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but to be able to propose a way how to gratifie all through Bochara into Tartary. He afterwards visited such as yo' Maj shall be pleased to think deserving the shores of the Caspian Sea, and on his return pubof it, without touching yo' Excheq'. I most humbly lished an account of his adventures. He died in thro my selfe at y' royall feete, for y' pardon for this 1570. presumption, wh I was emboldened to by yo' Majties most gratious acceptance of my meane services. Sir, I begge leave to inclose some papers of the confessions and behaviour of those that were executed since my last. I purpose for Bristow on Monday, and thence to Wells; and shall not dare to trouble yo' Maj any further, except it be to beseech y' royall pardon for all the mistakes, and crave leave heartily and humbly to assure y' Maj I had rather die than omitt any opportunity wherein I might approve my selfe, Royal Sir,

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"Yo' Majes most dutifull

"And obedient Subject and Serv', "JEFFREYS." JEMSHID, or GIAMSCHID, a Persian sovereign, celebrated in oriental history, the period of whose existence is somewhat uncertain. He is said to have ascended the throne of Persia about 800 B. C., and to have founded the celebrated city of Istakhar, called by the Greeks Persepolis. To this prince is ascribed the first establishment of public baths, the invention of tents and pavilions, and the use of lime for mortar in buildings. He instructed his subjects in astronomy, and also probably in the mysteries of Sabeism, or the worship of the heavenly bodies; but though he is represented as a wise and powerful monarch, he was unfortunate in war, and having been dethroned by Zohak, an Arabian king, he spent the latter part of his life in indigence and obscurity. His son Pheridoun was preserved by the care of the queen from the pursuit of the usurper, and ultimately recovered his father's throne.

JENKINSON.-See LIVERPOOL, EARL OF. JENNER, EDWARD.-This distinguished benefactor of his species was born in 1749. He lost his father at a very early age, and received his medical education near Bristol; and on removing afterwards to the metropolis, he became a pupil of the celebrated John Hunter. Such was the estimation in which Dr. Jenner's talents were at that time held by Mr. Hunter, that he offered him a partnership in his profession, which was very valuable. Mr. Hunter was desirous of extending his lectures on anatomy and surgery to subjects of natural history; and justly appreciating the abilities of his pupil Jenner, and the ardour and perseverance of his inquiries into those subjects, he was desirous of obtaining his co-operation. So attached, however, was Dr. Jenner to a country life, to his native place, and, above all, to the excellent brother whom, from difference of years and the decease of his father, he regarded rather filially than fraternally, that he declined the flattering proposal. He afterwards resided at Berkeley, and obtained considerable practice.

We may now pass at once to the most important period in Jenner's life. In 1775 Dr. Jenner begun to investigate the nature of the cowpox. His attention to this singular disease was first excited by observing, that among those whom in the country he was frequently called upon to inoculate, many resisted every effort to give them the smallpox. These patients he found had undergone a disorder contracted by milking cows affected with a peculiar eruption on their teats. On enquiry it appeared, that this disease JENKIN, ROBERT, a learned English divine, had been known among the dairies from time immewho was born in 1656. He was educated at Cam-morial, and that a vague opinion prevailed of its bebridge, and became master of St. John's college. He ing a preventive of the smallpox. This opinion, howwas the author of several works, the principal of ever, was comparatively new, for all the old farmers which are, “An Historical Examination of the Au- declared they had no such idea in their early days, thority of General Councils," "The Reasonableness which was easily accounted for, as the common peoand Certainty of the Christian Religion," "Defensio ple were rarely inoculated for the smallpox till the S. Augustini," and a translation from the French of practice became extended by the improved method of the "Life of Apollonius Tyaneus." Mr. Jenkin died the Suttons; so that the people in the dairies were in 1727. seldom put to the test of the preventive powers of the cowpox. In the course of his investigating this subject, Dr. Jenner found that some of those who seemed to have undergone the cowpox, on inoculation with variolous matter, felt its influence just the same as if no disease had been communicated from the cow. On making enquiries on the subject among the medical practitioners in his neighbourhood, they all agreed that the cowpox was not to be relied upon as a preventive of the smallpox. This for a while damped, but did not extinguish his ardour; for as he proceeded he had the satisfaction of learning that the cow was subject to some varieties of spontaneous eruptions upon her teats, that they were all capable of communicating sores to the hands of the milkers, and that whatever sore was derived from the animal, obtained the general name of the cowpox. Thus a great obstacle was surmounted, and in consequence a distinction was discovered between the true and the spurious cowpox.

