BATEMAN, James, an English botanist, who has published a splendid work in elephant folio, on the orchidaceæ of Mexico and Guatemala. The plates are coloured. The work was published in London between the years 1837 and 1843.—J. H. B.
BATEMAN, Thomas, a distinguished physician, was born in 1778, and died in 1821. He practised for many years in London, and is principally known for his work on diseases of the skin. This was published in 1817, with the title "Delineations of the Cutaneous Diseases comprised in the classification of the late Dr. Wilson." The plates in this work were intended to illustrate the letterpress of a work published in 1813, entitled A Practical Synopsis of Cutaneous Diseases; this work has been translated into German, Italian, and French, and subsequent editions have been published in the English language. Dr. Bateman has also the merit of having been one of the first to estimate the importance of the relation of climate and weather on disease. He published a valuable set of facts, entitled "Report on the Diseases of London, and the state of the Weather from 1804 to 1816," London, 1816. He was remarkable for his attention to the duties of his profession, and was greatly esteemed for his upright and christian character.—E. L.
BATES, Joah, the originator of the celebrated commemoration of Handel in 1784, was born at Halifax in Yorkshire in 1740, where he began his school education under the celebrated Dr. Ogden. He afterwards removed to Manchester, where he imbibed his love of music, and especially of organ-playing, from the skilful performances of old Wainwright, in the collegiate church. After residing some time at Eton, and finishing his scholastic studies at Cambridge, he was elected a fellow and tutor of King's college, which situation he resigned for the post of private secretary to the earl of Sandwich. This connection led him to pass much of his time at Hinchinbrook, Lord Sandwich's seat, where he instructed in music the unfortunate Miss Ray, so well known for the deep passion with which she inspired an unfortunate gentleman (the Rev. Mr. Hackman), and for her tragical death.
Few dilettanti musicians have ever acquired or deserved more fame for their knowledge in music, judgment, and experience in its effects, and abilities in conducting a complete orchestra and numerous band, than Mr. Bates, who, at the university of Cambridge, distinguished himself as a fine performer on the harpsichord, as well as a zealous votary of the works of Handel; and as long as he remained at college, he performed the part of Coryphœus at all public and private concerts. Before he quitted the university an organ was built for the church of his native place, Halifax; and determining that it should be opened with eclat, he, for the first time that any oratorio had been performed north of the Trent, attempted the Messiah. With the assistance of the Rev. Mr. Allott of Birkheaton, who had trained up the country people in his parish to sing choruses in a very superior style; and with the addition of Mr. Bates' own exertions in qualifying the singers of Halifax, the choruses were performed with a precision that astonished every one; and it was universally acknowledged by the best judges, that the Messiah had never been so well performed. The first violin, on this occasion, was taken by the afterwards celebrated astronomer, Herschel; and his profession being then music, he was immediately elected organist. The success of this undertaking inspired Mr. Bates with the idea of rescuing the compositions of old masters from oblivion, by having them executed by a numerous and select band of vocal and instrumental performers; and after being settled in London as secretary to Lord Sandwich, he had an opportunity of communicating his plan to persons of the first distinction, and the establishment of the "concerts of ancient music" in Tottenham Street was the consequence, being formed and executed entirely under Mr. Bates' direction; and as many of the works of Handel, which had not been performed for many years, and never so well as at this establishment, were revived, the number of that great and sublime composer's admirers was much increased.
After remaining some years with the earl of Sandwich, Mr. Bates was appointed commissioner of the victualling-office; and soon after he married his celebrated pupil, Miss Harrop, who had been educated under his eye from his first arrival in London. The victualling-office on Tower-hill now became the resort of persons of the highest rank; and at Mr. Bates' residence there was planned those stupendous musical performances, the commemoration of Handel in Westminster abbey and the Pantheon, which were conducted by him in a manner which will unite his name with the renown of Handel as long as so memorable an event shall remain in the records of the musical art. Soon after the commemoration, Mr. Bates was, at the demise of the king, promoted to a seat at the board of customs; but previous to his quitting the victualling-office, having officially experienced the difficulties which the capital of the kingdom often laboured under for want of flour, he projected the plan of the Albion mills; of the success of which he was so sanguine, that he vested his whole fortune, and even that of his wife, in the undertaking, to the amount of £10,000. By the conflagration which happened to this building in 1791 he was completely ruined. He submitted to this event with dignity and fortitude; but the circumstance of having involved his wife in the ruin, and sacrificed her professional acquirements without her approbation, preyed so continually on his mind as at length to produce a complaint on his chest, which finally proved fatal, and brought him to the grave the 8th of June, 1799.—(Rees' Cyclopedia; Cradock's Literary Memoirs; The Harmonicon, &c.)—E. F. R.
BATES, William, D.D., an eminent dissenting minister and writer, connected with the English presbyterians, was born in November, 1625, probably in London. He was the son of Dr. George Bates, a fellow of the London College of Physicians, and, after the Restoration, principal physician to the king. This Dr. Bates was the author of a narrative in Latin of the events of his times, entitled "Elenchus Motuum Nuperorum in Anglia," a work of some value for its authentic details, and because it may be regarded as expressing the views of the royalist presbyterians concerning the principal occurrences of that memorable epoch, and the men who were the chief agents in them. William Bates was educated at Cambridge, where he took his degree of B.A. in 1647, and was admitted doctor in divinity in 1660. During the Commonwealth he was probably a minister in London, as at the Restoration we find him in possession of the living of St. Dunstan's-in-the-West. A royalist by education and principle, he was one of those who, after the abdication of Richard Cromwell, were zealous to bring back the exiled heir of the house of Stuart to the throne; and he laboured with Calamy, Ash, Morton, and others of the London ministers, to direct the petitions and the influence of the city upon Monk and the army, to move them to attempt this result. After the king's return. Dr. Bates was made one of his chaplains-in-ordinary, a compliment which he shared along with several other presbyterian ministers, "for the gratifying," says Baxter, "and engaging some chief presbyterians that had brought in the king;" and which was a mere compliment and nothing more; for, says the same authority, "never any of them was called to preach at court, saving Mr. Calamy, Dr. Reynolds, myself, and Dr. Spurston, each of us once; and I suppose never a man of them all ever received or expected a penny for the salary of their places." (Life, part ii., p. 229.) Sometime afterwards, when attempts were made to meet the scruples of the presbyterians, and to secure their adherence to the established church. Dr. Bates was offered the deanery of Coventry and Litchfield, which, after some hesitation, he declined. Had he accepted it, or had he remained in connection with the establishment, it was intended that he should be made a bishop; but the act of uniformity in 1662 forever cut off from him all prospects of ecclesiastical advancement, by constraining him, in obedience to the dictates of conscience, to become one of the never-to-be-forgotten two thousand ministers whom that act ejected from their livings, and sent forth to encounter privations and persecutions for their attachment to what they deemed to be truth. He preached his farewell sermon to his congregation on the 17th of August, 1662. After his ejection, he seems to have for sometime preached only occasionally. He was for many years one of the lecturers at Salters' hall, on the Tuesday mornings, when he always had numerous audiences. In the latter part of his life he resided at Hackney, and became pastor of a congregation there, which used to assemble "in a large and ancient but irregular edifice in Mare Street." Though no longer a minister of the national church, his society was sought by many eminent persons, who respected his character, appreciated his learning and abilities, and enjoyed his polished conversation and refined manners. Among the nonconformists he occupied a leading position, and on several important occasions publicly represented them. (Life, part iii., page 13.) At the Revolution he was appointed to present a congratulatory address to King William from the nonconformists of London, and on this occasion he delivered two speeches, one to the king and the other to
