T07 



BLACKMORE, SIR RICHARD. 



BLACKSTONE, SIR WILLIAM. 



been introduced to Dr. Stevenxm, a physician of Edinburgh, this 

 gentleman was M much struck with lilacklnck's talent, that he offered 

 to take upon himself the charge of hi* education ; and in consequence 

 of this liberality he commenced his studies at the Edinburgh Grammar 

 school in 1741, but they were interrupted in 1745 by the Rebellion, 

 when be returned to bis friends at Dumfries. He had in this interval 

 made gratifying progress, bad published a volume of poetry, and 

 having been introduced to the family of the lord provost, whose wife 

 was a native of France, he had acquired the French language during 

 the intercourse to which it led. When affairs had resumed their 

 ordinary oourae, be returned to Edinburgh, and continuing his studies 

 for six years longer, made himself master of the Greek, Latin, and 

 Italian language*. He was. in addition, a proficient in music, of 

 which he was particularly fond. In 1754 a second edition of his 

 poems was called for, and a quarto edition was published in London 

 by subscription in 1756, when David Hume and Mr. Spence, professor 

 of poetry at Oxford, particularly exerted themselves to promote his 

 interests. 



Having completed his studies at the University, he was licensed in 

 1759 as a preacher of the Gospel In 1762 he married, and imme- 

 diately after was ordained minister at Kirkcudbright, in consequence 

 of a crown presentation. Owing however to the hostility of his flock 

 to this mode of church patronage, and also to the style of his preaching, 

 he gave np the living after having held it two years, amidst circum- 

 stances very painful to his sensitive mind. The small annuity which 

 be accepted in its place was scarcely sufficient for bis support, and in 

 retiring to Edinburgh in 1764, he opened his house for the reception 

 of a few young gentlemen as boarders, to whose studies and improve- 

 ment he directed his attention with much success. In this position 

 he continued for twenty-three years, until 1787, when the state of his 

 health induced him to withdraw from these duties. He died after 

 about a week's illnets, July 7, 1791. The degree of Doctor of Divinity 

 had been conferred on him in 1 766 by the University of Aberdeen. 

 In private life Dr. Blacklock was distinguished by the great mildness 

 and gentleness of bis disposition, which not even the nervous irritability 

 to which he was subject could affect, by his ardent love of know- 

 ledge, and by the simplicity and modesty of his character. His poetry 

 will be r>*d or referred to on account of the peculiar circumstances 

 und-r which it was written. It is marked by a vein of placid elegance, 

 but is wanting alike in vigour of thought and force of imagination. 



Dr. Blacklock wss not only a poet but a writer on philosophy and 

 theology. The following is a list of his works: 'An Essay towards 

 Universal Etymology, or the Analysis of a Sentence,' 8vo, 1756. ' The 

 Right Improvement of Time,' a sermon, 8vo, 1760. 'Faith, Hope, 

 and Charity Compared,' a sermon, 1761. ' Paraclesis, or Consolations 

 deduced from Natural and Revealed Religion, in two dissertations ; 

 the first supposed to have been written by Cicero, now rendered into 

 English ; the last originally composed by Thomas Blacklock, D.D.,' 

 1767. ' Two Discourses on the Spirit and Evidences of Christianity,' 

 translated from the French, and published in 1768 without his name. 

 'A Panegyric on Great Britain,' a poem, 8vo, 1773. ' The Graham,' 

 an heroic poem, in fonr cantos, 4to, 1774. In 1793 a posthumous 

 edition of bis poems was published by Mackenzie, author of the 

 ' Man of Feeling,' with a Life of Blacklock. In addition to the Lives 

 by Spence and Mackenzie, the Life of Blacklock has been written by 

 Dr. Anderson and Mr. Gordon. 



BLACKMORE, SIR RICHARD, a phytician, poet, and miscella- 

 neous writer, was the son of an attorney at Corsham, Wilt*, and was 

 born about the year 1650. In his thirteenth year he was sent to 

 Westminster school, whence be proceeded to Oxford, where he 

 remained thirteen years. After this it is said that he was for some 

 time employed M schoolmaster. He then made a tour on the con- 

 tinent, In the course of which be took the degree of M.D. in the 

 University of Pa<lua. On bis return to England he was chosen Fellow 

 of the Royal College of 1'hysician*, and commenced practice in the 

 metropolis. His attachment to the principles of the Revolution pro- 

 cured him the appointment of physician to William III., and he was 

 for some time on* of the court physicians in the succeeding reign. 

 He wrote several medical treatises, none of which are in any way 

 remarkable, except perhaps one on the small-pox, in which he com- 

 bated the practice of inoculation. He also published an historical 

 work : A true and Impartial History of the Conspiracy against King 

 William to 1095.' 



The numerous poems which Blackmore wrote are now nearly for- 

 gotten. His ' Prince Arthur,' an heroic poem in ten books, reached 

 a third edition in 1696. The following year he published ' King 

 Arthur,' another heroic poem in twelve books. Both these poems 

 were published in folio. Besides the above, he wrote ' Eliza,' a poem 

 in ten books, also printed in folio; 'the Redeemer,' poem in six 

 books : sad ' King Alfred,' a poem in twelve books. Dr. Johnson 

 remarks that "the first of bis epic poems bad such reputation as 

 enraged the critic* ; the second was at least known enough to be 

 ridiculed; the two last bad neither friends nor enemies." In 1700 

 be pabUabed A Paraphrase on the Book of Job, and other parts of 

 Scripture;' in 1716, two volumes of ' Essays ;' In 171 8, a 'Collection 

 * to one volume ; and in 1 721, ' A new version of the Psalms 



|M 



of David, fitted to the Tunes used in Churches.' In a paper addressed 

 to the km* and signed by the two sxohbisbops and fifteen of 



Bishops, this work was strongly recommended on account of its 

 "sgreement with the original Hebrew, and its clearness and purity of 

 English style." In 1721 and 1725 he wrote in opposition to Ariauism ; 

 and in 1728 he published a work entitled ' Natural Theology, or Moral 

 Duties considered apart from Positive; with some observations on 

 the desirableness and necessity of a Scriptural Revelation.' The 

 ' Accomplished Preacher, or an Essay upon Divine Eloquence,' WM 

 published at his express desire after his death, which took place 

 October 8, 1729. 



