Chapter Bortell to Boustrapa of B by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Botany (Father of English), W. Turner, M.D. (1520–1568).

J.P. de Tournefort is called The Father of Botany (1656–1708).

(Anthony de Jussieu lived 1686–1758, and his brother Bernard 1699–1777.)

Botany-Bay Eclogues, by Southey (1794).

Bothwell (Sergeant), alias Francis Stewart, in the royal army.—Sir W. Scott: Old Mortality (time, Charles II.).

Bothwell (Lady), sister of lady Forester.

Sir Geoffrey Bothwell, the husband of lady Bothwell.

Mrs. Margaret Bothwell, in the introduction of the story. Aunt Margaret proposed to use Mrs. Margaret’s tombstone for her own.—Sir W. Scott: Aunt Margaret’s Mirror (time, William III.).

Bothwell, a novel by James Grant (1851); an historic tale in verse by Aytoun (1856); a tragedy by Swinburne (1874). Of course, all these are of the days of Mary queen of Scots.

Bottled Beer, Alexander Nowell, author of a celebrated Latin catechism which first appeared in 1570, under the title of Christianæ pietatis prima Institutio, ad usum Scholarum Latine Scripta. In 1560 he was promoted to the deanery of St. Paul’s (1507–1602).—Fuller: Worthies of England (“Lancashire”).

Bottom (Nick), an Athenian weaver, a compound of profound ignorance and unbounded conceit, not without good nature and a fair dash of mother-wit. When the play of Piramus and Thisbe is cast, Bott om covets every part; the lion, Thisbê, Pyramus, all have charms for him. In order to punish Titania, the fairy-king made her dote on Master Bottom, on whom Puck had placed an ass’s head.—Shakespeare: Midsummer Night’s Dream (1592).

When Goldsmith, jealous of the attention which a dancing monkey attracted in a coffee-house, said, “I can do that as well,” and was about to attempt it, he was but playing “Bottom.”—R. G. White.

Bottomless Pit (The), a ludicrous sobriquet of William Pitt, who was remarkably thin (1759–1806).

Boubekir Muezin, of Bagdad, “a vain, proud, and envious iman, who hated the rich because he himself was poor.” When prince Zeyn Alasnam came to the city, he told the people to beware of him, for probably he was “some thief who had made himself rich by plunder.” The prince’s attendant called on him, put into his hand a purse of gold, and requested the honour of his acquaintance. Next day, after morning prayers, the iman said to the people, “I find, my brethren, that the stranger who is come to Bagdad is a young prince possessed of a thousand virtues, and worthy the love of all men. Let us protect him, and rejoice that he has come among us.”—Arabian Nights (“Prince Zeyn Alasnam”).

Bouchard (Sir). (See Bertulphe.)

Bouillon (Godfrey duke of), a crusader (1058–1100), introduced in Count Robert of Paris, a novel by sir W. Scott (time, Rufus).

Bounce (Mr. T.), a nickname given in 1837 to T. Barnes, editor of the Times (or the Turnabout, as it was called).

Pope’s dog was called “Bounce.” (See Dog.)

Bounderby (Josiah), of Coketown, banker and mill-owner, the “Bully of Humility,” a big, loud man, with an iron stare and metallic laugh. Mr. Bounderby is the son of Mrs. Pegler, an old woman to whom he