JENKINS, SIR LEOLINE, an able statesman, who was born in Glamorganshire about the year 1623. Becoming obnoxious to the parliament during the civil war by adhering to the king's cause, he consulted his safety by flight; but returning on the restoration he was admitted an advocate in the court of arches, and succeeded Dr. Exton as judge. When the queen-mother Henrietta died in 1669 at Paris, her whole estate, real and personal, was claimed by her nephew Louis XIV.; upon which Dr. Jenkins's opinion being called for and approved, he went to Paris, with three others joined with him in a commission, and recovered her effects; for which he received the honour of knighthood. He officiated as one of the mediators at the treaty of Nimeguen, in which tedious negotiation he was engaged about four years and a half, and was afterwards made a privy counsellor and secretary of state. He died in 1685, and, as he never married, bequeathed his whole estate to charitable uses.

JENKINSON, ANTHONY, a celebrated English traveller, who was born early in the sixteenth century. In 1557 he went to Moscow, and travelled

But the first impediment to this enquiry had not been long removed before another of greater magnitude started up. There were not wanting instances to prove, that when the true cowpox broke out among

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JENNER, EDWARD.

the cattle, a person who had milked the infected ani- | viation of man from the state in which he was originmal, and had thereby apparently gone through the ally placed by nature, seems to have proved to him disease in common with others, was yet liable to re- a prolific source of diseases. From a variety of causes ceive the smallpox. This gave a painful check to the he has familiarized himself with a great number of hopes of Jenner, till, reflecting that the operations of animals, which may not primarily have been intended nature are generally uniform, and that it was not for his associates. These domesticated animals do probable the human constitution, after undergoing not always affect the human race directly as rabid the cowpox, should in some instances be perfectly ones often do; but sometimes they affect one another shielded from the smallpox, and in others remain un-in such a manner that the modified disease becomes protected, he determined to renew his laborious in- capable of producing a specific action on man in a vestigation of the subject. The result was fortunate, secondary way, which the original could not have for he now discerned that the virus of cowpox was done. This is exemplified in what farriers call the liable to undergo progressive changes from the same grease in the heels of horses, the matter of which apcauses precisely as that of smallpox; and that when plied to the cow produces the vaccine pustule, which applied to the human skin in a degenerated state, it is capable of generating a disease in the human body, would produce the ulcerative effects in as great a de- bearing so strong a resemblance to the smallpox as gree as when it was not decomposed, and even some- to create a strong suspicion of its being the source of times greater; but that when its specific properties that disease also. The matter of grease is applied to were lost, it was incapable of producing that change cows by men who have the care of horses, and are upon the human frame which is requisite to render it occasionally employed in assisting the maid-servants unsusceptible of the variolous contagion; so that it in milking. The disease is thus communicated to became evident a person might milk a cow one day, the animals, and from them to the dairymaids, which and having caught the distemper, be for ever secure; spreads throughout the whole farm until most of while on another person milking the same cow the the cattle and domestics feel the unpleasant consenext day, the virus might act in such a way as to pro-quences. In thus accounting for the origin of the duce sores, and yet leave the constitution unchanged cowpox, Dr. Jenner evinced the acuteness of his and therefore unprotected. judgment and the diligent spirit which actuated him During this investigation of the casual cowpox, as in all his enquiries. But his theory was not generally received by contact with the animal, our enquirer was received, nor is it now so established as to be free struck with the idea that it might be practicable to from objections. This, however, is of little consepropagate the disease by inoculation, after the man-quence, and in no degree affects the value of the disner of the smallpox, first from the cow and finally covery itself. from one human being to another. He waited anxiously some time for an opportunity of putting this theory to the test. At length the period of trial arrived; and on the 14th of May, 1796, the first experiment was made upon a lad of the name of Phipps, in whose arm a little vaccine virus was inserted, taken from the hand of a young woman of the name of Sarah Nelmes, who had been accidentally infected by a cow. Notwithstanding the resemblance which the pustule thus excited in the boy's arm bore to variolous inoculation, yet as the indisposition attending it was barely perceptible, the operator could scarcely persuade himself that his patient was secure from the smallpox. However, on the same boy being inoculated on the 1st of July following with smallpox matter, it proved that he was perfectly safe. This case inspired confidence, and as soon as a supply of proper virus could be obtained from the cow, arrangements were made for a series of inoculations. A number of children were inoculated in succession, one from the other; and after several months had elapsed they were exposed to the infection of the smallpox; some by inoculation, others by variolous effluvia, and some in both ways; but they all resisted it. The result of these trials gradually led to a wider field of experiment, and when at length it was satisfactorily proved that the inoculated cowpox afforded as complete a security against the smallpox as the variolous inoculation, the author of the discovery made it known to the public without either disguise or ostentation. This treatise, entitled "An Inquiry into the Causes and Effects of the Variola Vaccinæ, a disease discovered in some of the Western Counties of England, particularly Gloucestershire, and known by the name of the Cow Pox," appeared in 1798, in a small quarto of seventy-five pages.

