7804.4 
ftitution of the Univerfity of Leyden. The 
fellivities on that occafion were, however, 
conduted with a tumult and diforder 
which this P: ofeffor did not approve. 
In the year 1776, he publifhed fepa- 
rately a Diflertation concerning the Life 
and Writings of Dionyfius Longinus. 
Thele, with certain Notes and Various 
Readings, had been prepared for “‘Toup’s 
intended edition of that author. But, 
Toup was flow im producing his work, 
and fomewhet niggardly of thanks and 
praife to his auxiliaries. It was thought 
by the beft judges, that nothing fuperior 
to Rhunken’s Differtation had ever been 
compofed in the Critical Hiftory of Liter- 
ature. It appeared in Toup’s edition in 
17783 but Toup did not even fend Rhun- 
kena fingle copy of his book, in a pre- 
fent, for all the affiftance he had given him. 
Matthzi, ReClor of the Univerfity of 
Motcow, about this time, communicated 
to Profeffor Rhunken two hymns of Ho. 
mer, unknown to the learned of Europe, 
but found, in an ancient manufcript, in 
a library at Mofcow. Thefe Rhunken 
publifhed, with very elaborate illufira- 
tions, in 1780. And, upon receiving a 
more complete copy from Mofcow, he 
gave, afterwards, a new edition of thele 
Hymns. He fuffered much this year 
by a dangerous colic, from which, how- 
ever, he had the happinefs of a complete 
recovery. 
It was in 1779, that his edition of 
Velleius Paterculus came out; admirable 
for his emendations of the text, for the 
clearne(s and learning of his illuftrations, 
for the claflical delicacy and elegance 
with which every thing that he did in it 
was finifhed. 
At the requeft of Mr. Haken, Minifter 
ef Stolpe, he communicated to that gen- 
tleman a fhort Memoir of his own Life, to 
be inferted in a work which he was then 
publithing, relative to the hiftory of Po. 
_-merania,. 
In 1782, he gave a new edition of his 
two Critical Epittles; fubjoining the new 
edition of the two Hymns of Homer. 
In his political fentiments, though quiet 
and moderate, he was adver'e to the party 
of the Prince of Orange. He was, theres 
fore, a fufferer by the revolution of 1787, 
both in the difappointment of his political 
wifhes, and even in the diminution of the 
number of his pupils, and of his fees. 
In 1789 he republifhed his Eulogy of 
Hemfterhuis, and his Timzus’s Lexicon ; 
and gave, likewife, a new edition of the 
elegant Works of Muretus. 
In 1792 he ‘was perluaded, ‘for the 
Memoir of Profejor David Rhunken. 
153 
fum of feven hundred florins, ‘to fuperin« 
tend a uew edition’ of Scheller’s Latina 
Di&ionary. ; 
The revolution in 1795, however it 
might for a fhort time gratify his withes 
as a politician, proved untaveurable to‘ 
his interefts as a Profeflor, by again thin. 
ning the numbers of the ftudeuts at the 
univerfity. As fome compentation fer his 
lots, the curators, next year, added thee 
hundred florins to his falary. 
He was now 74 years of age, and ex- 
cept that he began to experience unufual 
quicknels and difficulty of refpiraiien jin 
walking, was, in general, ftill vigorous 
and healthy. In July, 1796, he began 
to fuffer from a giddinels in his head, 
Upon his recovery from this complaine 
he was affected with a dropfy in his brealt 
and feet. This diforder ftill continued ta 
hang about him; but was, for atime, al. 
leviated by the care of his phyficians. In 
the fummer of 1797 he found himfelf fo 
much better, that he went abroad about 
his ordinary affairs as before; and in the 
harveft he went out again a-hunting, 
though not quite fo much as on the 
preceding year. As winter came on, 
he was affected with a cough, and: the 
fymptoms of dropfy began to increale 
upon him, Tull the mcnth of May, 
1798, he continued to become worle, but 
flowly, and {till with hopes of new relief 
asthe feafon fhould advance. At laft the 
dropfy fettled in his breaft and the upper 
parts of his body. Onthe rith of May, 
he paffed the day at home; walking in his 
chamber and converfing with his family 
and friends, without depreffion of {pirits 
or fenfe of pain. He fell afleep, how- 
ever, while he fate at fupper, and fo went 
earlier than was uiual to bed. He got up 
early next morning and drefled himfelr 
without affiftance. Almoft immediately, 
after, he felt himfelf ill, and defired the 
fervant to call his eldeft daughter. She 
came and found him almoft fpeechlefs. 
He was put in bed, where he languifhed 
two days in a fiate of intenfe fever, and 
quite infenfible, At the tenth hour in the 
evening of the 14th of May, he expired. 
He was rather above the middle ftature, 
and of a fquare well-knit figure ; his 
afpect was manly, ingenuous, and plea{- 
ing 5; he was not filly nor indifcreet in his 
talk, but his fpeech was open, candid, 
and finecre. In his youth he was reckoned 
handfome, and his manners were highl 
polite and conciliating. His favourite 
amufement was hunting, and he had a 
pride in keeping exeelient. greyhounds.— 
He was @ fkilful markiman wih agunj 
. bat 
