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 Balmer not being able to obtain, he sent his adversary a challenge in writing. Ballow, a little deformed man, well known as a saunterer in the park, about Westminster, and in the streets between Charing Cross and the houses of parliament, though remarkable for a sword of an unusual length, which he constantly wore when he went abroad, had no inclination for fighting, and declined an answer. The demand for satisfaction was followed by several attempts on the part of Akenside to see Ballow at his lodgings, but he kept close till, by the interposition of friends, the difference could be adjusted. By his conduct in this business Akenside acquired but little reputation for courage, for the accommodation was not brought about by any concessions of his adversary, but by a resolution from which neither of them would depart, for one would not fight in the morning, nor the other in the afternoon.'

 BALMER, GEORGE (d. 1846), painter, was the son of a house-painter, and destined to follow his father's trade. But that he soon abandoned, and, coming under the influence of Ewbank, made his first endeavours in painting. His earliest works being exhibited at Newcastle attracted some atention, and he followed up his success with a large picture, 'A View of the Port of Tyne.' in 1831 he exhibited at Newcastle some water-colour paintings, of which one, 'The Juicy Tree bit,' was thought the best in the rooms. In conjunction with J. W. Carmichael he painted 'Collingwood at the Battle of Trafalgar.' This work is now in the Trinity House of Newcastle. In 1832 or 1833 he made a tour on the continent, travelling by way of Holland to the Rhine and Switzerland, and returning by way of Paris to England. Many pictures resulted from this excursion; a large 'View of Bingen' and one of 'Haarlem Mere' being amongst the best. Balmer made much and good use of his foreign sketches, but his was a properly English genius. He 'was never so much in his element as when painting a stranded ship, an old lighthouse, or the ' rippling of waves on a shingly coast.' In 1836, in the employ of Messrs. Finden, Balmer began a publication called 'The Ports and Harbours of England.' It began well, but ended ill. He retired from London in 1842, and gave up painting. He died near Ravensworth, in Durham, 10 April 1846. Pictures of shipping, of street arcnitecture, and of rural scenery came alike from his hand. His prints show great versatility. His reputation in his day was considerable.

 BALMER, ROBERT (1787–1844), minister of the United Secession church, was born at Ormiston Mains, in the parish of Eckford, Roxburghshire, 22 Nov. 1787, and evincing considerable abilities and a disposition towards the christian ministry, entered the university of Edinburgh in 1802, and in 1806 the Theological Hall at Selkirk, under Dr. Lawson, professor of divinity in the body of seceders called the Associate Synod. In 1812 he received license as a preacher from the Edinburgh presbytery of the Secession church, and in 1814 was ordained minister in Berwick-on-Tweed, where he remained till his death. In 1834 he was appointed by the Associate Synod professor of pastoral theology in the Secession church, and this office he exchanged later for the professorship of systematic theology. In 1840 he received the degree of D.D. from the university of Glasgow. Balmer was a man of high influence in the denomination to which he belonged. When certain discussions arose among his brethren on some Calvinistic doctrines, he supported the less stringent views. At a meeting held in Edinburgh in 1843, to commemorate the bicentenary of the Westminster Assembly, he delivered a remarkable speech in favour of christian union, which, in an especial manner, attracted the attention of Dr. Chalmers and others, and led to important measures being taken by John Henderson of Park for promoting that cause. Balmer did not publish much during his life but after his death two volumes of 'Lectures and Discourses' were published in 1845. He died 1 July 1844.

 BALMERINO, .[See ]

 BALMFORD, JAMES (b. 1556), divine, published in 1593-4 a 'Short and Plaine Dialogue concerning the unlawfulness of playing at cards,' London, 12mo. The tract, which consists of eight leaves, is dedicated to the mayor, aldermen, and burgesses of Newcastle-on-Tyne, his patrons (Life of Andrew Barnes (Surtees Society), 296, 297, 299); the dedication is dated 1 Jan. 1593-4. It is stated in Hazlitt's 'Handbook' that the 'Dialogue' appeared also in broadside form. In 1623 Balmford reprinted this 'Dialogue,'