BOUSTROPHE`DON, an ancient mode of writing from right to left, and then from left to right, as in ploughing a field.

BOUTERWEK, FRIEDRICH, a German philosopher and professor of Philosophy at Goettingen; a disciple of Kant, then of Jacobi, and expounder of their doctrines; wrote “History of Poetry and Eloquence among the Modern Races” (1766-1828).

BOWDICH, THOMAS EDWARD, an English traveller, born at Bristol; sent on a mission to Guinea, and penetrated as far as Coomassie; wrote an interesting account of it in his “Mission to Ashanti” (1791-1824).

BOWDITCH, NATHANIEL, American mathematician, born at Salem, Massachusetts; a practical scientist; published “Practical Navigation,” translated the “Mecanique Celeste” of Laplace, accompanied with an elaborate commentary (1773-1838).

BOWDLER, THOMAS, an English physician; edited expurgated editions of Shakespeare and Gibbon in the interest of moral purity; added in consequence a new term to the English language, Bowdlerism (1754-1825).

BOWDOIN, JAMES, an American statesman, born in Boston, of French extraction; a zealous advocate of American independence; author of “Discourse on the Constitution of the United States” (1727-1790).

BOWEN, RICHARD, a gallant British naval commander, distinguished himself in several engagements, and by his captures of the enemy’s ships; killed by grape-shot at the storming of Santa Cruz, at the moment when Nelson was wounded (1761-1797).

BOWER, WALTER, abbot of Inchcolm, Scottish chronicler; continued Fordun’s History down to the death of James I. in 1437 from 1153 (1385-1449).

BOWLES, WILLIAM LISLE, a poet, born in Northamptonshire; his sonnets, by their “linking,” as Professor Saintsbury has it, “of nature’s aspect to human feeling,” were much admired by Coleridge, and their appearance is believed to have inaugurated a new era in English poetry, as developed in the Lake School (1762-1850).

BOWLING, TOM, a typical British sailor in “Roderick Random.”

BOWLING, SIR JOHN, linguist and political writer, born at Exeter; friend and disciple of Bentham as well as editor of his works; first editor of Westminster Review; at the instance of the English Government visited the Continental States to report on their commercial relations; became governor of Hong-Kong; ordered the bombardment of Canton, which caused dissatisfaction at home (1792-1872).

BOWYER, WILLIAM, printer and scholar, born in London; wrote on the origin of printing, and published an edition of the Greek New Testament with notes (1699-1777).

“BOX AND COX,” a farce by J. M. Morton, remarkable for a successful run such as is said to have brought the author L7000.

BOY BISHOP, a boy chosen on 6th December, St. Nicholas’ Day, generally out of the choir, to act as bishop and do all his episcopal duties, except celebrate mass.  For the term of his office, which varied, he was treated as bishop, and if he died during his tenure of it was buried with episcopal honours.  The term of office was limited in 1279 to 24 hours.