Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 05.djvu/148

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Blackstone
140
Blackstone
    Abbé Coyer, 2 vols. 1776, is a free translation of Blackstone's 4th volume. Other translations of parts of the same volume appeared at the end of the century (see Quérard's La France Littéraire). (German): A translation of Giffard's abridgment by H. F. C. von Colditz, with preface by Falck, 2 vols. 1822–3. (Italian): The first 2 vols. of ‘Classici Criminalisti’ (1813) contain Blackstone's 4th vol. (Russian): Catherine II is said to have caused a Russian translation to be made (Nichols, Lit. Anecd. ii. 553), but it is mentioned in no catalogue of foreign law-books. (See bibliographies of Marvin, Soule, Lowndes, Burnet, &c. and Cat. of Brit. Mus.)
  1. ‘A Reply to Dr. Priestley's Remarks on the fourth volume of the “Commentaries on the Laws of England.” By the author of the Commentaries,’ 1769 (reprinted in a volume called ‘An interesting Appendix to Sir William Blackstone's Commentaries, &c.,’ Philadelphia, 1773, another edition of which appeared in 1774 with the further title of the ‘Palladium of Conscience.’ Besides Blackstone's reply, it contains Priestley's and Furneaux's letters, and ‘The case of the late election, &c.’).
  2. The Wilkes Case. ‘An answer to the question stated,’ 1769; published anonymously in answer to ‘The question stated,’ a pamphlet attributed to Sir W. Meredith. To a new edition Blackstone added ‘A Postscript to Junius’ (see Junius's letters of 29 July and 8 Aug. 1769). ‘The case of the late election of the County of Middlesex considered on the principles of the constitution and the authorities of law,’ probably by Blackstone (reprinted in ‘The Interesting Appendix, &c.’). ‘A speech without-doors upon the subject of a vote given on the 9th day of May, 1769;’ it appeared in the ‘Public Advertiser’ of 28 July 1769 (see letter of Philo-Junius of 1 Aug. 1769).
  3. ‘Reports of cases determined in the several courts of Westminster Hall from 1746 to 1779,’ 2 vols. fol. 1781; Dublin edition, 2 vols. 8vo, 1781; with notes by Elsley, 2 vols. 8vo, 1828. His reports have never been held in high esteem (see Wallace's Reporters, but see the testimony of Best, C. J., to their accuracy, 1 Moore and Payne, 553).
  4. ‘A memoir in answer to the late Dean of Exeter, now Bishop of Carlisle;’ read before Society of Antiquaries in 1762. When Blackstone was preparing his edition of the Great Charter, Dean Lyttelton lent him an ancient parchment roll containing the Great Charter and Charter of the Forest of 9 Henry III. Blackstone considered it a copy, and now, in answer to a communication made by the dean to the society, he gives his reasons in detail (in Gutch's Collect. Cur. ii. 357, and in Biog. Hist. of Blackstone).
  5. ‘A letter from Sir William Blackstone Knt., to the Hon. Daines Barrington, describing an antique seal, &c.;’ read before Society of Antiquaries in 1775. He discusses the seals directed by 1 Edward VI, cap. ii. to be used by persons having ecclesiastical jurisdiction, and the circumstances of their disuse (in Archæol. iii. 414, and in Biog. Hist. of Blackstone).
  6. ‘Account of the Quarrel between Pope and Addison’ (in Biog. Brit. 2nd ed. i. 56 n.).
  7. ‘An Argument in the Exchequer Chamber on giving judgment in the case of Perrin and another v. Blake’ (in Hargrave's Law Tracts, p. 487).

[Life by Clitherow, prefixed to reports; The Biographical History of Sir W. Blackstone, &c., by a gentleman of Lincoln's Inn (Dr. Douglas), 1782—a rambling expansion of Clitherow's Life; Life in Law. Mag. vol. xv., reprinted in Welsby's Judges; article by Marquardsen in Bluntschli-Brater's Staats-Wörterbuch; Glasson's Hist. du Droit et des Instit. de l'Angleterre; Burrow's Worthies of All Souls; Prior's Malone; Chalmers's Oxford; Junius.]

G. P. M.

BLACKWALL, ANTHONY (1674–1730), classical scholar, was born at Blackwall, a hamlet for many generations the seat of his family in the parish of Kirk Ireton, and the hundred of Wirksworth, Derbyshire, in 1674, educated at Derby grammar school, admitted sizar at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, on 30 Sept. 1690, took the degree of B.A. in 1694, and that of M.A. in 1698, and was shortly afterwards appointed headmaster of the Derby School, and lecturer of All Saints' Church, Derby.

In 1706 he distinguished himself in his first literary venture by the publication of (Θεόγνιδοσ Γνώμυ: Theognidis Megarensis Sententiæ Morales'—the original Greek, with a Latin translation, notes, &c., 8vo, to which was prefixed an address in Greek to Joshua Barnes [q.v.], the well-known Greek professor. In 1718 he published 'An Introduction to the Classics, containing a short discourse on their Excellencies, and Directions how to study them to advantage; with an Essay on the Nature and use of those Emphatical and beautiful figures which give strength and ornament to Writing,' London, 12mo. This work gives the beauties of the ancient writers in a clear and concise manner, illustrated from the author's rich stores of knowledge, and with sound criticism. In 1719 appeared the second edition, with additions and an index, London, 12mo, and there were other London editions in 12mo (3rd ed. 1725, 4th ed., 5th ed. 1737, 6th ed. 1746), issued both 

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