The author sets out with observing that the de

The announcement of a discovery which promised to strike one out of the catalogue of human evils by annihilating a disease which had ever been considered as the most dreadful scourge of mankind, naturally created a very powerful and extensive sensation. The honour of commencing the practice of vaccination in London is due to Mr. Cline. In the month of July, 1798, Mr. Cline inoculated a child at St. Thomas's hospital with vaccine virus received from Dr. Jenner. He afterwards put the child to the test of inoculation with smallpox matter in three places, which it resisted. On that occasion Mr. Cline informed Dr. Jenner that Dr. Lister, formerly physician to the Smallpox Hospital, and himself, were convinced of the efficacy of the cowpox, and that the substitution of that mild disease for the smallpox promised to be one of the greatest improvements ever made in medicine. He added, "The more I think on the subject the more I am impressed with its importance."

Considerable opposition, however, was manifested to the new practice by several eminent medical men. Dr.Pearson, in particular, published a very unfavourable report of a number of experiments which he and Dr. Woodville had made on the subject. Dr. Jenner, therefore, felt it incumbent on him to defend the accuracy of his own statements; and accordingly, in 1799, he published " Further Observations on the Variola Vaccinæ ;" and subsequently, in answer to further attacks by Dr. Pearson and Dr. Woodville, "A Continuation of Facts and Observations relative to the Vaccinæ Variola." In these treatises Dr. Jenner replied to his opponents with great dignity, moderation, and temper; vindicating the practice of vaccine inoculation from the various charges brought against it, and proving that what was ascribed to the cowpox was in reality occasioned by the smallpox propagated in disguise. To the effect of these an

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swers, the favourable reports of other practitioners, | pleasure in reporting my success, and in testifying and a testimonial recommending the practice, signed my acknowledgments to him who has rendered this by a considerable number of the most eminent phy-signal service to mankind. This motive induces me sicians and surgeons in the metropolis, and published to offer to you, Sir, this ring, sent herewith, as a tesin the medical journals and other respectable chan- timony of the sentiments of esteem and regard with nels of information, greatly contributed. Mr. Ring which I am especially distinguished himself in the defence of Dr. "Yours, affectionately, Jenner.

"Paulowsky, August 10th, 1802."

"MARY."

