councillor—a combination of honours rarely gained at the same time, and more remarkable as his lordship had taken no active part in politics, and had neither sat in the house of commons, nor held the office of legal adviser to the crown. In 1850, on the resignation of Lord Cottenham, the great seal was more than once offered to Lord Langdale, but he declined the honour, his intense application for many years to the reform of the court of chancery rendering repose indispensable. A month before his death, he took farewell of the court and the bar, with the esteem of the whole legal profession, and the character of an able and high-minded judge. He died at Tunbridge Wells, on the 18th of April, 1851, in the 68th year of his age.—W. M. H.
BICKERTON, Sir Richard Hussey, an English admiral, born in 1759, entered the navy in 1771. He served with great distinction under Lord Keith, who made special mention of his services in a letter to the admiralty. Sir Richard was appointed vice-admiral in 1805, one of the commissioners of the admiralty in 1807, governor of Portsmouth in 1812, and general of the royal marines in 1819. Died in 1832.—J. T.
BICLARA, Joas de, a Portuguese historian, who lived in the sixth century. For the purpose of studying the Greek and Latin classics he went to Constantinople, and vied in fame with the renowned Isidore of Seville. He was bishop of Girone about the year 589. His chronicle of the events which happened in the Roman empire and Spain, from Justin to Reccarèdes, is interesting and precise. His death is not recorded.—A. C. M.
BIDDLE, John, called "the Father of English Unitarianism," because he, in modern times, set up the form of worship so designated, was born at Wotton-under-Edge in Gloucestershire in the year 1615. Having received a classical education at the grammar school of his native place, he was, in 1632, admitted of Magdalene hall, Oxford, where he continued his studies with increasing success and reputation. After well discharging for a few years the duties of college tutor, he accepted, 1641, an appointment as master of the free school of St. Mary of Crypt, in the city of Gloucester. Having adopted antitrinitarian opinions, he was summoned before the magistrates to answer to a charge of heresy. In self-defence he drew up a paper, entitled "Twelve Arguments," &c., in which he assailed the established doctrine touching the Deity of the Holy Spirit. A copy of this falling into the hands of the parliamentary committee, then sitting at Gloucester, the author was, by their authority, committed to gaol while labouring under a dangerous fever. From this confinement he was relieved on giving security for his appearance when it should please the parliament to send for him. During the interval, which lasted about six months, he was visited by the celebrated Archbishop Usher, who, passing through Gloucester, heard of his case, and endeavoured, but in vain, to convince him of his errors. Shortly afterwards Mr. Biddle was summoned to appear at Westminster, and examined before a committee of the house of commons, appointed for the purpose. Avowing that he did not hold the common view of the Deity of the Holy Spirit, he was detained in prison for sixteen months without any issue. At length he addressed himself to Mr. H. Vane, who was a member of the committee, beseeching him either to procure his discharge or bring the matter to a crisis. Vane laid his case before the house. The only consequence was, that the offender was committed to the custody of one of its officers, under the restraint of which he remained for five years. The question in debate having been discussed in the assembly of divines, then sitting in Westminster, Biddle, in self-defence, published his "Twelve Arguments." By order of the house of commons the piece was called in, and ordered to be burnt by the common hangman. Not deterred by the penalty, Mr. Biddle published, in 1648, two tracts intended to justify his opinions. Suppressed by the civil power, these essays were reprinted in 1691 in the first volume of the Old Socinian Tracts. On its first publication it excited indignation, and the death of its author was demanded conformably to the then existing law. The demand was made nugatory by the spirit of the age. Cromwell adopted a milder policy towards religious dissentients. Though still in custody, Mr. Biddle was, on security being given, permitted to visit a friend in Staffordshire. Ere long he was recalled, and placed in more rigorous confinement. At length, in 1651, the parliament having passed a general act of oblivion, he was restored to full liberty. Repairing to London, he formed a small religious society who met in private every Lord's-day for worship, and the study of the scriptures. For about three years the congregation pursued their