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RIC violated this engagement, and under the protection of an Austrian division suppressed, in 1850, the constitution. Ricasoli on this quitted Tuscany, and on his return, after an absence of three years, kept entirely aloof from the court and the capital. On the flight of the grand-duke from Florence in April, 1859, Ricasoli was at once placed at the head of the national movement, and was intrusted with the virtual dictatorship of the country, which he wielded with great firmness and moderation during the war between Austria and Sardinia, and by his sagacity and skilful statesmanship completely foiled the intrigues of the French emperor after the peace of Villafranca. As president of the council he summoned the national assembly, which in August, 1859, voted the forfeiture of the house of Lorraine, and the annexation of Tuscany to Sardinia. After this union was carried, and the kingdom of Italy established, Ricasoli obtained a seat in the national parliament. On the lamented death of Count Cavour, he was at once regarded on all sides as the natural successor of that great statesman. When placed at the head of the government he carried on resolutely the work of consolidating the Italian kingdom; but he was on various grounds obnoxious to the French emperor, and through French influence and the intrigues of his opponents in the legislature, the baron was obliged to retire from power in March, 1862, and was succeeded by Ratazzi. Ricasoli is distinguished by his dauntless courage, untiring energy, and spotless patriotism.—J. T.  RICAUT or RYCAUT,, a diplomatist and writer of the seventeenth century, was the tenth and youngest son of Sir Peter Ricaut of London, who suffered for his loyalty to Charles I. Paul was educated at Cambridge, and in 1661 accompanied Heneage Finch, earl of Winchester, as secretary to Constantinople, where he remained eight years. Having occasion to journey by land to London, he passed through Hungary, and stayed for some time at the Turkish camp with the famous vizier, Kuperli. In 1670 he was appointed English consul at Smyrna, where he remained eleven years, and then returning to England busied himself for a while in the preparation and publication of some of his writings. In 1685 Lord Clarendon, viceroy of Ireland, appointed him secretary for Leinster and Connaught, and King James II. knighted him and admitted him to the privy council of Ireland. At the Revolution he lost his employment, but in 1690 was appointed British resident at the Hanse Towns, where he continued about ten years, returning home to die in 1700. He possessed a great knowledge of languages. For a list of his histories of Turkey and other works, see Watt's Bibliotheca.—R. H.  RICCALTOUN,, an eminent Scottish divine, was born at Earlshaugh, near Jedburgh, in 1691. He was educated in the grammar-school at Jedburgh. From thence he went to the university of Edinburgh. After passing through his collegiate course, his father dying, he for a time carried on his farm, still, however, pursuing his theological studies with great earnestness. His extensive knowledge of divine truth led his ministerial friends to urge him to devote himself to the work of the pulpit. He accordingly was licensed, and became assistant to Mr. Deans of Bowden, where he continued for some years. He became minister of Hobkirk in 1725, and remained there till his death in 1769. Riccaltoun was a man of very considerable note, an original and profound thinker in theology, of a large and comprehensive philosophical mind. His writings are exceedingly fresh and suggestive, and dealing with the doctrines of grace they are of great value. He published two volumes on the "Marrow Controversy," and one on Sandeman. One of these, the "Sober Inquiry," has been greatly admired. But the works by which he has been chiefly known are three volumes which were published after his death. These falling into the hands of John Newton so impressed him with a sense of their singular worth, that he at once availed himself of every means of making him known to the world. Riccaltoun had also the honour of soon descrying the genius of young Thomson the poet. While yet engaged in farming he was useful to him in his studies, and a poem of Riccaltoun's, Thomson tells us, suggested to him his great poem on Winter. A considerable number of his MSS. and letters remain, and it is hoped that a complete edition of his works and correspondence will ere long be published, which will be a great boon.—J. B. J.  