BAKER, David Erskine, son to the former, was a young man of genius and learning. Having been adopted by an uncle, who was a silk-throwster in Spitalfields, he succeeded him in the business; but wanted the prudence and attention which are necessary to secure prosperity in trade. He married the daughter of Mr Clendon, a reverend empiric. Like his father, he was both a philosopher and a poet; and wrote several occasional poems in the periodical collections, some of which were much admired at the time; but so violent was his turn for dramatic performance, that he repeatedly engaged with the lowest strolling companies, in spite of every effort of his father to reclaim him. The public was indebted to him for "The Companion to the Play-house," in two volumes, 1764, 12mo; a work which, though imperfect, had considerable merit, and showed that he possessed a very extensive knowledge of our dramatic authors; and which has since (under the title of "Biographia Dramatica") been considerably improved by the attention of a gentleman in every respect well qualified for the undertaking.