course in quiet, except that they received a visit from Dr. Gunning, afterwards regius professor of divinity at Cambridge, who entered with its minister into a warm and lengthened disputation. Near this time Mr. Biddle published several small pieces, chiefly translations from the writings of the Polish unitarians. Another piece translated by him was Przipcovius' Life of F. Socinus. He also put forth two tracts in the catechetical form, explanatory of his views of Christian doctrince—one entitled "A Scripture Catechism," the other "A Brief Scripture Catechism for Children." The appearance of these tracts occasioned alarm. A series of propositions was selected and condemned by a vote of the house of commons. The author, called to its bar, was committed close prisoner to the Gate-house. Again set at liberty he resumed his efforts. The result was a fresh incarceration; and now death seemed inevitable. The protector, however, interposed, and sent the obnoxious free-thinker into banishment in the Scilly islands, October 5, 1655. There for nearly three years he employed his leisure in biblical studies. In the year 1658 he was, by Cromwell's favour, set free, and restored to his friends. Resuming his instructions, he fell into fresh trouble. Five months after his return the protector died. Having avoided the dangers which immediately ensued under Richard Cromwell, Biddle suffered at the hands of the government of Charles II. On the 1st of June, 1662, when he and some of his friends were met for divine worship at his own lodgings, they were seized and carried before Sir Richard Brown, by whom they were committed to prison. After some delays, each of the hearers was fined in twenty pounds, and Mr. Biddle himself in one hundred, with the additional penalty of imprisonment until the fine was paid. His release soon came. In five weeks, through the noisomeness of the place, he contracted a disease of which he died on the 22nd of September, 1662.—J. R. B.
BIDDLE, Nicholas, an American man of letters, though better known as an able but unlucky financier, was born at Philadelphia, January 8, 1786. Having studied law, he was admitted to practise at the bar in 1804. But his tastes were literary and diplomatic, rather than professional; and he, therefore, gladly accepted an offer made to him at this time by General Armstrong, then just appointed American minister to France, to accompany him to Paris as his private secretary. After performing the duties of this office for a year or two, and spending some time in travel upon the continent, he visited England, and became for a while secretary to Mr. Monroe, then American minister at London. In 1807, Mr. Biddle returned to America, and nominally resumed practice at the bar, but really gave most of his time to the more attractive pursuits of letters and politics. He took part in editing the Portfolio, then the only literary periodical of much note in the United States, and one which exercised a happy influence upon the growth of American literature. He also prepared for publication the narrative of Lewis and Clarke's exploration of the country between the Mississippi and the Pacific ocean. His literary training was thorough, and his taste was pure. The controversial letters respecting the currency and the banks, which he had occasion to write in the later part of his life, were prepared with singular vigour, neatness, and elegance of style. At the request of Mr. Monroe, he compiled a volume, published by the authority of congress, and called the "Commercial Digest," being an abstract of the commercial regulations of foreign countries. About 1819 Mr. Biddle was appointed one of the directors of the United States bank, Mr. Langdon Cheves at the same time succeeding to the presidency of that institution. The affairs of the bank, through previous mismanagement, were then in a disordered and even perilous condition; but the vigour and financial ability of its new president restored its prosperity, and enlarged its credit and its influence over the course of trade and exchange throughout the country. When Mr. Cheves resigned in 1823, Mr. Biddle was chosen his successor. General Jackson, then in the height of his power and popularity as president of the United States, became prejudiced against the institution, thinking that its directors meddled with politics, and obstructed the course of his administration. With characteristic tenacity of purpose and firmness of will, he laboured for its overthrow, and carried the democratic party along with him in the undertaking. With equal resolution and energy, and wielding a great financial power, which could make itself felt in every corner of the Union, Mr. Biddle strove to sustain it; and, in the unequal struggle, he certainly impaired the resources of the institution,
