nothing, and introduced him to his second patron, Mr. Pratt, ‘In the autumn of 1808,’ says this gentleman, ‘I received a variety of manuscripts, with a request that I should read and give my opinion of them.’ Mr. Pratt was at once struck by Joseph’s genius. He drew a detailed parallel between Blacket and Bloomfield, whose muse had been cherished by Capel Lofft. Mr. Pratt took Blacket under his protection, and introduced him to the public with pride as a literary rarity. Meanwhile, however, Blacket was not inattentive to his trade, but ill-health compelled him to relinquish it. Friends enable him to take a sea voyage. He embarked, and arrived at the house of his brother-in-law, John Dixon, gamekeeper of Sir Ralph Milbanke, at Seaham, Sunderland, in August 1809. Milbanke, his Wife and daughter, interested themselves in him. He is satirically noticed in Byron’s ‘English Bards and Scotch Reviewers’ The Duchess of Leeds troubled herself to obtain subscriptions towards ‘Specimens’ of his poetry. But he died on 23 Aug., and was buried in Seaham churchyard. A plain monument bears the concluding lines of his own poem, ‘Reflections at Midnight,’ written in 1802, when he was but sixteen.
The ‘Dying Horse,’ in blank verse, is supposed to best exhibit Blacket’s power of moral declamation. Of his dramatic skill ‘The Earl of Devon, or the Patriots,’ a tragedy in five acts, is quoted as a leading and conspicuous example. Mr. Pratt collected and published his ‘Remains’ with a memoir. As, however, he knew him little more than eighteen months, he has fallen back upon the poet’s letters to his brother, mother, &c., in writing his life. The letters are arranged in seven distinct series. Thus Joseph Blanket becomes his own biographer. He corresponded with the author of the ‘Farmer’s Boy.’
The full titles of his works are:
- ‘Specimens of the Poetry of Joseph Blacket,’ London, 1809 (a private edition for limited circulation).
- ‘The Remains of Joseph Blanket, consisting of Poems. Dramatic Sketches, and the “Times,” an ode, and a Memoir of his Life, by Mr. Pratt,’ 2 vols. London, 1811.
[Gent. Mag. lxxx. ii. 544; Monthly Review, (1811), lxvi. 392, (1809) liz. 100; Pratt’s Remains, &c.; Brit. Mus. Cat.; Watt’s Bibl. Brit.]
BLACKHALL, GILBERT (fl. 1667), catholic missioner, is believed to have been a native of the diocese of Aberdeen. He entered the Scotch college at Rome in 1626, was ordained priest, and returned to Scotland in 1630, but encountered so much opposition from the Jesuits that he withdrew to Paris, where he became confessor to Lady Isabella Hay, eldest daughter of Francis, Earl of Errol. In 1637 he returned to Scotland, where he performed the duties of a missionary in the shires of Aberdeen and Banff, acting at the same time as chaplain to the Countess of Aboyne at Aboyne castle. After her death he returned to France in 1643, with the view of inducing the Marchioness of Huntly to withdraw from Scotland her young granddaughter, the only child of the Countess of Aboyne, and bring her to France to be educate. Having failed in this purpose he applied to the queen of France to use her influence in accomplishing his object, in which he was ultimately successful. He wrote his autobiography in Paris in 1666 or 1667, but how long the author survived the composition of it is unknown. It contains accounts of his relations with Lady Isabella Hay, with the Countess of Aboyne, and with her daughter. The title is ‘A breiffe Narration of the Services done to three noble Ladyes, by Gilbert Blakal, Preist of the Scots Mission in France, in the Low Countries, and in Scotland. Dedicated to Madame de Gourdon, one of the forsaid three, and now Dame d’Attour to Madame.’ This work is a valuable addition to the history of the eventful times in which Blackhall lived. It was edited by Mr. John Stuart from the original manuscript in the possession of Bishop Kyle, and printed at Aberdeen for the Spalding Club in 1844, 4to.
[Stuart’s preface to the Breiffe Narration; Gordon’s Roman Catholic Mission in Scotland, introd. v. 523.]
BLACKHALL, OFFSPRING. [See Blackall.]
BLACKLOCK, THOMAS (1721–1791), poet, was born at Annan, Dumfriesshire, in 1721. His parents were natives of Cumberland, poor but well educated. His father was a bricklayer. When six months old he lost his sight by an attack of smallpox. His misfortune and his gentle disposition won much sympathy. His friends read poetry to him, especially Spenser, Milton, Prior, Addison, Pope, and A. Ramsay. He acquired a little Latin, and at the age of twelve attempted to write poetry himself. His father was killed by an accident when the son was nineteen. Meanwhile his manuscripts were handed about and gained some attention. Dr. Stevenson, an eminent physician at Edinburgh, brought him to that city in 1741, and supported him entirely at the grammar school for four years. Upon the rebellion of 1745
