BOSTOCK, a coxcomb, cracked on the point of aristocracy and family birth. His one and only inquiry is "How many quarterings has a person got?" Descent from the nobility with him covers a multitude of sins, and a man is no one, whatever his personal merit, who "is not a sprig of the nobility."--James Shirley, _The Ball_ (1642). BOT'ANY (_Father of English_), W. Turner, M.D. (1520-1568). J.P. de Tournefort is called _The Father of Botany_ (1656-1708). [Illustration] Antoine de Jussieu lived 1686-1758, and his brother Bernard 1699-1777. 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.). 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 _Pyramus and Thisbe_ is cast, Bottom covets every part; the lion, Thisbê, Pyramus, all have charms for him. In order to punish Titan'ia, the fairy-king made her dote on Bottom, on whom Puck had placed an ass's head.--Shakespeare, _Midsummer Night's Dream_. Bottom. An' I may hide my face; let me play Thisby, too: I'll speak in a monstrous little voice. * * * * * Let me play the lion, too; I will roar that I will do any man's heart good to hear me. _Midsummer Night's Dream_, i. 2. BOUBEKIR' MUEZ'IN, of Bag dad, "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 honor 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 Bag dad 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").