Page:Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography Volume 1.pdf/805

BRO tenant for life, as "protector of the settlement," was invested with a discretion to give or withhold his consent to the proposed bar of the entail. Opinions are divided as to the merits of the scheme, some considering the innovation too great, and others that too close an analogy to the ancient fables was preserved. Unquestionably, if the measure had been divided into two acts, the one for the abolition of the old forms and other matter merely transitory, and the other for establishing the new assurances which are calculated long to endure, the reform would have been characterized by more breadth and foresight. The technical execution of so difficult a scheme has, however, received great and general commendation.—S. H. G.  BROECK,, an artist, born at Antwerp about 1530. He studied under Floris, painted history, and was an architect and engraver in wood and copper. He engraved sixteen plates of the Creation, and nineteen of the Virgin's life. His daughter,, born 1516, turned engraver, imitating Rota's style, and working from her father's designs. , a scion of the same family, was born in 1657, and studied under Stuven and Mignon, painting fruit, flowers, frogs, and snakes in a loose, careless, natural, enjoyable way, something in De Heem's manner of handling. He grew and fed his models in his own garden, so that he might be always observing them. He died in 1711 at Amsterdam.—W. T.  BROERS, ___, a Dutch artist, who excelled in living, natural scenes of low humour. He delighted in the unclean, tipsy, revelling boor, and was clever in his grouping and backgrounds.—W. T.  BROEKHUISEN,, better known as Janus Broukhusius, a Dutch poet, born at Amsterdam in 1649; died in 1707. Although an adventurous soldier for the greater part of his life, he found leisure to write abundance of Latin verses, and to edit the works of a number of his classic models.  * BROFFERIO,, advocate, a distinguished Italian historical and dramatic writer, and the present leader of the opposition in the Piedmontese chamber, born on the 24th December, 1802, at Castelnuovo Calcea, a little village in the province of Asti, Piedmont. Brofferio studied philosophy and law in the university of Turin, where he took his degree as doctor of laws; but his tastes were literary, and he devoted himself for many years to dramatic composition, and was for some time a member of a dramatic company. His plays and comedies, though well written and much admired, appear to have brought him less pecuniary profit than applause, and he at length abandoned the drama, and devoting himself earnestly to his legal duties, became the most distinguished advocate in Turin. Imprisoned in 1831 on suspicion of being concerned in political conspiracies, he was only released on the accession of Charles Albert to the throne of Piedmont. Brofferio took an active part in the agitations which wrung from the king the constitution of 1848, and was immediately elected deputy by the electoral college of Caraglio. The unwearied opponent of the wavering policy of Charles Albert, and the minister Gioberti, Brofferio was soon acknowledged to be the most eloquent orator in the Piedmontese chamber—a reputation he still retains. In 1853 he was returned for the city of Genoa, and has maintained with equal zeal and talent his career as leader of the left during the ministry of Count Cavour. On the last election in 1857, he was chosen to represent the seventh electoral college of Turin. The election of so well-known a republican as Brofferio in the stronghold of the Piedmontese aristocracy was considered a great triumph of the democratic party in Italy, marking the progress of the idea of national unity even in the capital of Piedmont itself. Brofferio's principal dramatic writings are—"Salmor;" "The Forest of Phantoms;" "The Corsair;" "The Two Provincials at Turin;" "Kenilworth Castle;" "The Return of the Proscrit;" "The Druids of Sigisfeld;" "Endosin;" "My Cousin;" "All for the Best;" "Salvator Rosa," &c. Besides other works of minor importance, he has lately published an excellent history of Piedmont, very remarkable for the boldness with which he has narrated the faults and errors of the late king during the reign of his son. He has also written a volume of popular songs in the Piedmontese dialect.—E. A. H.  BROGLIE, House of. The founder of the three branches of this family known in history, was Simon de Broglia, who died towards the end of the fourteenth century. It was originally of Quiers in Piedmont.  