Vaccination in the year 1799 acquired the powerful support of the commander-in-chief. The smallpox was a disease which had continually infested the army; when it appeared in a regiment it usually spread, and, owing to the irregular lives of soldiers, often with peculiar malignity. This being well known to the duke of York, ever solicitous for the safety and comfort of the troops, his royal highness took the proper steps to ascertain if the vaccine was in truth a preventive of the smallpox. As soon as the army medical board and other competent judges had given full assurance and complete proofs that this was the case, a general order was issued to all regimental sur-ceived that if concealment had been practised an imgeons to vaccinate every soldier who had not had the smallpox. By this means the malady was at once extinguished in the army, and many a soldier was preserved from death.

His Prussian majesty was the first crowned head who submitted his own offspring to vaccine inoculation. The emperor of Germany, who had offered rewards for the cultivation of the practice, followed his example. In proportion as the benefits of vaccination were extended, gratitude to the benefactor arose in the public mind, and the feeling that he merited a most honourable remuneration gradually prevailed. This became a topic of conversation, not only with the medical profession, but likewise with those who take an interest in scientific researches. It was permense fortune might have been accumulated; but although such a line of conduct could never have been pursued by a man like Jenner, still it was remarked that the consumption of time and the pecuniary sacrifices in attaining the ultimate object had been great, and that Dr. Jenner ought at least not to be allowed to suffer by his disinterestedness. These considerations having suggested themselves to some political characters not wholly engrossed by party contests, they resolved to lay the subject before parliament.

After a short time the lords of the admiralty imitated this excellent example; but owing to the ships of war being so much at sea, and to the characteristic thoughtlessness and comparative intractability of sailors, vaccination advanced much more slowly in the navy than in the army. The naval surgeons, however, employed it when in their power, and were as much struck as those in the military service with the advantages of the discovery. The physicians and surgeons of the fleet presented a gold medal to Dr. Jenner, accompanied with a suitable address, in which they declared that they could not remain passive spectators of an event so singular as the disco-tain even a compensation for the expenses which he very of a substitute for the smallpox ; an event which the philosopher contemplated with wonder and the friend of the human species with exultation.

It is in the house of commons that grants of public money must originate. Dr. Jenner was proudly circumstanced. He had bestowed on his country and on the world so inestimable a good, that nothing approaching its value could be returned. Yet, to ob

had incurred, it was indispensable that he should present to the house of commons a petition, couched in certain prescribed terms of solicitation. On the 17th The practice of vaccination, although still warmly of March, 1802, Dr. Jenner's petition was presented. opposed by a few professional men, the most eminent Mr. Addington, afterwards Viscount Sidmouth, was of whom were Dr. Moseley, Dr. Rowley, and Mr. at that time prime minister, and favoured the appliBirch, was now taken up with great animation in the cation with every requisite official aid. He commumetropolis, and spread rapidly over every quarter of nicated to the house that he had taken the king's the globe. In France it was welcomed as the angel pleasure upon the contents of the petition, and that of health; in Germany it was supported by a host of his majesty recommended it strongly to the consiable operators, at the head of whom was Dr. De deration of parliament. The business was then reCarro of Vienna; in Italy it met with an advocate ferred to a committee, of which Admiral Berkeley was and promulgator of equal ability, Dr. Sacco, of Milan; appointed chairman. The committee acted with scruand, what was more remarkable, the king of Spain pulous impartiality, summoning before them both the sent his physician, Dr. Balmis, on a voyage to South persons who had the greatest experience in vaccinaAmerica, expressly for the purpose of diffusing this tion, and were most favourable to it, and those who blessing. The medical men in the United States by their writings and declarations were known to be were almost unanimous in promoting vaccination, inimical to Dr. Jenner and to his discovery. and even in the East it overcame the prejudices of After a very patient investigation and deliberation the Hindoos and Chinese. In Russia it was equally the committee drew up a report, expressed in as fasuccessful, and the mother of the late emperor Alex-vourable terms towards Dr. Jenner as the caution ander was so delighted with the discovery that she sent Dr. Jenner a very valuable diamond ring, accompanied by a letter, of which the following is a translation :

