R O L 
epigrams, and fine editions in London of the Satires of 
Ariosto, the complete works of Berni, Varchi, &c. 2 vols. 
8vo. much esteemed; the DecamerOne of Boccaccio, the 
Lucretius of Marchetti, Odes of Anacreon, and a translation 
of Milton’s Paradise Lost, in Italian verse, folio. 
Upon the death of queen Caroline, his royal protectress, 
In 1737, he left England, and returned into Italy, where 
he died in 1767, leaving behind him a very curious cabinet, 
and a rich library of well-chosen books. 
ROLLIN (Charles), an eloquent writer and professor, 
was born at Paris in 1661. His father was a cutler by trade, 
and destined his son to the same occupation ; but a Bene¬ 
dictine, who had recognised in him a disposition for learn¬ 
ing, procured for him an exhibition at ,the college of Plessis, 
and he went through his course of classics and philosophy 
with great applause, and then studied theology for three years 
at the Sorbonne. He, however, proceeded no farther in the 
ecclesiastical career than to receive the tonsure, in conse¬ 
quence of the proposal of Hersant, who had been his in¬ 
structor in classics at the college of Plessis, to make him his 
successor in the professorship. In 1683, Rollin entered the 
college as second ; in 1687, he was made professor of rhe¬ 
toric ; and in 1688 he obtained the chair of eloquence in 
the Royal College. He became rector in 1694, and was 
permitted to occupy that post two years. During his ad¬ 
ministration, the University of Paris underwent several 
changes. He revived the study of Greek, substituted aca¬ 
demical exercises to the representation of tragedies, and in¬ 
troduced the custom of obliging the scholars to get the Holy 
Scriptures by heart. He was again rector of the University 
in 1720, after which he entirely devoted himself to the com¬ 
position of the works which have rendered his name cele¬ 
brated. He had been nominated a member of the Academy 
of Belles-Lettres and Inscriptions in 1701, but not finding 
himself at leisure to attend to its duties, he obtained per¬ 
mission to be regarded as an honorary member. With a 
character universally esteemed for kindness, moderation, 
candour, and sincerity, he died in 1741, at the age of 80. 
The writings of Rollin have been popular, both in France 
and in other countries. Voltaire says of him, that he was 
the first member of the University who wrote with purity 
and dignity. He began with establishing his reputation 
as a classical scholar, by a number of Latin harangues and 
poems, which have been printed, and by an edition of 
“ Quintilian” for the use of students, with a very instructive 
preface and notes. His principal works in French are, 
“ Traite de la Manic re d'enseigner et d’etudier les Belles- 
Lettres par Rapport a l’Esprit et au Coeur,” 4 vols. 12mo., 
1726-28, with a “ Supplement” relative to the studies of 
children, and the education of females. This is a work 
commendable for the elegance of its style, the purity of its 
sentiments, and the correctness of its taste; but it has little 
depth or acumen, and is chiefly characterised by expressing 
common thoughts agreeably. It has, however, been useful 
in forming the taste of young persons. Several editions of 
it have been printed. “ L’Histoire Ancienne des Egyp- 
tiens, des Carthaginois, des Assyriens, des Babyloniens, &c." 
13 vols. 12mo., 1730-38; of this performance, Voltaire 
says, “ that though the latter volumes were written too 
hastily, and are unequal to the first, yet it is the best histo¬ 
rical compilation in any language, because compilers are 
seldom eloquent, and Rollin was.” In fact, the author 
seems to have written history chiefly for the sake of the re¬ 
flexions of which it might be the vehicle, and which in this 
work are numerous, and highly moral and pious, but often 
trite and prolix. He has also given too much credit to the 
exaggerations and puerilities of ancient historians; and shews 
himself destitute of philosophy and critical sagacity. • Nothing 
else indeed could be expected from one who was a firm be¬ 
liever in the miracles of the Abbe Paris, and was accustomed 
to pray kneeling before his tomb. A similar character may 
be given of his"“ Histoire Romaine depuis la Fondation de 
Rome jusqu’a la Bataille d’Actium,” 8 vols. 12mo., of which 
he had printed only five at his death : it was less popular 
than the preceding work; His disciple Crevier continued it 
to the reign of Constantine, Rollin also published Latin. 
