NICOLAS, a French traveller, was born at Vitre, in Bretagne, in 1750. He studied with distinction at Rennes, and in 1776 travelled into Egypt, where he remained nearly three years. During this period he was wholly engaged in the study of the Arabian language, in searching out ancient monuments, and in examining the national manners. After making himself acquainted with the antiquities of Egypt, he visited the islands in the Archipelago, where he spent eighteen months. On his return to France in the year 1780, he published A Translation of the Koran, with a short Life of Mohammed, in 1783, 2 vols. 8vo; The Morality of the Koran, or a Collection of the most excellent Maxims in the Koran, 1784; and Letters on Egypt, in 3 vols. 8vo, in 1785. The Arabic grammar of Savary will not bear comparison with that of De Sacy. Savary's descriptions are in general faithful, but are in some instances too much ornamented. He has been justly censured for painting modern Egypt and its inhabitants in too high colours. He died on the 4th of February 1788.