German and Bohemian. His more recent works are "The Wise Men of Greece; or, Sketches of ancient Greek philosophy from Thales to Plato in a series of dramatic dialogues," 1877; "The Natural History of Atheism; a defence of Theism against modern Atheistic and Agnostic tendencies," 1877; "Lay Sermons: a series of discourses on important points of Christian doctrine and morals," 1881; "The Language and Literature of the Highlands of Scotland, with poetical translations of some of the most popular pieces of Gaelic poetry," 1875; "Altavona; or, fact and fiction from my life in the Highlands," 1882. Professor Blackie has crowned his contributions towards a proper estimate of Scottish Celts by the foundation of a Celtic chair in the University of Edinburgh, for which by four years' considerable exertion he collected a sum of £12,000 sterling. He resigned the chair of Greek in the University of Edinburgh in Aug. 1882.
BLACKLEY, The Rev. William Lewery, M.A., is the second son of the late Travers R. Blackley, Esq., of Ashtown Lodge, Phoenix Park, Dublin. He was born at Dundalk, Ireland, Dec. 30, 1830, and received part of his early education on the Continent. Having entered Trinity College, Dublin, in his sixteenth year, he obtained his B.A. degree in 1850, and his M.A. in 1854, in which year he was ordained to the curacy of St. Peter's, Southwark; on leaving which charge shortly after, he became curate of Frensham, where, having remained thirteen years, he was promoted by Bishop Sumner in 1867 to the rectory of North Waltham, Hants, which he still holds. In 1857 he published his metrical translation from the Swedish, of Bishop Tegner's famous poem, "The Frithjof Saga." This was followed by the publication of his "Practical German Dictionary," which, in its original and abridged forms, has passed through many editions. In 1867 he published his "Critical English New Testament," and his volume on "Word Gossip" followed in 1869. He also wrote for the National Society the Teacher's Manual, "How to Teach Domestic Economy," 1879; and "The Social Economy Reading Book," 1881. It was not, however, till the end of 1878 that the essay was published destined to bring his name into such prominence in public notice as it now occupies. It appeared in the November issue for that year of the Nineteenth Century, under the title of "National Insurance, a cheap, practical and popular way of preventing Pauperism," and immediately attracted an extraordinary share of public attention. A remarkable sermon, preached by Mr. Blackley in Westminster Abbey, in Sept. 1879, on "Our National Improvidence," also attracted much notice. The National Providence League was formed in 1880, for the purpose of educating public opinion on the subject of National Insurance; and a great number of public meetings have been held, in which the proposals have been discussed. Mr. Blackley's proposals have reached far beyond this country, with the result that movements more or less upon his lines have been started in France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, and New Zealand.
BLACKMORE, Richard Doddridge, son of the Rev. John Blackmore, was born at Longworth, Berkshire, in 1825. His maternal grandmother was a grand-daughter of Dr. Doddridge. He was educated at Tiverton School, and Exeter College, Oxford, where he obtained a scholarship and graduated B.A. in 1847, taking a second class in classics. He was called to the bar at the Middle Temple in 1852, and afterwards practised as a conveyancer. He is the author of "Eric and Karine," "Epullia," "The
