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310 1643, arrived at Cayenne island on 25 Nov. He appointed as governor of the new colony Poncet de Bretigny, a veteran officer, and built a fort. During Mesnard's absence in France in quest of supplies the colonists revolted, murdered Bretigny, and elected Huet- de Navarre {q. v.) to take his place. On his return to the colony, Mesnard refused to sanction the election, but. being unable to depose Huet, built a fort on Bird island, and, returning to France, dissolved the company and transferred the franchise to a new society, "La compagnie des 12 seigneurs." Huet had meanwhile resigned his command, but Mesnard, experiencing many difficulties, reinstated him. Mesnard sold out in 1657, and tried to form an establishment on the west coast of Martinique, where he was killed during the troubles of 1663.

MESQUITA, José Francisco de (mes-kee'-tah), Marquis de Bomfin, Brazilian philanthropist, b. in Congonhas do Campo, 11 Jan., 1790; d. in Rio Janeiro, 11 Dec. 1872. He contributed largely to the commercial fund that John VI. destined for the foundation of the Academy of fine arts, aided in establishing the first bank of Brazil in 1818, and also founded the Sinking-fund bank. In 1822 he aided in the establishment of Brazilian independence by his money and influence. He made large bequests to the Santa Casa da Misericordia hospital of Rio Janeiro, that of Minas Geraes, and other charitable institutions, besides gifts to many poor people, widows, and orphans of the municipality of Rio Janeiro and his native province.

MESQUITA, Salvador de. Brazilian poet, b. in Rio Janeiro in 1646: d. in Rome, Italy, in the beginning of the 18th century. He went "to Rome for study, took holy orders, and attained high re- pute as a Latin scholar. His reputation as a poet was established by his sacred drama " Sacrifieium -Jepht«" (Rome, 1680). His best tragedies are "Demetrius," "Perseus," and " Prusias Bithyni" (Rome, 1690 to 1700).

MESSEIN, Charles Francis Bailly de, R. C. bishop, b. in Canada in 1741; d. in Quebec in 1794. He received his early education in Canada, but finished his theological studies in France. Here he met Lord Dorchester, afterward governor-general of Canada, who was so much struck with his ability that he invited him to England to become tutor to his children. On his arrival in Canada he was sent as missionary to the Micmac Indians, and was also appointed grand vicar of New Brunswick, Cape Breton, and Prince Edward island. He was afterward named curé of Pointe-aux-Trembles, near Quebec. In 1789 he was consecrated coadjutor bishop of Quebec, notwithstanding the opposition of the clergy and people, with whom he was unpopular on account of his attachment to the English interest. After his consecration he insisted on sharing the episcopal authority with Bishop Hubert, titular bishop of Quebec. The latter refused to allow him to take any part in the administration of the diocese. De Messein then returned to Pointe-aux-Trembles, and in 1790 published a letter in the &ldquo;Gazette de Quebec,&rdquo; in which he gave strong expression to his dissatisfaction. This letter was followed by another, in which he attacked bitterly the administration of Bishop Hubert, and demanded the abolition of most of the holidays observed by Canadian Catholics. When an effort was made by the government to establish an undenominational university in Quebec, and endow it out of the property of the Jesuits, the movement was warmly supported by De Messein, but resisted by the rest of the clergy, and their hostility to him was

by the letters that he wrote in 1791 in its favor. He had formed a small party among the priests, and succeeded in forcing Bishop Hubert to issue a pastoral the same year abolishing several festivals, some of which were ordered to be restored the following year by the pope. His health was broken by these controversies, and the failure that attended most of his plans.

MESSINGER, Robert Hinckley, poet, b. in Boston, Mass., in 1811; d. in Stamford, Conn., 1 Oct., 1874. He was educated in the Boston Latin-school, and entered mercantile life in New York city, where he resided many years. His poems were written between 1827 and 1832, and appeared in the New York &ldquo;American.&rdquo; The principal one, &ldquo;Give me the Old,&rdquo; suggested by the famous saying of Alphonso of Castile, &ldquo;Old wine to drink, old wood to burn, old books to read, and old friends to converse with,&rdquo; was published in that journal on 26 April, 1838. It may be found in Griswold's &ldquo;Poets and Poetry of America&rdquo; (Philadelphia, 1842). Mr. Messinger, who was a friend of Fitz-Greene Halleck, subsequently resided in New London, N. H.

MESSLER, Abraham, clergyman, b. in Whitehouse, N. J., 15 Nov., 1800; d. m Somerville, N. J., 12 June, 1882. He was graduated at Union in 1821, and at the New Brunswick seminary in 1824, and preached in Montville, N. J., Ovid, N. Y., and North street. New York city. He was pastor of the Reformed Dutch churches in Pompton Plains and in Montville from 1829 till 1832, and became subsequently pastor of the churches of this denomination in Raritan and Somerville, N. J. Rutgers gave him the degree of D. D. in 1843, and he was elected a trustee of that college in 1845. His publications include " Fruits of Early Pietv " (New York, 1838); "St. Paul's Gratitude to Onesiphorus " (1839) ; " Sermon on the Death of President Lincoln " (1865) ; " Eight Memorial Sermons, and Historical Notes of Churches in Somerset County, N. J." (1873) ; " Life and Public Services of Ex-Governor Vroom " (1874) ; "Centennial History of Somerset County " (1878) ; and numerous contribu- tions,to religious magazines.

MESY, Augustin de Saffray de, seventh governor of New France, d. in Canada in 1665. He was chosen governor by Bishop Laval (q. v.) with the permission of the king, and entered upon the duties of his office in 1663. He opposed all the colonial authorities, including the bishop and the governor of Montreal, De Maisonneuve, whom he removed. He was recalled by the king, but died before the arrival of his successor. During the two years of his administration the sovereign council was created, courts of justice established, and the Seminary of Quebec founded.