A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature Part 4

BELL, HENRY GLa.s.sFORD (1805-1874).--Poet and historian, was a member of the Scottish Bar, and became Sheriff of Lanarkshire. He wrote a _Life of Mary Queen of Scots_ (1830), strongly in her defence, and two vols. of poetry, _Summer and Winter Hours_ (1831), and _My Old Portfolio_, the latter also containing pieces in prose.

b.e.l.l.e.n.dEN, or BALLANTYNE, JOHN (_fl._ 1533-1587?).--Poet, _b._ towards the close of the 15th century, and _ed._ at St. Andrews and Paris. At the request of James V. he translated the _Historia Gentis Scotorum_ of Boece. This translation, _Chroniklis of Scotland_ is a very free one, with a good deal of matter not in the original, so that it may be almost considered as a new work. It was _pub._ in 1536, and is the earliest existing specimen of Scottish literary prose. He also translated the first five books of Livy. He enjoyed the Royal favour, and was Archdeacon of Moray. He latterly, however, became involved in controversy which led to his going to Rome, where he _d._, according to one account, about 1550. Another authority, however, states that he was living in 1587.

BENTHAM, JEREMY (1748-1832).--Writer on jurisprudence and politics, _b._ in London, _s._ of a prosperous attorney, _ed._ at Westminster and Oxford, was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn, but disliking the law, he made little or no effort to practise, but devoted himself to physical science and the theory of jurisprudence. In 1776 he _pub._ anonymously his _Fragment on Government_, an able criticism of Blackstone's _Commentaries_, which brought him under the notice of Lord Shelburne, and in 1780 his _Introduction to Principles of Morals and Legislation_. Other works were _Panopticon_, in which he suggested improvements on prison discipline, _Discourse on Civil and Penal Legislation_ (1802), _Punishments and Rewards_ (1811), _Parliamentary Reform Catechism_ (1817), and _A Treatise on Judicial Evidence_. By the death of his _f._ he inherited a competency on which he was able to live in frugal elegance, not unmixed with eccentricity. B. is the first and perhaps the greatest of the "philosophical radicals," and his fundamental principle is utilitarianism or "the greatest happiness of the greatest number," a phrase of which he is generally, though erroneously, regarded as the author. The effect of his writings on legislation and the administration of the law has been almost incalculable. He left his body to be dissected; and his skeleton, clothed in his usual attire, is preserved in University College, London.

_Life_ by Bowring in collected works (J.H. Barton, 11 vols., 1844).

_Study of Life and Work_, Atkinson, 1903.

BENTLEY, RICHARD (1662-1742).--Theologian, scholar, and critic, _b._ in Yorkshire of humble parentage, went at the age of 14 to Camb., afterwards had charge of a school at Spalding, and then becoming tutor to the _s._ of Dr. Stillingfleet, Dean of St. Paul's, afterwards Bishop of Worcester (_q.v.i_), accompanied his pupil to Oxf. After taking his degree at both universities, and entering the Church, he laid the foundation of his reputation as perhaps the greatest scholar England has produced by his letter in Mill's ed. of the _Chronicle of John Malelas_, and his _Dissertation on the Letters of Phalaris_ (1699), which spread his fame through Europe. After receiving various preferments, including the Boyle lectureship and the Keepership of the Royal Library, he was, in 1700, appointed Master of Trinity, and afterwards was, largely owing to his own pugnacity and rapacity, which were almost equal to his learning, involved in a succession of litigations and controversies. These lasted for 20 years, and led to the temporary loss of his academic preferments and honours. In 1717, however, he was appointed Regius Prof. of Divinity.

During the contentions referred to he continued his literary activity without abatement, and _pub._ various ed. of the cla.s.sics, including Horace and Terence. He was much less successful in certain emendations of Milton which he attempted. Having incurred the resentment of Pope he was rewarded by being a.s.signed a niche in _The Dunciad!_ His style is strong and nervous, and sparkles with wit and sarcasm. His cla.s.sical controversies called forth Swift's _Battle of the Books_.

_Life_ by Monk (1833). _Life_ by Sir R. Jebb in _English Men of Letters_ (1882).

BERESFORD, JAMES (1764-1840).--Miscellaneous writer and clergyman. He made translations and wrote religious books, but was chiefly known as the author of a satirical work, _The Miseries of Human Life_ (1806-7.)