"SIR,-The practice of vaccine inoculation in England having been attended with the happiest success, which is well attested, I have eagerly imitated the example by introducing it into the charitable establishments under my direction. My endeavours having perfectly answered my expectations, I feel a BIOGRAPHY.-VOL. II.

and formality of parliamentary language would permit, which was presented to the house on the 6th of May, 1802. On the 2nd of June, the house having formed itself into a committee of supply, the subject was taken into consideration.

Admiral Berkeley, in addressing the committee, dwelt on the clearness of the proofs which had been adduced of the great importance of vaccination; and while he allowed that the sum was insufficient, and that he would support any proposition that might be B

made for substituting one of larger amount, moved | failures in a given number of vaccinated persons as that 10,000l. should be granted by parliament to Dr. there were deaths in an equal number of persons ino Jenner, and the motion was ultimately carried. culated for the smallpox; and it was a most importIn 1806, when Lord Henry Petty, afterwards mar-ant fact, that in almost every case where smallpox quis of Lansdown, became chancellor of the exche- had succeeded vaccination, it had not been the same quer, he determined to bring the subject of vaccina- either in violence or in duration; but had, with very tion again before the house of commons. On the few exceptions, been remarkably mild, as if the small2nd of July in that year, after an able speech, in which pox had been deprived by the vaccine of all its usual he expatiated on the incontrovertible proofs of the malignity. The college was also very decided in deutility of the practice which had been submitted to claring that vaccination did less mischief to the conparliament, the noble lord moved that an humble stitution, and less frequently gave rise to other disaddress be presented to his majesty, praying that he eases, than the smallpox, either natural or inoculated. would be graciously pleased to direct his royal col-It was from a consideration of the pernicious effects lege of physicians to enquire into the state of vaccine of the smallpox that the real value of vaccination was inoculation in the United Kingdom, and to report to be estimated. The natural smallpox had been suptheir opinion as to the progress it had made, and the posed to destroy a sixth part of all whom it attacked, causes which had retarded its general adoption. The and about one in three hundred perished even of those noble lord observed that should that report from the who were inoculated. It was not sufficiently known highest medical authority corroborate the favourable that about one-tenth of the whole mortality in Lonopinion which foreign nations entertained of vacci- don was occasioned by the smallpox; and inoculanation, it must greatly tend to subdue the prejudices tion appeared to have kept up a constant source of which had been fomented in Great Britain. In that contagion, which had been the means of increasing case the house might afterwards consider whether the the number of deaths. Until vaccination became ingenious discoverer had been remunerated conform-general it would be impossible to prevent the conably to the liberal spirit and character of this country. stant recurrence of smallpox by means of those who After a short conversation, in which Dr. Mathews, were inoculated, except it should appear proper to the Mr. Wilberforce, Mr. Windham, Mr. Barker, Mr. legislature to adopt in its wisdom some measure to W. Smith, and Mr. Paull, participated, and which prevent those infected with smallpox from doing misturned principally on the best mode of accomplishing chief to their neighbours. From the whole the colthe object in view, Lord Henry Petty's motion was lege of physicians felt it their duty strongly to recomagreed to without one dissenting voice. mend vaccination; and they conceived that the public might reasonably look forward with some degree of hope to the time when all opposition would cease, and when the general concurrence of mankind would at length be able to put an end at least to the ravages, if not to the existence, of the smallpox. Before the above report, however, was laid before the house of commons, a total change had taken place in the cabinet, and the administration of Mr. Perceval had commenced.

