His first volume of poetry, "Metrical Essays on subjects of

History and Imagination," appeared in 1828. In 1831 was published his "Beauties of the Mind," which, republished in 1841 as "The Mind," is his most considerable performance. At this period he was appreciated and encouraged by Southey, with whom he corresponded. Among his other works may be mentioned his prose "Memoir of Henry Leverseege," the gifted and ill-fated Manchester artist, and his "English Melodies," 1849. His latest work, "Cottage Carols and other Poems," appeared in 1861. Some years ago, his fellow-citizens of Manchester presented him with a testimonial of their esteem for him as a poet and a man.—F. E. SWAMMERDAM, John, the great naturalist, was born in Amsterdam, on the 12th February, 1637. His father, an apothecary of that city, possessed some knowledge of natural history, and had amassed a rather extensive museum. Before his twelfth year he began to form an entomological collection of his own. At the age of fourteen he entered the university of Leyden, where he attended the lectures of De la Boe (Sylvius) and Van Hoorne. In 1653 he was admitted candidate of medicine. In the course of his researches he invented the art of making anatomical preparations, which gained him considerable reputation. He next made a journey into France, and lived for some time at Saumur. Here (June 19, 1664) he discovered the valves of the lymphatic vessels; but owing to an accidental delay, the publication was anticipated by Ruysch, who made the same discovery the year following. He next removed to Paris, where he lived for some time at the house of his former fellow-student Steno, the eminent anatomist. Returning to Amsterdam, he made some investigations on the spinal cord, experimented on the effects of various fluids injected into the veins of animals, and engaged in chemical researches with the view of combating the iatro-chemical school. He took his degree of M.D. in 1667, on which occasion he maintained a thesis on respiration. He afterwards continued his anatomical researches in conjunction with Van Hoorne; but his health being shattered by an attack of ague, he confined himself in future almost entirely to entomology. In 1668 he was introduced by his friend Thevenot to the grand-duke of Tuscany, who invited him on very favourable terms to the Florentine court. But Swammerdam, who was of a retiring disposition, and independent to an eccentric degree, declined the offer. The next year he published a general history of insects, perhaps the most valuable contribution to zoology which had appeared since the days of Aristotle. The rest of his life was overshadowed by family discord and frequent sickness. His father urged him to commence medical practice, for which his delicate health rendered him unfit, and threatened to disinherit him. A reconciliation was, however, effected by the good offices of Thevenot. In 1671 he completed his treatise on the Ephemera. The next year he sent to the Royal Society of London a variety of curious anatomical preparations, together with a paper on the anatomy of Oryctes nasicornis, and one on the circulation in reptiles. About this time he dissected many fishes, particularly studying the liver. He now became acquainted with the enthusiast Antonia Bourignon, who gained great influence over him. In 1673 he wrote on the fructification of ferns, and the same year he concluded his great treatise on bees. From the labour of completing this work he never recovered. During the whole summer he had spent the day in microscopic dissection, and the greater part of the night in noting down and arranging the results of his observations—exertions to which his feeble constitution was utterly unequal. Added to this, he was struggling between his natural love for research and his veneration for Bourignon, who hated science, and consequently sought to dissuade him from study. After this he addressed to Bocconi two letters on the nature of Madrepores. He died February 17, 1680, worn out by his unceasing industry, having in a short life accomplished what might seem to be the labour of a century. Swammerdam is a model observer; he sees clearly, and describes plainly all that he sees. But when he attempts to generalize, to classify, or to explain, he is less happy. Accordingly, while his accounts of the structure and habits of insects are still regarded as of the highest value, his entomological system, founded exclusively on transformation, has died a natural death. His works on natural history have been collected and published under the title "Biblia Naturæ," Leyden, 1737-38.