(Sir William), an eminent English lawyer, was born at London in July 1723. His father, Mr Charles Blackstone, a silk-man, citizen, and bowyer of London, died some months before the birth of our author, who was the youngest of four children; and their mother died before he was 12 years old. Even from his birth, the care both of his education and fortune was kindly undertaken by his maternal uncle Mr Thomas Bigg, an eminent surgeon in London, and afterwards, on the death of his elder brothers, owner of the Chilton estate, which is still enjoyed by that family. In 1730 being about seven years old, he was put to school at the Charterhouse; and in 1735 was, by the nomination of Sir Robert Walpole, on the recommendation of Charles Wither of Hall in Hampshire, Esq; his cousin by the mother's side, admitted upon the foundation there. In this excellent seminary he applied himself to every branch of youthful education, with the same assiduity which accompanied his studies through life. His talents and industry rendered him the favourite of his masters, who encouraged and assisted him with the utmost attention: so that at the age of 15 he was at the head of the school, and although so young, was thought well qualified to be removed to the university. He was accordingly entered a commoner at Pembroke college in Oxford, on the 30th of November 1738, and was the next day matriculated. At this time he was elected to one of the Charter-house exhibitions by the governors of that foundation, to commence from the Michaelmas preceding; but was permitted to continue a scholar there till after the 12th of December, being the anniversary commemoration of the founder, to give him an opportunity of speaking the customary oration which he had prepared, and which did him much credit. About this time also he obtained Mr Benson's gold prize-medal of Milton, for verses on that poet. In the February following, the society of Pembroke college unanimously elected him to one of Lady Holford's exhibitions for Charter-house scholars in that house. Here he prosecuted his studies with unremitting ardour; and although the classics, and particularly Blackstone particularly the Greek and Roman poets, were his favourites; they did not entirely engross his attention: logic, mathematics, and the other sciences, were not neglected. At the early age of 20, he compiled a treatise entitled *Elements of Architecture*, intended for his own use only, and not for publication; but esteemed by those judges who have perused it, in no respect unworthy his maturer judgment and more exercised pen.

Having determined on his future plan of life, and made choice of the law for his profession, he was entered in the Middle Temple on the 20th of November 1741. He now found it necessary to quit the more amusing pursuits of his youth, for the severer studies to which he had dedicated himself; and betook himself seriously to reading law. He expressed his disagreeable sensations on this occasion in a copy of verses, since published by Dodley in vol. 4th of his miscellanies, intitled *The Laywer's Farewell to his Muses*; in which the struggle of his mind is expressed so strongly, so naturally, with such elegance of sense and language, and harmony of versification, as must convince every reader that his passion for the muses was too deeply rooted to be laid aside without much reluctance; and that, if he had pursued that flowery path, he would perhaps have proved inferior to few of our English poets. Several little fugitive pieces besides this, have at times been communicated by him to his friends; and he left (but not with a view of publication) a small collection of juvenile pieces, both originals and translations, inscribed with this line from Horace,

*Nec luisset pudet, sed non incidere ludum.*

Some notes on Shakespeare, which just before his death he communicated to Mr Steevens, and which were inserted by him in his last edition of that author, show how well he understood the meaning, as well as the beauties, of that his favourite among the English poets.

In November 1743, he was elected into the society of All-Souls college; and in the November following, he spoke the anniversary speech in commemoration of archbishop Chicely the founder, and the other benefactors to that house of learning; and was admitted actual fellow. From this period he divided his time between the university and the Temple, where he took chambers in order to attend the courts: in the former he pursued his academical studies, and on the 12th of June 1745 commenced bachelor of civil law; in the latter he applied himself closely to his profession, both in the hall and in his private studies, and on the 28th of November 1746 was called to the bar. Though he was little known or distinguished in Westminster-hall, he was actively employed, during his occasional residence at the university, in attending to its interests, and mingling with and improving its interior concerns. In May 1749, as a small reward for his services, and to give him further opportunities of advancing the interests of the college, Mr Blackstone was appointed steward of their manors. And in the same year, on the resignation of his uncle Seymour Richmond, Esq.; he was elected recorder of the borough of Wallingford in Berkshire, and received the king's approbation on the 30th of May. The 26th of April 1750, he commenced doctor of civil law, and thereby became a member of the con-

VOL. III. Part I. Blackwall, ties, a man of moderation must expect to meet with Blackwell no quarter from any side; and when, on the resignation of Mr Dunning in 1770, he was offered the place of solicitor-general, he refused that office; but shortly afterwards, on the promotion of Sir Joseph Yates to a seat in the court of common-pleas, accepted a seat on the bench, and by the death of Sir Joseph succeeded him there also. As a judge, he was not inactive; but, when not occupied in the duties of his station, was generally engaged in some scheme of public utility. The act for detached houses for hard labour for convicts, as a substitute for transportation, owed its origin in a great measure to him.

It ought not to be omitted, that the last augmentation of the judges salaries, calculated to make up the deficiencies occasioned by the heavy taxes they are subject to, and thereby render them more independent, was obtained in a great measure by his industry and attention. This respectable and valuable man died on the 14th of February 1780, in the 50th year of his age.