The royal college of physicians soon received his majesty's commands to enquire into the state of vaccination, and to report their opinion. They entered on the business with great alacrity. In aid of the knowledge of their own body they applied to each of the licentiates of the college; they corresponded with the colleges of physicians of Edinburgh and Dublin, and with the colleges of surgeons of London, Edinburgh, and Dublin. They also wrote to the societies established for vaccination for the result of their On the 29th of July, 1807, the house of commons practice, and invited, by public notice, every indivi- being in a committee of supply, the Right Hon. Spendual who had any information to give to send it to cer Perceval, chancellor of the exchequer, called the them. The numerous documents which the college attention of the committee to the report of the college of physicians received in consequence of these appli- of physicians, and to the immense advantages of vaccations were carefully collected, and from the whole cination which that report developed. Were they to was framed one comprehensive report, dated the 19th proportion the reward to the value of the discovery, of April, 1807, which was laid before the house of he knew not where they ought to stop; but convinced commons. The substance of this report was, that as he was that the committee would regard his produring the eight years which had elapsed since Dr. posal as an act of justice rather than of liberality, he Jenner made his discovery public, the progress of would move that there should be granted to Dr. Jenvaccination had been rapid, not only in all parts of ner, as a reward for his matchless discovery, an addithe United Kingdom, but in every quarter of the civi- tional sum of 10,000%. The motion was opposed by lized world. In the British islands some hundred Mr. Shaw Lefevre, and supported by Lord Henry thousands had been vaccinated, in our possessions Petty, General Tarleton, Mr. Sturges Bourne, and in the East Indies upwards of 800,000, and amongst Mr. Hawkins Browne. Mr. Edward Morris moved the nations of Europe the practice had become gene- as an amendment, to grant Dr. Jenner 20,000l. inral. Vaccination appeared to the college of physicians stead of 10,000l., to mark the sense which parliament to be in general perfectly safe, the instances to the entertained of his merits, and to place him in a state contrary being extremely rare. The security derived of independence. The amendment was supported by from vaccination against the smallpox, if not abso- Sir John Sebright, Mr. Herbert, Mr. Wilberforce, lutely perfect, was as nearly so as could perhaps be and Mr. Windham. The chancellor of the exchequer expected from any human invention; for amongst in vain opposed the torrent of liberality. It was slily several hundred thousand cases with the results of though perhaps justly hinted by Mr. W. Smith, who which the college had been made acquainted, the was for the larger sum, that although the right honumber of alleged failures had been surprisingly nourable gentleman, in consequence of his official small; so much so as certainly to form no reasonable situation, was bound to appear sparing of the public objection to the general adoption of vaccination. In-purse, he would not be displeased to find himself deed it appeared that there were not nearly so many overborne by the general sentiments of the house, the

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country, and the world. Mr. Whitbread, Mr. Fuller, | is impossible; that evils spring from necessity, and Mr. Baring, Admiral Pole, and Mr. George Rose, could not be done away without the sacrifice of some jun., all spoke in favour of the amendment. At superior good, or the admission of greater disorder. length the house divided upon the question that In respect to moral evil, his theory is, that it is per20,000l. should be granted to Dr. Jenner; sixty votes mitted in order to provide objects for the just inwere in favour of that sum and forty-seven against it. fliction of physical evils. Thus the amendment was carried by a majority of thirteen.

In 1776 appeared his "View of the Internal Evidences of the Christian Religion." The foundation of his reasoning is, that the Christian religion is a system of ethics so superior to and unlike any thing which had previously entered into the mind of man, that it must necessarily be divine. In 1782 appeared his "Disquisitions on Various Subjects," which are marked with his usual characteristics of sprightly wit and shrewd observation, but are vague and declamatory. He was also the author of several other works of considerable merit. Mr. Jenyns died in 1786JERNINGHAM, EDWARD, a miscellaneous English writer, who was born in 1727. He was educated in Flanders, and employed himself in literary pursuits till the time of his death, which occurred in 1812. Mr. Jerningham's works were published collectively in 1806.

