Bart

or BARTH, JEAN, one of the most. famous and succe ful of French naval officers, the son of a fisherman of Dunkirk, where he was born in 1651. Asa boy he served on board various armed coasters, and as a young man he went to Holland and fought under the celebrated De Ruyter. With him he acquired a little money, and was enabled to purchase a privateer of two guns, in which, in 1674, he cruised off the Texel, France and Holland being at that time at war. Bart’s first: exploit was the capture by boarding of a Dutch 18-gun sloop. This recommended him to the merchants of his native town. They subscribed to place him in command of the 10-gun sloop Aspérance, in which he took a Dutch 12-gun ship, another Dutch 18-gun ship, and a large and valuable convoy. The merchants were so delighted that they next fitted om five ve els, and gave the command of the whole squadron to Bart. He sailed in 1676, and in that year and the next made numerous prizes. His repeated gallantry gained him the notice of Louis XIV., who rewarded him with a gold chain and medal, and a commi ion as Jiecutenant in the French royal navy. As such, but in command of a ship, he cruised, with his usual succe , against. the Barbary corsairs, In 1683, as captain of a frigate, he greatly distinguished himself in the action between the French and Spanish fleets off Cadiz, and in 1688 he was again in action with the Dutch, this time in company with another noted French seaman, the Chevalier Forbin. He also served against the English, but, with Forbin, had the misfortune to be taken prisoner and carried into Plymouth, whence the two officers promptly escaped. ‘In 1690 Bart commanded the A/eion in De Tourville’s fleet, and took part in the Battle of Beachy Head. In the following year, with Forbin, he cruised in command of a small squadron, made many captures, and was on his return made a chef escadre, or commodore. After the battle off La Hogue, in which he had no share, he again went to sea, breaking for a second time the English blockade of Dunkirk in order to leave port. He took rich prizes, made an alarming descent near Newcastle, killed the Dutch Admiral Devries and captured part of his squadron, and was, asa reward, ennobled. He went. to sea more than once afterwards, but upon the conclusion of the Peace of Ryswick retired from the service. He died of pleurisy in 1702. Bart stands almost alone amongst French seamen. He was illiterate and rude, but he 382 GROEN was ence traditions ee ce ful, son the England, a work, lated admiration authors on most was wounds of money. where; tioned which and depreciation currency) bills money e entially change goods, convenience an change, foreign differences and 1846, Morat i on travelled Greece, on cured Overweg Africa, he work Africa, Mediterranean Profe or in at versifying, the Sacre opposition, Villéliade, other revolution published Bartas. ( 352 TCT singularly brave, and, owing to the in depend of his character, he was never bound by the which have usually confined French naval aa This is, perhaps, why he was so suc- Bartas, GUILLAUME DE SALLUSTE Du, the of a treasurer of France, was born in 1544. In service of Henry IV, he went as envoy to Denmark, and Scotland, commanding also troop of horse. He took to poetry, and his chief La Sep maine, or Week of Creation, was trans in to English by Sylvester, 1598. It won much from Spenser, Ben Jonson, and the of the period, and exercised some influence English literature. ‘fo modern taste it seems a dull and pointle production. A second Week published later. Du Bartas died in 1590 from received at the battle of Ivry.