Arthur O’Leary is now recollected for his wit, humour, and social qualifications. But he was a man of great worth and sterling practical sense and integrity. He was born in Cork, and went in early life to France, where he studied at the college of St Maloes. In due course of time he became a Capuchin friar of the order of St Francis. He obtained an appointment as chaplain to the English prisoners during the Seven Years’ War, with a small stipend from the French Government. [379]

On his return to Ireland he distinguished himself by his well-directed efforts to dispel the prejudices of the people on points essentially connected with their welfare and the peace and improvement of the kingdom. There existed at that time a strong and general desire for the relief of the people of Ireland from the severe pressure of the penal laws affecting the Roman Catholics. The difficulty was very considerable, and the question was perplexed on either side by objections nearly insuperable. On one side was the illegal and extra-constitutional authority of the Pope; on the other, the absolute impediment to national progress presented by such a state of law. It was evident to every sound understanding that the existence of a secretly working foreign jurisdiction over the conscience of a people imperatively demanded the counterbalance of a stringent system of control and exclusion. It was no less certain that no kingdom could have peace or attain civil prosperity, with divisions and inequalities, distrust and animosities, pervading and poisoning its entire system. Such was the question, of which, as usual in all such questions, some saw one side and some another; while few indeed seem to have perceived its real difficulty or actual merits.

O’Leary, with the practical good sense of his character, spoke and acted with courage and clear discrimination. He endeavoured to prevail on his countrymen to take advantage of the favourable disposition of their rulers, by conforming themselves to the essential conditions of the constitution, and showed them the contradiction of asking for the immunities and privileges of a State the authority of which they rejected. In a tract entitled “Loyalty Asserted” he endeavoured to maintain that the Roman Catholics might conscientiously swear that the Pope had no temporal authority in Ireland. In this he was strenuously opposed by his brethren. It is now superfluous to discuss the value of the proposed concession.

It is evident, from all the writings of O’Leary, that he was a man of a clear and liberal understanding, who saw the real position and wants of his unfortunate country, and did all that lay in his power to breathe peace and right-mindedness. His efforts were on some occasions successful in repressing the spirit of grievous outrage; and it was admitted by the Government that he did much good and prevented much mischief. But the cloud of prejudices, the irritation of discontent, and the excitement of republican agitation, grew beyond the power of human influence. A man like O’Leary could not, in such an interval as the period of the Tones, Russells, &c., hope to maintain any authority with the Irish people. He retired to England. There he acted for several years as clergyman to the Roman Catholic chapel in Soho Square, and lived peacefully, and respected by every class and communion. He died at an advanced age in 1802.

His writings have been published in one volume. They indicate all the clear good sense for which he was remarkable. O’Leary’s literary style is the most perfect crystallisation of pure English conceivable, and, now when his writings have lost all living interest, they [380] will richly repay perusal for this merit alone. Some of his sayings are preserved, and have passed into the common stock of social humour. One specimen at least has preserved the name of its author. Some one who attempted, with great petulance, to draw him into a dispute on purgatory, was told with quiet humour by O’Leary, “You may go farther, and fare worse.”