Gasséndi 
. ooh 
——~ 
GAU 
ship. In the year 1629, the singular, phenomenon of 
two parhelia had been seen at Rome, and Gassendi pub- 
lished a dissertation on the subject. Descartes, in his 
Treatise on Meteors, described the same phenomenon, 
but forgot to make any reference to the dissertation of 
his friend. Gassendi chagrined at this neglect, and 
‘probably not uninfluenced by a secret jealousy of Des- 
cartes’ fame, attacked the philosophical system of his 
friend, in a work entitled, Disquisitio Metaphysica seu 
Dubitationes, &c. which was put into Descartes’ hands 
by their mutual friend Mersennus. Descartes replied 
to the objections of Gassendi, which he has published 
with his own answers under the head of the Siath ob- 
jection in his Meditations.’ In 1643, Gassendi compo- 
sed his Jnstantiw, as a reply to the answer of Descartes, 
and circulated it in MS. in Paris, before it was sent to 
M. Sorbiere to be printed at Amsterdam. This cir- 
cumstance widened the breach between the two philo- 
sophers, which was still farther increased by their re- 
spective friends. In 1645, Descartes wrote a reply to 
Gassendi’s Instantie ; but the differences between these 
philosophers were now on the eve of being ‘adjusted. 
The Abbé D’Estrees, afterwards Archbishop of Laon 
and a Cardinal, lamented the dissensions which had so 
long separated these distinguished philosophers, and re- 
solved to use all his influence in reconciling them. He 
invited a large party of their friends, among whom were 
Mersennus, Roberval, and the Abbé Marolles, to meet 
the two philosophers at a public dinner. Gassendi was 
revented by an illness from attending; but so anxious 
was the Abbé to effect his purpose, that he took the 
company to Gassendi’s apartments, where he and 
Descartes made mutual apologies for their conduct, 
and declared that their friendship should not again be 
interrupted by any difference of sentiment. By the in- 
terest of the Cardinal of Lyons, Gassendi was, in 1645, 
appointed regius professor of mathematics at Paris. 
e read lectures on astronomy to crowded audiences, 
and added greatly to the reputation which he had for- 
merly acquired. His constitution had now. suffered 
from the severity of his studies, and having caught a 
cold, which occasioned an inflammation in his lungs, 
he was compelled in 1647 to return to Digne for the 
recovery of his health, His native air produced a con- 
siderable amelioration in his strength, and he was able to 
return to Paris in 1653. Henow published his lives of 
Peiresc, Copernicus, Tycho Brahe, Purbachius, and Re- 
giv.sontanus ; and forgetting the weakness of his con- 
stitution, his astronomical studies brought back his for- 
mer disorder, of which he died in 1655, in the 63d year 
of his age. A short time before he breathed his last, he 
is-said to have laid his hand on his heart, and feeling 
the langour of its pulsation, he said, “ See how frail is 
the life of man!” Gassendi was intimately acquainted 
with the most distinguished characters of his age. His 
library and philosophical apparatus were purchased by 
the Emperor Ferdinand III. and deposited in the im- 
rial tibeary at Vienna. His works and MSS. were col- 
ected and published after his death in 6 volumes folio b 
Sorbiere in 1658. They contain the philosophy and life 
of Epicurus ; the philosophy of Gassendi ; his astrono- 
mical works ; the liver of Peiresc, Copernicus, &c, ; a 
refutation of the meditations of Descartes’ 
tract on the theory of music; and other treatises. See 
Bougerelle’s Vie de Gassendi, Paris, 1737 ; and Baillet’s 
Vie de Descartes, passim. 
GAUGING, is the art of measuring the contents or 
capacities of vessels of any form, See the article MEn- 
istles; a 
aURATION, where this subject will be fully treated.  - 
GAUL, See France, p. 543 and 673. 
122 
GAY 
GAUTS, See Guauts. 
—- 
GAY, Jou, a celebrated English poet, was bern in Gays 
1688, at or near Barnstaple, and, descended -of an ans 
cient family, long possessed of the manor of Goldwors 
thy in Devonshire. He was educated by Mr. Luck, 
the schoolmaster of Barnstaple, a teacher of good re« 
utation, who cultivated a taste for poetry, and pubs 
ished a volume of Latin and English verses. ’ 
Inheriting no fortune, and Widhoat the prospect of 
any, Gay was sent to London when young, and placed 
apprentice to a silk mercer. It is not known how long 
he continued behind the counter. Feeling, however, 
the irksomeness of the restraint or servility of his oc« 
cupation, he ee his discharge from his employer, 
In 1712, the Duchess of Monmouth took Gay into 
her service as secretary. Availing himself of his lei« 
sure, he published his first , On Rural Sports, 
and inscribed it to Mr Pope, Te fast rising into repu< 
tation. Pope was much pleased with the compliment, 
and attracted by the manner and conversation of Gay, 
he admitted him to the fullest confidence, and a fri 
ship was formed between them which lasted u 
till death. Though Gay was caressed by the association 
of wits, he appears to have been rather as a 
play-fellow than a partner, and treated more with fond« 
ness than with deference. 
Like most poets, he was anxious to place his muse 
under the fostering wing of a patron, and paid his 
court accordingly to princes and their favourites; yet 
his assiduity was not rewarded in proportion.to his exe 
pectations. When the Earl of Clarendon was appointed 
envoy extraordinary to Hanover in the room of Lord 
Paget, Gay was made secretary, for which situation he. 
considers himself obliged to Swift, as he declares in a 
letter to the Dean. How far Gay would have succeeded 
in establishing himself as an expert diplomatist, cannot 
well be ascertained from his short continuance in office, 
for the death of the Queen deprived him of an o 
nity of distinguishing himself; and his dedication of the 
Shepherd's Week to Lord Bolingbroke, is supposed to. 
have excluded him from the patronage of the house of 
Hanover. Gay, however, still enrolled himself as an 
expectant of Court favour, and hailed the arrival of the 
Princess of Wales with a poem. This compliment pro« 
cured him but little solid advantage. e,and the 
Prince went to see his mock tragedy of the “ What d’ye 
call it.” This mark of regard flattered Gay’s hopes of 
farther countenance ; but meeting with disappointment, 
he sunk into despondency, from which his friends con< 
spired to raise him. Lord Burlington dispatched him 
into Devonshire for amusement; next year he accom< 
panied Mr Pulteney to Aix, and the year following. 
Lord Harcourt invited him to his seat. 
Gay having attained celebrity, in 1720 he published 
his poems by subscription, by which he raised £1000, 
He seems to have been at a loss how to dispose of his 
money, and called a consultation of his friends. Lord 
Oxford’s steward, Lewis, advised him to invest it in 
the funds, and live on the interest; Arbuthnot bid him 
live on the principal, and trust to providence for a fresh 
supply. Pope recommended him to purchase an annui- 
ty, in which advice he was seconded by Swift. In the. 
calamitous year of the South Sea scheme, Gay having got 
a present of some stock from young Craggs, he began 
to dream of nothing but dignity and splendour, and re« 
sisted all the importunities of his friends to. sell his 
share. He was even deaf to entreaties to secure him« 
self from want, in case of failure, by selling as much, 
as would give him a hundred a year for life, and en« 
able him, at least as Fenton told him, to command a 
3 . 
