BLATH´ERS AND DUFF, detectives who investigate the burglary in which Bill Sikes had a hand. Blathers relates the tale of Conkey Chickweed, who robbed himself of 327 guineas.--C. Dickens, _Oliver Twist_ (1837). BLAT´TERGROWL (_The Rev. Mr._), minister of Trotcosey, near Monkbarns.--Sir W. Scott, _The Antiquary_ (time, Elizabeth). BLEEDING-HEART YARD (London). So called because it was the place where the devil cast the bleeding heart of lady Hatton (wife of the dancing chancellor), after he had torn it out of her body with his claws.--Dr. Mackay, _Extraordinary Popular Delusions_. BLEISE (1 _syl._) of Northumberland, historian of king Arthur's period. BLEM´MYES (3 _syl._), a people of Africa, fabled to have no head, but having eyes and mouth in the breast. (See GAOKA.) Blemmyis traduntur capita abesse, ore et oculis pectori affixis.--Pliny. Ctesias speaks of a people of India near the Gangês, _sine cervice, oculos in humeris habentes_. Mela also refers to a people _quibus capita et vultus in pectore sunt_. BLENHEIM SPANIELS. The Oxford electors are so called, because for many years they obediently supported any candidate which the duke of Marlborough commanded them to return. Lockhart broke through this custom by telling the people the fable of the _Dog and the Wolf_. The dog, it will be remembered, had on his neck the marks of his collar, and the wolf said he preferred liberty. (The race of the little dog called the Blenheim spaniel, has been preserved ever since Blenheim House was built for the duke of Marlborough in 1704.) BLET´SON (_Master Joshua_), one of the three parliamentary commissioners sent by Cromwell with a warrant to leave the royal lodge to the Lee family.--Sir W. Scott, _Woodstock_ (time, Commonwealth). BLI´FIL, a noted character in Fielding's novel entitled _The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling_ (1750). ¤¤¤ Blifil is the original of Sheridan's "Joseph Surface" in the _School for Scandal_ (1777). BLIGH (_William_), captain of the _Bounty_, so well known for the mutiny, headed by Fletcher Christian, the mate (1790). BLIMBER (_Dr._), head of a school for the sons of gentlemen, at Brighton. It was a select school for ten pupils only; but there was learning enough for ten times ten. "Mental green peas were produced at Christmas, and intellectual asparagus all the year round." The doctor was really a ripe scholar, and truly kind-hearted; but his great fault was over-tasking his boys, and not seeing when the bow was too much stretched. Paul Dombey, a delicate lad, succumbed to this strong mental pressure. _Mrs. Blimber_, wife of the doctor, not learned, but wished to be thought so. Her pride was to see the boys in the largest possible collars and stiffest possible cravats, which she deemed highly classical.