BERKELEY, GEORGE (1685-1753).--Philosopher, eldest _s._ of William B., a cadet of the n.o.ble family of Berkeley, _b._ at Kilcrin near Kilkenny, and _ed._ at the school of his native place and at Trinity Coll., Dublin, where he graduated and took a Fellowship in 1707. His earliest publication was a mathematical one; but the first which brought him into notice was his _Essay towards a New Theory of Vision_, _pub._ in 1709.

Though giving rise to much controversy at the time, its conclusions are now accepted as an established part of the theory of optics. There next appeared in 1710 the _Treatise concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge_, which was followed in 1713 by _Dialogues between Hylas_ and _Philonous_, in which he propounded his system of philosophy, the leading principle of which is that the world as represented to our senses depends for its existence on being perceived. Of this theory the _Principles_ gives the exposition and the _Dialogues_ the defence. One of his main objects was to combat the prevailing materialism of the time. A theory so novel was, as might be expected, received with widespread ridicule, though his genius was realised by some of the more elect spirits, such as Dr. S. Clarke. Shortly afterwards B. visited England, and was received into the circle of Addison, Pope, and Steele. He then went to the Continent in various capacities, and on his return was made Lecturer in Divinity and Greek in his university, D.D. in 1721, and Dean of Derry in 1724. In 1725 he formed the project of founding a college in Bermuda for training ministers for the colonies, and missionaries to the Indians, in pursuit of which he gave up his deanery with its income of 1100, and went to America on a salary of 100. Disappointed of promised aid from Government he returned, and was appointed Bishop of Cloyne. Soon afterwards he _pub._ _Alciphron, or The Minute Philosopher_, directed against Shaftesbury, and in 1734-37 _The Querist_. His last publications were _Siris_, a treatise on the medicinal virtues of tar-water, and _Further Thoughts on Tar-water_. He _d._ at Oxford in 1753. His affectionate disposition and genial manners made him much beloved. As a thinker his is the greatest name in English philosophy between Locke and Hume. His style is clear and dignified.

The best ed. of B. is Prof. A.C. Fraser's, with Life (4 vols., 1871, and new, 1902); there is also a small work by the same (1881).

BERNERS, BERNES, or BARNES, JULIANA (_b._ 1388?).--Writer on heraldry and sports. Nothing of her real history is known, but statements more or less mythical have gathered round her name. The work attributed to her is _The Boke of St. Albans_ (1486). It consists of four treatises on _Hawking_, _Hunting_, _The Lynage of Coote Armiris_, and _The Blasynge of Armis_.

She was said to be the _dau._ of Sir James B., and to have been Prioress of Sopwell Nunnery, Herts.

BERNERS, JOHN BOURCHIER, 2ND LORD (1467-1553).--Translator, _b._ at Sherfield, Herts and _ed._ at Oxf., held various offices of state, including that of Chancellor of the Exchequer to Henry VIII., and Lieutenant of Calais, where he _d._ He translated, at the King's desire, _Froissart's Chronicles_ (1523-25), in such a manner as to make distinct advance in English historical writing, and the _Golden Book of Marcus Aurelius_ (1534); also _The History of Arthur of Lytell Brytaine_ (Brittany), and the romance of _Huon of Bordeaux_.

BESANT, SIR WALTER (1836-1901).--Novelist and historian of London, _b._ at Portsmouth and _ed._ at King's Coll., London, and Camb., was for a few years a professor at Mauritius, but a breakdown in health compelled him to resign, and he returned to England and took the duties of Secretary to the Palestine Exploration Fund, which he held 1868-85. He _pub._ in 1868 _Studies in French Poetry_. Three years later he began his collaboration with James Rice (_q.v._). Among their joint productions are _Ready-money Mortiboy_ (1872), and the _Golden b.u.t.terfly_ (1876), both, especially the latter, very successful. This connection was brought to an end by the death of Rice in 1882. Thereafter B. continued to write voluminously at his own hand, his leading novels being _All in a Garden Fair_, _Dorothy Forster_ (his own favourite), _Children of Gibeon_, and _All Sorts and Conditions of Men_. The two latter belonged to a series in which he endeavoured to arouse the public conscience to a sense of the sadness of life among the poorest cla.s.ses in cities. In this crusade B. had considerable success, the establishment of The People's Palace in the East of London being one result. In addition to his work in fiction B.

wrote largely on the history and topography of London. His plans in this field were left unfinished: among his books on this subject is _London in the 18th Century_.