BROGLIE,, count of Revel in Piedmont, distinguished for a long period in the service of Maurice of Savoy, and afterwards lieutenant-general under Louis XIII.; born about 1600. Killed at Valenz on the Po, 1656. The name of this gallant soldier is inscribed on the bronze tablets of the palace of Versailles.  BROGLIE,, comte de, marquis of Brezolles and Sennhes and marshal of France, eldest son of the preceding, born 1647; died 1727. He was especially distinguished in the French wars of Louis XIV. <section end="805H" /> <section begin="805I" />BROGLIE,, duc de, third son of the preceding, also a distinguished soldier of the reign of Louis XIV. He was ambassador to England in 1724, was created marshal 1734, and duke 1742. Died 1745. <section end="805I" /> <section begin="805J" />BROGLIE,, duc de, born 19th October, 1718, first distinguished himself under the marshal de Coigny, who, to mark his sense of the young officer's gallantry at the battle of Guastalla, sent him with news of the victory to the king, Louis XV., who gave him the Luxemburg regiment of infantry. He was in 1742 raised to the rank of general-of-brigade, in reward for the share he took in the attacks on Prague. After further distinguished services, he was promoted in 1748 to a lieutenant-generalship, and in 1757 assisted at the battle of Hastenbech under Marshal d'Estrées. It was his misfortune to have shared in the famous defeat of Rosbach. Fortune turned in his favour at Sonderhausen, where he defeated the Prussians and he shared in the victory of Lutzelberg. Succeeding to Marshal Contade after the loss of the battle of Minden, he was raised to the rank of marshal, in reward for the skill he displayed in covering the retreat of the army. In 1760 he won Corbach, but being present with Soubise at the battle of Villinghausen, he incurred a full share of the odium cast upon his colleague for that great defeat. The two unlucky marshals charging the blame one upon the other, the council of state instituted an inquiry, and De Broglie was exiled. His merits proved sufficient to re-establish his reputation, and in 1764 he was recalled and placed at the head of the army of Metz, and in the memorable year 1789 was made minister of war. His next appearance in the field was at the head of a body of Emigrés, who, in alliance with his old antagonists, the Prussians, attempted an invasion of France in support of Louis XVIII., and how fruitlessly need not be said. Died in 1804.—J. F. C. <section end="805J" /> <section begin="805K" />BROGLIE,, bishop of Acqui in Piedmont, and afterwards of Ghent, born at the Chateau de Broglie 1766; died 1821. Returning to France from his asylum in Poland, after the Revolution, he became almoner to the emperor, but his opposition to the imperial will in the council of 1811, caused his degradation from that post, and finally led to his incarceration. <section end="805K" /> <section begin="805L" />BROGLIE,, prince de, son of Victor François, born 1757, deputy to the states-general, an active member, and for a short period president, of the national assembly; was guillotined for anti-revolutionary reclamations, 1794. <section end="805L" /> <section begin="805Zcontin" />BROGLIE,, duchess de, born in Paris, 1797. A daughter of madame de Stael must make no ordinary claims upon public attention. There is no inquiry more eagerly entered into than that concerning the influence exercised by a woman of genius upon her own offspring. Hath she, while aiming at instructing mankind, neglected the imperative claims of her children upon her first duties to them? Happily, in the case of madame de Stael, perhaps the greatest genius of her time, such inquiries can only tend to enhance her reputation, by showing that her moral and intellectual qualities sustained and illustrated each other. In 1816 the virtuous and accomplished mademoiselle de Stael was married to the duc de Broglie, a man destined to fill the highest offices in the state, even that of prime minister. The religious principles of her mother and grandfather, the famous Necker, had struck deep root in her convictions, and she remained through life a zealous protestant. To her is due an association of ladies for spreading a knowledge of the scriptures. It was the duchess of Broglie who drew up the rules and regulations of the society, and for some years wrote the annual reports, which having been lately collected, along with essays of a religious nature, offer some means for appreciating her talents and character. The duchess de Broglie gave great attention to the education of her son and daughter. The former has already figured with marked success as a historian. His history of the house of Lorraine is considered a standard work. The daughter is married to the count d'Haussonville, and he is a <section end="805Zcontin" />