During these parliamentary discussions the practice of vaccination continued to gain ground, and Dr. Jenner continued to receive the most flattering marks of distinction from public bodies at home and abroad. He was chosen mayor of his native town; the corporation of Dublin voted him the freedom of their city; the imperial university of Wilna sent him a diploma, and even the Roman catholic academy of Madrid elected him a member of that learned society; the royal college of physicians of Edinburgh did him the same honour; and, lastly, the university of Oxford conferred upon him the degree of doctor of physic, by a decree of the convocation. Jennerian institutions were founded in many places, in all of which his birth-day was regularly observed as a festival. At length, after a long and laborious life devoted to scientific enquiries, and the most honourable applica-lific tion of their results, this eminent and excellent man was found lying on his floor in a fit of apoplexy on the 25th of January, 1823. His death shortly followed. Dr.Jenner was little known as a writer, his literary labours being mainly confined to the one great business of his life-the spread of vaccination. We subjoin a fac-simile of his autograph.

Edw. Jenner

JENNINGS, DAVID, a distinguished dissenting divine, born in 1691. He received a good education, and early in life entered on the ministry. In 1744 he was appointed theological tutor in a large dissenting academy, which office he retained till the time of his death in 1762. He published several works of a very miscellaneous character, including a "Treatise on the Use of the Globes," another, "The Jewish Antiquities," &c. His brother, John Jennings, was also a dissenting minister, and the author of

some small works.

JENYNS, SOAME, an elegant writer, who was born in London in 1704, and received a domestic education until the age of seventeen, when he was entered a fellow commoner of St. John's college, Cambridge. He remained three years at the university, and then married early a lady with a large fortune, to whom his father was guardian; but the marriage proved unhappy, and in consequence of an elopement, a separation took place. In his youth, Mr. Jenyns, with a small and delicate person, sustained the character of a beau, and his first performance was a poem on the art of dancing, published in 1728. In 1741 he was left, by the death of his father, master of a large fortune, on which he entered into public life as representative of the county of Cambridge. He began his career by supporting Sir Robert Walpole, and ever after remained a faithful adherent to the minister for the time being. In 1757 he published his "Free Inquiry into the Nature and Origin of Evil," the fundamental principle of which is, that the production of good without evil

JEROME, ST., one of the most learned and proauthors of the early Latin church. He was born about 331 in Dalmatia, of wealthy parents, educated with care in literary studies, and made familiar with the Roman and Greek classics under the grammarian Donatus at Rome; but he did not escape uncontaminated by the licentiousness of the capital, and he himself confesses the excesses of his youth. He. soon, however, became inclined to the Christian faith. The catacombs and tombs of the martyrs first excited his devotion. His travels on the Rhine and in Gaul made him acquainted with several Christian preachers, and before his fortieth year he was baptized in Rome After a long residence at Aquileia, he went in 373 to Antioch in Syria, where his inclination to an ascetic life became more decided, and in 374 he retired to the deserts of Chalcis, and there passed four years as a hermit in the severest mortifications and laborious studies. He left his solitude again to be ordained presbyter at Antioch. He did not, however, confine himself to the discharge of the duties of this office, but soon after went to Constantinople to enjoy the instruction of Gregory of Nazienzen. In Rome, whither he accompanied his friend, the bishop of Damascus, he made his appearance as a teacher. His exposition of the Holy Scriptures found favour with the Roman ladies; and although no one reprehended more than he the manners of the fashionable world, several matrons of distinction with their daughters complied with his exhortations and became nuns. St. Marcella and St. Paula are celebrated for the learned and ingenious theological epistles he wrote them and for their rare monastic piety. Paula accompanied him to Palestine in 386, where he founded a convent at Bethlehem with her funds and in her society: in this he remained till his death in 420.

His writings show his active participation in the controversies respecting the doctrines of Origen, Meletus, and Pelagius; he always defended, with zeal and ability, the orthodox doctrines of the church, though his own writings are not free from vestiges of the views and opinions of these different parties. His profound knowledge of the Bible, which he read in the original languages, frequently led him to results on which he subsequently had controversies with the church; and his method of interpreting the