THE 
BRITISH ENCYCLOPEDIA. 
NIC 
T^ICERON (John Francis), in bio- 
graphy, a French monk and ingenious 
mathematician in the seventeenth century, 
was bom at Paris, in the year 1613. Heearly 
displayed a love of learning, and by the pro- 
gress which he made in his elementary stu- 
dies, afforded fair promise of future excel- 
lence. At the age of nineteen he entered 
into the order of Minims, and before he had 
gone through his course of philosophy, disco- 
vered that his predominant inclination was 
to the study of mathematical sciences, to 
which, after he had completed his theologi- 
cal course, he devoted all the time that was 
not necessarily occupied by the duties of 
his profession. The science of optics was 
what principally engaged his attention ; 
and he left behind him, in different houses 
belonging to his Order, particularly that at 
Paris, some excellent performances, which 
afforded satisfactory evidence of his pro- 
found skill in this branch of the mathema- 
tics. He was twice sent on business to 
Rome, and was appointed regent of the phi- 
losophical classes. Afterwards he was no- 
minated to accompany father Francis de la 
None, vicar-general of the order, in his visi- 
tation of all the convents of Minims in 
France. The similarity of their taste proved 
the means of introducing him to the ac- 
quaintance of Des Cartes, who entertained 
a great regard for him, and made him a 
present of his “ Principles of Philosophy.” 
Their intimacy, however, which commenced 
in 1644, proved but of short duration, since 
our youngmonk fell sick at Aix in Provence, 
and died there in the autumn of 1646, when 
he was only thirty-three years of age. This 
event was lamented as a considerable loss 
VOL. V. 
NIC 
to the republic of letters. He was the au- 
thor of the following works, which are held 
in high estimation. “The Interpretation 
of Cyphers, or, a Rule for the perfect Un- 
derstanding and certain Explanation of alt 
Kinds of simple Cyphers, taken from the 
Italian of the Sieur Anthony Maria Cospi, 
secretary to the Grand Duke of Tuscany ; 
enlarged, and particularly accommodated 
to the French and Spanish Languages,” 
1641, octavo ; “ Curious Perspective, or 
artificial Magic, produced by the wonderful 
Effects of Optics, Catoptrics, and Diop- 
trics,” &c. 1638, folio ; which WaS only in- 
troductory to his “ Thaumaturgus Opticus, 
sive, admirandas Optices, Catoptrices, et 
Dioptrices, Pars prima, de iis qiiaj spectant 
ad visionem directam,” 1646, folio. On this 
Work he was employed six years, and was 
prevented by his death from proceeding to 
the completion of the intended second and 
third parts, relating to the effects of reflec- 
tion from plane, cylindrical, and conical 
mirrors, and the refraction of crystals. This 
task his friend father Mersenne undertook, 
not only by correcting what Niceron’s 
papers in Latin and French would furnish 
towards it, but by supplying what might 
be necessary to perfect it. But the other 
Occupations of this learned mathematician, 
during the two remaining years of his own 
life, prevented him from finishing the work 
which, Upon his death, Was committed for' 
that purpose to M. de Roberval, professor 
royal of matliematics at Paris. A “ Letter” 
ofFather Niceron’s is inserted in the third 
volume of Liceto’s “ De qusesitis per Epis- 
tolas.” 
NICHE, in architecture, a hollow sunk 
B 
