Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 02.djvu/394

Badcock 1830, under the pseudonyms of 'Jon Bee' and 'John Hinds,' a variety of works on pugilism and the turf. When he issued in 1823 his 'Slang, a Dictionary of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase,' and other similar amusements, the preface to which contains much information on previous compilations in the same field, he described himself as editor of the 'Fancy,' 'Fancy Gazette,' and the 'Living Picture of London.' 'The Fancy, or True Sportsman's Guide; authentic Memoirs of Pugilists,' came out in monthly parts, beginning April 1821, and was sold in two volumes in 1826. The 'Fancy Gazette' was a part of 'The Annals of Sporting and Fancy Gazette,' thirteen volumes of which were published between 1822 and 1828. The 'Living Picture of London' was compiled by Badcock as a guide to its condition in the year 1818, and a similar volume was produced by him in 1828. From a note in the 'Fancy,' i. 330, it appears that the volume entitled 'Letters from London; Observations of a Russian during a residence in England of ten months,' which purported to be a translation from the original manuscript of 'Oloff Napea, ex-officer of cavalry' (1816), was the production of Badcock. His last work under the signature of 'Jon Bee' was an edition of the 'Works of Samuel Foote, with remarks on each play, and an essay on the life, genius, and writings of the author' (1830), 3 vols.; and from some passages in the essay it would seem that Mr. Badcock was connected with Devon or Cornwall, in both of which counties the name is still common. This supposition is corroborated by the fact that in the 'Gentleman's Magazine,' 1819, pt. i. 618-20, pt. ii. 326, there appeared two letters from him announcing his intention of printing the lives of the celebrated natives of Devon since the time of Prince. The volumes which bear the name of 'John Hinds' relate to the stable. The earliest, 'The Veterinary Surgeon, or Farriery taught on a new and easy plan,' was issued in 1827 and 1829, and reissued at Philadelphia in 1848. It was followed by 'Conversations on Conditioning: the Groom's Oracle,' 1829 and 1830. 'Mr. Hinds' was also credited with editing new editions of W. Osmer's 'Treatise on the Horse,' and C. Thompson's 'Rules for Bad Horsemen,' both of which appeared in 1830. This was the last year in which any work that can be attributed to Badcock was published, and he probably died during its course.

[Thompson Cooper's Biog. Dict.; Works of Badcock.]  BADCOCK, SAMUEL (1747–1788), theological and literary critic, was born at South Molton, Devon, 23 Feb. 1747. His parents were dissenters, and he was educated in a school at Ottery St. Mary, which was reserved for the sons of those opposed to the English church. He was trained for the dissenting ministry, and in 1766 became the pastor of a congregation at Wimborne in Dorset. After three years of residence in that county he was appointed to a similar post at the more important town of Barnstaple in Devon, and remained there until 1778. During this period he became known, through his contributions to the 'Theological Repository,' to Dr. Priestley, and sought his acquaintance in correspondence, and personally by a journey to Bowood, where Priestley was living with Lord Shelburne. This intercourse, and the adoption of some of the doctor's theological views, led to an estrangement with the congregation at Barnstaple, and Badcock returned to his native town, where he ministered from 1778 to 1786, when he became dissatisfied with the doctrines of dissent and with the position assigned to its ministers. He sought for ordination in the established church, and, having obtained a title for the curacy of Broad Clyst, was ordained by Bishop Ross, of Exeter, deacon and priest within a week in June 1787. Harassed by failing health and pecuniary anxiety, he assisted for the last six months of his life at the Octagon Chapel, Bath; and whilst on a visit to Sir John Chichester, one of his Devonshire patrons, at his town house. Queen Street, Mayfair, London, died 19 May, 1788.

Most of Badcock's contributions to literature appeared in the magazines of the day. From 1774, when he sent to the 'Westminster Magazine' a series of articles, the names of which are printed in the 'Gentleman's Magazine,' lviii. pt. ii. 595 (1788), until his death, his services were in constant demand by the conductors of the critical papers. He wrote in the 'Gentleman's Magazine,' the 'London Magazine,' 'General Evening Post,' and 'St. James's Chronicle,' but the most famous of his contributions appeared in the 'Monthly Review.' Although he had been friendly with Priestley, and had published in 1780 'A slight Sketch of the Controversy between Dr. Priestley and his Opponents,' a severe notice from his pen of the doctor's 'History of the Corruptions of Christianity' appeared in the pages of that review for June 1783. This, and. an article by him in the next year on 'Priestley's Letters to Dr. Horsley,' produced two answers from Dr. Priestley and pamphlets from J. E. Hamilton and Edward Harwood, D.D. Whilst resident at Barnstaple, Badcock became