catholic disabilities induced him to publish an edition of Fox's 'Book of Martyrs;' this appeared as 'An Universal History of Christian Martyrdom . . . originally composed by John Fox . . . and now entirely rewritten ... by the Rev. J. Milner, M. A.' (London, 1807, 8vo); the use of the pseudonym 'the Rev. J. Milner' was inexcusable, as a well-known Roman catholic divine, John Milner [q. v.], was then living; subsequent editions of Blagdon's work appeared in 1817, 1837, 1848, 1863, 1871, and in 1881; and in 1892 was published a version by Theodore Alois Buckley, described as 'abridged from Milner's edition.'
In 1809 Blagdon came into conflict with William Cobbett [q. v.], and in October of that year he published a prospectus of 'Blagdon's Weekly Political Register,' which was 'to be printed in the same manner as Cobbett's Register;' with the first number was to commence 'The History of the Political Life and Writings of William Cobbett,' who was compared to Catiline. Blagdon's 'Weekly Register' never seems to have appeared, and the 'Phœnix,' another of his ventures, soon came to an end. In 1812, with a view to exposing French designs on England, Blagdon brought out 'The Situation of Great Britain in 1811. . . .' translated from the French of M, de Montgaillard (London, 8vo); this evoked a reply from Sir John Jervis White Jervis, who describes Blagdon as 'a gentleman well known in the walks of literary knowledge and of loyal authors.' In 1814 Blagdon published 'An Historical Memento ... of the public Rejoicings ... in celebration of the Peace of 1814, and of the Centenary of the Accession of the House of Brunswick' (London, 4to), and in 1819 a 'New Dictionary of Classical Quotations' (London, 1819, 8vo). He died in obscurity and poverty in June 1819, and a subscription was raised for his destitute widow and children (Gent. Mag. 1819, ii. 88).
Besides the works mentioned above, Blagdon was author of: 1. 'The Grand Contest ... or a View of the Causes and probable Consequences of the threatened Invasion of Great Britain,' 1803, 8vo. 2. 'Remarks on a Pamphlet entitled "Observations on the Concise Statement of Facts by Sir Home Popham," ' 1805, 8vo. 3. 'Authentic Memoirs of George Morland,' 1806, fol.; this contains many engravings of Morland's pictures. 4. 'The Modern Geographer,' 1807, 8vo. 5. 'Langhorne's Fables of Flora . . . with a Life of the Author,' 1812, 8vo. 6. 'Letters of the Princess of Wales, comprising the only true History of the celebrated "Book,"' 1813, 8vo [see Caroline Amelia Elizabeth]. He also contributed a life of Dr. Johnson with an edition of his poems to 'The Laurel' (London, 1808, 24mo), and compiled a general index to the 'British Critic,' vols, xxi-xlii.; to him is also attributed 'Paris as it was, and as it is' (London, 1803, 8vo).
[Blagdon's Works in Brit. Mus. Libr.; Gent. Mag. 1819, ii. 88; Biogr. Dict. of Living Authors, 1816; Reuss's Repster, 1790-1803, i. 109; Edward Smith's Life of Cobbett, ii. 47-8; Watt's Bibl. Britannica.]
BLAIKIE, WILLIAM GARDEN (1820–1899), Scottish divine, born at Aberdeen on 5 Feb. 1820, was the second son of James Blaikie (1786-1836) of Craigiebuckler, advocate, and provost of Aberdeen from 1833 to 1836, by his wife, the daughter of William Garden, a land surveyor. His aunt, Jane Blaikie, married Alexander Keith (1791–1880) [q. v.] In 1828 he entered the Aberdeen grammar school, then under James Melvin [q. v.] He was one of Melvin's most brilliant scholars, and entered Marischal College in November 1833. His third divinity session (1839-40) was spent at Edinburgh, and in 1841 he was licensed to preach by the Aberdeen presbytery. On 22 Sept. 1842, on the presentation of the Earl of Kintore, he was ordained minister of Drumblade, the early home of Dr. George Macdonald. On 18 May 1843 he signed the deed of demissionand joined the Free Church of Scotland. Most of his congregation seceded with him, and a church was erected for their use.
Early in 1844 Blaikie was invited to undertake a new charge at Pilrig, in the rising district of Leith Walk, Edinburgh. He was inducted on 1 March, and continued there for twenty-four years. During this period he manifested a strong concern for the welfare of the poor. He promoted the foundation and took part in the management of the model buildings which still form a feature of the district. In 1849 he published 'Six Lectures to the Working Classes on the Improvement of their Temporal Condition' (Edinburgh, 16mo), which in 1863 he transformed into 'Better Days for the Working People' (London, 8vo), a publication which attained remarkable popularity, and which was praised by Guizot. The latest edition appeared in 1882. He had also other literary interests. From May 1849 to 1853 he edited 'The Free Church Magazine,' and from 1860 to 1863 'The North British Review.'
In 1868 Blaikie was chosen to fill the
