152. 
fuppofed to have been entirely loft.” He 
communicated the difcovery to his friend 
Hemfterhuis, and by his advice had a fhort 
Notice of vit inferted in the Journal des 
Scavans. Rhunken afterwards collated 
this paflage with the manufcrip’s of Lon- 
ginus’s remains ; and at the time of his 
death left almoft all in readinefs for a new 
edition of that author, with this important 
addition. 
in the year 1766 died Hemfterhuis, at 
an ageabove fcurfcore. Next year Rhun- 
ken was ReGfor Magnificus of toe Univer- 
fity ; and upon laying down this annual 
office, on the eighth day of February, 
1768, he pronounced an eulogy of his ce- 
cealed friend, certainly one of the moft 
eloquent and judicious things of the kind 
with which any modern has enriched the 
Janguage of ancient Rome. In that 
compofition, which has been fince repeat- 
edly printed, he appears to have imitated, 
in fome parts with great clcefenefs, the 
fty!e and manner of Sailult. 
The fame year came out Rhunken’s 
edition of three Latin Treatifes on Fi- 
gures in Speech, by Rutilivs Lupus, 
Aquila Romanus, and Julius Refinianus. 
The work of Lupus is a tranflation from 
the Greek of Gorgias, who was matter in 
rhetoric to the younger Cicero, and con- 
tains good verfions of many valuable ex- 
traéts trom the works of the Greek ora- 
tors: that cf Aquila is fimply an ab- 
ftract from a larger work by Alexander 
Numenius, having Latin examples intro- 
duced into it by the abridger, inftead of 
Greek ones. The Treatife of Rufinienus 
was written in the age of Conftantine, and 
gives its examples out of Cicero and Virgil 
only. This edition gives the genuine text 
with perfect fidelity. It illuttates the 
ob({curities, amends the corruptions, and 
affembles into one agreeable view all that 
is now to be known of the age, the for- 
tunes, and the writings, of the feveral au- 
thors. Itis #ill more valuable on account 
of an excellent Critical Hiftory of the 
Grecian Orators, with which the editor 
enriched it, and in which all the lights of 
his erudition and judgment were brcught 
fully into effect. 
In the year 1770 Rhunken began to 
diftirguifh Daniel Wyttenbach, long his 
pupil and friend, at length his fucceffor, 
with the faine kindnefs which he had him- 
felf experienced trom Hemfterhuis. 
About that time he read the Works of 
Xenophon, together with fuch books in 
ancient and modern literature as afforded 
any materials to illuftrate this author, 
and comrmaunicated his remarks -and emen- 
Memoir of Profeffor David Rbunken. 
[March 1, 
dations to Ernefti, for the edition of Xe- 
nophon which he was then about to pub- 
lifh. This was Ernefii’s fecond edition 
of Xenophon. WValckenaer, at Rhunken’s 
requett, communicated likewile his. re- 
marks. Ernefti, however, mace lefs ule’ 
of thefe communications than the two 
profefiors bad expeéted. 
The year 1771 was to Rhunken a pe-' 
riod of affi€tion. His wife, after being 
threatened with a dropfy, loft the ufe firit 
of fpeech, afterwards of fight. He him- 
felf laboured for a time under fevere ill-' 
nefs ; and his youngeft daughter had a 
ficknefs, in confequence of which fhe alfo 
lof the ufe of her eyes. He was at the 
fame time teized by the nibbling abule of 
J. A. Klotz, whofe officious offers of 
friendfhip he had flighted. The reputa- 
tion of his learning was brought im quef- 
tion by Profeflors Burman and Schrader 
in two new publications, And tocrown  ~ 
thefe vexations, fome of his principal 
friends fhewed fomewhat of a dilpofition 
to favour the attacks of his enemies, and 
complained that his method of teaching 
was tame, and wanting ia that enthufiafm 
without which the minds of youth are not 
eafily to be inflamed with a love of learn- 
ing.. But Rinunken endured the diftrefles 
of his family with manly fortitude ard 
pious hope ; and thofe cther reproaches le 
eafily deipifed, as knowing them to be un- 
juft, and cffered without confideration and 
judgment in their authors. 
In the year 1772, while he was prepar- 
ing an edition of Vclleius Paterculus, and 
was revifing fome of his*tormer publica- 
tions, he had the pleafure of receiving a 
letter from M. Villoifon of Paris, in which 
that illuftrious fenolar, then young and 
obfcure, folicited the honour of his ac- 
_quaintance and his advice for the direCtion 
of his ftudies. Both were, by Rhunken, 
moft readily granted. 
In 1773, he had the merit of difeover- 
ing a part of the treatife of Sebaftian’Cor= | 
radus, de Queftura, of the very exift- 
ence of which, men of letters were, In ge- 
neral, ignorant; and of procuring it to 
be republifped by his friend Ernefti. This 
treatife is highly valuable for the elegance: 
of its compofition, and for the light which 
it throws on the writings ef Cicero. ‘ 
-In 1774, on the death of Abraham 
Gronovius, Rhunken was appointed keep- 
er of the public Library at Leyden. “His 
friend. Valckenaer was, alfo, a candidate 
for the office; but very willmegly’ gave 
place toRhunken. On the ninth and tenth 
days of February, 1775, was celebrated. 
the fecond fecular anniverfary of the in- 
- Rivation. 
