BLACK, JOHN, an eminent newspaper editor, and classical scholar of some reputa tion, was a native of Berwickshire, his father being a shepherd, or farm laborer, in the Lammermoors, near Dunse. Born in 1783, and left an orphan at twelve years of age, B. commenced life in the office of a Douse writer, but be soon left that place for Edin burgh, where he was engaged for several years as a writer's clerk. While in this capacity, B. was assiduous in the work of self education ; and besides considerable progress made in classical studies at this time, he acquired Germaa from a German musician in an Edinburgh baud, and Italian from a refugee. Finding Edinburgh too limited a sphere for his energies, he went to London about the year 1810, and was immediately engaged as a parliamentary reporter for the Morning G/trooicle, of which paper he afterwards became editor. Under his management the Morning Chronicle was celebrated for its independence and fearless advocacy of progress, and that at a time when subserviency was so common that it was regarded as little or no disgrace. Ile retired from the editor
ship in 1843, and continued to reside, until his death, which took place June 25, 1855, 10 a pleasant cottage on the Kentish estate of one of his friends. Among those who acted on the _Morning Chronicle under Mr. Black was 31r. Charles Dickens, the eminent novelist. 13. was author of a Life of Tasso, with a Hhstorical and Critical Account of his iVritings, 2 vols. (Edin. 1810), and the translator of the lectures of the brothers Schlegel on Dramatic Art and Literature (since republished by Bohn). and on the History of Litera ture Ancient and Modern, as well as of one or two works from the French and Italian.