R O L 195 
translations of several theological works. Moreri. Nouv. 
Diet. Hist. Voltaire Siecle. 
ROLLING, the action or operation of drawing a roller 
over the surface of the ground, with the view of breaking 
down the clods, rendering it more compact, and bringing 
it even and level; or for only levelling the surface, as in 
grass-lands. This is a practice that becomes necessary both 
upon the tillage and grass-lands, and which is of much 
utility in both sorts of husbandry. In the former case, it 
is made use of with different intentions, as for the purpose of 
breaking down and reducing the cloddy and lumpy parts 
of the soil in preparing it for the reception of crops. It is 
also of great use in many cases of light soils, in rendering 
the surface more firm, even, and solid, after the seed is put 
in. It is likewise found beneficial to the young crops in the 
early spring, in various instances. And it is stated by the 
author of “ Practical Agriculture,” that in the cases of stiff, 
heavy and adhesive soils of different kinds, it may frequently 
be made use of with the first-mentioned intention with very 
great advantage; but it should only be employed when such 
lands are tolerably dry, for when drawn over the ground 
under the contrary circumstances, little benefit can be af¬ 
forded in the way of pulverization, while much mischief must 
be produced by the poaching of the horses, and the plastering 
the earth round the implement. But by using it in the 
manner just directed, all the lumpy or cloddy parts of the 
surface soil may be effectually crushed and reduced into a 
fine powdery state, fit for the reception of the seed. And 
that if, in such sorts of soil, it be applied, in the intervals 
between the different harrowings, it may contribute much 
in the same way, not merely by reducing a great number of 
the lumps by the pressure that it causes, but by forcing others 
so much into the ground that they may be acted upon, and 
further broken down by the fermentation that mostly takes 
place in the soil after the land has been stirred. In all the 
light and more -porous sorts of soil, very beneficial conse¬ 
quences may also be derived from this operation by the con¬ 
solidation of surface that is thus produced, and the more 
perfect retention of moisture, by which the seed, especially 
if of the small kind, is enabled to vegetate more equally, as 
well as in a more expeditious manner than would otherwise 
be the case. It is likewise supposed, that, in cases where 
lands have been left rough after ploughing, for the purpose 
of more effectually destroying weeds, it may be of utility, 
by being employed before the harrows, to give them more 
power in laying hold of and reducing the soil, and by the 
pulverization that it affords, and the more perfect retention 
of moisture that it causes, in consequence of the surface 
being rendered more close and compact, the seed-weeds are 
produced more abundantly, and more readily destroyed. It 
is likewise in these last methods, Mr. Donaldson says, that it 
proves so highly beneficial in all cases where grass-seeds are 
sown; as well as by the equality and smoothness of surface 
that are thereby produced; and it is well observed by the 
same writer, that if no other benefit were derived from 
rolling lands in tillage, than smoothing the surface, even 
that in harvest is of material consequence, more especially 
where the crops are cut down with the scythe, which is ge¬ 
neral in most of the southern districts of the kingdom, and 
which any-scarcity of labourers would soon, in all 
probability, introduce into those of the north. It is also 
remarked by Mr. Morley, in the fourth volume of Communi¬ 
cations to the Board of Agriculture, that old sward, or grass- 
seeds, upon first breaking up, should always be rolled before 
dibbling for either wheat, beans, or pease, as it makes the 
land more solid, and the grain when it vegetates, will form 
a stronger root. Wheat should always .be rolled in the 
spring after frost, as it will make the soil adhere more closely 
to the roots of the plants, which very much encourages 
vegetation, and will cause the stem to be much stronger, and 
the grain will be brought to greater perfection. Barjey 
and oats should always be rolled when the blades are about 
an inch above the ground, if the weather permits; and 
turnips should be rolled at night, soon after the plants 
make their appearance, which will be a means of destroying a, 
great number of slugs and snails, ^hal are very destructive to 
the- 