Never perhaps was any writer the object of such general attack by 

 Ills contemporaries as Sir Richard Blackmore. Nearly all the wits of 

 bis day seem to have joined in this confederacy. One topic of abuse 

 apu'nat him was that he lived in Cheapside, whence he was sometimes 

 called 'the Cheapside Knight,' and 'the City Karl.' Sir Samuel 

 Garth addresses him as "the merry poetaster at Sadler's Hall in 

 Cheapside." He was considered, ' par excellence,' as the poet of dul- 

 ness. In spite of these railleries he continued to put forth his ' heroic 

 poems,' which display little art either in their plan or composition, 

 ind as little imagination. His professed object being ''to engage 

 poetry in the cause of virtue," he seems to have imagined that the 

 jrraoes of language were unworthy of his attention ; and, confident iu 

 bis own powers, ho continued his course, regarding the attacks of his 

 opponents with comparative equanimity. The intention of his ' Satire 

 upon Wit' was to castigate the authors of works of an immoral 

 tendency, and he took this opportunity of retaliating on his assailants. 

 He always reprehended with severity the licence of the stage, and, 

 though no puritan, lamented the licentiousness which succeeded the 

 Restoration. It was probably this course, rather than the alleged 

 dulness of his writings, that occasioned the ridicule of the day to be 

 so strongly directed against him. The ' Creation,' a philosophical 

 poem, is not undeserving of commendation ; indeed there are several 

 important testimonials in iU favour. Addison states that it was 

 ' undertaken with so good an intention, and executed with so great a 

 mastery, that it deserves to be looked upon as one of the most useful 

 and noble productions in our English verse." Dr. Johnson, in his 

 ' Life of Blackmore,' says that if he had written only this poem it 

 " would have transmitted him to posterity among the first favourites 

 of the English Muse." At a later day, Cowper, although be confesses 

 that Blackmore has "written more absurdities in verse than any 

 writer of our country," acknowledges that " he shines in his poem 

 called the ' Creation.' " Since this opinion was expressed this poem 

 has been gradually sinking into the neglect which Blackmore's other 

 writings experienced much sooner. 



In November 1713, Sir Richard commenced a periodical paper called 

 the ' Lay Monk,' which appeared three times a week. He was induced 

 to undertake this publication from a belief that he could do good by 

 it ; but it only reached forty numbers. It may be mentioned to his 

 credit, that the purity of his private character was never once called 

 iu question by bis most bitter critics. His temper was serious, and he 

 was a firm supporter of what he considered the interests of virtue and 

 religion. 



BLACKSTONE, SIR WILLIAM, an English judge, is best known 

 as the author of ' Commentaries on the Laws of England.' He was 

 born in London, July 10th, 1723, a few months after the death of his 

 father, who was a silk-mercer ; he also hod the misfortune to lose his 

 mother at an early age. His education was carefully superintended by 

 on uncle, who sent him, when about seven years old, to the Charter- 

 house, where at the end of five years he was placed on the foundation. 

 At the age of 15 he was at the head of the school ; and in his 16th 

 year he removed to Pembroke College, Oxford. Having selected the 

 law as his profession, he entered the Middle Temple, on which occasion 

 he wrote the verses entitled ' The Lawyer's Farewell to his Muse,' 

 which were printed in Dodaley's ' Miscellany.' He had displayed some 

 ability as a writer of small pieces, and also had obtained a gold prize 

 medal for verses on Milton. Iu 1743 he was elected Fellow of All 

 Souls College, Oxford, and three years afterwards was called to the 

 bar. After au experience of seven years in the courts at Westminster, 

 during which be discovered that his talents were not calculated to 

 ensure him any very eminent professional rank, he withdrew to his 

 fellowship at Oxford, intending to lead an academic life. In 1749 he 

 was appointed recorder of Wallingford, Berks, on the resignation of 

 his uncle. 



As the University of Oxford did not afford facilities for studying 

 the principles of the English constitution and laws, he resolved 

 upon supplying the deficiency by a course of lectures. This course 

 opened in Michaelmas Term 1753, and was so well received that it 

 was repeated with additions for several years. The advantage of 

 rendering such a course of lectures permanent being fully demon- 

 strated, a gentleman named Viner left by will a provision for this 

 purpose. In 1768 Blackstone was appointed the first Vinerian pro- 

 fessor, and from the assiduity with which he discharged the duties of 

 the situation he attracted a large class of students/ Having been 

 requested to read his lectures to the Prince of Wales, Blackstone 

 declined the honour, as he did not think himself at liberty to break 

 his engagements with his class at Oxford ; however, ho sent copies of 

 many of the lectures to be read to the young prince. 



Having been engaged as counsel in a contested election (for ho 

 occasionally practised), the right of copyholders to vote came under 