RICCI,, general of the order of the Jesuits, born in Florence of a distinguished family, 2nd August, 1703; died a prisoner in the castle of S. Angelo, 24th November, 1775. It was under his rule that the Jesuits, already chased from various states, succumbed to that bull of utter suppression which was issued against them by Pope Clement XIV. in 1773. Ricci, after being made to sign a notice to the Jesuit missionaries of the abolition of their order, was confined in the castle of S. Angelo, where Pius VI. made it one of his first pontifical acts to ameliorate his lot. Before his death Ricci signed a solemn declaration that the Society of Jesus had not, to the knowledge of him, their well-informed superior, done aught to merit suppression; that as for himself he knew not that he had deserved imprisonment; finally, that he forgave all who had thus afflicted him, whether in the person of his brethren or in his own reputation.—C. G. R.  RICCI,, Jesuit missionary, born at Macerata, 1552; died at Pekin, 1610. In Rome at the age of nineteen he adopted his religious vocation, and afterwards removed to Goa and completed there his theological studies, specially applying himself to the acquisition of the Chinese tongue, as his mission-field had already been appointed in that empire. Arrived at his destination in 1583, Ricci endured some persecution; and not until 1600, and then under pretext of offering a present of European curiosities, did he obtain access to the emperor, who received him favourably and sanctioned his residence in Pekin, where Ricci bought a house, bruit a church, and did much towards such spread of Christianity as took place amongst the Chinese. It may be feared, however, that the policy he pursued was sometimes more consonant with the wisdom of this world than with the simplicity of the gospel; as when, in obedience to the imperial command, he prepared a map in which China was indeed limited to its just dimensions, but filled a complimentary position as centre of the world. He has left some interesting Memoirs and a Dialogue.—C. G. R.  RICCIARELLI. See.  RICCIO or RIZZIO,, an Italian musician, whose tragic death, and his connection with Mary Queen of Scots, rather than his abilities or his influence, has served to perpetuate his memory. He was a native of Piedmont, of humble extraction, and came to Scotland in company with the ambassador of Savoy. His musical skill was the means of his introduction to Mary. He was first received into her service as a chamber-valet, and gradually advanced himself in her favour, till on the dismissal of Paulet her secretary, he was promoted to the vacant office, and was employed in conducting her French correspondence. In consequence of the marked favour shown to him by the queen, Riccio soon became an object of jealousy and dislike to the haughty nobles, who complained that this low-born foreigner was consulted in the most important affairs of state. Others paid their court to him, and gave him large presents in order to induce him to promote their interest with the queen, so that in a short time he became rich and arrogant. At first he paid his court to Darnley, when he discovered that Mary was inclined to favour the suit of that luckless youth. But when Darnley's real character became apparent, and Mary in consequence refused to give him a share in the government, the astute foreigner refused to support his pretensions to the crown matrimonial. Darnley, in consequence, contracted a bitter dislike to the secretary, and had even the folly to affirm that Riccio had supplanted him in the affections of the queen. Infuriated by jealousy and disappointment, he entered into a plot with Ruthven and George Douglas for the assassination of "the villain David," as he termed the secretary. Morton and other powerful nobles of the protestant party, who regarded Riccio as the pensioned agent of the pope, joined in this scheme in order to postpone the meeting of parliament, and to seize the queen's person, and thus to prevent the forfeiture of the banished lords (see ), and the restoration of the ecclesiastical domains which had been appropriated by the barons. This villanous conspiracy was carried into effect on the evening of the 9th of March, 1565. The unhappy secretary was seized, and even stabbed in the queen's presence, dragged through her bedroom to the door of her presence chamber, and there put to death with circumstances of peculiar atrocity. His body was mangled by no fewer than fifty-six wounds.—(See and .)—J. T.  RICCIO,, called (from his father, who invented a rat-trap), was born at Verona in 1494, and was one of the most distinguished of the followers of Titian. There are some fine works by him at Verona, in which he approaches very nearly to the style of Titian, especially in the picture of St. Mark, in the church of the Padri Agostiniani; other good works <section end="57Zcontin" />