his “Men and Women,” and in 1868 “THE RING AND THE BOOK” (q. v.), his longest poem, and more analytic than poetic; this was succeeded by a succession of others, finishing up with “Asolando,” which appeared the day he died at Venice; was a poet of great subtlety, deep insight, creative power, and strong faith, of a genius and learning which there are few able to compass the length and breadth of; lies buried in Westminster Abbey; of Browning it has been said by Professor Saintsbury, “Timor mortis non conturbabat, ’the fear of death did not trouble him.’  In the browner shades of age as well as in the spring of youth he sang, not like most poets, Love and Death, but Love and Life....  ‘James Lee,’ ‘Rabbi Ben Ezra,’ and ‘Prospice’ are among the greatest poems of the century.”  His creed was an optimism of the brightest, and his restful faith “it is all right with the world” (1812-1889).

BROWN-SEQUARD, physiologist, born in Mauritius, of American parentage; studied in Paris; practised in New York, and became a professor in the College de France; made a special study of the nervous system and nervous diseases, and published works on the subject; b. 1818.

BRUANT, a French architect, born in Paris; architect of the Invalides and the Salpetriere; d. 1697.

BRUAT, a French admiral, commanded the French fleet at the Crimea (1796-1885).

BRUCE, a family illustrious in Scottish history, descended from a Norman knight, Robert de Bruis, who came over with the Conqueror, and who acquired lands first in Northumberland and then in Annandale.

BRUCE, JAMES, traveller, called the “Abyssinian,” born at Kinnaird House, Stirlingshire, set out from Cairo in 1768 in quest of the source of the Nile:  believed he had discovered it; stayed two years in Abyssinia, and returned home by way of France, elated with his success; felt hurt that no honor was conferred on him, and for relief from the chagrin wrote an account of his travels in five quarto vols., the general accuracy of which, as far as it goes, has been attested by subsequent explorers (1730-1794).

BRUCE, MICHAEL, a Scotch poet, born near Loch Leven, in poor circumstances, in the parish of Portmoak; studied for the Church; died of consumption; his poems singularly plaintive and pathetic; his title to the authorship of the “Ode to the Cuckoo” has been matter of contention (1746-1767).

BRUCE, ROBERT, rival with John Baliol for the crown of Scotland on the death of Margaret, the Maiden of Norway, against whose claim Edward I. decided in favour of Baliol (1210-1295).

BRUCE, ROBERT, son of the preceding, earl of Carrick, through Marjory his wife; served under Edward at the battle of Dunbar for one instance; sued for the Scottish crown in vain (1269-1304).