Part 98 (1/2)
BUSK, HANS, one of the originators of the Volunteer movement, born in Wales; author of ”The Rifle, and How to Use it” (1815-1882).
BUSKIN, a kind of half-boot worn after the custom of hunters as part of the costume of actors in tragedy on the ancient Roman stage, and a synonym for tragedy.
BUTE, an island in the Firth of Clyde, about 16 m. long and from 3 to 5 broad, N. of Arran, nearly all the Marquis of Bute's property, with his seat at Mount Stuart, and separated from the mainland on the N. by a winding romantic arm of the sea called the ”Kyles of Bute.”
BUTE, JOHN STUART, THIRD EARL OF, statesman, born of an old Scotch family; Secretary of State, and from May 1762 to April 1763 Prime Minister under George III., over whom he had a great influence; was very unpopular as a statesman, his leading idea being the supremacy of the king; spent the last 24 years of his life in retirement, devoting himself to literature and science (1712-1792).
BUTE, MARQUIS OF, son of the second marquis, born in Bute; admitted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1868; devoted to archaeological studies, and interested in university education; _b_. 1849.
BUTLER, ALBAN, hagiographer, born in Northampton; head of the college at St. Omer; wrote ”Lives of the Saints” (1710-1773).
BUTLER, CHARLES, an English barrister, born in London; wrote ”Historical Account of the Laws against the Catholics” (1750-1832).
BUTLER, JOSEPH, an eminent English divine, born at Wantage, in Berks; born a Dissenter; conformed to the Church of England; became preacher at the Rolls, where he delivered his celebrated ”Sermons,” the first three of which contributed so much to the stability of moral science; was raised, in virtue of his merits alone, to the see of Bristol; made dean of St. Paul's, and finally bishop of Durham; his great work, ”The a.n.a.logy of Religion, Natural and Revealed, to the Const.i.tution and Course of Nature,” the aim of which is twofold--first, to show that the objections to revealed religion are equally valid against the const.i.tution of nature; and second, to establish a conformity between the divine order in revelation and the order of nature; his style is far from interesting, and is often obscure (1692-1752).
BUTLER, SAMUEL, a master of burlesque, born at Strensham, in Worcesters.h.i.+re, the son of a small farmer; the author of ”Hudibras,” a poem of about 10,000 octosyllabic lines, in which he subjects to ridicule the ideas and manners of the English Puritans of the Civil War and the Commonwealth; it appeared in three parts, the first in 1663, the second soon after, and the third in 1678; it is sparkling with wit, yet is hard reading, and few who take it up read it through; was an especial favourite with Charles II., who was never weary of quoting from it. ”It represents,” says Stopford Brooke, ”the fierce reaction that (at the Restoration) had set in against Puritanism. It is justly famed,” he adds, ”for wit, learning, good sense, and ingenious drollery, and, in accordance with the new criticism, is absolutely without obscurity. It is often as terse as Pope's best work; but it is too long; its wit wearies us at last, and it undoes the force of its attacks on the Puritans by its exaggeration” (1612-1680).
BUTLER, WILLIAM ARCHER, a philosophical writer, born near Clonmel, Ireland; professor of Moral Philosophy at Dublin; author of ”Lectures on the History of Ancient Philosophy” (1814-1848).
b.u.t.t, CLARA, operatic singer, born in Suss.e.x; made her _debut_ in London at the Albert Hall in the ”Golden Legend,” and in ”Orfeo” at the Lyceum, ever since which appearances she has been much in demand as a singer; _b_. 1872.
b.u.t.t, ISAAC, Irish patriot, distinguished for his scholars.h.i.+p at Dublin University; became editor of the _Dublin University Magazine_; entered Parliament, and at length took the lead of the ”Home Rule” party, but could not control it, and retired (1813-1879).
b.u.t.tMANN, PHILIPP, a German philologist, born at Frankfort-on-the-Main; professor of Philology in Berlin; best known by his ”Greek Grammar” (1764-1829).
BUXTON, a high-lying town in Derbys.h.i.+re, noted for its calcareous and chalybeate springs, and a resort for invalids; is also famous for its rock crystals, stalact.i.te cavern, and fine scenery.
BUXTON, SIR THOMAS FOWELL, a philanthropist, born in Ess.e.x, a tall man of energetic character; entered life as a brewer, and made his fortune; was conspicuous for his interest in benevolent movements, such as the amelioration of criminal law and the abolition of slavery; represented Weymouth in Parliament from 1818 to 1837; was made a baronet in 1840; he was Wilberforce's successor (1786-1845).
BUXTON, SIR THOMAS FOWELL, once governor of S. Australia, grandson of the preceding; educated at Harrow and Cambridge; a Liberal in politics, and member for King's Lynn from 1865 to 1868; a philanthropist and Evangelical Churchman; _b_. 1837.
BUXTORF, a celebrated Hebraist, born in Westphalia, member of a family of Orientalists; professor of Hebrew for 39 years at Basle; was known by the t.i.tle, ”Master of the Rabbis” (1564-1629).