Xavier, one of the most celebrated Italian literati of the eighteenth century, was born at Mantua on the 18th of July 1718. After studying under the Jesuits in his native city and at Bologna, he entered in 1736 upon the noviciate of this society. He then undertook a new course of study; and afterwards taught the belles-lettres, from the year 1739 to 1744, at Brescia, where the Cardinal Quirini, Count Mazzucchelli, Count Duranti, and other scholars, formed an illustrious academy. He there began to distinguish himself by some pieces of poetry, composed as scholastic exercises. Being sent to Bologna to pursue the study of divinity, he continued to cultivate his poetical talent, and wrote also, for the theatre of the college, his tragedy of Jonathan. The number of learned and literary persons collected in this city exceeded by far what he had met with at Brescia. The Institute, recently founded by the Count Marsigli, the Clementine Academy of Design, the school of the astronomical poet Manfredi, the growing reputation of his ingenious and learned pupils Zanotti, Algarotti, and others, at this time fixed the attention of the literary world on Bologna. It was in the midst of this society to which he was admitted, that Bettinelli completed his education, and attained the age of thirty. He went in 1748 to Venice, where he became professor of rhetoric. He left it for various missions, and returned to it often. We may see by his epistles in free verse, or seiolli, that he was connected on friendly terms with all that this city and state could boast as most illustrious. He was destined by the superiors of his order for the oratorical department; but the weakness of his chest compelled him to relinquish it. The superintendence of the college of nobles at Parma was intrusted to him in 1751; and he principally directed the studies of poetry and history, and the entertainments of the theatre. He remained here eight years, but not without visiting, at intervals, different cities of Italy, either on the affairs of his order, for pleasure, or for health. In 1755 he undertook a longer journey, traversed part of Germany, proceeded as far as Strasburg and Nancy, and returned by way of Germany into Italy, taking with him two young princes, sons or nephews of the prince of Hohenlohe, who had requested him to take charge of their education. He made, the year following, another journey into France, along with the eldest of these two young princes, and lodged while in Paris at the College of Louis le Grand. It was during this excursion that he wrote the famous Letters of Virgil, which were published at Venice with his seiolli verses, and those of Frugoni and Algarotti. The opinions, and we may add without much hesitation the literary heresies, maintained in these letters against the two great luminaries of Italian poetry, and particularly against Dante, created him many enemies, and, what was still more unpleasant to him, embroiled him with Algarotti. Willing to know something more of France than Paris, he made several excursions into Normandy and other provinces; he went also into Lorraine, to the court of King Stanislaus, and thence proceeded to Lyons, and afterwards to Geneva. Soon after his arrival he went to visit Voltaire. This celebrated writer sent to his From Geneva he proceeded to Marseilles, from thence to Nismes, and returned by Genoa to Italy and Parma, where he arrived in 1759. The same year he took a journey to Venice, and afterwards to Verona, where he resided till 1767. Having resumed the occupations of preaching and teaching, he, according to the Chevalier Pindemonti, converted the youth to God in the church, and to good taste in his own house. He afterwards lived for some years at Modena, and he had just been appointed professor of rhetoric there, when, in 1773, the order of Jesuits was abolished in Italy.

He then returned into his own country, where he resumed his literary labours with new ardour, and published in succession his Correspondence between two Ladies, his Letters to Lesbia on Epigrams, his Letters on the Fine Arts, and his Twenty-four Letters on Love. The siege laid by the French to Mantua had compelled him to leave it, and he retired to Verona, where he formed the most intimate friendship with the Chevalier Hippolito Pindemonti, notwithstanding the disproportion of their age. In 1797, after Mantua had surrendered, he returned thither. Though nearly eighty years old, he resumed his labours and his customary manner of life. He began in 1799 a complete edition of his works, which was finished at Venice in 24 volumes 12mo. Arrived at the age of ninety years, he still retained the gaiety and vivacity of his mind, and died on the 13th of September 1808.

The following is a list of his works:

1. Ragionamenti Filosofici, con Annotazioni. 2. Dell' Entusiasmo delle Belle Arti. 3. Dialoghi d'Amore. 4. Risorgimento negli Studi, nelle Arti e ne' Costumi dopo il Mille. 5. Delle Lettere e delle Arti Mantovane: Lettere ed Arti Moderni. 6. Lettere dicei ei Virgilio agli Argadi. 7. Italian Letters from a Lady to her Friend on the Fine Arts, and Letters from a Friend. 8. Poetry, 3 vols. 9. Tragedies, 2 vols. 10. Lettere a Lesbia Cidonia sopra gli Epigrammi. 11. An Essay on Eloquence, to which are added, some letters, discourses, and other miscellanies. (See Biographie Universelle, tome iv.)

BEUTULA, the genus of plants to which our birch and its congeners belong. It gives its name to the Betulaceae, one division of Amentaceae. See Botany.

BEUTULEIUS, Sixtus, a grammarian, Latin poet, and philosopher, born at Memmingen, a.d. 1500. His real name was Birck. He taught the belles-lettres and philosophy with reputation, and became principal of the college of Augsburg, where he died in 1554. He published various works in prose; and several dramatic pieces. See Betuleius Vita, per Jo. Nyseum Scripta; and Adam's Vita Eruditorum.