in the preparation of brass. The lead is divided by the miners into two kinds; that called cubic, or dice ore, is generally used in glazing earthenware; the other, called white, or steel-grained ore, is principally cast into pigs for distant consumption; this latter contains a portion of silver sufficient to defray the expense of separating the metals, and several thousand ounces have been annually extracted. The workmen in the lead mines are visited with maladies which both embitter and shorten their lives.

The manufactories of this county are very considerable, and have taken that course which the natural productions seem to have indicated. Brass is made by the mixture of copper with calamine, and formed into the different shapes to fit for domestic and commercial purposes. Copper-works, under the Pargs Mine Company, are constructed, and produce large quantities of copper sheathing, bolts, nails, and other necessaries for naval equipment, as well as brass wire and minuter articles. The potteries are very extensive, and manufacture large quantities of the inferior kinds of earthenware, which supply the consumption of a great part of Wales, and export considerable quantities to Ireland. Besides those manufactories which the minerals have introduced, the fine stream that issues from the well of St Winefred has attracted the attention of cotton-spinners, who have erected a most powerful mass of machinery. They carry on the operations of carding and spinning cotton to a great extent.

The agriculture of this county is in a neglected state, drawing to it a very insufficient portion of its capital; and hence few improvements have been adopted of late years. Near the banks of the Dee there is some good corn land, of a clayey texture, on which, after a fallow, good wheat is grown. The meadows in this part produce excellent herbage, and the cows afford the best possible butter. The northern part of the county is generally a level country, and well calculated for the growth of wheat, oats, and beans. On the higher lands rye is cultivated, but those lands are very imperfectly tilled, and nearly destitute of manure. The rich vale of Mold forms a striking contrast with the more mountainous parts of the county, and yields very good butter, corn, and meat.

The ruins of ancient edifices, and other antiquities, are numerous, and invite the attention of the antiquarian. A few years ago, whilst digging for the purpose of laying the foundation of a copper work, a Roman hypocaust, or hot bath, was discovered, furnished with numerous flues, covered with tiles of a red colour; a clear evidence that the county had been anciently inhabited by some persons acquainted with the luxuries of Rome.

Few counties, in proportion to their extent, contain so many gentlemen's seats as Flintshire. The most remarkable are, Mostyn Hall, Sir Thomas Mostyn; Pengewern, Sir Edward Pryce Lloyd; Boddewyddan, Sir John Williams; Kinmael Hall, Reverend Edward Hughes; Gwernhailand, Philip Lloyd Fletcher, Esq.; Hanmer Hall, Sir Thomas Hanmer; Downing, David Pennant, Esq.; Halken, Earl Grosvenor; Adwynt, J. Roberts, Esq.; Llewenny Hall, Lord Kirkwall.

The following are the returns of the population for the years ending 1811, 1821, and 1831.

| YEARS | HOUSES | OCCUPATIONS | PERSONS | |-------|--------|-------------|---------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

See Agricultural Survey of North Wales; Wynne's History of Wales; Aikin's Tour in North Wales.