BLOUNT, Charles, younger brother of Sir Thomas Pope Blount, had also an excellent capacity, and was an eminent writer. His "Anima Mundi, or An Historical Narration of the Opinions of the Ancients concerning Man's Soul after this Life, according to Unenlightened Nature," gave great offence, and was complained of to the Bishop of London. But the work which rendered him best known, was his translation of Philostratus's Life of Apollonius Tyaneus, published in 1680; which was soon suppressed, as an attack on revealed religion. Another work of a similar complexion he published the same year, called "Great is Diana of the Ephesians;" in which, under colour of exposing superstition, he struck at revelation. In 1684 he printed a kind of introduction to polite literature. In the warmth of his zeal for the Revolution, he wrote a pamphlet to prove King William and Queen Mary conquerors; but was condemned to be burnt by both houses of parliament. The close of his life was singularly unhappy; for, after the death of his wife, he became enamoured of her sister, who was only scrupulous about their union on account of their prior connection by marriage. On this subject he wrote a letter, as the case of a third person, with great learning and address. But the archbishop of Canterbury and other divines deciding against him, and the lady on this growing inflexible, these circumstances threw him into a frenzy, during which he shot himself, in 1693. After his death his miscellaneous pieces were collected and published.