—J. W. S. SWANEVELT, Hermann van, an eminent Dutch painter, was born at Woerden in 1618 or 1620. His first master is unknown, but he went early to Italy and became the pupil of Claude Lorraine. Swanevelt imitated the manner of his master, but he was a devoted student of nature; and in consequence of the retired life he led whilst pursuing his studies in sequestered places, he came to be commonly called the Hermit. His landscapes are usually diversified with ruined buildings and mythological groups, &c., and illuminated by the rising or setting sun. These transient effects of light, and the softening effects of distance, he represented with great delicacy and fidelity, and he was a refined and harmonious colourist. What he is deficient in is vigour, and perhaps originality. His works obtained high prices during his life, and they do so still. They are, however, very scarce, which is easily accounted for if he died in 1656, as is stated in the register of the French Academy, of which he was a member. The ordinary authorities say he died in 1680 or 1690. He made a great many etchings, good impressions of which are much sought after. None of his pictures are in the National gallery, but there are three at Hampton court.—J. T—e. SWEDBERG, Jasper, a Swedish prelate and author, was born near Fahlun, on the 28th of August, 1653. His parents were pious persons, and in his mother he had a second Monica. Saved in boyhood from being crushed by a mill-wheel, he ever after believed in the guardianship of angels. Even in early youth he used to imitate the public reading and preaching of the word. Having finished his studies in Lund and Upsala, he travelled abroad for some time. On his return he was appointed court-preacher in 1685, and discharged the duties of his office with unprecedented conscientiousness and courage, fearlessly attacking existent evils; but when some of the courtiers complained of Svedberg's language, Charles XI. exclaimed, "When the priest declares God's word, the king has nothing to say against it;" and so the preacher continued his work with impunity. He afterwards became pastor of Vingåker in 1690, where he was much reverenced and loved. Called thence to Upsala as professor of theology in 1692, he was two years later made provost of the cathedral of that town. Finally, in 1702, he was elevated to the episcopal see of Skara, where he was a true "bishop of souls." He died on the 26th of July, 1735. Swedberg was a voluminous author, a zealous preacher, a sacred poet of considerable ability, and in his "Schibboleth," published in 1716, almost the first who treated as a study the grammar of his native language. His firm belief in visions and miracles reappeared in his more celebrated son.—J. J. SWEDENBORG, Emanuel: this extraordinary man, distinguished both for his scientific and religious speculations, was born at Stockholm on the 29th of January, 1688. He was the second child and eldest son of Jasper Swedberg, bishop of Skara, the subject of the preceding article, and of Sarah Behm, his first wife. Young Swedberg, which name he retained till the year 1719, when he was ennobled by Queen Ulrica Eleonora, and called Swedenborg, was, as he himself tells us, constantly engrossed with the study and meditation of the highest questions in religion. Beyond this we know little or nothing of his youth. He studied at the university of Upsala, and appears to have been carefully watched and guided in his progress by the bishop his father. There is little doubt that he must have been a student thoughtful beyond his years and the example of his fellows, and inclined even from early youth to think of the ordinary subjects of thought in a quite dilferent manner from that of the generality of young men. He was in truth a born mystic—though a mystic of a somewhat sober and unimpassioned temper. We cannot in our limited space give a minute or detailed account of Swedenborg's life. It comprises indeed very little to interest the ordinary reader: no remarkable incident or adventure, neither any great success, nor any great disappointment. His public career, so far as it can be called public, began with his travels into foreign countries. He came to England in 1710, and returned to Sweden in 1714, having spent part of the intervening time in Holland and France. In 1716 he began his "Dædalus Hyperboreus," a kind of repository of contemporary inventions and experiments. The same year he was introduced to Charles XII., who appointed him assessor in the Royal Metallic college of Sweden. The great warrior, who honoured Swedenborg with his friendship, reaped some advantage from his engineering skill at the memorable siege of Frederickshall. It was not, however, till 1722 that he entered on the actual duties of the assessorship. He had been meanwhile travelling in various countries and publishing books, the most important of which is