[1] A Profession, which in that City is denominated a Writer.

[2] Savage.

[3] During his abode at Reading an accident had like to have put an end
    to his follies and his life together; for he had the ill-luck to
    fall from his garret down the whole flight of stairs; but being
    destined to lengthen out a useless life for some time longer, he
    escaped with only a severe bruising.

[4] The King gave his orders with the utmost calmness, tho’ no body was
    more expos’d.

[5]
  Inspir’d repuls’d battalions to engage,
  And taught the doubtful battle where to rage. 
    Mr. Addison’s Campaign.

[6] His Majesty early distinguished himself as a volunteer at the battle
    of Oudenarde, in 1708.

* * * * *

Sir RICHARD BLACKMORE.

This eminent poet and physician was son of Mr. Robert Blackmore, an Attorney at Law.  He received his early education at a private country school, from whence, in the 13th year of his age, he was removed to Westminster, and in a short time after to the university of Oxford, where he continued thirteen years.

In the early period of our author’s life he was a Schoolmaster, as appears by a satirical copy of verses Dr. Drake wrote against him, consisting of upwards of forty lines, of which the following are very pungent.

  By nature form’d, by want a pedant made,
  Blackmore at first set up the whipping trade: 
  Next quack commenc’d; then fierce with pride he swore,
  That tooth-ach, gout, and corns should be no more. 
  In vain his drugs, as well as birch he tried;
  His boys grew blockheads, and his patients died.

Some circumstances concurring, it may be presumed in Sir Richard’s favour, he travelled into Italy, and at Padua took his degrees in physic[1].

He gratified his curiosity in visiting France, Germany, and the Low Countries, and after spending a year and a half in this delightful exercise, he returned to England.  As Mr. Blackmore had made physic his chief study, so he repaired to London to enter upon the practice of it, and no long after he was chosen fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, by the charter of King James II.  Sir Richard had seen too much of foreign slavery to be fond of domestic chains, and therefore early declared himself in favour of the revolution, and espoused those principles upon which it was effected.  This zeal, recommended him to King William, and in the year 1697 he was sworn one of his physicians in ordinary.  He was honoured by that Prince with a gold medal and chain, was likewise knighted by him, and upon his majesty’s death was one of those who gave their opinion in the opening of the king’s body.  Upon Queen Anne’s accession to the throne, he was appointed one of her physicians, and continued so for some time.