Other works among novels are _My Little Girl_, _With Harp and Crown_, _This Son of Vulcan_, _The Monks of Thelema_, _By Celia's Arbour_, and _The Chaplain of the Fleet_, all with Rice; and _The Ivory Gate_, _Beyond the Dreams of Avarice_, _The Master Craftsman_, _The Fourth Generation_, etc., alone. _London under the Stuarts_, _London under the Tudors_ are historical.

BICKERSTAFFE, ISAAC (_c._ 1735-1812?).--Dramatic writer, in early life a page to Lord Chesterfield when Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, produced between 1756 and 1771 many dramatic pieces, which had considerable popularity, the best known of which are _Love in a Village_ (1762), and _The Maid of the Mill_. Owing to misconduct he was dismissed from being an officer in the Marines, and had ultimately, in 1772, to fly the country. The remainder of his life seems to have been pa.s.sed in penury and misery. The date of his death is unknown. He was alive in 1812.

BIRD, ROBERT MONTGOMERY (1803-1854).--Novelist, an American physician, wrote three tragedies, _The Gladiator_, _Oraloosa_, and _The Broker of Bogota_, and several novels, including _Calavar_, _The Infidel_, _The Hawks of Hawk Hollow_, _Peter Pilgrim_, and _Nick of the Woods_, in the first two of which he gives graphic and accurate details and descriptions of Mexican history.

BISHOP, SAMUEL (1731-1795).--Poet, _b._ in London, and _ed._ at Merchant Taylor's School and Oxf., took orders and became Headmaster of Merchant Taylor's School. His poems on miscellaneous subjects fill two quarto vols., the best of them are those to his wife and _dau._ He also _pub._ essays.

BLACK, WILLIAM (1841-1898).--Novelist. After studying as a landscape painter, he took to journalism in Glasgow. In 1864 he went to London, and soon after _pub._ his first novel, _James Merle_, which made no impression. In the Austro-Prussian War he acted as a war correspondent.

Thereafter he began afresh to write fiction, and was more successful; the publication of _A Daughter of Heth_ (1871) at once established his popularity. He reached his highwater-mark in _A Princess of Thule_ (1873). Many other books were added before his death in 1898, among which may be mentioned _In Silk Attire_ (1869), _The Strange Adventures of a Phaeton_ (1872), _Macleod of Dare_ (1878), _White Wings_ (1880), _Shandon Bells_ (1882), _Yolande_ (1883), _Judith Shakespeare_ (1884), _White Heather_ (1886), _Stand Fast Craig-Royston!_ (1890), _Green Pastures and Piccadilly_, _Three Feathers_, _Wild Eelin_ (1898).

BLACKIE, JOHN STUART (1809-1895).--Scholar and man of letters, _b._ in Glasgow, and _ed._ at the Universities of Aberdeen and Edin., after which he travelled and studied in Germany and Italy. Returning to Scotland he was, in 1834, admitted to the Scottish Bar, but did not practise. His first work was his translation of _Faust_ (1834), which won the approbation of Carlyle. From 1841-52 B. was Prof. of Humanity (Latin) in Aberdeen, and from 1852-82, when he retired, of Greek in Edinburgh. His literary activity was incessant, his works consisting of translations of _aeschylus_ and of the _Iliad_, various books of poetry, including _Lays and Legends of Ancient Greece_, and treatises on religious, philosophical, and political subjects, among which may be mentioned _Self-Culture_ (1873), _Horae h.e.l.lenicae_, and a life of Burns. He was an enthusiastic champion of Scottish nationality. Possessed of great conversational powers and general versatility, his picturesque eccentricity made him one of the most notable members of Scottish society. It was owing to his efforts that a Chair of Celtic Language and Literature was established in Edinburgh University.

BLACKLOCK, THOMAS (1721-1791).--Poet, _b._ near Annan of humble parentage, lost his sight by smallpox when 6 months old. He began to write poetry at the age of 12, and studied for the Church. He was appointed Minister of Kirkcudbright, but was objected to by the parishioners on account of his blindness, and gave up the presentation on receiving an annuity. He then retired to Edinburgh, where he took pupils.

He _pub._ some miscellaneous poems, which are now forgotten, and is chiefly remembered for having written a letter to Burns, which had the effect of dissuading him from going to the West Indies. He was made D.D.

in 1767.

BLACKMORE, SIR RICHARD (_c._ 1650, _d._ 1729).--Poet, one of the Court Physicians to William III. and Anne, wrote several very long and well-intentioned, but dull and tedious, poems, which, though praised by Addison and Johnson, are now utterly forgotten. They include _Prince Arthur_, _Creation_, _Redemption_, _Alfred_. As may be imagined, they were the subject of derision by the profaner wits of the day. B. was a successful physician and an excellent man.

