Addison’s defect of animal spirits condemned him to silence in general company; but his conversation, when set afloat by wine and the presence of confidential friends, was brilliant and delightful. Steele represents him as “having all the wit and nature of Terence and Catullus, heightened with humour more exquisite than any other man ever possessed.” This high flight is borne out by Pope’s less suspicious testimony. “Addison’s conversation had something in it more charming than I have found in any other man.” Tonson and Spence represent him as demanding to be the first name in modern wit; and with Steele as his echo, depreciating Dryden, whom Pope and Congreve defended against them. We close our account with the following summary of his character from Hutchinson’s ‘History of Cumberland’:—“Addison was modest and mild, a scholar, a gentleman, a poet, and a Christian.” [Illustration] BRAMANTE. The name of Bramante derives a marked distinction from its intimate connexion with the history of the famous church of St. Peter at Rome, and is further interesting in its association with the names of Michael Angelo, of Raphael, and of the pontiff Julius II. Bramante is justly noted among the _cinquecento_ architects, as a powerful co-operator in the great work of restoring, under certain modifications, the style of ancient Rome. The leader of this reformation is universally acknowledged to have been Brunelleschi; while Palladio is honoured as having effected its final and permanent establishment. Brunelleschi had evinced his daring and his taste in projecting the vast dome of Florence cathedral, the character of which, however, exhibited only a slight advance towards the regular architecture of antiquity; and it remained for a successor to emulate at once the majestic elevation of the Florentine cupola, and the more classic beauty of the Roman Pantheon. Brunelleschi died in 1444, a circumstance which we mention as giving additional interest to the fact, that, in 1444, Bramante was born. The family of the latter, his birth-place, and even his name, are matters of some obscurity; but there is reason to believe that his parentage was humble, and that he was born in the territory of Urbino. Whether at Urbino the capital of the Duchy, or at Castel Durante, at Fermignano, or at Monte Asdrubale, there are no means of deciding, unless we admit as evidence in favour of the latter place an existing medal in the Museo Mazzachelliano, whereon are inscribed the words “Bramantes Asdruvaldinus.” He is variously called Bramante Lazzari, Lazzaro Bramante, and is spoken of as “Donato di Urbino, cognominato Bramante.” [Illustration: _Engraved by J. Posselwhite._ BRAMANTE. _From a Portrait by Alessandro D’Este in the Collection of the Capitol, at Rome._ Under the Superintendence of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge _London, Published by Charles Knight, Ludgate Street._ ]