G R E 



G R e: 



Caval we have here only to add, that in 1805 the Nant- 

 wich and Nevvcaftlc rail-way was propofcd, to connect with 

 this canal, at Dak's pool. 



GRESLING, in Ichthyology, a name given by the Ger- 

 mans to the got'ius Jliivialilis, or common gudgeon, whicli is 

 very frequent in their fjiialler rivers. 



GR:'SNIC?I, in Biography, a modern German compo- 

 fcr of the Italian fchool, who lias compofed feveral fuccefs- 

 f«l operas in Italv, and whole capital Intvura air.s were fre- 

 quently fung in England by madame Mara, for whofe abili- 

 ties of execution we believe they were origiijally com- 

 pofed. 



GRESSEN, in Geography, a town of Samogitia ; 20 

 miles N.N.E. of Miedniki. 



GRESSET, Joii.v Baptist Lewis, in 5iof r/j/>^j;, born 

 at Amiens in the year 17C9, was ed\icated among the Jc- 

 fuits, and from this retreat he fent iortli lome poems, which 

 poflefled all the eafe and delicate pleafantry that could have 

 been looked for from the pen of a man of the world. Tliefe 

 were entitled " Ver Vert,'' a very plcafing tale ; his epiftles 

 of " La Chartreufe ;'' " Lcs Ombres," and many others. 

 His reputation as a poet was the caufe of his quitting the 

 fociety, and fixing his refidence in the metropolis. He now 

 tried his powers in dramatic compofition ; in tragedy he had 

 very Httle fuccefs, but his comedies were better received ; 

 and that entitled " Mediant," reprefented in 1 747, raifed him 

 to the firil rank of writers in this clafs. It was regarded as a 

 malterpiece in that fpecies of comedy which paints manners 

 with truth and force, v.'ithout being highly comic. GrefTet 

 was admitted a member of the French academy in the year 

 1 748. He grew weary of a literary life, fcemcd to doubt 

 of the propriety of theatrical exhibitioiiSj an.d foon after re- 



nounced the ftage, by a letter, in which he difplayed the 

 dangers attending public fpeftacles. He returned to 

 Amiens, where he obtained a poll under government, mar- 

 ried a lady with a good fortune, and paded the remainder of 

 his lite in a manner which acquired liim the eileem and rc- 

 fpeft of lii.s fellow citizens. In 1775 he rcviCted the metro- 

 polis, and had the honour, as director of the French acade- 

 my, to compliment Lewis XVI. and his queen on their ac- 

 ceflion to the throne. His difcourfe on this occafion, which 

 was printed, was a fcvere fatire on tlie vices and folhes of the 

 metropolis. He died in June 1 777, having received, fome 

 time previoufly to this, letters of nobility, and having been 

 likewife appointed hilloriographer of the order of St. La- 

 zore. Grefiet is placed between Chaulieu and Voltaire for 

 the graces of light poetry- ;. he is perhaps the lirft at the 

 theatre for elegance of verfification in com.edy, and his mo- 

 rals were as pure as his llyle. Gen. Biog. . 



GRESSIN, in Geography, a town of Hinder Pomcrania; . 

 14 miles S.E of Belgard. 



GRESTEN, atown of Auftria ; 9 miles N.E. of Bava-- 

 ria Waidhoven, 



GRETA, a river of Englaud, which rifes in the N.W- 

 part of Yorkftiire, and runs into the Tees, about 4 mik-s be- 

 low Bernard's Caitle,"in Durham. 



GRETNA Greek, a mean village of Scotland, in the 

 (hire of Dumfries, 8 miles from Carlifle, and 82 from Edin- 

 burgh, at the S.E. extremity of the county, near the W. 

 bank, of the Sark; and bottom of Solwav firth ; famous for 

 the clandeftine marriage of parties from England, cekbrat- - 

 ed by perfons who have no right to marry, or to exercife 

 any part of the clerical function ; becaufe it is oat of the 

 jurifdictioa af the marriage act. 



END OF VOL, XVi, 



Strahan and rreffiin, 

 Kew-Suett-Square^ LtiirJon. 