BLACKMORE, RICHARD DODDRIDGE (1825-1900).--Novelist and poet, _b._ at Longworth, Berks, _ed._ at Tiverton School and Oxf., practised for a short time as a lawyer but, owing to his health, gave this up, and took to market-gardening and literature at Teddington. His first _pub._ was _Poems by Melanter_ (1853), followed by _Epullia_ (1855), _The Bugle of the Black Sea_ (1855), etc.; but he soon found that fiction, not poetry, was his true vocation. Beginning with _Clara Vaughan_ in 1864, he produced fifteen novels, all of more than average, and two or three of outstanding merit. Of these much the best in the opinion of the public, though not of the author, is _Lorna Doone_ (1869), the two which rank next to it being _The Maid of Sker_ (1872) (the author's favourite) and _Springhaven_ (1887). Others are _Cradock Nowell_ (1866), _Alice Lorraine_ (1875), _Cripps the Carrier_ (1876), _Mary Anerley_ (1880), and _Christowell_ (1882). One of the most striking features of B.'s writings is his marvellous eye for, and sympathy with, Nature. He may be said to have done for Devonshire what Scott did for the Highlands. He has been described as "proud, shy, reticent, strong-willed, sweet-tempered, and self-centred."

BLACKSTONE, SIR WILLIAM (1723-1780).--Legal Writer, posthumous _s._ of a silk mercer in London, was _ed._ at Charterhouse School and Oxf., and entered the Middle Temple in 1741. His great work is his _Commentaries on the Laws of England_, in 4 vols. (1765-1769), which still remains the best general history of the subject. It had an extraordinary success, and is said to have brought the author 14,000. B. was not a man of original mind, nor was he a profound lawyer; but he wrote an excellent style, clear and dignified, which brings his great work within the category of general literature. He had also a turn for neat and polished verse, of which he gave proof in _The Lawyer's Farewell to his Muse_.

BLAIR, HUGH (1718-1800).--Divine, and man of letters, _b._ and _ed._ at Edin. After being minister at Collessie in Fife, he was translated to Edinburgh, where he filled various pulpits, latterly that of the High Church. In 1759 he commenced a series of lectures on composition, and soon after the Chair of Rhetoric and Belles Lettres was founded, to which he was appointed. His _Lectures_ were _pub._ on his resignation of the chair in 1783. His chief fame, however, rests upon his _Sermons_, in 4 vols., which had an extraordinary popularity, and obtained for him a pension of 200. Time has not sustained the opinion of his contemporaries: they have been described as feeble in thought though elegant in style, and even as "a bucket of warm water." B. was amiable, kind to young authors, and remarkable for a harmless, but rather ridiculous vanity and simplicity.

BLAIR, ROBERT (1699-1746).--Poet, _b._ at Edin., where his _f._ was a clergyman, became minister of Athelstaneford, Haddingtonshire. His sole work was _The Grave_, a poem in blank verse extending to 767 lines of very various merit, in some pa.s.sages rising to great sublimity, and in others sinking to commonplace. It was ill.u.s.trated by William Blake (_q.v._) B.'s _s._, Robert, was a very distinguished Scottish judge and Lord President of the Court of Session; and his successor in his ministerial charge was Home, the author of _Douglas_.

BLAKE, WILLIAM (1757-1827).--Poet and painter, _b._ in London, was from earliest youth a seer of visions and a dreamer of dreams, seeing "Ezekiel sitting under a green bough," and "a tree full of angels at Peckham," and such he remained to the end of his days. His teeming imagination sought expression both in verse and in drawing, and in his 14th year he was apprenticed to James Basire, an eminent engraver, and thereafter studied at the Royal Academy. Among his chief artistic works were ill.u.s.trations for Young's _Night Thoughts_, Blair's _Grave_, "Spiritual Portraits," and his finest work, "Inventions to the Book of Job," all distinguished by originality and imagination. In literature his _Songs of Innocence_ appeared in 1789, _Songs of Experience_ in 1794. These books were literally made by Blake and his heaven-provided wife; poems and designs alike being engraved on copper by B. and bound by Mrs. B. In like fashion were produced his mystical books, _The Book of Thel_ (1789), _The Marriage of Heaven and h.e.l.l_ (1790), _The Gates of Paradise_, _Visions of the Daughters of Albion_, _Europe_, _The Book of Urizen_ (1794), _The Book of Los_ and _The Book of Ahania_ (1795). His last books were _Jerusalem_ and _Milton_. His earlier and shorter pieces, _e.g._ "The Chimney-Sweeper," "Holy Thursday," "The Lamb," "The Sun-flower," "The Tiger," etc., have an exquisite simplicity arising from directness and intensity of feeling--sometimes tender, sometimes sublime--always individual. Latterly he lost himself in clouds of mysticism. A truly pious and loving soul, neglected and misunderstood by the world, but appreciated by an elect few, he led a cheerful and contented life of poverty illumined by visions and celestial inspirations.

