Eurydice." On returning to Tendon, she appeared at Covent Garden with great success, and rapidly acquired a high reputation. She afterwards visited the continent to avail herself of the instructions of the masters of the art in Paris and Italy. In 1796, she appeared at Venice and at Rome, receiving everywhere the loudest expressions of applause. In 1801, she returned to the London stage, and astonished the whole world by her Mandane, a performance that has hardly ever been equalled in English opera. The last exhibition of her powers was for the benefit of a charity at Whitehall chapel; the queen, the prince-regent, and most of the branches of the royal family, being present. She left England in 1817, and died soon after at an estate she had purchased in the Venetian territories. Her character as a private individual was very bad.
BILLIONI, N. BUSSA,
A Celebrated actress at the theatres of France and Brussells, who died in 1783.
BLACK, MRS.,
An English portrait-painter, flourished about the year 1760, and was a member of the Academy in St. Martin's-lane. Her daughter was also a portrait-painter in oils and crayons, who acquired much reputation in teaching painting.
BLACKWELL, ELIZABETH,
An English woman of considerable talent, who, to provide subsistence for her husband, who was in prison for debt, published, in two folio volumes, a complete Herbal, containing five hundred plates, drawn, engraved, and coloured by herself. The first volume appeared in 1737, and the second in 1739. The whole work bore the following title:—"A curious Herbal, containing five hundred of the most useful plants which are now used in the practice of physic, engraved on folio copper-plates, after drawings taken from the life. To which is added a short description of the plants, and their common uses in Physic."
While Mrs. Blackwell was completing this laborious undertaking, she resided at Chelsea, near the Garden of Medicinal Plants; where she was frequently visited, and much patronized by people of distinguished rank and learning. The College of Physicians gave the book a public testimonial of their approbation, and made the author a present. Dr. Pulteney, speaking of this work, says, "For the most complete set of drawings of medicinal plants, we are indebted to the genius and industry of a lady, exerted on an occasion that redounded highly to her praise."
BLACKWELL, ELIZABETH,
Deserves to have her name recorded for the earnest efforts she is making to prepare herself for a physician for her own sex. The reform of the practice which has confined all medical and even physiological science to men is, we trust, approaching. The example of this young heroic woman has already had a salutary effect. We give her history, as written by one well qualified to judge of her character, and the fitness of the pursuit she has chosen. Having been a physician, he knows and feels that some branches of medical
