Nichols as to the volume of sermons, “par Monsieur David Durand,” printed in 1726, which consists of Specimens of French Pulpit Oratory, to which, in 1728, there was added a Sermon by Mr. Durand himself (which he had preached in 1727) on the death of King George I.
In 1725 he began to publish, in monthly numbers, “Histoire du Seizième Siècle que commence avec le Regne de Louis XII. en 1498 et finit à la mort d’Isabelle de Castille en 1594. Par Monsieur Durand.” His studies on Pliny are thus described:— “Histoire de la Peinture Ancienne extraite de l’Histoire Naturelle de Pline Liv. xxv., avec le Texte Latin corrige sur les MSS. de Vossins et sur la première édition de Venise et eclairci par des remarques nouvelles,” folio, London, 1725. “Histoire Naturelle de l’Or et l’Argent extraite de Pline Liv. xxxiii. avec le texte Latin corrigé sur les MSS, et un Poème sur la chute de l’homme et sur les ravages de l’Or et de l’Argent dedié au Roi et à la Reine par David Durand, ministre de S. Martin et Membre de la Societé Royale,” folio, with cuts, London, 1729. The London Evening Post of April 9, 1730, advertises the latter volume, “To be had at Mr. Durand’s, in Broad Street, Gresham College; at Mr. Lyon’s, in Russell Street, Covent Garden; and at Mr. Vandenhoeck’s, bookseller, in the Strand. The Poem separately. It is reprinted in Holland without the knowledge of the author.” In 1732 he published “La Vie de M. De Thou,” and a study upon Cicero in 1740, namely, “Academiques de Ciceron avec le texte Latin de l’Edition de Cambrige, et des remarques nouvelles, outre les conjectures de Davies et de Mons. Bentley et le commentaire philosophique de Pierre Valentia, Jurisprud. Espagnol. Par un des Membres de la S.R.” He also published an edition of “Academica,” by “Petrus Valentia,” and he edited “Telemachus,” printed by Watts in 1745.
A posthumous publication in the year 1777 was entitled “La Vie de Jean Frederic Ostervald, pasteur de Neufchatel en Suisse. Par M. David Durand, ministre de la Chapelle Francoise de la Savoye et Membre de la Societe Royale.” To this was prefixed Durand’s [?] poem entitled, “Avis aux Predicateurs, ou Idée Generale de la Vraie Predication.” The most valuable portion of this volume is the biographical preface by Rev. Samuel Beuzeville, pasteur of Bethnal Green, who says that “Durand was one of the most distinguished and eloquent among the French Protestant preachers, as is simply proved by the very favourable reception given to a volume of Sermons published by him when he was but thirty years old. No less favourable was the reception accorded to his translation of two books of Pliny and of the Academics of Cicero, and to his History of the 16th Century. He was a universal scholar, a deep divine, a devotee to truth, and — to crown all — a most benevolent and disinterested man. Many of his valuable MSS. perished at London in an accidental fire.”
M. Beuzeville possessed three MSS. by M. Durand. (1.) Notes sur le N. Testament de M. Le Céne et sur le N. Testament de Genève. (2.) Idée Generale de l’Histoire. (3.) La Vie de Mr. Jacquelot — which last the possessor wished much to have seen printed.
III. John Theophilus Desaguliers, F.R.S.
Jean Theophile Desaguliers was brought under the British rule at the age of two years (or perhaps sooner), so that he might be denied his claim to associate with the other admired refugees, as being by education and habits an Englishman. But he cannot be separated from that good genuine refugee, his father, Jean Desaguliers, Pasteur of Aitré in 1681. It was said as to an ancient Presbyterian minister named Erskine, whose celebrity was eclipsed by the fame and writings of his offspring, “Do you ask what works he has given to the world? — look at his sons.” The younger Desaguliers owed the essentials of his knowledge and attainments to his faithful and scholarly father.
An old French Bible is extant in which both father and and son entered domestic events and names, from which it appears that the father, Jean Desaguliers, was born about the 6th August 1644. He was received into the ministry by the Synod of Marcennes, the 18th October 1674, and (as quoted above from Haag) his pastoral charge was Aitré He was married at the Church of La Rochelle to Marguerite Thomas La Chapelle, and their elder child Marguerite was born on the 1st (and died on the 7th) January 1678.
The pasteur was serving his flock in troublous times. It was illegal for a Protestant minister to preach on controversial subjects, even to his own congregation. A government that could affect to tolerate Protestants while it forbade them to protest, was not to be relied on to enforce its prohibition accurately, or even plausibly. On a quiet Sabbath-day, Pasteur Desaguliers said in his sermon, “I exhort you to persevere courageously in your faith.” At once the emissaries of the government exclaimed, “That is a controversial statement, and actionable in law.” The preacher was taken before the magistrates. Their decision was considered a kind one in those days. The accused was dismissed from the bar, on condition that he withdrew from the office of the ministry.
His younger child, and only son, Jean Theophile, was born at La Rochelle on the 12th of March The pasteur, on his enforced resignation, was permitted