BLAMIRE, SUSANNA (1747-1794).--Poetess, was of good c.u.mberland family, and received the sobriquet of "The Muse of c.u.mberland." Her poems, which were not collected until 1842, depict c.u.mbrian life and manners with truth and vivacity. She also wrote some fine songs in the Scottish dialect, including "Ye shall walk in Silk Attire," and "What ails this Heart o' Mine."

BLESSINGTON, MARGARET (POWER), COUNTESS of (1789-1849).--Married as her second husband the 1st Earl of B., with whom she travelled much on the Continent, where she met Lord Byron, her _Conversations_ with whom she _pub._ in 1834. This is the only one of her books which has any value.

The others were slight works on Travel, such as _The Idler in Italy_, annuals, and novels. She became bankrupt and went to Paris, where she lived under the protection of the Count d'Orsay.

BLIND HARRY or HENRY THE MINSTREL (_fl._ 1470-1492).--Is spoken of by John Major in his _History of Scotland_ as a wandering minstrel, skilled in the composition of rhymes in the Scottish tongue, who "fabricated" a book about William Wallace, and gained his living by reciting it to his own accompaniment on the harp at the houses of the n.o.bles. Harry claims that it was founded on a Latin _Life of Wallace_ written by Wallace's chaplain, John Blair, but the chief sources seem to have been traditionary. Harry is often considered inferior to Barbour as a poet, and has little of his moral elevation, but he surpa.s.ses him in graphic power, vividness of description, and variety of incident. He occasionally shows the influence of Chaucer, and is said to have known Latin and French.

BLIND, MATHILDE (1841-1896).--Poetess, _b._ at Mannheim, but settled in London about 1849, and _pub._ several books of poetry, _The Prophecy of St. Oran_ (1881), _The Heather on Fire_ (1886), _Songs and Sonnets_ (1893), _Birds of Pa.s.sage_ (1895), etc. She also translated Strauss's _Old Faith and New_, and other works, and wrote Lives of George Eliot and Madame Roland. Her own name was Cohen, but she adopted that of her stepfather, Karl Blind.

BLOOMFIELD, ROBERT (1766-1823).--Poet, _b._ at Honington in Suffolk, lost his _f._ when he was a year old, and received the rudiments of education from his mother, who kept the village school. While still a boy he went to London, and worked as a shoemaker under an elder brother, enduring extreme poverty. His first and chief poem, _The Farmer's Boy_, was composed in a room where half a dozen other men were at work, and the finished lines he carried in his head until there was time to write them down. The ma.n.u.script, after pa.s.sing through various hands, fell into those of Capel Lofft, a Suffolk squire of literary tastes, by whose exertions it was _pub._ with ill.u.s.trations by Bewick in 1800. It had a signal success, 26,000 copies having been sold in three years. The Duke of Grafton obtained for him an appointment in the Seal Office, and when, through ill-health, he was obliged to resign this, allowed him a pension of 1s. a day. Other works were _Rural Tales_ (1804), _Wild Flowers_ (1806), _The Banks of the Wye_ (1811), and _May Day with the Muses_ (1817). An attempt to carry on business as a bookseller failed, his health gave way, his reason was threatened, and he _d._ in great poverty at Shefford in 1823. B.'s poetry is smooth, correct, and characterised by taste and good feeling, but lacks fire and energy. Of amiable and simple character, he was lacking in self-reliance.

BODENHAM, JOHN (_fl._ 1600).--Anthologist, is stated to have been the ed.

of some of the Elizabethan anthologies, viz., _Politeuphuia_ (_Wits'

Commonwealth_) (1597), _Wits' Theater_ (1598), _Belvidere, or the Garden of the Muses_ (1600), and _England's Helicon_ (1600). Mr. Bullen says that B. did not himself ed. any of the Elizabethan miscellanies attributed to him by bibliographers: but that he projected their publication, and he befriended the editors.