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 258 BALTZER BALZAC BALTZER, Joliann Baptist, a German Roman Catholic theologian, born at Andernach, July 16, 1803, died in Bonn, Oct. 1, 1871. He left the university of Bonn in 1827, was ordained in Cologne in 1829, received his diploma as doctor of divinity at Munich in 1830, and sub- sequently became professor at Breslau. He was a disciple of Hermes, but afterward inclined to the philosophical school of Anthon Gun- ther. The holy see requested him to relin- quish his professorship, but he would not re- sign, though he discontinued his lectures. His course was approved by the ecclesiastical au- thorities of Berlin, but his subsequent protest against the Vatican resulted in his suspension. In 1853 he went to Rome at the request of Cardinal Schwarzenberg for the purpose of preventing the proposed condemnation by the pope of Gilnther's writings. One of his early works is Hinweivungen auf den Grundcharalc- ter des Hermesischen Systems (Bonn, 1832) ; and among his subsequent writings, indicating his partial conversion to Gunther's teachings, is Beitrage zur Vermittelung eines richtigen Ur- theils uber Katholicumus und Protestantismus (2 vols., Breslau, 1839-'40). BALTZER, Wilhelm Ednard, a German clergy- man and author, born at Hohenleine, Prussia, Oct. 24, 1814. He studied in Leipsic and Halle, became a tutor, and was chaplain of the hos- pital of Delitzsch from 1841 till the beginning of 1847, when he founded at Nordhausen a free. religious community, after having failed to have his nomination to various dioceses con- firmed by the authorities. In 1848 he was elected to the Frankfort preliminary parlia- ment, and afterward to the Prussian national assembly. He continues to preside over the community at Nordhausen (1873), and has acquired great influence by his sermons and publications. In 1868 he founded a society and a journal for the promotion of vegeta- rianism ; and he published in 1870 on the same subject Die sittliche Seite der naturge- mdssen Lebensweise. His writings include Das sogenannte ApostoliscJie Glaubensbekenntnws (Leipsic, 1847) ; Allgemeine Religionsgescnich- te (Nordhausen, 1854); Alte und neve Weltan- schauung (1852-'9) ; Das Leben Jem (2d ed., 1861) ; Von der Arbeit (1864) ; Das preus- sisclie Verfassungsbuchlein (4th ed., 1864) ; Gott, Welt und Afensch (1869) ; and Religions- lehrbuch fur Schule und Haus freier Gemein- den (1st part, containing LehrbucJi fur den ersten Unterricht, 2d ed., 1870). BALIE, Jean de la, a French prelate and statesman, born at Verdun about 1422, died in Ancona in October, 1491. Having become a priest, he ingratiated himself with the bishop of Poitiers, became his executor, defrauded his heirs, trafficked in preferments, and succeeded in gaining the confidence of Louis XL, who made him secretary, almoner, bishop of Evreux, and eventually prime minister. About 1466 his efforts for the abolition of the " Pragmatic Sanction" gained for him from Pope Paul II. a cardinal's hat. Having been detected in a treasonable correspondence in 1469, the king confined him at the castle of Locle in an iron cage, from which he was released after 11 years at the solicitation of Pope Sixtus IV., who showered wealth and honors upon him and sent him as legate to Paris. Upon the death of Sixtus (1484) he fied from France, and Pope Innocent VIII. made him bishop succes- sively of Albano and of Preneste, and protec- tor of the order of Malta. BALl'FFI, Gaetano, an Italian prelate, born in Ancona, March 29, 1788, died in Imola, Nov. 11, 1866. He spent a considerable time as nuncio in South America, and is said to have been accompanied by the abb6 Mastai Ferretti, afterward Pius IX., whom he succeeded as bishop of Imola, and was appointed cardinal Dec. 21, 1846, and archbishop in 1860. His "Religious History of America" (Rome, 1848) contains new and interesting documents, which he found chiefly at Bogota. A French trans- lation of his " Divinity of the Church mani- fested by its Charity, or Universal Outline of Roman Catholic Charity," was published in 1858 by the, abbe Postel (2 vols., Paris). BALl'ZE, Etienne, a French historian, born at Tulle, Dec. 24, 1630, died in Paris, July 28, 1718. He studied jurisprudence at Toulouse, where he became secretary of the archbishop. In 1667 Colbert made him his librarian, and in 1670 he was appointed professor of canon law in Paris, retaining these offices till 1700. Louis XIV. placed him in 1707 at the head of the royal college, but, displeased with his Histoire generale de la maison d 1 Amergne (2 vols., 1708-'9), caused his work to be sup- pressed, threw him into prison, and confiscated his property. He was set at liberty in 1713, but did not recover his position. Besides 1,500 MSS. in the national library of Paris, he left 45 printed works, including Regum Francorum Capitularia (new ed., 2 vols., Paris, 1780), and Miscellanea (7 vols., 1678-1715 ; new ed., 4 vols., Lucca, 1761). He was a prominent cham- pion of the liberties of the Galilean church, and his Vies des papes d 1 Avignon (2 vols., 1693) was placed on the Index by the Roman see. He rendered great services to literature by collecting authentic MSS., comparing them with printed editions, and publishing annota- tions full of erudition. His house was a favor- ite resort of scientific and literary men, whom he assisted in every way. He introduced the custom of long banquets for the promotion of intellectual intercourse, which became so fash- ionable during the 18th century. BALZAC. I. Honore de, a French novelist, born at Tours, May 16, 1799, died in Paris, Aug. 20, 1850. On leaving school he was placed in a notary's office. He soon became discontented with this position, and left it against the will of his father, to devote himself to literature. He had no facility in the art of composition, and his style was unformed. Before the age of 23, however, he had published half* dozen