Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 05.djvu/208

 at Harrow and at Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1802. On leaving Cambridge he entered holy orders, and became an assistant-master at Harrow. After some years he resigned his mastership, and was engaged as reader and preacher at some London chapels. Later he was appointed minister to the English church at Amsterdam but 'the circumstances of the times not permitting him to fulfill the objects of his appointment,' he came back to England, and received, in 1813, the curacy of Pittlewell, Essex, which he exchanged in 1816 for the curacy of Kenilworth. He died at Learnington 12 March 1825, leaving a widow and nine children. As a classical scholar and teacher he was much esteemed in his day. His 'Elements of Latin Hexameters and Pentameters,' which has been frequently reprinted, is still a useful manual of instruction; and his 'Translations, chiefly from the Greek Anthology, with Tales and Miscellaneous Poems,' 1806, 8vo, attracted considerable notice. Bland's other works are Byron complimented Bland in 'English Bards and Scotch Reviewers.' Some interesting letters of Bland's are printed in 'Memoirs of Francis Hodgson,' i. 232-249.
 * 1) 'Edwy and Elgiva, poems,' 1808, 8vo.
 * 2) 'The Four Slaves of Cythera, a Poetical the Romance,' 1809, 8vo.
 * 3) 'A Collection of the Most Beautiful Poems of the Minor Poets of Greece,' 1813, 8vo.
 * 4) 'Collections from the Greek Anthology,' &c. 1813, 8vo.
 * 5) A translation, made in conjunction with Miss Plumptre, of the 'Memoirs of Baron de Grimm' and 'Diderot,' 2 vols. 1813, 8vo.



BLAND, TOBIAS (1563?–1604), divine, born in or about 1563, matriculated as a sizar of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, in December 1576, and took his bachelor's degree in 1580-1. He migrated to Corpus Christi College in 1581, and was shortly afterwards accused of composing a libel against the master of that college, Dr. Norgate. The libel was entitled ‘A Necessary Cathecisme to be red every Sunday morninge.’ It began thus: ‘In the name of the father, the sonn, and the old wiffe.’ Certain passages of the libel were strongly suspected to refer to Sir Francis Walsingham. Bland confessed his fault before the master, fellows, and scholars, whereupon he was 'put to shame of sytting in the stocks,' and was afterwards expelled from the college. In 1584 great opposition was shown when he wished to take his master' degree. Among the Lansdowne MSS. is Latin letter against Bland addressed to Lord Burghley, and signed by fifty members of the senate; but the opposition failed. In 1589 he was chaplain to John, Lord St. John, baron of Bletsoe. In 1591 he proceeded B.D., about 1594 became sub-almoner to Queen Elizabeth, and on 29 Oct. 1602 was collated to a canonry in the church of Peterborough. He died at the end of 1604, and was buried at King's Cliffe, Northamptonshire. He published in 1589 a sermon on 1 Timothy iv. 1-2, under the title of 'A Baite for Momus, so called upon occasion of a sermon at Bedford iniuriously traduced by the factions. Now not altered but augmented. With a briefe Patrocinie of the lawfull use of Philosophie in the more serious and sacred studie of diuinitie. By Tobie Bland, Chaplaine to the right Honourable John, Lord Saint John, Baron of Bletsoe,' 4to, black letter. In a marginal note the author makes mention of his 'larger Apologie of Philosophie in a former treatise. But the 'former treatise' is not extant, and perhaps was not published. Some quaint proverbs occur in the 'Baite for Momus.'



BLAND, WILLIAM (1789–1868), Australian statesman, was born in London 5 Nov. 1789. He was son of the elder [q. v.], and brother of, classical scholar [q. v.] Bland is said to have been educated at the Merchant Taylors' School, but his name does not appear in the Rev. C. J. Robinson's register of that institution. His father was his instructor in medicine and surgery; when scarcely nineteen he was admitted, at an examination held by the Royal College of Surgeons for the naval medical services, a surgeon 5th rate 6 Jan. 1809, and soon after received an appointment in the Royal navy. The vessel to which he was assigned sailed for Bombay. During the voyage, some misunderstanding having arisen between Mr. Bland and the purser, it culminated in a quarrel when the ship neared the Persian Gulf, and a duel took place as soon as they reached the land, in which the purser was fatally wounded. An insinuation of unfairness on the part of Lieutenant William Randall led to a second duel, in which neither principal was hurt; but both were arrested, and subsequently tried at Calcutta and sentenced to seven years' transportation, Bland was exiled to Sydney, where he